By Shayna Gonsalves | Beauty Concierge
Holiday Season means an ever-growing social calendar, last minute plans, late nights, and colder temperatures to contend with. Combined, this can mean everything from overthinking how to pull together a last minute look to soothing dry, overworked winter skin. With a few helpful hacks and hero products under your sleeve, you will conquer this holiday season like the true beauty expert that you are.
HACK #1 - DOING THE MOST WITH THE LEAST
If you get a last minute invite or need to be party-ready in a pinch, your best move is to lean on multi-use products that are foolproof and beautiful. The newest launches from Relevant: Your Skin Seen are perfect for this.
For your base, whether you want to conceal, contour, or go for full coverage, the Rele-Wand 3-N-1 Foundation Stick can be used sparingly or full-face depending on what look you are going for. The Rele-Wand Lip & Cheek Multi-Tint in holiday-ready Raspberry or Persimmon can be swiped onto your lips and then sheered out on your cheeks for a quick and cohesive flush of color; follow up with the Rele-Wand Sparklight Highlighter in Star Bright to highlight your cupid’s bow, high points of cheeks, the inner corners of your eyes, and your brow bones (and your collar bones if they are visible!). Apply a coat of your favorite mascara as a finishing touch and that’s a full look in maybe five minutes max.
HACK #2 - HOLI-DATES
Date nights (or girls’ nights, or parties) often require touchups. Because no one wants to carry around full-sized products just in case, it’s a good idea to stock up on delightful minis to keep tucked in even your smallest bags.
Our favorite travel sized fragrances? French Waltz is a genderless rose musk, 13 Stems opens green but dries down to cashmere and leather, and Dulce is a warm gourmand with vanilla and hinoki. For lips, the Nudiversal Lip Duo from CTZN is well worth the space it takes up, giving you the option for a matte lipstick or a hydrating lipgloss within the same product. If you have room for one more item, make it Madame Gabriela’s Saint Tropez at 11am - while technically a colorless lipstick, the hydrating shea butter and Manuka honey combination is a sneaky multitasker when used as a your-skin-but-better highlighter.
HACK #3 - GOODBYE, FATIGUE
Long haul flights, arctic blasts of cold and dry air, late nights and too many cocktails - these all take their toll on your skin. A quick way to do a total reset? Exfoliate and hydrate before bed, and do not be afraid to layer up.
After you have washed your face, grab a toner (my favorite is Moon Glow from Good Light) and apply it on a cotton round in circular motions. While your skin is still damp, pat on a layer of Gemini Beauty’s Barrier Recovery Serum. A deeply hydrating sleep mask will help seal everything in, and Dezi Skin and Relevant both have fantastic options that let you wake up glowing. In the morning, if you still need a helping hand, the best way to feign being well-rested is a set of high-octane eye masks, and Joanna Vargas does them best.
HACK #4 - POST-PARTY RECOVERY
Whether immediately post-party, or if you’re able to carve in some time for a moment of self-care amongst the madness of the season, it is so important to make the time to relax and recharge whenever you can.
The Tub Kit from Maude creates the most indulgent bathing experience for you. As you soak, multitask with a face mask - if your skin is feeling congested, reach for Biba de Sousa’s Zinc Mask; if you need a dose of moisture, Epara’s Intense Hydrating Mask is great. When you’re finished and ready for head-to-toe hydration, Liha’s Idan Oil gives you the most gorgeous, silky skin as you let it sink in overnight.
