Your Step-by-Step New Year’s Eve Beauty Routine by the Dancing With the Stars Makeup Artist
New Year’s Eve is a time to dress up and celebrate – and celebrations can usually include lots of glitter and shine. But just how much shimmer equals festive versus heading into human disco ball territory?
Melanie Mills, the makeup designer for ABC’s hit show Dancing With the Stars, came up with these great makeup tips to make your Eve sparklier and more fun. Get her tips and follow her step-by-step regime below, and you’ll be ready for all those New Year’s Eve party pictures.
1. Get enough rest. In a pinch, try G.M. Collin Instant Radiance Eye Patches, which target dehydrated under eye area and reduce the appearance of fine lines, puffiness and fatigue (About $50, Amazon has them on sale for a limited time).
2. Prep the skin with your favorite serum, moisturizer, and eye cream. Let it penetrate while you fix your hair.
3. Shape your face. Mills created Gleam Body Radiance, which is makeup and moisturizer all in one. In applying shimmer, Mills says “There are planes and contours, there are individualistic hollows and features that need defining and to be coaxed in the right light. That’s the essence of great makeup! Bringing out the best your face has to offer!”
Before adding shimmer to your face, study your features in lighting similar to what will be at the event you’re attending. Dot Body Radiance all over. Light Gold works well for fair skin; use deeper shades if you are richer in natural coloring. Try highlighting down center of nose, and on the upper cheekbones. Add some highlights under the eyes and a dab above eyebrows (toward the temple), and under the middle of your lower lip.
4. Apply your foundation and concealer. Mills uses a brush to carefully conceal around the eyes and then applies foundation with a Beauty Blender sponge. Use hot water to saturate the sponge, squeeze it all out, then with a tapping motion, dot the color onto skin until it’s completely blended in. Let set for a minute.
5. Apply a strategic shot of good quality face powder. Target the T-zone (an area where shine is likely to break through). Let set for a minute.
6. Apply blusher. Dust over face with Deep Gold Gleam Radiant Dust on the cheeks. Use it to smooth out eye makeup later and contour the jawline a bit too.
7. Make your eyes the focal point by filling in sparse brows. (Mills suggests investing in stencils or having your brows professionally done for maximum effect.)
8. Apply lashes. Mills believes “Lashes are the No. 1 feature to bump up your beautiful look in a theatrical way without going over the top.” She recommends a strip of false lashes and, professionally, she always relies on Ardell, the Hollywood standard for great lash options. They make Wispies “flares” that Mills uses on celebrity clients daily and on herself. To apply, false lashes trim them to fit your lash line, and use Ardell Duo Dark glue, and raise the end of the outer lash.
9. Make sure to line eyes and then build the drama with eye shadow. Use a good matte shader (charcoal or cocoa) and fill in crease upwards and outwards towards the outer edge of the brow. Use a suitable shimmery color over the iris of your eye to pop your eyes open. Finish with outward dusting of Deep Gold over deep crease towards outer brow to add drama. (Good eye shadow brushes are a wise investment.)
10. Apply lip liner, then use a lip brush to add lip color. Spend the time to line your lips perfectly to ensure balanced facial features. A deep burgundy, Bordeaux red, Radiant Orchid (hot!), or eggplant lip makes a statement. Use a lip brush for precision with these intense colors.
11. Nails must be done, of course, says Mills. If you’re too intimidated to go for the full glow, try painting a thin line of frosty nail polish on just the tips of your nails.
12. Add a little “stardust.” Sprinkle your face with Radiant Dust, using the Face and Body Brush to apply in just the right amount.
Additional Beauty Tips
- Don’t overdo the shimmer. Mills, who’s designed makeup looks for the Academy Awards says “There’s a fine line between glitter bomb and velvety glowing skin, and it’s the quality of the product that makes the difference.” Don’t just randomly apply glitter to all exposed parts.
- Prime your pins. Mills says she applies Gleam Body Radiance all over her legs because “If you have any tiny spider veins or imperfections–and let’s be real, most women over 25 have a little something that needs camouflaging–it becomes like liquid pantyhose.” Mills applies about a silver dollar-sized amount on each leg in Rose Gold Gleam (her bestseller and the one used most on Dancing with the Stars and on the red carpet) and works it in from feet, ankles and upward. In colder cities, you can opt for pantyhose or even opaque tights with added shimmer or lacy designs.
- Highlight the parts on display. Mills also puts a touch of subtle shimmer on arms, chest and face (after serums and moisturizer) for a lit from within glow. Don’t forget the tops of your shoulders, and the ever important decolletage.
Viva glitter and as Mills says “Viva glamor, you only get this one life to show them what you got!”
