Party On

By Anne Marie Scanlon

Even if you never set foot outside the house from one end of the year to the next you're bound to find some opportunity to don the finery around the festive season. By the time December 25th arrives most of us are so worn out with balls, parties, soirees and celebrations that we're sick of the sight of glitter. Personally, I can't get enough. I love this time of year. Apart from the presents, the food and the excuse to lie around the house for a couple of days I LOVE being able to doll up like a living Christmas Tree.

Even if you don't have a jewel-encrusted top or a glittery skirt to your name you can always get into the party spirit with some fun makeup. This year we're spoiled for choice when it comes to holiday make up collections. Clarins Precious Colours Holiday collection is based around dazzling rich glittering jewel tones. The Precious Colours Eye Palette ($38) contains four shades adorned with shimmering amythyst. The Face Palette ($29) contains a universal shade which is compatible with all skin tones while the Lip Palette ($24) contains a mix of glosses and lipstick.

If you are party hopping check out tarte holiday 2007 limited-edition collection 'We wish you wealth, health & happiness!' ($52 - a $482 value) a palette which contains just about everything you need for the party season and beyond. The three tier palette contains 16 tarte Vitamin-E enriched eyeshadows, 16 tarte Vitamin-E enriched lipglosses, 3 24/7 lip sheers with SPF 15, 4 gel eyeliners, 1 eyelid primer, 1 luminizer, eyeshadow & lip brushes and 4 cheek stains. The only thing that's missing is the partridge in a pear tree! The tarte holiday collection also contains 'we wish you health' skinvigorating™ discovery set ($38). The four piece set contains mini clean slate™ face primer, mini lock & roll creaseless eyeshadow duo in the new slate shade, mini lights, camera, lashes! 4 in 1 mascara and mini inside out vitamin-infused lip gloss in the new serenity shade. All four items come in a fabulous padded reusable purse. 'we wish you happiness ($30) is a set of three mini cheek stains (merry, a sheer candy pink, delighted, a shimmery rose-gold and enchanted shimmery pale pink) which come in a gorgeous plush purple jewelled-case. The variety of shades will take you from office to party and back again.

Tarte aren't the only ones with a fantastic palette for the lassie on the go-go. Too Faced Lip Gloss & Eye Shadow Pocket Palette ($18.50) is small enough to fit in a pocket or an evening purse yet manages to pack quite a punch. The mirrored compact has two layers; the top layer contains six lip glosses which slides across to reveal a lower layer of four wonderful eye shades.

The Body Shop Make Up Holiday Trend 2007 contains a variety of sparkling shades for eyes and lips. There are two special edition Metallic Eye and Cheek Palettes ($22.50) which contain four eyeshadows and one blush. For a real touch of Christmas sparkle try the Glitter Liquid Eyeliner ($11.50) which comes in two shades - Starlight and Diamond Night or the Metallic Liquid Eyeliner ($11.50) in either Bronze Brown or Gold Dust. If that's not enough check out the Sparkle Pot in Fairy Dust ($12.50). For lips try Ultra Lip Gloss ($14.50) which comes in two glistening shades - Metallic Pink and Molten Copper and containing Vitamin E and moisturizing marula oil from Namibia or Hi-Shine Lip Treatment ($11.50) which are flavoured with passion fruit and comes in three shades - Perfectly Pink, Juicy Peach and Gold Shimmer.

Clinique Touches of Golden Elixir Holiday 2007 Color Collection has been inspired by the company's fragrance Aromatics Elixir and has a luxurious sultry look with hues of gold and amber. The limited Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad is festively named Allspice ($25) comes in a mirrored compact. Brush-On Cream Liner in Bronze ($14.50) is an ultra smooth creamy gel liner that goes on shimmery, provides the precision of a liquid liner and can be applied thickly or thinly depending on the look you're after.

Sometimes it isn't just your face you want to add a bit of shimmer to, Piaffe Shimmer Essence ($40) can be put on anywhere you want a little extra luster. For eyes Piaffe have Silk Shimmer Eye Shadows ($22) each vibrant shade is mineral and vitamin based so you won't just look good but feel good too.

For glitz, glimmer and sheer glam you cannot beat Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Rides Again gift set ($32). Oh. My. God. It is Fabulous with a capital F. The gift set contains the amazing (and sparkly) Midnight Cowboy Rides Again Eyeshadow which although a neutral color is a glimmering shade that refuses to be ignored (in a good way); Eyeshadow Primer Potion, to keep that shimmer in place; 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon and Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner. Never one to do things by half I wore it all in one go - both eyeliners at the same time. Everyone, and I mean everyone not just other women and gay men but straight men and even children commented on how nice my eye make up was. If you only splash out on one thing this Holiday Season then let it be this. Urban Decay also do a great powder blush in a shade called Fetish ($17) which will give you a great glow on a night out or help you look healthy the day after.

Next Week: Holiday Hair and Finishing Touches.