Discarded hosiery packaging in the ladies loos; gaggles of extravagantly scented females in sequins; corridors alive with gossip. It can only mean one thing: the office Christmas party season is upon us.
Office parties differ from normal parties (ie, those involving actual friends) in that people view them as the perfect opportunity to recast themselves in a more flattering light with their colleagues. From a make-up point of view, it’s a chance to engineer one of those “why, but you’re beautiful, Ms Moneypenny” moments. The key thing to remember is that it’s all an illusion – not only the make-up, but also any lifelong partnerships forged over the Smirnoff.
In the meantime, let’s just enjoy the moment, and the opportunity for folly it presents. The chief requirement for this year’s party make-up (black nail polish aside) is glitter. Terrifying, I know, especially for anyone aged over 17. Fortunately, like so much else in the cosmetic universe, the application of glitter is no longer an unpredictable science best restricted to the nursery. Thanks to malleable textures and functional packaging, anyone regardless of age or skill can add a little seasonal sparkle to their look without ending up looking like a particularly tacky bauble.
As ever, you need to get the basics right. I’ve always been a fan of Benefit. I like their results-based approach and they have a number of boutiques, as well as in-store counters (www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk), where the staff are always generous with their advice. Their newest make-up gadget is Some Kind-a Gorgeous (£19.50), a compact that combines the skin-conditioning properties of their legendary Dr Feelgood with a judicious amount of tinted moisturiser. It will keep your complexion looking beautifully smooth, even if the same cannot be said of your dancing. The Dallas palette (£26), meanwhile, is a canny selection of universally flattering colours (two eyeshadows, two lip glosses and a subtle shimmer blusher) that will provide a solid base from which to build.
Stepping into party mode, the most fun is to be had on the eyes. Here you want to brighten, lift, open – and sparkle. An eyelash curler is indispensable, as is an under-eye concealer. Benefit Ooh La Lift (£14.50) is a good light option, but for virtually indelible under-eye bags like mine something more industrial-strength may be required: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer (£18), guaranteed to gloss over a multitude of sins.
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If you enjoy messing around with colour, try Too Faced Liquif-Eye Shadow Collection (£19; 08450 708090): 12 distinctly foxy eyeshadows that come with a pot of “liquif-eyer”. This ingenious potion transforms powder into waterproof liquid eyeliner. There’s only one downside: no mirror in the compact, so you can’t do it in the taxi. If you feel more comfortable with a pencil, try Urban Decay “24/7” waterproof glide-on liners (£9) in an array of peacock colours – their staying power is truly prodigious.
For pure glitter, it’s back to Benefit. Show Offs (£22.50 for three: blue, silver and pink) look scary at first, but they’re actually very easy to control, being very finely milled. Just dip your finger and dust over eyes, lips or cheekbones. Lastly: lips. Benefit Smooch (£13.50) gives a smooth, almost waxy appearance when worn on its own; or use it to add staying power to your favourite lipstick.