Christmas Party Makeup – The Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde Palette Edit

Christmas Party Makeup – Mercury Retrograde by Huda Beauty

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In tow with my ‘Party Makeup Looks – Three Palettes, Five Ways‘, here is the Huda Beauty entry. A full-blown blog post with five Christmas party makeup ideas using the Mercury Retrograde Palette. It’s the most colourful palette in our ‘palette-off’ (if you like) and the most pricey, shall we see how I got on?

*This post contains affiliate links which help cover the running costs of the website at no cost to yourself. If you’d like to learn more about this please see my ‘Disclaimer’ page. Posts are not affiliate driven.

Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde

In the ‘Party Makeup Looks‘ post, you will find a full breakdown of cost per shadow and gram to help work out its value, plus a full description of its packaging.

I’m hoping this post will help you decide if this palette is for you and if you already have it, or receive it as a gift over Christmas, give you some inspiration for makeup looks to create with it. Enjoy!

As I talk about brushes a lot throughout this post, I’ve popped some makeup brush recommendations at the very bottom.

Eyeshadow Performance

 

Longevity

These eyeshadows are a treat, they last the whole night through. There is a little fall out when it comes to the more glittery shades, however, this is to be expected with pigments of this type (be sure to tap excess off brush before applying). They catch the light beautifully and do not fade.

Mattes

The matte shades are creamy, pigmented and layer well. There isn’t much fall out at all and they blend very well. The colour range compliments the metalic shadows very well. ‘Crash‘ and ‘Karma’ read much more pinky when applied than in the pan.

Metalics

Well hello you little delight you…! These metalics are quite the tease! They allow you to transform an eye look into a party look in moments with a metalic finish that gives a sheen akin to petrol.

‘Ultra Violet‘ was a little tricky at first (I have read others who have had similar issues with this particular shadow), it needed the top layer breaking through before you really got down to the creamy pigment and found excellent payoff.

‘SuperNova‘ is my favourite, it is just divine (you’ll see this shade in look 4)!

Glitter

A nice glitter shadow that is a mix of fine and medium sized pieces. It applies well without needing an adhesive and is a very pretty shade that works with all looks.

Reflective shadows

‘Gold Glitch‘ and ‘Nebula‘ I believe are the reflective shadows. These are like a fine glitter shadow. They can be patted on to give a pretty, sheer reflective glaze or built up for a more impactful all over tone.

Swatches

Makeup Look 1 Lilac Love

Step 1: With a fluffy brush, apply ‘Crash‘ into the crease and out into a soft blend.

Step 2: Take ‘Karma‘ and deepen the shadow in the crease.

Step 3: On a dense brush, push ‘Libra‘ all over the mobile lid being sure to soften the edges into the other shadows.

Step 4: Using a pencil brush, softly apply ‘Karma‘ into the lower lash line. Soften the edge this shadow with a touch of ‘Crash‘.

You can finish this look here with lots of mascara and some eyeliner in the lash line. If you’d like to take it further, here’s what I did next.

Step 5: Using a blendable brown eyeliner (I used Chanel eyeliner 943 Brun Agapé) draw a thick line and blend upwards, smudging well, using ‘Vortex’ to blend the edges into the shadow, creating a lovely transition of shades from deep smokey liner to lilac.

Step 6: I used a black waterproof eyeliner (Daniel Sandler’s Waterproof eyeliner) in my upper water line and a brown kohl liner (Mac’s Kohl in Costa Riche) in my bottom water line and through my lower lashes, smudging it out with the same brush I used on the top lashes which has left overs of ‘Votex’, the deepest purple shadow (I didn’t add any more to the brush).

Lips: Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in ‘JK Magic’ + Lip Cheat Lip Liner ‘Iconic Nude’.

Makeup Look 2 Lovin’ The Blues

This is a real Christmas party makeup look! I decided to build on the previous look for two reasons, one as it’s a nice way to show how to take a look from matte to full on glitter glam and two, well because I am permanently low on energy! This was very quick to do given we already had our base look down.

Had I not already had the previously eye makeup on, I simply would have started with ‘Karma‘ in the crease and blended that out, doing the same in the lower lashes. I would also add ‘Vortex’ to the lower lash line softly.

Step 1: Using a dense brush apply ‘Ultra Violet‘ all over the mobile lid, building up shadow for intensity and softening the edges to blend into the previous shadow.

Step 2: Blend a little of ‘Ultra Violet‘ into the outer corner of the lower lashes.

Step 3: Take ‘Nebula’ on a dense brush and apply to the centre of the mobile lid.

Step 4: Using a very small brush apply ‘Galaxy’ to the inner corners.

Step 5: Take ‘Vortex’ on a smudger brush and push into the upper lash line creating a liner with the shadow.

Apply black eyeliner to the upper water liner and brown eyeliner to the bottom water line. I used Daniel Sandler waterproof black eyeliner and Mac Kohl liner in Costa Riche.

Lips: I used a taupe eyeshadow in the corners of my lips + Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat liner in ‘Iconic Nude’ + blended it together with Inglot’s JLO gold lipgloss.

Makeup Look 3 Golden Eyes

Step 1: Take ‘Utopia‘ on a fluffy blending brush (Zoeva 228) and blend into the crease and outwards softening the edge. Do the same on the lower lash line, I like to use a pencil brush for this (as they are dense and smaller so better suited to this area).

Step 2: Using a dense brush (think Zoeva 234) pat on ‘Frazzled‘ (my name sake 😉 ) onto the outer third of both the mobile lid and the lower lash line.

Step 3: I used my finger to push ‘Gold Glitch‘ onto the inner corner and middle of the mobile lid, building up layers for intensity.

Step 4: Taking ‘Galaxy’, pat around the tear duct area to bring light.

