Community Wisdom: The Best Products For A Party-Ready Base

Sometimes Christmas parties can feel more like a marathon than a sprint. And, if you’re out celebrating till the early hours, you probably want your makeup to last from the first glass of mulled wine right to the sweaty post-midnight dancefloor. 

Whether you’re opting for a smoky eye or a statement red lip, a good base is key – so, how can you ensure that your makeup is up to the challenge? We called in the experts – our very own Skin + Me fanatics from The Collective – to find out which products have their skin looking great all evening long.

The best party-ready primers

Tamsyn: Beauty Pie Wonderfilter Primer is tinted, light, easy to blend and reflective.

Natalie: Vieve Skin Nova Radiant Makeup Primer keeps my skin hydrated and glowy.

Carrie: Beauty Pie Wonderfilter Brightening Primer and Beauty Pie Wonderfilter Velvet Finish Primer – I use both of these to give a subtle glow where I need it. The Velvet Primer is great to mattify and blur my T-zone.

Nicole: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer helps my makeup stay on longer as it makes my skin less oily.

Rada: My pick is Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Balm.

The best party-ready foundations

Jenny: NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser looks consistently good and lasts a while before oxidising.

Carrie: Boots No. 7 Beauty Balm is really subtle – it doesn’t look like I’m wearing anything but it evens out my skin tone.

Nicole: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation leaves a natural finish and a slight glow which looks really pretty.

Janette: Hourglass Foundation stays in place for hours and it’s vegan.

Rada: Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation is not overly dewy or matte, does not cling to dry patches and makes skin look beautiful and flawless. Elizabeth Arden makes wonderful foundations that also have skin-caring ingredients in them.

Zoe: I think NARS Light Reflecting Foundation is the perfect amount of dewy without being shiny, even as someone with oily skin. I also love that it has skincare benefits too!

The best party-ready concealers

Nicole: I tend to just wear concealer where I have hyperpigmentation or scarring. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is very natural looking and easy to use with the applicator. 

Tamsyn: e.l.f. Camo Concealer is great value for money. 

Rada: NARS Soft Matte Concealer – it has full coverage and lasts all day. 

Carrie: Trinity London BFF Eye Serum Concealer hydrates and gives a slight conceal, meaning that any heavier concealer I put on top doesn’t cake in my fine lines. The Beauty Pie Superluminous Concealer covers really well. 

Zoe: I use NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for my undereyes and it is the perfect amount of coverage and never creases, even without powder. Also NARS Soft Matte Concealer is the best for covering spots and dark marks! It blends out so seamlessly and you wouldn’t even know you were wearing any concealer. 

The best party-ready powders

Tamsyn: Beauty Pie One Powder – it’s pressed, easy to carry and illuminates my skin. 

Jenny: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder, because of the colour range and how natural it looks.

Nicole: Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder helps control the oil but not to the extent where I look completely matte. My skin still looks a bit glowy after using it which I like and it helps my makeup stay on for longer.

Rada: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Powder keeps oil at bay the longest out of all powders that I have used. 

Carrie: Beauty Pie One Powder Wonder provides great subtle coverage.

The best party-ready setting sprays

Tamsyn: Kat Von D Lock-It Makeup Setting Mist smells nice and works well.

Nicole: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray keeps my makeup lasting for the whole day and has a lovely finish. It also leaves my skin feeling hydrated and smooth. 

Rada: Urban Decay All Nighter – it does what it says on the tin!

Carrie: It’s not really a setting spray, but Beauty Pie Jeju Daily Rehydration Mist offers a great hit of additional hydration when you need it during the day. 

Zoe: Revolution Fix & Glow Setting Spray sets makeup so perfectly with a dewy finish.

How to prep your skin for party makeup

A strong skincare routine can help your makeup sit pretty, and the key is keeping it simple. “With so many products and categories available in the skincare market it’s very easy to be overwhelmed and tempting to have an over-complicated skincare regime,” says Dr Jason Thomson, Head of Medical at Skin + Me. “This is unnecessary, expensive and you risk damaging your skin barrier if you’re applying too many products with powerful active ingredients.” 

Instead, Dr Jason advocates a stripped-back routine which focuses on promoting healthy skin. Prep your skin by using a gentle cleanser, and don’t overload your skin with active ingredients – less is often more. Take your time when applying your skincare, especially if you’re using serums, to allow your skin to fully absorb the goodness and reduce the likelihood of pilling. Your final step before makeup should be a non-comedogenic moisturiser that adds a burst of hydration for a smooth, glowy base. 

And, when the night comes to a close, remember to take off your makeup properly – your skin will thank you for it the next day. “If you’ve worn extra heavy (e.g. high oil content) makeup all day, the main thing to do is ensure you’ve done a good cleanse at the end of the day,” says Dr Jason. “Double cleansing with an oil-based cleanser first followed by a water-based cleanser can be helpful to really make sure you’ve removed all the makeup.” 

Some quotes have been edited for clarity and brevity. Thank you to our community for taking part in this article – join The Collective here.