Ethical Christmas party beauty tips
For many of us, Christmas is a time of magic, excitement, parties and all things twinkly, so get your glitz on and have fun with your beauty routine this season.
Christmas equals glitter. There’s nothing like a twinkly eye liner or nail polish to conjur up seasonal magic. Now I have to be honest with you, I’m afraid there is no such thing as glitter that isn’t bad for the environment in some way. Even the ones labelled ‘eco’ or ‘biodegradeable.’ However, some are slightly better than others. Biodegradeable glitter, although not the eco warrior it’s made out to be, tends to be made of plant cellulose as opposed to the traditional single use plastic, which of course should be swerved at all costs. Be warned however, that biodegradeable can mean that it can only degrade under certain conditions, it can possibly take years and even decades, and often only in an industrial facility. If you must have your glitter, you have a better chance of causing less twinkly harm if you choose a product like Eco Stardust’s Bio Glitter Beauty Balm. Dab a little balm on top of cheekbones, shoulders and décolleté for a subtle shimmer. If you’re after a more sparkly sparkle, use the balm to hold biodegradable loose glitter in place. Brands like EcoStardust, Wild Glitter and Eco Glitter Fun have amazing fun colours and shapes to choose from.
For a more subtle take on Christmas twinkle, Nourish London’s vegan Illuminating Face Shimmer can be applied anywhere on the face, or added to your moisturiser or foundation. It’s Soil Association certified so the ingredients in this shimmer are as good as it gets. Team with lots of Au Naturale vegan mascara and some Bloomtown palm oil free vegan tinted lip balm for a paired down glowy Christmas look. If you want to add a bit of a festive nod, but still keep it simple, I love Milk Make Up Star Tattoo Stamp. Dot this black star on your cheeks, the outer corner of your eye or anywhere that takes your fancy.
A paired down party look, whilst everyone else is drenched in tinsel, is always very chic, but the festive season demands that you give red lipstick a go. If you’d prefer to dip your toe into red, rather than dive in head first, try Seeds Of Colour Natural Colour Balm in shade Berry Red. The effect is a wash of sheer red rather than an opaque block of colour. For those of you well versed in the glamour of red lipstick, try something a little different like adding a layer of clear iridescent gloss over the top like the Folly Fire shade Astral Trip. This will give a gorgeous shimmer, making lips look fuller and more lustrous for those Christmas parties.
If you’re like me, a few cocktails will be consumed at Christmas time, so it’s important to keep skin well prepped and hydrated. Pop on a layer of Pai’s Rosehip BioRegenerate Rapid Radiance Mask, or Juice Beauty’s Antioxidant Mask while you’re wrapping presents, and add in an effective serum to your routine. I’m loving Merumaya’s vegan Iconic Youth Serum. I know everyone loves a sheet mask, but I tend to avoid them, as the pesky packaging is an environmental no no. If you do insist on using them, opt for more ethical packaging options like Natura masks, or Bio Membrane Restore Eye Masks from Haeckels. Made to order so there’s no waste, these eye masks are dried so there’s no need for wasteful individual packaging. Simply place the eye masks in water to rehydrate and because they are made from agar, they are compostable in your garden.
Last but not least, I know it sounds like a broken record, but the best beauty tip for the party season is to drink lots of water and try not to get too stressed. Keep hydrated and enjoy the champagne!