Office Party Makeover

The holiday season is upon us, and for many women that means lots of parties. But while most affairs offer a place to shine and be glamorous, flirt and be fancy, the office party is not one of them. "The first thing to keep in mind when you go to an office party is that you really are at work," says New York City makeup artist Deborah Grayson. "You may be interacting with your bosses and your bosses' bosses. Don't think of it as partying, think of it as gracious networking."

Here, makeup and style do's and don'ts from Deborah to keep you on track at your office party:

Do add gleam. Sparkly chunks of gold and silver will look over-the-top, but there are numerous products that add a sheer gleam and a little dazzle to eyelids without being too sparkly. Among my favorites are Studio Stick from Ramy, Go-Wink liquid eye shadow by Estee Lauder and Luminous Pearl eye pencil by Shu Uemura. These will leave a subtle colored gleam across the lid. Use an extra-light touch if you're applying them over eye shadow.

Don't add glitter. Glitter and sparkle on the eyes (or anywhere on your body) is more about "party" than "office." Save it for your New Year's Eve soiree.

Do wear a brighter lipstick. Even a subtle change in your lipstick shade can dress up your look significantly. Treat yourself to a slightly brighter shade, or enliven the shade you normally use by adding a layer of another more vivid tone. If you normally wear plum, for example, try adding a layer of crimson on for a slight gleam.

Don't wear lip gloss. Matte lipsticks will last longer and are better suited to eating and drinking on your feet. Gloss will end up on your glass. Also, shiny lips may seem a little too sexy in some corporate headquarters.

Do get a manicure. Your hands say so much about you. At an office party when you'll be shaking hands, holding drinks and eating, it's best to keep your polish subtle. Essie's pale pink shade Ballet Slippers or Deborah Lippmann's Treat Me Right Treatment Set will look pretty and professional on everyone.

Don't paint your nails fire engine red. I know, I know, it's a holiday! I love red polish too, but your goal at an office party is not to be the life of the party, it's to remain the responsible professional you are. At a work event, with the CEO of your company mingling, neutral nails are the way to go.

Do look like yourself. The ideal office party look should match your "best" day at work. Look like the pulled together, the unfussy, basically, the all-encompassing professional that you are.

Don't get too fancy. Don't radically change your style, especially your hair. If you look too formal, you'll most likely feel out of place. Remember, whether you're in a restaurant, a hotel lounge or even dancing, if you're at an office party you're in a professional place.

source from http://makeovers.ivillage.com