Chanel guru and makeup artist Angela Levin on party primping

Tips from a makeup pro for creating a gorgeous— but understated—party face

“No matter who you are or what you think of yourself, there is a movie star in each and every person,” muses celebrity makeup artist and Ambassador for the Chanel brand, Angela Levin. The beauty pro has put her magic touch on Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston and Michelle Williams, among others.

Angela, who has been nominated for three Emmy awards, including for HBO’s Big Little Lies, believes holiday makeup calls for more intense colors, dramatic lashes and a little shimmer. Below, the Valley Village resident offers makeup suggestions for a festive evening.

EYELIDS

Decide on a color family and purchase a four-color palette, such as Chanel Les 4 Ombres or Neutrogena Nourishing Longwear. Use darker shades in the lid crease and lighter ones as an accent in the corner of the eye and under the brow.

PRO TIP: Reduce under-eye puffiness with Angels Makeup Intensive Collagen Pads, available at Naimies and Nigel’s Beauty Emporium.
brows

Brush brows up and down. Fill in with a fine pencil such as Anastasia Brow Wiz. Select a shade lighter than your hair color.

PRO TIP: Avoid brows that look stamped on.

LASHES

Use a mascara with lengthening ingredients and apply up to four coats for the fullest, longest lashes.

PRO TIP: Use an eyelash curler. Brush through each coat with a tiny metal comb before mascara dries.

CHEEKS

After applying foundation, dot cream blush on cheeks upwards from where you naturally blush and blend gently. Use a large brush to apply translucent powder. Follow with bronzer—such as Chanel Healthy Glow or Neutrogena Healthy Skin. Dot shimmer, like Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight or Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer in Pink Shimmer.

PRO TIP: Apply shimmer at top of cheekbones, under eyebrow arch, between brows, along top of nose and middle of chin.