Ready-to-party palettes

This month, the beauty countdown to the New Year has begun as the Holiday 2011 collections hit cosmetics counters. The festive make-up ranges from luxurious golden compacts to get-ready-to-party palettes.

Benefit I’m Glam Therefore I am party make-up kit (1,700 baht).

According to Dior and Clarins, it's going to be a "gold" Christmas with the glorious colour glimmering on eyelids, lips and fingertips.

Dior eyeshadow palettes come in two gold harmonies, one in pastel shades and the other in saturated hues for a very couture-style make-up.

The Rouge Or lipsticks have been infused with a fine golden powder that melts like a pigment to intensify the colour. The new lipsticks come in red, pink, coral and, of course gold, which provides a transparent sheen that reveals the lips' natural colour.

Benefit Tattletell All! makeup kit (1,950 baht).

Clarins presents its Yuletide collection in elegant golden compacts and lipstick cases. With a gold-and-red Art Deco graphic design, the Passion Face Palette contains shimmering powder to sweep a sparkling complexion. Another golden compact contains mineral eyeshadows that can be used wet or dry to create different styles, such as mysterious smoky eyes in pink and grey.

American brand Clinique focuses on intense, dramatic eyes for the Holiday 2011 make-up look. The Sugarfrosted collection includes eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara that have staying-power to keep eyes and lashes dressed-up till the party is over.

Guerlain also promises all-night-long beauty. The Parure de Nuit compact provides a so-called skin-enhancer with a feather motif, referring to the lightness of the powder, which can be used to illuminate the complexion or to blush the cheekbones.

Benefit filled its beauty kits with make-up for eyes, cheeks and lips, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to create party looks.

Bobbi Brown is holding a big beauty party with the Holiday 2011 collection based on the celebratory theme. For instance, the Party-to-Go palette features three eyeshadows and lip colours, while the Ultimate Party Collection is a double-decker palette with eight eyeshadows and four lip colours.