When we say party make-up, you likely think of the traditional festive tropes: a golden glittery eye, a cat-eye flick of liner, and of course, the classic red lip. But this year, we’re breaking away from generic glam in favour of something a little more experimental. It’s time to revel in the boundless joy of make-up once again, embracing the bounty of self-expression it has to offer.
One make-up pro that truly knows the transformative power of a killer look is cool girl MUA and founder of Isamaya Beauty, Isamaya Ffrench. Her feed is full of truly fantastical, often otherworldly, looks that serve as the perfect alternative party make-up inspiration. But, it’s also fair to say that, unless you’re blessed with Ffrench's remarkable skill (and very steady hands), you might come unstuck when it comes to recreating them at home.
In the spirit of celebrating a return to major make-up, Isamaya talked ELLE UK through five unexpected make-up looks she’s loving this party season: all of which deliver maximum drama with minimal skill required.
All you’ll need is a pinch of patience, and a few choice products in your kit (luckily, she’s spilling the details on those, too)...
Isamaya Ffrench’s 5 Cool Girl Party Make-Up Looks (And Exactly How To Create Them)
1.Undone Glitter
'I'm still really into glitter but not worn in an overly done way. Adding a little bit of sparkle just in the corner of your eyes or smudging out the edges towards your temples - anything that feels a bit more chill and relaxed but is still festive. It's also super easy to do and still makes a statement without spending hours in front of the mirror.
'There's so many different colours and finishes you can choose from so just have fun with it. I like a classic silver pressed on top of Vaseline or lip balm to hold it in place.'
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Kryolan Polyester Glimmer Medium
2. Bleached Brows
'I feel like everyone is bleaching their brows at the moment. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, there's always a time for bleached brows. It makes your face look really different but also makes eye make-up really stand out.
'There were tonnes of bleached brows at the shows this season, Amelia Gray and Kendall Jenner both bleached theirs. I've actually got bleached brows at the moment - my top tip is to dye them in a few shades darker so they're more of a light mousy brown than totally white, especially if you've got dark hair. I like to use silver shampoo on them afterwards to remove any brassy tones.'
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L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Silver Shampoo
3. Easy Embellishments
'I'm so excited about stick on gems this party season. I love them because they're the lazy girl's way of doing quite a fab glittery festive look. It's so easy, you just need some eyelash glue and some crystals or pearls or even face piercings.
'There's loads of brands this season, including my own, that have face gems. For Poster Girl's SS23 show I created these fake face piercings using stick on pearls. The key is to cleanse the area of your face you're going to apply the gem to first to remove any oil or greasiness that will cause it to slip.'
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UNVOJL 660 Pieces Flat Back Pearl Mixed Size Self-Adhesive Back Pearl Sticker Sheets
SIMIHAZE BEAUTY Eye Play Gem And Glitter Eye Sticker Set
United Beauty Products Ltd. 2D Gem Charm Wheel
Swarovski Crystals Flat Back Gems Pack Of 200
4. Spiced Plum Lips
'I'm really into lip stains at the moment. If I'm going to do a lip stain I like doing a really dark, plummy purple/red colour - the kind of shade that looks like you've just eaten berries. If you've got a deeper skin tone dark brown looks amazing as well, really chic and sophisticated and seasonal.
'Start by applying the stain in the centre of your lips and work outwards, using a cotton bud or finger to blend the edges. I like to pair it with loads of mascara and really chunky lashes.'
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5. Glowy Goth
'A great and less expected look for party season is a pared back goth girl Christmas vibe. The way to make it 2022 is to keep it looking a bit cleaner, maybe add some silver eyeshadow to keep the tones nice and cool and then finish with really beautiful skin.
'I think really glowy, radiant skin is such an easy way to update that classic goth beauty look. Then finish the look with dark lips. Look to Dilara Findikoglu or Monot SS23 shows for inspiration.'
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Saie Glowy Super Gel
