to go all out – with both your wardrobe and your makeup. Here, we’ve rounded up the best Christmas makeup looks to ensure you look elite AF on the big day.
1. Go for a smokey eye
A smokey eye is always a good idea, but it’s an even better idea for Christmas. It’s a classic party look that will never go out of style, and there’s something about a smudged-out black eye that just says ‘party animal’. If you want to go for a more festive twist on the smokey eye, try using a metallic shadow instead of black – gold, silver or even bronze will work.
2. Get glitzy with your eyeliner
Glitter eyeliner is the ultimate party makeup look, and it’s perfect for Christmas. It’ll make your eyes pop and ensure you look party-ready in an instant. We recommend going for a liquid glitter liner for ease of application, and if you’re feeling really adventurous you could even try a double wing.
3. Make your lips the star of the show
Whether you go for a classic red lip or something a little more daring, make sure your lips are looking their best this Christmas. If you’re not one for bold lipstick shades, try a nude lip with some shimmery gloss over the top. This will give you the illusion of fuller lips and make them look super plump.
4. Go all out with your contour
If there’s ever a time to go all out with your contour, it’s Christmas. A killer contour will make all the difference in your party photos, so make sure you take the time to get it right. We recommend using a cream contour first to map out where you want your shadows and highlights to be, then going in with a powder contour to add depth and definition.
5. Get cheeky with some blush
Blush is the perfect way to add a bit of color to your face without going overboard – and it’s perfect for Christmas photos as it’ll make you look all glowy and festive. We recommend using a cream blush for a natural flush of color, or going for a powder blush if you want something with more staying power. Either way, don’t be afraid to go heavy-handed – it’s Christmas, after all!
6. Highlight like a pro
If there’s one thing that can make or break your Christmas makeup look, it’s your highlight. Get it right and you’ll look like a glowing goddess; get it wrong and you’ll look like you’ve been sweating bullets. We recommend using a liquid highlight for ease of application, and picking one that has some shimmer in it for extra impact. Apply it to the high points of your face – think your cheekbones, brow bones and cupid’s bow – and blend it out well for a natural finish.
7. Perfect your winged liner
No Christmas makeup look is complete without a killer winged liner, so make sure yours is on point this year. We recommend using a liquid liner for precision, and picking a shade that complements your eye color – black works with pretty much everything, but brown can be softer if you want something more natural-looking. Once you’ve applied your liner, use a cotton bud dipped in makeup remover to tidy up any mistakes – this will give you super sharp lines every time.
8. Bring on the brows
Full, defined brows are always in style – but they’re particularly important during party season when photos are being taken left, right and center. If you want to achieve the perfect brow shape, we recommend using a brow pencil or pomade to fill in any sparse areas, then going over them with a brow gel to set them in place. We also recommend using concealer under your brows to create the illusion of lifted arches – this will make your eyes look wider and brighter in photos.
9. Get long lashes sans falsies
There’s nothing quite like long, voluminous lashes – they make your eyes look wider and brighter and really open up your whole face. If you want to achieve this look without resorting to falsies (or even if you are!), we recommend using an eyelash curler to curl your lashes before applying mascara. This will give them some extra oomph and help them hold their curl all day long. When it comes to mascara itself, we recommend using one with a thick wand – this will help deposit more product onto your lashes and create that desired “false lash” effect. And if you really want to take things up a notch, apply some white eyeshadow or highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes before mascara – this will make them look even wider!