Who doesn't love a bit of sparkle at Christmas time?
Whether you wear it on your dress or on your eyes (or both!), the festive season is a perfect time to go all out on the glitz and glamour.
One of the easiest ways to get a quick party-ready look is to invest in one of this season's new eyeshadow palettes - which offer everything from foil finishes to subtle smoky shades and metallic hues, in every shade you could wish for.
Best glitzy eyeshadow palettes
Here's what the Daily Mirror Notebook beauty team thought of these six hot picks for this season's parties:
Huda Mercury in Retrograde, £58
This modestly bills itself as ‘the coolest palette of the year’, and we have to admit the eyeshadows are all that.
On our model (above), we used the golden glitters to add a galactic dimension to a classic, winged-out smoky eye, created using the palette’s dark-brown Vortex shade.
For something a little more daring, we’re also star-struck by the teals and purples, which shimmer like the night sky. As well as the cosmic bling, there are some easy-wear matte shades to nail a daytime look too.
From desk to disco – and beyond!
LMX Eye Got the Power, £16
This palette is from Little Mix, four ladies who have probably worn more make-up during their time in the spotlight than we have in our entire life. There are no weedy B-side fillers in here, just 16 eyeshadows with the metallic pigments turned up to 10.
It’s probably aimed at teens, but it’s our gilty pleasure too.
Primark PS.. Glitter Eyes, £4
It’s hard to argue with four quid for 28 eye shades, even if it’s a for-one-night-only purchase.
The glitter is biodegradable (big tick), and comes in a creamy gel formula that sticks it to your lids. The lighter shades are very pretty and better than the dark ones, which look a bit grainy, but at least none of it will speckle down your cheeks.
Mii Colorplay Palette in Berry Vogue, £27.95
If full-on glitter isn’t rocking your stocking this Christmas, how about a glamorous foil finish instead?
These might look like your average eyeshadows, but the four shimmers are so pigmented they actually smooth on like molten metal. They last really well and look beautiful.
Makeup Obsession Black is The New Black, £6
There’s only one HUGE bling shade, but it’s a belter. The other nine are subtle shimmers and smoky mattes, but when you add the silver Sparkle shadow over the top (as we did on our model above), everything lights up like a Christmas tree.
The palette looks a bit gothy at first glance, but you can adjust the darkness to suit. The two matte and shimmer black shadows smoke out to a soft finish, or you can leave them off for a less dramatic look.
Kat Von D Lolita Por Vida, £45
This palette is built around KVD’s best-selling chestnut rose Lolita shade, but it’s hard to see beyond Reina, a gorgeous multi-toned gold that dazzles like a rework.
It’s such an ‘Ooh! Ahh!’ shade it’s practically worth the money on its own. There’s not a damp squib in the box, though, from the melting foils to the buttery shimmers and mattes.
A guide to glitter for grown-ups
We quizzed beauty guru Lan Nguyen-Grealis for her tips...
To help glittery eyeshadows stay put, use primer, or apply them over a cream pot eyeshadow to help them stick – Revlon does good ones.
To make glitter budge-proof, apply a bit of lash glue on lids and pat the glitter on top. Setting sprays are useful too.
Glitter gels are another way of avoiding messy drop-down.
To make glitter budge-proof, apply a bit of lash glue on lids and pat the glitter on top. Setting sprays are useful too.
Glitter liquid liners give a subtle sparkle to the eyes, but you need a few coats or you can’t really see them.
To feel more confident about wearing glitter, add it over your usual eye make-up. Try just a dab of gold or silver as an accent in the middle of eyelids, and the inner corners.
