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What? You're exhausted from weeks of holiday preparation while juggling your full-time job and the kids and don't exactly feel festive -- let alone look like the belle of the ball?

No problem.

Hairstylist Stephen Knoll and makeup artists Vincent Longo and Bianca Alexander offer some quick beauty solutions to get you in the holiday mood. Consider them their gifts.

Stephen Knoll, New York salon owner

There are two options for women with short hair, according to Knoll. He suggests either using a gel or pomade to slick the hair back away from the face or to create a deep side part. "This makes a very graphic, strong evening look."

Gel or pomade also can be used to create a spiky style. Pull the strands of hair between fingers in all different directions to get the most texture. You don't necessarily want to have each spike going straight up, and vary the amount of hair in each spike, Knoll advises.

For medium-length or shoulder-length hair, pull the hair up with a decorative hairpin but keep some pieces loose, perhaps the bangs or layers around the face, for a slightly tousled style.

Another look for this length is to use gel to make a deep part, comb the bangs to the side and pull the hair into a sleek, tight ponytail. Twist the ponytail up, and either clip it with a jeweled barrette or tie it into a knot.

Women with long hair can pull out the hot rollers to create soft, sexy waves. If the hair is straight, the rollers will work better if hairspray is applied to large sections of hair before using the rollers.

Vincent Longo, creator Vincent Longo Cosmetics

"A great thing to look at is brightening up. Highlighting is a thing anyone can really play with, and you can do it quickly," he says.

Highlight the cheek bone, brow bone or forehead with a beige powder that has some sheen. Apply it with a blush brush. Then sweep the highlighter on the bridge of your nose. This is to be done after doing the rest of your makeup.

"It brightens up the makeup beautifully. You won't see it straight on, but light will pick up on it when you move. ... It's not as bright as high-shine products. It's like a secret weapon," Longo says.

Another way to put makeup into the party mode is to add lash tips. The tips in Longo's line can be applied with the fingertips, then brush mascara over them; other longer ribbon lashes will be more dramatic but will take more time to apply. This is for a sexy look -- or a late-night party.

Longo also likes the look of red lips, especially when worn just with lash tips, mascara and highlighter for shine on the eyelids. "This is always a trend-setting look," he says.

Bianca Alexander, director of makeup artistry for MAC cosmetics

Alexander recommends lining the entire eye with a black kohl eye pencil. "Black is an essential basic, and it's also a huge trend. ... It's a throwback to the '80s," Alexander says.

Take the eyeliner and use it all the way around the rim of the eye, then blink a few times. "You'll have dramatic eyes in a few seconds," she says.

Use that with just a bit of eye shadow -- applied darkest at the lash line with a soft brush and gradually fading toward the brow bone -- and you've got an easy smoke eye, which is the quintessential party look, she says.

A similar look can be created with a subtly colored pencil, including a metallic charcoal, brown or eggplant. Then take the pencil and use it right above and below the lash line, then smudge the liner. A single eye-shadow color is fine to use because the heavy drama is at the lash line, or you could even use bronzer as a shadow.

Alexander advises playing up the eyes because, unlike lipstick, if eye makeup is applied properly, it'll last several hours without a touch-up.

Also, dab a bit of shimmery cream at the top of the cheekbone, the ball of the eyelid, the center of the lips and the brow bone -- anywhere that is naturally higher on the face. It's an alternative to powders that will be more subtle and work with all skin tones and by women of all ages, she says.

But don't put sparkle on the T-zone, Alexander warns. "For your everyday person putting on makeup, that's the equivalent of highlighting the nose. And makeup travels; it's not a tattoo. The T-zone perspires, so putting shimmer there will be very high maintenance, too."

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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