Makeup looks for the holidays: A how-to

So many holiday happenings, so little time. Whether you’re going to your first office party in a l-o-n-g while, celebrating a girls’ night out with your besties, or hitting up a glam evening affair, makeup can play a major role.

To break it all down from a beauty standpoint, we tapped celebrity makeup artist Ashlee Glazer, 37, to show how to get through all the festivities with expert makeup techniques for different occasions.

Glazer, who hails from East Meadow, got her start at a salon in Merrick and then a MAC store in Roosevelt Field, some 15 years ago. Today, she’s a regular guest on national television shows and a favorite of the likes of Rachel Roy, Christy Turlington and Rachel Zoe. Add to that, her world travels for weddings where she does bridal makeup. But for the moment, she put a laser focus on the multitude of events coming our way.

“Most people fall into the rut of wearing the same makeup color, the same palette every single day. But especially for this holiday season, we’re going to spice it up,” says Glazer. Her philosophy? “Beauty is the best accessory for the holiday. You can wear the same dress to every event but if you change up your makeup you’ll look different … and beautiful.”

To prove the point, a couple of weeks ago, Glazer popped into beauty hub, nuBest Salon and Spa in Manhasset, to work her makeup magic on our model, Mary Wilson, 34, of Bay Shore. Wilson, a mom and editorial producer, is a lover of beauty products and said pre-session, “Anything I can learn about makeup is great with me.”

She happens to have an office party at a newish job and hopes, “to look natural and glowing but I don’t want them to think, ‘what is this girl doing?’ when I show my face.” For a house party or a night out with friends she says, “I wouldn’t go too over the top, but I’d look for some kind of element of drama,” and for that fancy affair, she wants to sparkle. “That’s when I’d go all out,” she says. “I want to glam it up all the way, but I don’t really know how to do that.”

So, Glazer broke it down with some easy do-at-home tips.

After her tutorial, Wilson said she took away some valuable tips, and while she wasn’t going out that night, her new look evoked a positive reaction from one of her biggest fans. She picked up her 10-year-old son at school who said, “Wow, mom, you look different and so good.”

Here are some how-tos:

THE LOOK: The office party

“You want to look sophisticated, festive and recognizable to your boss,” says Glazer. Here she focuses on “glowy skin, and brightness. I love to use a bright, allover face cream concealer for a refreshed look and blush to really play up the cheek for this event.

How-to: Start with face cream concealer and then, “generously apply cream blush with a soft, fluffy brush on the apples of your cheeks sweeping up to temples. A pink tone will keep it fresh, and brighten your face,” says Glazer. “Keep the lips glossy, and a light sheen on the lid … the skin is the star of your party.” Wilson was very happy with this. “I love how she didn’t make my skin too matte, it really glowed.”

THE LOOK: Girl’s night out

“You can take more fashion risks than on a date night or at a big event,” explains Glazer. To that end, the lip commands the center of attention. “Go for a red lip classic. You’re always so busy talking and laughing all night, you’ll never mess up your lipstick, and it will photograph amazingly for all the selfies you plan to take with your ladies.” Glazer suggests a shimmery eye shadow across the lids to balance the look.

How-to: Here, Glazer recommends a budget-friendly drugstore product, Maybelline Super Stay Lip Vinyl ($12.99). “This long wearing lacquer will not budge, and it delivers full pigment for a long night filled with laughter and love.” Add a shimmery lid in your favorite eye shadow color.

THE LOOK: Black tie/New Year’s Eve

“Glamorous and gorgeous, it’s all about drama for evening,” says Glazer. In the spotlight? “This is where the eyes star.”

How-to: For a cat eye effect, “which is sexy and stylish,” Glazer starts with an eye shadow primer and moves on to a wing eye liner. “Using the felt tip, draw it on at a 45-degree angle. Buff it out for with an eye shadow brush to create a soft smoke,” she says. For this look, she recommends KVD Beauty Ink Waterproof Felt-Tip Eyeliner in Trooper Black, available at Target for $23.

"Now pop on some lashes," she says. "First, curl your own lashes and apply mascara before you put on the falsies. That way you don’t have to wiggle them once attached.” Glazer suggests using trios of lashes. “These are the easiest to apply. Set out a little glue, dip and wave in the air to dry for second — never blow on them — then just and place on top of your lashes. Pinch to blend with real lashes.”

As for lips, Glazer says, “Nude sculpted lips are a nice way to keep the focus on the eyes. Find a color that matches your lips exactly.”

The eyes were a favorite for Wilson. “They were the biggest moment. I couldn’t believe what a difference the lashes made, and was so impressed with the way she turned the cat eye into a smoky eye with a little smudge brush. I need to get one.”

Finally, that tiny little handbag you’re bringing out with you to party should always contain two make up staples, says Glazer. “Touch up powder and lipstick,” she says. “Don’t forget to take them with you.”