Made to party

Estee Lauder. Photo / Supplied

Party makeup should look stunning and require minimum maintenance, so you can have fun rather than fuss about with endless touch-ups. The secret is in picking the right items to start with and spending a bit of extra time in front of the mirror before you head out to ensure your look will be long-lasting.

A special occasion deserves more than everyday effort, so do add a bit of drama. It's easiest to play up your eyes and sculpt your skin, while keeping your lips mostly natural, with a non-sticky gloss.

Bright lippy does look festive, but it will soon sip or kiss off, so if you're tempted by a statement lip check out some longwear formulas or you may look smeared rather than smashing (Revlon make some of the best). Another trick is to colour your entire lip with a pencil, then apply your lipstick, blot and reapply to add staying power, with just a little gloss on top for freshness.

Glowing skin looks great, so start with a primer, add concealer as you need it, and a dewy fresh foundation or just a tinted moisturiser if your skin doesn't need full coverage. Then contour with bronzer, blush and highlighters. A touch of powder sets the look.

Colour-wise, gold is the stand-out shade for summer, warming skin and highlighting eyes and even lips. The sunset effect extends into corals and hot pinks on nails and lips. For a softer look try rose-gold or amethyst tones as seen in Estee Lauder's new Sensuous Gold colours.

For the eyes, gel eyeliner lasts well and is softer looking than a liquid liner. You can then top it with shadow to build a smokey look. (I'm particularly impressed with Elizabeth Arden's glide-on gel formula). Avoid shiny, glittery shadows on the brow-bone, they can catch the light and be ageing; a little metallic shading along the lash lines is a better option. The lash line is also a good place for a shot of colour that doesn't overwhelm. Then define your brows, set with gel and let your well-mascaraed eyes do the talking.

In your carry-along kit you should only need lipgloss or lipstick and perhaps a little powder to dab on if you get a shiny Santa nose. A powder combined with a blush or highlighter is a handy complexion reviver later in the night. (M.A.C has a half-and-half duo that works well and see the Clinique version below).

If you're going to do anything silly like jump in a pool or go to bed with your makeup still on, then use a waterproof mascara. Or make off early enough before you spoil the illusion and turn into a pumpkin ...

1 Clarins Instant Sun Light Summer Glow Palette for Face
$77

A five-shade fine-powder bronzer, with SPF15, for a sun-kissed look for medium or darker skin shades.

2 Chanel Vitalumiere Eclat Comfort Radiance Compact Makeup in Beige Desert
$135

A solid foundation that can be applied wet or dry, housed in a glamorous compact with its own sponge and brush.

3 Nars Hungry Heart
$85

Two-tone compact for blush, highlighter and shimmer. (From Mecca Cosmetica, Ponsonby Rd, www.meccacosmetica.co.nz)

4 Clinique Superfit Makeup Oil Free Long Wear
$60

Good lightweight foundation for active wear or for skin that tends to be oily or combination.

5 Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Platinum Pink
$140

Soft tone option for adding colour to the complexion for people who find bronzers too brown. In a limited edition compact in three colour choices. (A body brick is also available).

6 M.A.C Mineralize Eye Shadow in Blue Sorcery
$46

From M.A.C's Twinkle Twinkle Superstar collection, this limited release turquoise and silver mix is party perfect. (From M.A.C Chancery and St Lukes and Smith & Caughey.)

7 Dior Serum de Rouge in Crimson
$67

Moisturising stick formula feels luxurious on the lips.

8 Yves St Laurent Mascara Singulier in Deep Black
$61

The latest "it" mascara, YSL's comes in black (and dark brown, green and violet) to volumise, lengthen and curl. The brush is chunky, but the tip fine enough to allow the inner and outer lashes to be feathered out.

9 Revlon Double Twist Waterproof Mascara
$30.99

Comes with a cunning brush that is fat enough to add volume, but also has fine short combs to separate and define lashes, with the added bonus of being waterproof, but not too difficult to remove.

10 Rationale Beautiful Lips in L4
$55

Lip conditioning gloss from a skincare range designed to treat while enhancing appearance. (www.rationaleskincare.co.nz and the Skin Institute.)

11 Nars eyeshadow duo in Scorching Sun
$98

Summer shades that sing, especially striking with blue eyes. (From Mecca Cosmetica, as above.)

12 Lancome Liberty eye palette in indigo
$98

New from New Zealander Aaron De Mey for Lancome, the Declaring Indigo collection includes these stunning shadows.

13 M.A.C Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait
$48

A subtle beige pearl or try the sheer lilac Ever So Rich. The collection also includes Utter Fun, a fuchsia cherry pink lipstick ($40).

14 Smashbox Untamed Waterproof Shadow Liner Trio
$57

Three shades of liner in a waterproof formula if you don't want to be seen swimming with a naked eye. Smashbox also makes good gel eyeliners. (From Smashbox, Ponsonby Rd, and selected Life pharmacies, see www.smashboxcosmetics.co.nz.)

15 Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencil in Genre
$38

Hot orange tint to draw on with giant lip crayon, sold with sharpener. Stays moist. (Stockists see www.lipstickqueen.com)

16 M.A.C Softsparkle Eye Pencil in Iris Accents
$34

Violet pencil comes with silver pearl glimmer, also available in Nightsky (black with silver pearl).

17 Le Tan Fast Tan Shimmer Gel
$20.99

One of the nicest self-tanners about, the gel-like lotion goes on easily for instant bronze with a subtle glimmer and the colour develops over time. (Pharmacies and department store suncare sections)

18 Revlon Sweet Tart nail enamel
$17.50

Just the trick for darling digits.

Stockists: Brand counters in selected department stores and pharmacies unless otherwise stated.