Expert Skin Care

Tinsel on your Christmas tree. Sequins on your blouse. Why not a little sparkle in your makeup? This season, holiday makeup is all about two things: jewel tones and metallics. New aqua blues, apple greens and rich purples line cosmetic store shelves next to silvers and golds. And glitter -- glitter is everywhere.

The color trend is not just for juniors. "More mature women shouldn't be afraid to play with color," says Megan Osborne, color consultant and makeup artist at Sephora at the Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tenn. "Browns and earth tones will tend to make you look older, so it's still fine to go with grays and soft blues, as long as they're matte."

But what if you just can't resist a little sparkle, especially for a holiday party? "I don't think any woman is too old to wear glitter on her lid as a liner," Osborne says.

Be brave. Experiment. Here are a few tips and products to try.

Too Faced Shimmer Veils Eyeshadow

($18.50, Sephora)

• Try the gold color, Firefly, if you have brown or green eyes. The silver Unicorn Tears will flatter blue or gray eyes.

• Younger women can coat the entire eyelid with this shadow. For extra glamour and staying power, use any complementary color as a base first.

• For older women, "the best way to wear them is as a liner on the lash line," Osborne says. "It brings a pop. It's noticeable and it's pretty."

Lorac Multi-Platinum Palette

($37, Sephora)

• If you'd rather leave the shine to your accessories, pick up this stylish palette of six shadows and a blush.

• "I love that palette. It's very transitional from day to night," Osborne says. "Use the neutral colors during the day, and add the liners at night. Use the blue or black as liners or as crease colors."

L'Oreal Hip Color Truth Cream Eyeliner

($11.99, CVS)

• This intense cream eyeliner comes in several colors, including Midnight Blue, Teal and Eggplant, and has a professional brush for application.

• Use a thin line for daytime, then double the thickness at night. Cream eyeliners "are smudge-able and have staying power," Osborne says.

• For an extra-smoky eye at night, Osborne suggests applying cream eyeliner all over the lid, then smudging with your finger.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Babes Big & Healthy Lip Polish

($28, Sephora)

• A gift set of four sparkling plumpers will make your lips tingle and glow.

• Wear the gloss alone or layer it over lipstick. "My favorite one is Starr," Osborne says. "It's a berry color with a beautiful gold shimmer on top."

• Bonus: These glosses smell like baked goods. "Not all lip plumpers are sweet," Osborne says. "Women love the cake scent."

Firstly lets explore how to get a cleavage to die for, without the aid of an expensive and painful boob job. Some of the bras out on the high-street are really great value and what's more, give you all the support and lift you'll need to create the illusion of bigger boobs.

Once you've been fitted with a killer cleavage bra, draw a line between your boobs with liquid concealer and blend outwards. The highlighting will create shadows, which will ultimately make your boobs look bigger. Don't go mad with the concealer though, otherwise you could end up with some tell tale make-up stains on your dress.

Next, how about plumping up your pout, without the use of collagen? Nothing says sexy like a pair of lips that look defined and plumped up against the rest of your look. There are plenty of lip plumping lipsticks out there from as cheaply as £1.99, but if you want to be even more clever, then why not invest in some cinnamon oil?

No, we've not gone mad! cinnamon oil is the ingredient present in most lip plumping glosses, so why not skip the expense and head to your local health food store and pick up a bottle. Simply dab on to your lips and let the magic begin...

Dry shampoo is also a party fave at this time of year, especially if you have to go straight from office to party with no time to glam up. Simply spritz onto your hair, leave for a few minutes and then brush or comb out and style as normal.

Lastly, why not protect your feet this hectic party season with a celebrity favourite, Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream? At £20 it's a bit pricey but it's a cream that can be used for pretty much anything including your lips, brows and cheeks at a highlighter.

In this instance, simply rub some onto your heels before slipping into your party shoes to help prevent them rubbing. The cream should act as a barrier between your heels and your shoes, so fingers crossed you can dance the night away minus that pesky blister pain.

Tip one: always exfoliate, shave and wax 24 to 48 hours before tanning. Use a salt and jasmine scrub (€25) from Cristalle Beauty to make your skin feel squeaky clean.

Tip two: never moisturise before tanning as it acts as a skin barrier and inhibits the DHA from developing properly. Only moisturise problem areas like elbows, knees and ankles.

Tip three: always use a glove or a mitt to get the best coverage and apply in quick circular motions. Wash hands afterwards to avoid staining around the knuckles and nails, which are two bad tanning telltales.

Tip four: avoid showering or exercising for eight hours and avoid washing your hands if possible.

Tip five: avoid tight clothing, bras with straps, socks and white clothing whilst your tan is developing.

Tip six: shower after eight hours to remove the tan residue. Use no exfoliant shower gels and keep the skin moisturised to keep your glowing tan.