Today we'll show you how to prep before and after a party! It's that season again where we tend to eat a little too much, drink a little too much, and spend like crazy. Fortunately, you can at least keep your holiday party looks in check with some much-needed pre and post-party preparations. So if you're hitting up a few parties this holiday season, make sure your makeup stays put all through the night and that in the morning, you look as fresh as ever.

How to Prep Before and After a Party

Pre-Party Prep

Prep Your Skin

Before applying all your makeup, make sure your skin is clean and exfoliated. Use a good, gentle exfoliator and rub onto face in slow, circular motions. The circular motions will ensure good blood circulation and the exfoliating will remove dead skin cells, revealing a bright, new complexion. If you have sensitive skin, use synthetic formulas which don't contain coarse sugar granules of fruit seeds. Synthetic types have round spheres, not irregular ones, and are much less abrasive. After you've exfoliated both face and body, moisturize from head to toe. If you have dry skin, look for moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid which plumps up the moisture in the skin. According to dermatologists, any important ingredient you're looking for in a product, must be listed within the first five ingredients, or else you're not getting much of it.

Prep Your Face

So how do celebs get that long-lasting, glowing look? Their makeup artists use silicone-based primers because not only do they help keep your makeup stay put all night, but also fill in fine lines, minimize large pores, and correct dry, uneven skin patches as well as redness. So, even though they might be a little expensive, it's definitely a makeup prep tool you'll wanna have. Next, apply a good foundation that won't clog your pores and  will have a long-wear formula. Also, remember that the more foundation you apply, the more you'll have to worry about it coming off…so try to use a minimal amount. Finally, use a powder on oily areas such as chin, nose, and forehead to minimize oiliness.

Prep Your  Eyes

If there is one thing I hate about eyeshadow is that it doesn't always stay put, and by the end of the night, you end up with an ugly looking crease. That being said, lay off the cream eyeshadows which are major crease-creators. Instead, invest in a good eyeshadow palette that has staying power. Also, before applying your eyeshadow, prep your peepers by dabbing on a little foundation followed by powder. This will absorb all of the excess oil and will ensure a long stay for your shadows. Finally, apply iridescent powder shadows to illuminate your eyes and give you a nice shimmer all night long.

Prep Your Lips

Lipgloss for a night out can be as annoying as nails on a chalkboard. Everytime you take a sip of anything, your lipgloss will rub off and you'll have to reapply again. Not only does that look disgusting on your glass, but it's also a drag. So instead, why not stock up on lip stains which are great because they don't rub off, and they have ultimate staying powder. So eat, drink, laugh, and dance all night long without worrying about retouching your lipgloss/lipstick.

Post-Party Prep

Skin

So now the party's over, but the party on your skin is just beginning. This is a crucial moment for your skin because that's when we tend to break out, so it's super important to remove all traces of makeup before going to bed. If you're too tried, just use a couple of makeup-removing towelettes to get rid of all the dirt and makeup. When you wake up, make your own super-hydrating mask to soothe the previous night's damage. Take a glob of regular moisturizer and heat it up in a microwavable dish for five seconds. Lay it on thick and remove it with a dry washcloth using slow, circular motions. Treat your puffy eyes with a cold eye pack or cucumbers which will help increase blood flow and remove extra fluid.

Makeup

Now that your skin's feeling much better, add some color to it. Use a creamy pink blush on the apples of your cheeks which will give you a nice, healthy glow. If your eyelashes look dry and brittle, treat them to some petroleum jelly which will help to keep them lush and healthy.

And that's all there is to it! It might seem like a lot, but once you get into the routine of doing this, your skin will thank you majorly!

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