Between Christmas shopping, eating as much turkey as we can and decking the halls with too much tinsel, there’s never enough time to get yourself ready for the evening’s festivities. This month, I’ve rounded up the best beauty basics to get you through the party season in style.

An abundance of glitter
When it comes to Christmas, it really is a case of the more the merrier – and I’m not just talking about the consumption of wine and amount of helpings you have at the dinner table! It’s the month of merriment after all, and when it comes to glitter and sparkle it’s the only time of year you can get away with an abundance of the stuff. Eyes, lips, nails, hair – the good news is lots of glitter make-up can be used everywhere, so luckily you only need to invest in one product. A little pot of glitter is like a little pot of magic, especially at Christmas! Technically it doesn’t matter which brand you use, as long as it’s one you’ve used before and you know is kind to your skin (in case, like me, you’re the sensitive skin type). MAC Glitter pots are light in texture and have seriously high-level sparkle that will brighten any festive facial!

Rouge is revived over the festive period
As we all know, red is undeniably the colour of Christmas. Not just for Rudolf’s nose and Starbucks’ coffee cups, all the various shades of rouge are revived, re-styled and re-worked over the festive period. Whether you’re more of a berry babe, letterbox lover or raspberry ripple, pay tribute to this beauty staple with the likes of Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Matte Lip Colour in ‘Red Carpet’, adding a touch of Hollywood glamour to evening attire, or for something bolder try MAC’s ‘Ruby Woo’ for a bit of razzle dazzle. Maintain an all-night-long colour by keeping the application totally seamless with a matching lip liner. Simply line the lips with the pencil and fill in with your chosen shade – let’s make sure it’s not just the red wine that’s staining your lips at this year’s Christmas party!

Try a fun twist on the Christmas palette
Now we’re really working our way through the beauty book classics as it’s time for, yes you guessed it, the smouldering smoky eye. If you’d rather keep it more current than classic, why not try a pop of purple, navy or emerald green for a fun twist on the Christmas palette. Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Eyes To Mesmerise Kits’ come in an array of flattering shades, contain everything you need to create the perfect smoky eye and wrap up as the perfect present for any make up lover.

Leave your skin feeling silky soft
Between the grey skies and late nights of winter, skin can often start to look lackluster and will be in need of a little pick me up. If you haven’t already, it’s time to get familiar with a strobing stick – the new trend of highlighting. The key is prepping skin with an illuminating primer. Use Max Factor’s Smooth Miracle Primer to create a base for your make up and leave your skin feeling silky soft. Roll on Topshop’s Glow Stick under the eyes, along the brow and cheekbones for maximum impact – its creamy texture is easily absorbed into the skin. Ensure to work it in with a beauty blender for the best application.

Last but not least, no elegant occasion is complete without the reason that every girl is late to a party, and that is the winged eyeliner! It’s difficult enough as it is to get that first-time-flick, so for perfect precision, carefully trace as close as you can across the lashes holding down your lid so it’s tight and smooth. For an extra twinkle, pop a line of your glitter above the flick and in the inner corners of your eyes. A product with a fine tip pen provides the easiest application – give Topshop’s ‘Magic Liner’ a go, as this enables you to draw a line across the lid without those smudges and smears.

So for a skin-cringe-free alternative to wearing an actual Christmas jumper, take inspiration from the classics this season and create a look that will keep you glowing until dawn!