Fireworks night is long gone, but December is the ultimate time for sparkles and dazzling displays… of beauty.

During this month a bit of glitz is not only acceptable but almost compulsory in order to give all those twinkling lights some eye-catching competition.

Thankfully, you don’t have to go OTT with the pots of glitter to look festively glam. A few chic and simple tweaks to your usual routine should have you looking seasonally appropriate before you can say ‘Santa Claus’.

Keep your festive visions realistic. There’s little point making a Christmas wish for a dramatic blow-dry if you’re attempting a desk-to-dance floor makeover and glamming up in the ladies’.

Sparkle like the stars with our guide to looking festively fabulous.

Shimmer and shine

A touch of sparkle never fails to get even the most reluctant party animal in the mood to hit the dance floor.

The younger you are, the more you can use glitter and get away with it. But there are subtle ways to introduce sparkle that won’t leave mature skins resembling a disco ball.

“Neutral metallics such as gold and silver are more understated,” advises make–up artist Jemma Kidd. “Look for a pearlescent finish, which adds light without highlighting creases and wrinkles.”

For maximum impact with minimum effort, try a flash of metal on the eyes by applying metallic liquid eyeliner along the upper lash line. Alternatively, you can layer a glitter gel eyeliner over your usual dark pencil.

To avoid pre-party catastrophes, Kidd suggests: “Always apply glitter or shimmer before making up the rest of your face and dust away any particles before applying your foundation.”

If you’d rather make your mouth the star attraction, focus on a classic Forties look with a festive red lip for grown-up glamour. Matte finishes are more resistant to smudges than gloss if you have grand plans for mistletoe kisses.

Don’t forget a clutch-friendly palette like Urban Decay’s Midnight Emergency Kit, £28 (House Of Fraser) for all your party top-up needs.

Halo hair

‘Tis the season to aim for tresses so high that you can discard your party heels.

Lisa Shepherd, hair expert of TV’s 10 Years Younger, says: “The great news for party queens is that hair is more about the carefully undone ‘do’ than hours of work with the irons.”

For a dramatic look, minus the hours in the hairdresser’s chair, practise your backcombing using a fine-tooth comb, starting at the crown and working backwards. This will add instant oomph to flat hair, and also provide the wow effect for a loose ponytail, possibly the biggest trend this season.

According to Shepherd, this is the ideal style for dance floor divas. “You can choose to go for the cleanest finish by blow-drying hair with a paddle brush for ultimate gloss, then brushing straight back and securing in a smooth pony at the nape. Or secure the pony high on the head for more dance floor swing.”

If you have time, try heated rollers like Mark Hill’s Rock ‘N’ Rollers (currently on sale for £39.99, Boots) to cultivate loose curls while you’re putting the finishing touches to your make-up.

Let it glow

Leave the pasty white skin to the snowmen. Just as you start to get complacent about covering up in all those winter woollies, you have to brave bare skin and flaunt a new party frock. Cue panic.

A glowing base is the ideal foundation for all that sparkle and high gloss.

Add warmth to your skin with a bronzing mousse the night before, or an instant wash-off tan lotion will look just as good on the same day.

Emphasise the areas that will be on show for all those festive photographs with a light dusting of shimmer – a show-stopping look if you’re wearing a strapless dress.

“Shimmer is great for taking your look from day to evening,” says make-up artist Bobbi Brown. “Apply your shimmer with a big brush to highlight collar bones and shoulders.”

If you’re more of a fan of the snow queen complexion, add an icy edge to your look using a product like St Tropez’s Violet Skin Illuminator, £12.26 (www.st-tropez.com).

Blended with your favourite body lotion, the icy blue tones will give your skin a luxe frosty luminosity.

Tried & tested

The Midas touch is the hottest festive trend for talons. Our testers try out the Goldfinger look:

• Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours in Gold Backstage, £1.99 (Superdrug)

4/5

• BD Make-up by Barbara Daly polish in Starlight, £3 (0800 505 555)

4/5

• L’Oreal Paris Resist & Shine Titanium in Molten Gold, £6.12 (0800 030 4032)

3/5

Buy it now

We can’t guarantee the gold (or myrrh), but Neal’s Yard Remedies has delivered one of the Three Wise Men’s offerings with its new scent. Pure Essence Eau de Parfum No.1 Frankincense is the brand’s first foray into fine fragrance. Available now, right on time for stocking filler season, £35 (0845 262 3145/www.nealsyardremedies.com).

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