London-based A-list makeup artist Francesca Abrahamovitch is known for creating some of the most coveted no-makeup makeup looks in the industry - fresh, flawless skin with a polished, refined, modern edge.
It’s an approach that has made her a go-to for the likes of Victoria Beckham, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Maya Jama and Sofia Richie, all of whom favour her expertly enhanced, skin-led aesthetic.
Here Francesca talks us through her ultimate New Year’s Eve makeup look, sharing the products and techniques she uses to take her signature glow from everyday effortless to party-ready.
“New Year’s Eve is one night of the year where I like to step outside my usual makeup comfort zone,” she explains. “My signature look is fresh, glowing and effortless, but when it comes to NYE I like to push things a little further. Not anything too dramatic or overly done, just more elevated and a bit more glamorous than usual.”
Below, she reveals what’s in her NYE makeup bag this week.
The no-makeup makeup base: fresh luminous skin
Everything starts with the skin. I want it to look healthy, luminous and softly sculpted, never heavy. I love using the Dior Stick Foundation, (£48, dior.com) because it’s so flexible. You can keep it really sheer and skin-like, or build it slightly where you want more coverage. I tend to focus it through the centre of the face and blend outwards, so everything still feels fresh.
Subtle sculpting & seamless concealing
To add shape without anything looking obvious, I use the m.ph by Mary Phillips Underpainting Face Highlight & Contour Palette (£76, glowtrend.co.uk ). It is one of my favourites to sculpt and warm the skin underneath and over foundation for a natural but polished finish. For concealing the Armani Luminous Silk Concealer is brilliant, it never looks dry or heavy, and gives the perfect amount of coverage (£39, armanibeauty.co.uk)
Adding the glow factor: natural flush & glowing skin
I’ll then add Rhode Pocket Blush in Freckle, (£25, rhodeskin.com) for warmth and a natural flush. I like to apply this on my forehead and nose, as well as my cheeks to give that healthy glow that’s needed in the winter. I will then finish the base with Vieve Skin Dew (£24, cultbeauty.co.uk) to deliver that gorgeous glossy radiance to the skin, tapping it onto the high points of the face to catch the light perfectly.
Modern brows: defined but never overdone
For my brows I use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pen, (£26, spacenk.com) to create super-light hair strokes, before brushing through Refy Brow Tint Gel, (£18, reybeauty.com) for added texture and definition. It gives that clean, modern finish without looking too perfect.
Elevated eyes: it’s got to be subtle sparkle for NYE
Eyes are where I like to add a little extra sparkle on New Year’s Eve. The Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wardrobe in Victoria (£71, spacenk.com) is perfect for this. The shades are timeless and elegant, but you can build them up to create drama. I love to add a little of the sparkly gunmetal shade along the lash line for a sexy, sultry look.
For liner, I love the Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa, (£32, victoriabeckhambeauty.com). It compliments this palette perfectly, gives instant depth and a little sparkle without feeling harsh or heavy. I will finish with a couple of layers of Armani Eyes to Kill Classico Mascara, (£34, armanibeauty.co.uk) It gives amazing definition and volume without clumping and takes away the need for false lashes.
The finishing touch: defined, glossy lips
To finish the look I will define my lips with my favourite Makeup Forever Lip Liner in Anywhere Caffeine, (£20, cultbeauty.co.uk). It’s one of those shades that works on so many people and perfectly enhances your lips. A slick of Pat McGrath Labs Lust Gloss in Blitz Gold (£28, lookfantastic.com) adds festive sparkle.
And there you have Francesca’s New Year's Eve look, which isn’t about doing more, but making smart tweaks to keep makeup modern, refined and effortlessly polished all night.
