Instagram Makeup Artists Share Expert Tips for your Holiday Glam

With over 200,000 followers on her Instagram page, LA-based makeup artist Alexandra Anele is not only an expert in her craft, but a social media favourite when it comes to all things beauty.

For a look that’s office party-appropriate, Alexandra suggests pairing bronze tones with the perfect red lip. Alexandra says Melt Cosmetics in Death Cherry is her all-time favourite, but if you’re not a fan of liquid lipsticks, MAC’s Ruby Woo is always a classic.

Why blend in when you can stand out? By wearing metallic rose tones on multiple areas of your face you'll "channel your inner ornament whether you wear these tones on your eyes, lips, cheeks or all three".

Check out these DIY natural beauty hacks!

Alexandra’s tip for switching up your basic glam this holiday season? “Make a serious statement with a red smokey eye.” If you’re worried about getting red eyeshadow all over the rest of your face, Alexandra says, “Avoid the risk of ruining your flawless foundation application by doing your eyes first.” This way, any eyeshadow mishaps can be corrected after the fact as you apply your concealor and foundation products.

Skip the traditional red lip and get your goth glam on with a bold and unexpected lip. Alexandra’s look is ideal for ringing in the new year with some fun glitz and glamour. Her pro tip for this look? Liquid eyeshadow. Says Alexandra, “The dazzling finish won’t fade and you’ll avoid having to deal with messy glitters.”

Following a legendary NYE bash, Alexandra notes that your skin will be in need of some hydration. "Dew (that’s right — dew) the most by mixing your foundation with a moisturizer for a lightweight and glowing finish.”

Diana Maria, a UK-based makeup artist with over 170,000 followers, knows a thing or two about full-glam beauty. Giving us all the “vampy glam” vibes, Diana shows us how to wow after-hours at the workplace with a winged eye, amped-up lashes and a bold lip. Welcome to the dark side!

Short on time going from the office to your holiday celebrations? Opt for easy-glam-up hacks like this beauty look from Diana Maria, where she’s focused only on her eyes, adding bold detail and highlight to create this glam-on-the-go. Take it up a notch as Diana has done here by using unexpected colour pairings to really make your eyes pop. Says Diana, “Pink and orange are one of my favourite colour combinations.”

For an unforgettable date night, we love the pairing of rich hues and dazzling highlights. To make the most impact with your highlighting, take your cues from Diana and apply it to the brow bone, inner corner and very centre of the lid.

Subtle statements like this twist on the classic winged liner and fun faux freckles are one way to glam up your holiday beauty while still keeping it relatively subdued for more casual celebrations.

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, even Santa will appreciate this classic red lip beauty look. Of one of her favourite lipstick hues, Diana calls red, “An empowering colour that can so quickly add so much class to a whole look and outfit.”

Mega-talented makeup artist Hayley McCourt is a expert at creating hard-to-believe special effects makeup — just check out some of her work in our Halloween makeup gallery - but she’s also a master at creating bold-yet-wearable everyday beauty looks. When we reached out for some tips, Hayley went the extra mile and created the next four looks exclusively for Slice readers!

We love the fun jewel details, but if there’s one idea we’re looking forward to copying from this look, it’s that bold glitter lip! “This one is surprisingly wearable despite having so much going on! You can easily take a day look and morph it into this with a strip lash, adding the dark lip and some glitter,” says Hayley.

Ring in the new year like the goddess you are with gold accents that will shine in photos and leave friends inspired to make their own beauty statements in 2019. “This may not be everyone’s cup of tea — but we all love glitter and gorgeous brows, right?!” Hayley’s pro tip for getting those brows just right? “Tape. It’s great for removing rogue glitter.”

It’s all about flirty fun when it comes to putting a spin on that sultry red lip for date-night.

Hayley reveals, “Adding the red glitter to the lip creates an instant plumping effect.” Worried about a messy kiss? Don’t be — go for it! If he’s worth it — he’ll appreciate the effort and be thinking about that ruby red pout long after the date is done!

Get your ice-queen glam on with silver eye makeup and cool jewel-accented lips for a look that’s simple to recreate, but looks anything but basic.

Recreate Hayley’s icy eye look with NYX Ultimate Neutrals Shadow Palette. For all her looks, Hayley’s used cruetlty-free brushes, and as always with her looks, she uses only vegan and cruelty-free products.