5 tips for a seamless desk-to-dance floor transformation this festive season

WHEN it comes to parties, we can all agree that getting ready is half the fun, but in the run-up to Christmas, when mid-week soirees mean we don’t have the luxury of lazy afternoons to primp and preen, the pressure really is on.

A little planning goes a long way, however, and with the right prep and products, you can transition from office to out on the town with ease — and keep your festive beauty mojo popping along with the Champagne corks.

Here are five tips and a dozen daily essentials that will help you sail through party season...

READ NEXT Celebrities pick the book that had the most impact on their lives1. EASY AS NAILS:

A UV-cured manicure is your best bet for polish that will make it through the 12 days of Christmas chip-free, but if you haven’t got time to get to the salon, a DIY gel-effect polish, like DIOR Vernis True colour, €25, will still go the distance. You need a shade that will complement all your outfits, so dark or nude is best, and the Dior collection has plenty to pick and choose from (boots.ie).

Fancy a quick change? Nails Inc’s innovative new Paint Can Spray Nail Polish, €12, cuts your mani time in half. Paint on a clear base coat, spray Hoxton Market liberally, finish with a top coat and wash the excess off for a hot pink hand makeover in minutes (brownthomas.ie).

2. A BREATH OF FRESH HAIR:

December can take its toll on our bank balances and sometimes, a visit to your colourist just isn’t an option. But you needn’t worry about revealing regrowth, because there are now a plethora of root cover-up products on the market.

Most come as a powder or spray, but Kazumi Root Varnish, €42, is a gel formula that can be brushed onto wet or dry hair, allowing greater precision in five shades, from blonde to black (boots.ie).

If lacklustre locks are a problem, dry shampoo will give them a new lease of life pre-party (or pep them up the morning after).

Aveda’s new Shampure Dry Shampoo, €28, is a powder that you massage into your roots then brush out, adding volume and a fresh scent (brownthomas.ie).

3. BODY BEAUTIFUL:

We do more than our fair share of dashing around in December, so keep a can of Sure Women Crystal Invisible Black & White, currently reduced to €1.60 from €3.20 (tesco.ie), on hand, to freshen up while changing into your evening attire. Crucially, it won’t leave marks, whether you’re in an LBD or a white tux jacket.

Going tights-free in the deep mid-winter can be somewhat terrifying, but Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Tan Glow, €13.99, will allay your flesh-baring fears. The spray-on lotion blurs, smoothes and adds a hint of colour and sheen (boots.ie).

4. MULTITASKING MAKE-UP:

If your desk becomes your dressing table right about now, a strict cosmetic edit is a must.

A palette will save you carting round a mountains of make-up, while also giving you flexibility to chop and change your look, should the mood take you.

Yves Saint Laurent Kiss & Love Makeup Palette, €75 offers interchangeable eye, lip and cheek options in a sweet kiss-print compact (debenhams.ie).

Pair it with Ecotools Mini Essentials Brush Set, €7.50, to create seductive eye make-up looks and perfectly flushed cheeks (boots.ie).

When boozy lunches have a tendency to bleed into cocktail hour and beyond, you need a lipstick that just won’t quit.

Laura Mercier’s Velour Lovers Lip Colour, €30, comes in 12 matte shades of saucy-sounding colours, like hot pink Boudoir and Foreplay (the brightest red), the colour pay off matched only by its staying-power.

Can’t decide on one shade?MAC Irresistibly Charming Pink Lip Gloss Kit, €35, consists of a quartet of rosy hues in handbag-ready mini tubes (brownthomas.ie).

5. BRIGHT IDEAS:

We can’t cure your hangover (sorry), but there are ways to hide the evidence of your festive excess.

Halo Eye Make Up Remover Pads, €1.90, are soft, perfectly sized and soaked with lotion, so wiping away panda eyes is a breeze (superdrug.com).

If that’s not enough to get those eye-bags to budge, try a couple of Masque Bar Dark Circle Reducer Eye Patches, €9 for five pairs (boots.ie). Keep them in the fridge to boost their post-party potential.