Holiday Makeup Looks: Red Lips, Glitter and Glow

Holiday makeup looks for parties and photos, from a classic red lip and soft glitter eyes to a glowing no-makeup look, with long-wear tips and step-by-step routines.

The holiday season is the one time of year when a little extra sparkle feels exactly right. Parties, family dinners, work events and New Year's Eve all call for makeup that looks festive, photographs well and lasts through a long evening. These holiday makeup looks range from classic to playful, and each one comes with simple steps you can follow at home.

Start with a long-wearing base

Whatever look you choose, the base sets you up for the night.

1. Moisturise. Cold weather dries skin out. A hydrating moisturiser stops makeup from clinging to dry patches.
2. Prime. Use a primer suited to your skin: hydrating for dry skin, mattifying for oily.
3. Foundation or skin tint. Apply thin layers, building only where you need coverage.
4. Conceal. Brighten under the eyes and cover any redness.
5. Set. A light dusting of powder on the T-zone keeps shine away.
6. Setting spray. Mist at the end to melt everything together and help it last.

1. The classic red lip

Nothing says holiday like a red lip. It works for every age and skin tone.

How to do it:

1. Keep the rest of the face simple: soft brown eyeshadow, mascara and groomed brows.
2. Exfoliate and moisturise lips beforehand.
3. Line lips with a red liner, then fill in the whole lip with the liner.
4. Apply lipstick with a brush for precision.
5. Blot with a tissue, then apply a second layer.
6. Clean up the edges with a little concealer on a flat brush.

Choosing your red: blue-based reds make teeth look whiter and suit cool undertones. Orange-based reds suit warm undertones. A true red in between suits almost everyone.

2. Soft glitter eyes

A touch of glitter on the lids catches the light beautifully in candlelit rooms.

1. Apply a neutral brown shadow in the crease.
2. Pat a glitter shadow or liquid glitter on the centre of the lid with your finger.
3. Add mascara and a little glitter in the inner corners.
4. Keep the lips neutral or softly tinted.

To avoid fallout, do eyes before your base, or use a piece of tape to lift loose glitter.

3. Smoky eye with a nude lip

A classic for evening events.

1. Apply a medium brown or charcoal shadow all over the lid.
2. Deepen the outer corner with a darker shade.
3. Smudge the same dark shade along the lower lash line.
4. Blend, blend, blend.
5. Add black eyeliner on the waterline and plenty of mascara.
6. Finish with a nude or soft pink lip.

4. Berry lips and flushed cheeks

A softer alternative to red that feels wintry.

1. Apply a berry blush high on the cheeks.
2. Use a berry lipstick, then blot for a stained effect.
3. Add a little of the lip colour to the lids for a monochrome look.

5. Winged liner and gold

A glamorous, timeless look.

1. Apply a gold shimmer all over the lid.
2. Draw a winged liner with a black liquid liner.
3. Add mascara or false lashes.
4. Finish with a nude lip or a red lip for extra drama.

6. Glowing "no-makeup" makeup

Perfect for Christmas morning and family gatherings.

1. Use a skin tint instead of foundation.
2. Add cream blush and a touch of cream highlighter.
3. Groom brows with a clear gel.
4. Use brown mascara and a tinted lip balm.

Makeup that looks good in photos

Holiday photos often use flash, which can wash out makeup. A few tips:

• Avoid powders with heavy SPF or silica on the face, which can create a white cast in flash photos.
• Define brows and lashes a little more than usual.
• Add a little more blush than you normally would.
• Use a bit of highlighter, but not too much.

Making makeup last all night

• Use a primer and a setting spray.
• Choose long-wear or transfer-proof products.
• Carry blotting papers, your lipstick and a mini powder.
• Use a lip liner under lipstick.

Matching makeup to your hair

Bold lips look stunning with sleek hairstyles, while soft glowing makeup suits loose waves. A sleek low ponytail with a red lip is one of the most classic holiday pairings.

Taking it off

After a long night, remove makeup properly. Use a cleansing balm or oil to melt away long-wear products and glitter, then follow with a gentle cleanser and moisturiser. Your skin will thank you the next morning.

Makeup by skin tone

• Fair skin: soft pinks, berry lips, gold or champagne shimmer.
• Medium skin: bronze, copper and brick reds.
• Olive skin: gold, plum and deep reds.
• Deep skin: rich gold, emerald, deep berry and true red.

Building a holiday makeup kit

• A long-wear foundation
• A shimmery eyeshadow palette
• A good black liner
• A red lipstick
• Highlighter
• Setting spray

Choosing one focal point

The simplest rule for holiday makeup is to choose one feature to play up. A bold red lip pairs with soft eyes. A dramatic smoky eye pairs with a nude lip. Glitter lids pair with a sheer balm. When everything is bold at once, the look can feel heavy, especially in daylight family photos.

Touch-up bag for parties

Keep a small pouch in your bag with your lipstick and liner, blotting papers, a mini powder, a cotton bud for smudges, and a couple of bobby pins for your hair. Five minutes in the bathroom halfway through the evening keeps you looking fresh.

Practising before the big night

Try your chosen look once a week or so before the event, ideally at the same time of day. Take a photo with and without flash to see how it reads. This trial run lets you adjust blush, check your lipstick shade, and time how long the look takes so you are not rushing on the night.

Makeup for mature skin

Cream products, a light hand with powder, satin rather than heavy glitter shadows and a lifted eyeliner wing all look fresh. A rosy blush and a warm red lip are timelessly elegant.

Key takeaways

• Build a long-wearing base with primer and setting spray.
• Choose one focal feature: lips or eyes.
• Test your look with flash before the event.
• Pack a small touch-up kit.

One last tip

Lay out your products in the order you will use them before you start. It speeds up your routine on a busy evening and stops you from forgetting a step, such as primer or setting spray, when you are rushing to get out of the door.

FAQ

What makeup is best for Christmas parties?

A red lip, glitter eyes or a smoky eye are classic choices. Choose one feature to focus on.

How do I stop red lipstick from transferring?

Line and fill with lip liner, apply lipstick in two layers, blot between layers and press a tissue with a little powder over the lips.

How can I make makeup last all night?

Use primer, long-wear products and a setting spray, and carry blotting papers for touch-ups.

Holiday makeup is all about having fun with a little extra shine. Pick one look, practise it once before the big night, and enjoy feeling festive and confident.

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Some posts may contain affiliate links; see our disclosure. Photography: Ander Masó (Lord Ander M); Julia Larson; juliane Monari; Zizi zi; Anna Tarazevich; Emanuel Turbuc via Pexels.