Thanksgiving might just be my favorite holiday. It’s combines everything I love: family, friends, food and pure coziness. I just feel so nostalgic during this time of the year, so much so that I can’t even walk into a Starbucks and see the signs for their Pumpkin Spice Latte without getting teary-eyed about missing my family. I thought about the beauty “look” for this particular holiday, and ultimately, it’s about being confortable and feeling beautiful. I mean, lets be honest, if you are going to be stuffing down that stuffing, you might as well feel gorgeous.
This year, I have decided to forgo my typical (lazy) makeup-free face and try something a bit more polished, but at the same time totally effortless, lets call it Thanksgiving Chic. These are the TOP 5 essentials needed to nail the CHICEST Thanksgiving look:
1. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Train Bleu or Dragon Girl, $32, Available on Beauty.com & Nars
Thanksgiving day is the perfect time to rock the red lip. Lucky for me, I discovered the BEST RED LIP on a recent visit to the Dannijo offices (Glow Girls coming soon!) from my friend (and one half of jewelry powerhouse, Dannijo), Danielle Snyder. Her go-to red is a combination of Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in Train Bleu (a deep aubergine) and Dragon girl (a vivid siren red). Together they create the most beautiful sultry red that is perfect for Thanksgiving. For the how-to on the red lip, read here!
2. Hourglass Illume Crème to Powder Bronzer Duo, $40, Available at Space NK
On thanksgiving, a little healthy glow is all you need. Post skincare routine and possibly a little BB Cream, I will take my trusty Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Brush and apply my latest obsession, Hourglass’s Illume Crème to Powder Bronzer Duo in Bronze Light (sheer champagne beige/ sheer bronze). This multipurpose wonder seamlessly blends into skin for a naturally radiant glow with a soft, velvet finish. The universally flattering bronzer imparts a healthy, natural golden tint, subtly defining and contouring the face. Illume keeps skin looking fresh all day without blotching or streaking. Using the brush, apply the bronzer in the “3” formation, on the upper forehead, right below the cheekbone and right under the jawline. Apply the lighter color with your fingertips on the outside of the eyes, brow bone, brim of nose, and cupids bow.
3. Make Custom Effects Finish, Matte/ Dew, $27, Available at Barneys
Since we will inevitably spend most of the day indoors, cooking, watching football and movies and of course, eating and drinking, you don’t have to worry about the wind. I love a face gloss, but it’s not exactly wind friendly. SO, nothing is better suited for a bold red lip than luminous skin. I love Make’s skin perfector, because it gives you the finish you want, where you want. This chic compact comes with dual-texture formulas (great for travel!) that contain a mattifying gel formula (peach) to reduce the appearance of lines and pores, and a moisturizing formula (pink) that leaves skin hydrated, supple and radiant. Using your fingertips, apply peach formula to areas in need of shine control or matte finish, and the pink formula to areas in where you want moisture or a dewy finish. I will use this over my Hourglass Illume.
4. By Killian Good Girl Gone Bad Eau de Parfum, $245, Available at Net-A-Porter
The holidays are a perfect excuse to find a new fragrance. I mentioned a while back that scent triggers more emotional memories than any of the other five scents, which is why it’s super important to make the right impression. Wear a new scent that will, always and forever, remind of you of this Thanksgiving. Right now I am totally dying over By Killian Good Girl Gone Bad fragrance! The scent is totally addicting. It’s feminine but not overtly floral, combining Rose of May, Jasmine and Indian Tuberose with musky Cedarwood and Amber. The best part is that it comes in the sickest glossy white clutch – an Art Deco-influenced creation inspired by a cigarette case that you can wear the rest of the Holiday season! #needit
5. Jin Soon Coquette, $18, Available at Net-A-Porter
This is the perfect red nail. It’s a sheer classic red. Apply two coats to achieve a perfect and vibrant red color. There is a slightly blueish sheen that I love, making it a cool-red. Make sure to get your pre-thanksgiving manicure on both your hands and nails to go perfectly with your new red lip.
Photos: “The Silk Road,” staring Kate Moss by Mario Testino for Vogue December 2013