Party makeup that stays on all night

Smudged and smeared party makeup is not a good look - and it's never more likely than in hot stuffy venues, crammed to capacity for the festive season. And who wants mascara, eyeliner or eyeshadow sliding off as you try to make a good impression? Follow our makeup guide to party makeup that stays on all night and beat the smudges!

Waterproof makeup is perfect for the season. It's long-lasting by its very nature, which means it's far less likely to melt or move as the temperature rises. Plus, the fact that it stays put for longer means you get more wear for your money.

Foundation

You want your base to look natural, but you don't want it to slip off your face the moment the room heats up. The solution? Susan Posnick ColorFlo, £39.95, www.skinbrands.co.uk, 020 8997 8541. This fine-milled mineral foundation is the perfect party makeup - sweat-proof and water-resistant, it has an SPF of 26. Ideal for sensitive skin, it won't clog pores and is enriched with anti-ageing vitamins A and E. With a built-in brush to ensure precision application, it also gives flawless coverage. It should last about three months with everyday use and refills are available for £21.95.

Or try  Estée Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place makeup, £24, www.esteelauder.co.uk. With SPF 10, this 15-hour wear foundation is light as air, goes on sheer and leaves skin to breathe all day. Simply apply - and forget about it!

Concealer

When you cover up blemishes you want them to stay covered. Coverderm Concealer, £6.64 (0845 230 1087), promises you they will. Available in six shades, it even has anti-ageing properties, too, in the form of vitamins A and E and SPF15.

For those of us whose visible varicose or thread veins mean we don't usually dare to bare our legs in party season, Covermark Leg Magic, £23.50 for 50ml at The Garden Pharmacy, www.garden.co.uk, 020 7836 1007, is a godsend. It won't clog pores and has an SPF of 16.  Plus, you can use it to disguise blemishes anywhere on the body, not just the legs.

Eyeshadow

To ensure your eyeshadow doesn't smear or vanish into creases, opt for a water-resistant formulation. Try Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Cream Shadow, £13.70, www.esteelauder.co.uk, which delivers vibrant, stay-true colour that lasts up to 15 hours. Easy to blend, the formula allows you to build up coverage without it looking heavy or cakey.

Cheap but chic, GOSH Waterproof Eyeshadow, £5.29, www.superdrug.com, comes in four very wearable shades, while Maybelline Colour Definer Waterproof Shadow Stick, £5.99 (available nationwide), is also a good option.

If powder is more you, try NYC Smooth Mineral Loose Eye Powder Kit, £3.99 (available nationwide). It comes with an applicator and weatherproof sealer and can be used wet as well as dry for more intense colour.

Eyeliner

Ever spent ages trying to get your eyeliner just right, only to have it smudge a few minutes after application? Thanks to the latest clutch of waterproof liners, smears can be consigned to history. Lord & Berry Luxury Liner, £5.95, www.asos.com, is designed to help you create precision lines in minimum time, and it should stay put all day long. Smudge-proof, smearproof and waterproof, the automatic black liner comes with a built-in sharpener and seals in 30 seconds for a long-lasting line. And, like all the products in the range, it's enriched with a mixture of macadamia nut oil, vitamins and waterlily extract, so it should be kind to your peepers.

If liquid liner is more your thing, there's Marks & Spencer Autograph Liquid Eyeliner in Diamanté, £7.50, www.marksandspencer.com, which makes a glam change from black. Adding more of a sparkle than your common-or-garden metallic, this gives eyes a hint of party shimmer along with lashline definition.

For the more adventurous, W7 Neon Lights Eyeliner, £3.95, www.magicmakeup.com, 01753 639137, comes in five metallic shades. Don't be put off by the name or the brightness of some of them - once on, they look far more subtle than the colour of the bottles suggests, and its ultra-slim brush lets you draw the thinnest of lines, so even the blue, green and purple are very wearable.

Mascara

If you buy only one waterproof item, it has to be mascara. Eye cream and natural moisture around the eyes leave your average lash enhancer likely to slide. The brilliant lash elongator, No7 Extreme Length Mascara, £11.30, www.boots.com, now comes in a waterproof version, as does Rimmel Sexy Curves, £7.99, available nationwide. For a smudge-proof bargain, try Lacura Mascara, £2.59 (from Aldi, 0844 406 8800), or 2true Instant Waterproof Mascara, £1.91 www.superdrug.com.

Blusher

Add a lasting flush of colour to your face by working a mineral powder blusher into your cheeks using a Kabuki brush, which is a soft, domeshaped brush for mineral make-up, available from mineral make-up retailers. Mineral formulations are naturally water resistant, and applying them in circular motions will ensure longer-lasting colour. Try Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush for a fresh translucent glow in eight flattering shades; safe to use also on eyes or lips, £20, www.dermapure.eu, phone 01506 886 425 for stockists.

Lip colour

Revlon Colourstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick, £8.99, www.boots.com, is a one-step lip colour with up to 12 hours' wear. Billed as both food-proof and waterproof, it gives an intense colour that's more like a lipstick than a gloss - and it shouldn't come off on your champagne glass!

Love your makeup but it's not waterproof?

Just one coat of clear Virgin Vie Lash Mac, £12, www.vieathome.com, with its silicon-resin film, will make your mascara instantly waterproof! Make liner, shadow, lip or brow colour water resistant in a flash with Benefit She Laq, £19.50, www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk.  One coat of this magic sealer and it's unbudgeable.

See our Christmas fashion and beauty guide with party hairstyles, makeup tips and festive buys