How to Skin Prep for Party Season

The last few months of the year are packed with exciting events, parties, and social gatherings. But like anything that isn’t in moderation, this can cause some distress to our skin. Less than ideal when prepping for a night out.

To keep your skin looking fresh and radiant during this busy season, it’s a good idea to switch up your winter skincare routine to tackle dryness and dullness. With a special event around the corner, the right skin prep can make all the difference. From the best time to do a face mask before an event to expert gua sha techniques, we’ve got all the essential tips to keep your skin party-ready. Plus, we spoke with Shania Parris, winner of Glow Up Season 6, to get her top dos and don’ts for flawless skin prep.

“Skin prep is vital, especially during party season”’ advises Shania. Not only does prepping your skin before applying makeup help to create a smooth, long-lasting finish, but “it will allow your festive looks to apply seamlessly” she adds. It also helps to lock in moisture and keep skin hydrated, which is especially important during the colder months when our complexions are more prone to dryness. Investing time in “prepping your skin before makeup will completely transform how your makeup looks and feels”, helping it to look glowier and smoother while reducing the chances of patchiness. “No one wants dry and cracking skin, so make sure to level up your skin prep as we head into the festive season to allow your skin to glow from within”, says Shania.

Want healthier, happier skin before your big event? If you (like most people) don’t have flawless, smooth, hydrated skin all the time, prepping your complexion before getting started with makeup can make all the difference. Whether you want to clear your skin, make it glow overnight, or get in a boost of hydration, these are the skin prep tips to follow.

When you’re double cleansing or applying your serums, we can’t recommend enough to add in some facial massage, especially with a gua sha.

Learning how to gua sha is easy, and the benefits are huge. By massaging your face, you’re helping stimulate blood flow and encouraging lymphatic drainage. This leads to brighter skin and reduced puffiness – two big wins before a big night out.

When gua sha-ing, it’s key to use a good oil or serum to help it glide over your face. This means you can easily cover two skin-prepping steps in one by using a super hydrating oil like the Embryolisse Beauty Oil with the By BEAUTY BAY Jade Gua Sha. You’ll be hydrating, de-puffing, and helping your skin to glow all in one step. Skin prepping for the party season is that simple.

“Prepping your skin before makeup allows you to hydrate and plump your skin, which is going to ensure your makeup applies beautifully” says Parris. Keeping skin hydrated is essential for a glowy, plump look, especially before events to make makeup easier to apply and last longer. To boost hydration alongside your daily moisturiser, add a hydrating essence like COSRX’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, which refreshes the skin and improves its elasticity.

A hydrating face mist, like our Hyaluronic Acid + Sea Moss Face Mist, can also keep your skin fresh and event-ready. Use it after serums or masks to lock in moisture and achieve a quick, glowy finish. “My favourite skin prep product has to be either the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence or the BEAUTY BAY Hyaluronic Acid + Sea Moss Facial Spray”, agrees Shania.

The night before your event, indulge in a rich moisturiser or an overnight mask, like Laneige’s Cica Sleeping Mask, to wake up with ultra hydrated, baby-soft skin.

If dewy skin is your goal, then all the hydration tips above are a great place to start. For an extra helping hand to get your skin glowing before an event, try a serum or a face mask. Serums are concentrated formulas that deliver powerful active ingredients deep into the skin. Adding a hydrating serum to your routine, such as one with hyaluronic acid or vitamin C, can significantly boost moisture levels and add radiance to your skin.

Apply your serum after cleansing and before moisturising for maximum effectiveness (our personal fave is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5).

Face masks are a great way to elevate your skin prep routine and can provide intense treatment for specific skin concerns. For hydration, apply a soothing sheet mask the night before your event to achieve a plump and dewy finish. If you’re looking to reduce redness and irritation, opt for a mask with calming ingredients like aloe or chamomile. For a brightening boost, reach for a sheet like the Holika Holika Strawberry Sheet Mask, which is packed full of complexion-brightening ingredients. 

Prepping for a big event but prone to breakouts? Having some effective spot treatments in your skincare supply is a great way to keep blemishes at bay. While it can be difficult to achieve clear skin quickly if you’re in the midst of a breakout, using some targeted spot treatments can be a big help.

Luckily for those of us aiming for clearer skin before an event, there’s a variety of products out there that work to treat unwanted spots. From fast-acting treatments like The INKEY List Succinic Acid Treatment to blemish battling By BEAUTY BAY Hydrocolloid Spot Patches, get ready to take back control of your skin.

For a whole face treatment, go for a blemish-targeting mask. The Mallows Beauty Pineapple Enzyme Peel Mask is perfect for putting on while you relax before your event. Let your skin soak up the vitamins while the antioxidant peel mask gets to work to treat and prevent breakouts.

Exfoliation is an essential part of skin prep, helping remove dead skin cells so other products absorb better and makeup applies smoothly. Just remember not to overdo it before a big event, especially if you have sensitive or breakout-prone skin.

If you’re new to exfoliating, start gently with products like the Beauty of Joseon Plum Refreshing Toner, which exfoliates while plumping and brightening. Look for mandelic acid, a gentler alternative to glycolic and salicylic acids. We love The INKEY List’s Mandelic Acid Treatment, which smooths without causing irritation.

For those with breakout-prone skin needing a deeper clean, a weekly exfoliating mask can help. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is a great option, with charcoal and clay to cleanse deeply, leaving skin smooth and radiant.