The Key to Makeup That Goes the Distance
If you want to ensure your look lasts well beyond midnight, you'll first need to learn how to prep your skin for makeup. Let Liberty show you the ropes
By: Laura KennedyRead more
The Key to Makeup That Goes the Distance
If you want to ensure your look lasts well beyond midnight, you'll first need to learn how to prep your skin for makeup. Let Liberty show you the ropes
By: Laura Kennedy
Photography: Benjamin Madgwick
Makeup: Celia Burton
Hair: David Wadlow
Every beauty enthusiast knows that the real work of perfect makeup happens long before you apply your foundation in a towel while panic texting your friends that you’re ‘absolutely’ already dressed and ready to go. Your skincare routine creates the canvas you need to do your best work. After all, Raphael painted his frescos on freshly prepared plaster. We make extra effort with special occasion makeup precisely because we’re aiming for a Raphael rather than a hurried stick figure drawing on a post-it note. This isn’t the makeup on your commute or a quick slick of your favourite lipstick on the go. The key to the best possible party makeup? Preparation.
Read More: How to get glowing skin, according to the experts
A FEW DAYS BEFORE
Out With the Old
Malin + Goetz Resurfacing Glycolic Pads, £40
Make sure to exfoliate a couple of times in the week before an event. Skincare acids will ensure that any dull surface skin is dispatched and skin will be dolphin-smooth by the time you apply your pre-party foundation. These peel pads provide a gentle at-home chemical peel, so you can skip any potential irritation or redness from grittier physical exfoliants.
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Biologique Recherche
Lotion P50 250ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Trish McEvoy
Even Skin Beta Hydroxy Pads
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Aveda
Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant 150ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 118ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Zelens
PHA+ Resurfacing Facial Pads
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Dermalogica
Daily Milkfoliant 74g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Moisturiser Is King
Augustinus Bader The Cream, £225
It may sound obvious but keeping skin moisturised and balanced will ensure that the chances of a facial melt-down (we’ve all been there) on the day of the party are minimal. This formula is a velvety, radiant and plumping day cream that behaves beautifully under makeup, leaving a dewy, professional-looking finish and cocooning the skin from the elements.
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La Mer
Crème de la Mer 100ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sunday Riley
C.E.O Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream 50g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Kiehl's
Ultra Facial Cream 125ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
QMS Medicosmetics
ACE Vitamin Day & Night Cream 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Jones Road
Miracle Cream 40g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Votary
Super Seed Nutrient Cream 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
THE MORNING OF
DIY Massage
Wild Source Rose Quartz Gua Sha, £30
Most of the work is already done. Going too hard on skincare is a mistake on the day of an event – we’re aiming to sculpt and spruce only, while minimising any chance of irritation. A good morning massage will help reduce puffiness, promote blood flow and prep skin for the day, plus you’ll always see the pros doing this for clients before red carpet events. Wild Source's gua sha tool stimulates the lymphatic system to tone and sculpt the face. Chill it in the fridge for an even more soothing experience.
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The Light Salon
Boost LED Face Mask
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sarah Chapman
The Facialift
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
MZ Skin
LightMAX Supercharged LED Mask 2.0
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sarah Chapman
Pro Pore Refiner
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sisley Paris
Gentle Brush for Face and Neck
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sarah Chapman
Meso Melt Infusion System
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Lipcare Is Key
Dr. Sebagh Lip Balm, £35
Now, and not right before applying lipstick, is the time to ensure your lips are comfortable and moisturised. Apply a generous layer of lip balm and keep it topped up through the day to prevent any pinched texture or chapping later on once you’ve applied lipstick or liner.
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Byredo
The Flavoured Lip Balm Limited Edition 2.5g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sisley Paris
Nutritive Lip Balm 9g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Jones Road
The Lippie Stick 4.5g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Bobbi Brown
Lip Balm SPF 15 15g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Aesop
Cedar & Citrus Lip Salve 9ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
SUQQU
Lip Concentrate Balm 7.5g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
BEFORE APPLYING YOUR MAKEUP
The Pre-Game Sheet Mask
Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture Infusion Single Sheet Mask, £15
All the real prep work is done. We strongly suggest making a nice cup of tea before you maximise hydration to ensure your smoothest, plumpest possible skin. This will prevent makeup from sitting in dry patches or sliding from oily ones. Whip a sheet mask from the fridge about thirty minutes before you want to apply your makeup. It gives a quick and efficient skin refurb, depuffing and plumping as well as priming skin for moisturiser.
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Sisley Paris
Express Flower Gel 60ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Omorovicza
Ultramoor Mud Mask 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Augustinus Bader
The Face Cream Mask 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Kiehl's
Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energising Radiance Masque 100ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Skincycles
Silk Bio-Cellulose Mask 25ml 5 Pack
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Irene Forte
Lavender & Rosemary Balancing Mask 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Prime Your Real Estate
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Primer, £55
Once you moisturise, leave it to sink in for ten minutes or so, then go in with a primer like this one from Hourglass to ensure that the makeup you’re about to apply will stay exactly where you want. Until, that is, you get home exhausted and have the post-party debate about whether or not to sleep in your (hopefully still perfect) makeup. We can’t help with that bit, unfortunately. Except to advise washing off your makeup before bed.
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Bobbi Brown
Intensive Serum Radiance Primer SPF 25 40ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
REN Clean Skincare
Perfect Canvas Clean Primer 30ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Dermalogica
SkinPerfect Primer SPF30 22ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sisley Paris
Instant Perfect 20ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Hourglass
Travel Size Veil Mineral Primer 8.5ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Bobbi Brown
Vitamin-Enriched Face Base 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100