STORY x Sonia Kashuk: "Five Golden Rules"

Every busy woman wants to look her best for the holiday party season and has probably wished she had a beauty expert on call to share makeup advice in a pinch. It’s your lucky day – just in time for last-minute festivities, Target partner and makeup artist Sonia Kashuk has answers to all of your holiday beauty questions.

We caught up with her at last week’s “Beauty School Drop-In” event – hosted by STORY in celebration of its holiday collaboration with Target – where Sonia shared her “five golden rules” for achieving a fa-la-la-la-fabulous look.

1) Don’t Over-Glitter

The best way to apply any type of makeup is with a brush. When working with shimmery shadows, apply only to the lid — avoid the area above the crease and up to the brow bone, and it’s impossible to overdo it. My Limited-Edition Deco Starlet Eye Palette of shimmering shadows makes it easy to blend shades; the idea is to create just a hint of glimmer, visible only when you close your eyes.

2) Nude is the New Red

Red lipstick is always a classic choice for holiday makeup, but if red isn’t your thing, a nude lip is also super chic. My Satin Luxe Lip Color in Classic Red is a perfect red shade—it works on almost every skin tone—and my Limited-Edition Jazzed Up Nudes Lip Palette takes holiday glamour to the other extreme.

3) Monitor Your Shine Levels

I never leave home without my Perfecting Mattifying Primer—apply it all over your face or use it as a spot treatment to absorb excess oil while you’re out and about. If you’re looking to add a subtle glow, try my Chic Luminosity Bronzer or Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick on your temples, brow bone and cheekbones. I also recommend keeping a pressed powder in your handbag to touch up the T-zone as needed.

4) Bold Lip + Smoky Eye = Totally Fine

This pairing brings me back to my makeup artist days, when that was the classic runway look: A strong eye and a strong lip share a similar intensity and bolster one another to make a statement. It’s all about wearing it with confidence — if you are going for all-out glam, it’s best to just own it!

5) Figure Out Faux Lashes (They’re Worth It)

These are a holiday party-must in my book, but applying them can be a little intimidating. I rely on a few secret weapons to make it easier: a magnifying mirror, a pair of scissors, and tweezers. Start by sizing the lashes to your eye and trimming them down to fit the shape. Holding the lashes with the tweezers, apply a minimal amount of glue to the band. Wait a minute for the glue to become tacky, and then place the band directly into the lash line. Use the tweezers to really finesse the placement and make sure you cannot see where the band begins. Once dry, use your lash curler to secure.

To see Sonia’s tips in action, click the gallery below to view photos from the STORY event.