 

To finish off this Christmas party makeup I simply added a waterproof black eyeliner (Daniel Sandler’s Waterproof Kohl) to the upper waterline to tightline. I then applied Maybeline Master Drama 16hr eyeliner in ‘Brownie Glitz’, a gorgeous bronzey-brown, to my bottom waterline and lash line making sure to blend it out. Then I applied a little to the outer third of my upper lash line, blending it into a smokey line.

Lips: Dior Diorific Mat lipstick in ‘Elégantè + Charlotte Tilbury Lip cheat liner in ‘Iconic Nude‘.

Makeup Look 4 Duochrome Magic

Simple but fun! Ahh ‘Super Nova‘ shade is one of my favourite’s in the palette, it has a beautiful duochrome finish to it, changing colour as you move.

Step 1: Apply ‘Super Nova‘ all over the mobile lid.

Step 2: Taking ‘Crash‘, blend into the crease and outwards to create definition and shade. Repeat onto the lower lash line.

Step 3: Using a little ‘Vortex‘ on a small brush, blend throughout the outer third of the lower lash line.

Finish with a black waterproof eyeliner in the upper lash line and a brown eyeliner in the lower waterline. I used: Daniel Sandler waterproof eyeliner + Maybeline Master Drama The Nudes 16hr eyeliner in ‘Brownie Glitz’.

Lips: Dior Diorific Mat lipstick in ‘Elégantè + Charlotte Tilbury Lip cheat liner in ‘Iconic Nude‘.

Makeup Look 5

I’ve ended up creating 6 party makeup’s for you because as I was playing creating the 5th I thought ‘ooh! This is quite pretty in itself!‘ So took a quick photo to share! It’s quite haphazard because I intended to applied glitter ontop but I quite like it this way, it’s a little bit more edgy and grungy! Let me know what you think!

Step 1: Take ‘Crash’ on a fluffy blending brush into the socket and outwards to a soft, hazy shadow, creating a nice transition shade. Using a pencil brush, take a little more under the lower lash line.

Step 2: Apply ‘Hot Mess‘ all over the mobile lid, taking it up and blending into the crease.

Step 3: Using a dense brush, take ‘Vortex‘ and apply roughly across the upper lash line, creating lots of definition and depth here and a nice gradient between the two purples.

Step 4: Take a little ‘Vortex‘ into the lower lash line blending well.

Step 5: Using your little finger, dab ‘Cosmic‘ into the very inner corner and tear duct area for brightness.

I already had my previous eyeliner on. This was Daniel Sandler waterproof eyeliner in ‘Black’ in the upper waterline + Maybeline Master Drama 16hr Eyeliner in ‘Brownie Glitz’ in the bottom waterline.

How effective is that?

Lips: Dior Diorific Mat lipstick in ‘Elégantè + Charlotte Tilbury Lip cheat liner in ‘Iconic Nude‘.

Extra Makeup Look No 6 Glitzy Glintz

The Brucey Bonus! And for the finale! I wanted to play with ‘Mercury‘, the palette’s namesake but wanted to ensure it had the best impact possible. Therefore I started with the dark base in look 5. If you didn’t want to begin with all these steps, simply applying ‘Crash‘ as a transition shade in the crease would be sufficient.

Step 1: Press ‘Mercury‘ all over the mobile lid layering for impact.

Step 2: Taking ‘Nebula‘ on a small brush, pop a little in the centre of the lower lash line.

Step 3: With a small, fine brush, take ‘Vortex‘ and blend into the outer third corner of both the upper and lower lashline.

Step 4: Using your little finger, dab ‘Supermoon‘ onto the inner corner tear duct area for a pop of light.

I finished this glittery Christmas party makeup look with a black waterproof eyeliner in my upper and lower lash line.

Lips: Charlotte Tilbury Lip cheat lipliner in ‘Iconic Nude‘ all over the lips + Inlgot’s JLO gold lip gloss on top.

All In All

Wrap me up in a bow, I’m sparkly and ready for Christmas! This is what the Mercury Retrograde palette does for me. It is fun, creative and full of the party spirit. The shadows are easy to work with (minor marks aside) and party makeup looks can be created quickly and last the night through. There is room to play with many combinations of textures and colours, to add bright shades to day time makeup and jazz up for nights out.

This palette is for those who like to play, for those who want to play. It’s fun and it’s fab. It’s perfect to create a multitude of New Year and Christmas party makeup looks! I for one, am in love!

It’s taken me to a galaxy far, far away…

 

You can find a full comparison of the three palettes, Zoeva Spice Of Life, Bobbi Brown Love In The Afternoon, Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde over in the ‘Three Palettes, Five Ways‘ post.

Also, run downs of the individual posts here:

Winter Makeup Zoeva Spice Of Life Palette

Makeup Ideas With Bobbi Brown Love In The Afternoon Palette

Follow my blog instagram @amyschapter

 

Zoeva also do some of my all-time favourite makeup brushes and while not completely related to this post, I have mentioned brushes a few times so if you’re looking for some here are some I use both professionally and personally (and in these looks), so they come highly recommended.

To apply product: Zoeva 234 Luxe Shader

For detail: Zoeva 230 Pencil Brush

For blending: Zoeva 228 Luxe Crease Brush

Vegan Brush Set 

Complete Eye Set

Complete Brush Set

Other products mentioned:

Daniel Sandler Waterproof Eyeliner

Mac Kohl Pencil in Costa Riche

Chanel Waterproof Eyeliner

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick JK Magic (Hot Lips 2)

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick In Love With Oliva (Hot Lips 2)

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner Pillow Talk

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner Iconic Nude

Lisa Eldridge Lipstick Velvet Muse

Dior Lipstick*

Inglot Lip Gloss

*Where products were limited editions I have tried to find suitable alternatives.