Bobbi Brown shares her holiday beauty secrets
Glow through the season, feeling like YOU, at your most fabulously (and effortlessly) festive.
I’m super-excited to welcome to The Midlife Beauty Edit for a special holiday edition!
Bobbi was of our first expert guests at the MBE, and I’m so excited she’s back to talk about shining through the party season, Bobbi-style.
Think minimal fuss, maximum fabulous makeup hacks to help you shine, and, above all, feel like YOU! Get Bobbi’s take on ageless beauty, style and wellbeing all year round at her wonderful Substack, Bobbi Brown, where she also shares lifestyle tips from her home and family life, plus the behind-the-scenes scoop on her ever-expanding Jones Road beauty empire (an MBE favourite!).
A holiday glow starts with the skin.
“Starting with well-hydrated, moisturized skin is key to making everything look its best,” says Bobbi.
As for product choices, steering towards formulas with a more subtle shimmer or sparkle, rather than chunky glitters, is a good choice for midlife skin. “The best advice is to ensure that any matte or sparkly products are forgiving on dry skin or areas with skin issues,” advises Bobbi.
When it comes to shimmery or matte makeup, think sheer and buildable.
“When I develop formulas with either of these textures, I prioritize adding a touch of transparency to make them easier to wear and more versatile,” says Bobbi (as I mentioned in Party Tricks at the MBE last week, Jones Road’s already-iconic Miracle Balms in Happy Hour and Magic Hour give skin the most gorgeous touch of shimmer, illuminating cheekbones, brow bones, clavicle—wherever you want to spotlight. And the formula has serious staying power).
For the freshest wash of modern shimmer on eyelids, try going for a neutral colour that’s been given a holiday glow-up. Jones Road’s The Best Eyeshadow in So Pretty, for example, is a wearable taupe, finished with a layer of sheer silver (no mixing or blending required).
For the most even application, dip a soft eyeshadow brush into your colour, tapping off the excess product before sweeping onto the lids (the fluffier the eyeshadow brusher, the sheerer the finish you’ll get. With a denser brush head, you’ll get more coverage from the first sweep).
Want to go more glittery?
“I’m pretty obsessed with our Sparkle Wash eyeshadow—it gives a gorgeous, glass-like finish and stays put once it’s on,” says Bobbi. “It’s super pretty, and I love using it on my eyes. Sometimes, I even add a little extra to the tops of my cheeks for a subtle, radiant glow.”
Don’t switch bases
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix the foundation, so to speak.
Whether or not you’re starting your makeup from scratch, or tweaking things for an evening transformation, Bobbi suggests sticking with the base products that work for your skin, all the time.
“Even for a bold evening or party makeup look, I love keeping the basics the same—like correctors and foundations,” says Bobbi.
How to dial-up the glam?
“To make it feel more festive, swap your brown eyeliner for black and build up your medium-toned eyeshadow, whether it’s a rich brown or smoky gray, to add more definition," she advises.
“Apply a few extra coats of black mascara, layer on some sparkle highlighter, and add an extra touch of blush on your cheeks beneath your favorite highlight texture.”
Smoky eyes, made effortless
Want to go smoky? “The easiest and most effective way to achieve a smoky eye is by using a layering technique,” explains Bobbi.
“Start with a lighter shade and gradually build depth as you go. The darkest color should be concentrated near the lash line and gently smudged for a soft, blended look. Whether you choose brown, gray, or black is entirely up to your preference and style!”
The perfect party lip …
is the one that feels like you, at your most festive (holiday red optional).
“For lips, the choice is yours—go bolder, brighter, or add a touch of sparkle,” suggests Bobbi.
“Adjusting your makeup for a low-light setting is all about enhancing key features with just a little extra.”
How to get a fresh-but-festive look? “The most modern way to wear a red lip is as a balm or tint that you can apply directly from the tube,” says Bobbi.
If you’ve been following the MBE for a while, you’ll know that I’m all about the lip glosses, tinted balms and oils—and I know many of you are the same way. One of my own JR favourites is Cool Gloss, a high shine, hydrating lip gloss. I keep a tube of Original, the clear, minty shine, in my bag at all times—it’s great for instantly quenching dry lips, and adding a non-sticky gleam—but the coloured versions are perfect for holiday lips, especially if you’re colour-shy.
“If you have a matte red lipstick, you can make it look softer by blotting it and pressing it onto your bottom lip,” says Bobbi. “Then smack your lips together to create a more natural, pressed-on effect.”
Nailing it
“Personally, I’m not a fan of red lipstick on myself, so I opt for a bright red nail instead—it makes me feel vibrant and polished,” says Bobbi.
(ICYMI, check out How to do your own, holiday-ready gel nails—lamp optional—and 6 of the best festive gel nail polishes—including a review of the new Manucurist cleaner, greener gel nail system, from Paris).
Got a tight turnaround?
Need maximum shine, in minimum time?
“Even if I don’t have time to redo my makeup, I always add a touch of moisture to revive my skin before heading out,” says Bobbi.
“Depending on the day, it might be a bit of moisturizer, Miracle Balm, or, on some days, even an oil stick—especially when my skin feels extra dehydrated from overwork or not drinking enough water. It’s a quick and easy way to bring life back to my look.”
(Noted! One thing I’ve noticed lately is how, especially when I’m rushing around, I’m not drinking enough water—and how much better I feel when I am. How about you? A New Year’s resolution, for sure!)
Just add ✨sparkle✨
What’s Bobbi’s go-to holiday look? “I’m usually drawn to a stronger eye and glowing skin,” she says. “I can easily transform my day makeup from my purse into a party-ready look with just a few tweaks. I’ll amp up my eye makeup using the same daytime eyeshadow, add a few extra coats of mascara, layer on more blush and highlighter, and top it all off with a pair of sparkly earrings.”
But we’re saved Bobbi’s best tip until last:
“Honestly, it doesn’t even matter what I’m wearing—as long as there’s sparkle, it works! A quick refresh with definition and a little confidence, and I’m ready to go.”
Enormous thanks to Bobbi for sharing all her amazing tips, and thank you so much for reading, and hitting ❤️ below this post, which will help hugely in making it more visible on Substack. I appreciate it so much!
Looking for a gift that will keep giving, with glossy midlife beauty news and interviews, celebrity style and more? We’ve got you covered! ↓ 🎁
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Love these tips especially as so many of us wear less makeup but still want to find ways to sparkle and shine!!
I love all these tips! Oh, and I need that gorgeous red lip gloss immediately!