Elsa McAlonan’s Beauty Upgrades: How to dress up your eyes for Zoom Christmas parties

WHAT’S NOW & HOW TO DO IT: ZOOM EYES

Being bold with blue liner is the easiest way to dress up your eyes for Zoom Christmas parties — and if you wore it in the 1980s, you’ll know how brightening it is.

If you’re feeling brave, Collection Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Liner in Shake It Up is ultra-glittery. You can use it above the eyelid, too.

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Looking for a last-minute stocking filler? Aldi has a new trio of luxurious eyeshadow palettes — Naturals Two, Naturals Smoky and this one, Naturals Nectar. It features 12 warm shades, ranging from matte cream and chocolate to shimmering bronze and gold — perfect for both neutral, everyday looks and evening glamour. It comes with a built-in mirror and double-ended brush, too. 

aldi.com 

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ROSIE’S LUXE ROOMSCENT  

Given that we’ve all been stuck at home 24/7, perhaps it’s no surprise sales of scented candles have skyrocketed this year. 

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a fan of the luxurious candles by Cire Trudon, one of the world’s oldest candlemakers. 

Perfect for the festive season, the comforting scent of the brand’s Ernesto candle (£75 for 270g, harrods.com) blends tobacco, leather, and amber with notes of rum, grapefruit, bergamot, clove, oak and patchouli.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (pictured) is a fan of the luxurious candles by Cire Trudon, one of the world’s oldest candlemakers

THIS WORKS 

Vitamin C is a tried and trusted ingredient in skincare, and now it’s being used to transform dull, lacklustre hair, too. The star product of the new vitamin C-enriched Charles Worthington ShinePlex collection is the Glossing Mist, which keeps hair looking shiny and frizz-free all day, while helping to prevent breakage.

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SHOULD I PLUCK HAIRS ABOVE MY BROWS?  

No — when you’re shaping brows, you should only pluck hairs below them, never above.

Fides Baldesberger, founder of Swiss tweezer brand Rubis, warns against plucking above the brow, as this will mean ‘you’ll lose its natural shape’, adding: ‘If you’re not someone with a steady hand, stencilling your brow shape on with a brow pencil can give you a guideline which will help you keep within the parameters.’

Good tweezers are a must. Try the award-winning Tweezerman Slant Tweezers (£21.95, boots.com) or the Rubis Classic Slant Tweezers (£22.50, cultbeauty.co.uk), which are ergonomically shaped for precise plucking, and help to prevent rogue growth at the roots.

3 OF THE BEST HAND CREAMS 

IN YOUR 50s: L’OREAL Paris Restoring Hand SerumCream 

L’OREAL Paris Restoring Hand SerumCream has a glycerin and vitamin B5 formula that repairs hands dried out by washing. It was tested by doctors and nurses at the heart of the Covid crisis. 

In-store at Boots 

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CAREX Derma Care Hand Cream + Anti-Bac is deeply moisturising and easily absorbed. Infused with sanitiser, it comes in a travel size to protect you on the go. 

sainsburys. co.uk 

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DOVE Pro Age Nourishing Hand Cream is formulated for mature skin. Vitamin B3 and olive oil nourish dry hands, while alpha hydroxy acids reduce the look of dark spots. 

superdrug.com 

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SHAMELESS INDULGENCE

With an eye-watering price tag of £250, Guerlain’s The Rouge G Prestige Limited Edition is among the world’s most costly lipsticks. Why so pricey? 

Well, the dazzling case has been created by jeweller Lorenz Baumer, who designed Princess Charlene of Monaco’s wedding tiara. It features a bee — the symbol of the House of Guerlain — embellished with rhinestones, all of which have been applied by hand. 

The brick red shade suits all skin tones, and the satin formula contains hyaluronic acid and guggul resin (sap from an Indian guggul tree) to plump up lips; soothing jojoba butter; and reflective silver microcrystals for an intense shine. 

Whether that makes it worth £250 remains to be seen, but it’s most certainly a shameless indulgence.