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Don't Leave Home Without These New Year's Eve Beauty Essentials
Because everyone loves the friend with extra hair grips.
After a whole month (okay maybe two...) of office parties, Christmas dos and every celebration in between, it's understandable that you might be feeling a little uninspired when it comes to your New Year's Eve glam. The good news? A hint of glitter is still a great idea that doesn't require multiple brushes and products. Or try a vinyl shine lip. In the words of Upper East Side icon Serena Van Der Woodsen: 'Lipstick lasts longer but gloss is more fun.'
Make-up artist and writer Madeleine Spencer agrees. 'I love a bright, glossy lip with really pared-back make-up, or a wash of glitter across the eyelid,' she tells ELLE UK. 'To keep things simple, choose a feature to light up, do your go-to make-up and add some glitter.' While loose pigments will always look striking, creamy formulas or an eye gloss are much easier to pat on with minimal fall-out. To make sure your make-up stays in place beyond midnight, Spencer recommends applying product in thin layers to avoid caking. 'With eye make-up, make sure you border anything which might run (such as eyeliner or mascara) with powder - either a sheer skin one, or a powder shadow.'
Before leaving the house, pack a concealer for touch-ups, your lip product (all that martini will remove your gloss), and a multitasking balm for dry patches. Spencer also recommends a spoolie to tame brows and flyaways, and an eye kohl that you can smudge to dial up your look.
Shop the New Year's Eve beauty essentials you'll thank your sober self for packing...
This mesmerising cream shadow leaves the prettiest flecks of glitter on your eyelids. It glides on smoothly and stays put for hours on end without requiring any setting powder or eyelid primer. 'Velvet', a glistening olive, looks gorgeous on every skin tone. Pack it on and sheer it out with fingers for a soft smokey effect.
Ilia Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint Liquid Eyeshadow
If full-on glitter isn't your vibe, this radiant liquid eyeshadow might just be the ticket. The chromatic finish adds dimension to eyelids with minimal effort and once it dries, it stays put until last call.
Infused with mother of pearl (so bougie...), Sisley's high-shine lip gloss instantly lifts and adds luminosity to your complexion. The moisturising formula wears comfortably on winter-ravaged lips too.
Rescue dry lips, cuticles, and everything in between with this multitasking moisturising balm packed with shea butter and jojoba oil. It works as a quick eye gloss too.
A good buffing brush, such as this one by Hourglass, will help blend out any cakiness that happens throughout the evening and for powdering any shiny areas. One that comes with a cap is best, as it keeps it clean in your bag.
Spritz this soothing make-up reviver whenever your complexion feels a little dry. It helps to freshen up a matte foundation too.
No chicer way to touch up your base than with this Chanel compact. The airy, refined texture will help even out your complexion without leaving it feeling heavy (and the generously-sized mirror is useful too).
Be the best smelling person in the room by packing a smart little travel spray in your minaudiere. Celine sells theirs in customisable duos so you can switch it up as the evening goes on.
No time for a salon appointment? This Kate Moss-approved texture spray will give limp hair that supermodel finish in an instant.
Blotting papers are the unsung hero in every make-up artist's kit - dab one onto your skin to remove shine without loading on extra product.
If we had a pound for every time we needed a kirby grip and for the life of us couldn't find one in the abyss of our handbags, well, we'd have a fair few pounds. The ultimate late night hair saviour, keep your messy bun looking just the right amount of undone with a handy kirby grip.
Don't get caught short on the dance floor, pack yourself a back up stash of biodegradable pads and tampons by &Sisters. Whether they're for you or your best friend, there's literally no mid-party moment when you'll say 'I'm so annoyed I brought these pads.'
There's nothing worse than sweaty armpit paranoia. Keep everything smelling fresh AF with a sneaky top up of deodorant halfway through the night.
If false lashes are your thing, then spare eyelash glue is a NYE must-have for emergencies. Plus, if you're into face gems, a lash glue will help keep everything in place throughout the night too.
Whether you're with your go-to New Year's Eve smooching partner or a total stranger come midnight, it's always better to be safe than sorry with a spare condom or two. Because taking responsibility for your sexual health is cool, guys.
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
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