Christmas Make-Up: The Looks For Day & Night This Holiday Season

As summer comes to a close, we need some Christmas cheer to keep spirits high and give us something to look forward to. So, if, like us, you’re already planning, plotting, and mentally mood-boarding everything – from table settings to door wreaths and especially your Christmas make-up look – here is a good place to start your joyful journey.  

But what makes something qualify as appropriate holiday party make-up? Do you need to incorporate red, green and gold elements into the look? Does a generous helping of glitter all over do the job? 

We’re not here to dictate the rules. But, if you require some Christmas make-up inspiration, Beauty Daily is undoubtedly the right place because we’re sharing our favourite looks for the season ahead.  

Enjoy!

BD Edit: Christmas make-up looks to try

Rosy tones

There’s no such thing as too much pink. We love this look that pairs shimmery rosy eyelids with a glossy coral lip. But the element that brings this look to life? Black, smokey eyeliner. Team with subtly sculpted cheeks and glossy, laminated brows to complete the look. 

Try: To recreate this eye look, opt for something smudge-proof and sultry, like Clarins Waterproof Eye Pencil in Black Tulip, £21, and Clarins Ombre 4-Colour Eyeshadow Palette in 01 Fairytale Nude Graduation, £38. 

Siren eyes

“Siren eyes” are all over TikTok, so why not incorporate the trend into your holiday party make-up too? The look is all about creating a sharp cat-eye shape, with a product like Clarins Graphik Ink Eyeliner, £22. Here, some false eyelashes emphasise the heavy top eyelid and winged shape of the eye. A classic red lip brings the whole look together.

Try: We love Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Colour in Velvet Ribbon, £27, as the perfect suits-all shade of red.

Mermaid colours

The Christmas party season is an excellent time to experiment with colour. Take inspiration from this look to adopt a cool, mermaid-inspired colour palette. The eyeshadow gradient transitions from a pale gold in the inner corners, to green and a dark teal in the outer corners. To finish, a warm peach shade on the cheeks and lips balances the cool tones on the eyes. 

Try: For this, you’ll want to reach for a palette that has a number of different neutral and brightly coloured shimmers, like Pat McGrath Mothership VIII Palette in Divine Rose II, £119. 

All matte everything

Colour isn’t the only aspect of your make-up you can experiment with. Want a break from all things dewy? Go for a polished matte look. Keep the skin velvety by dusting a thin layer of powder all over. Then, skip shimmery highlighters and favour matte bronzers to help add dimension to the face. And lastly, paint on an ultra matte lip. 

Try: The Ever Matte Compact Powder, £31, provides a unique, velvety texture that blots away shine without making your skin appear dry or dull. 

Christmas eye make-up looks we love

If you prefer to focus on the eyes, here are three looks you can’t go wrong with: 

Frosty pastels

We love to juxtapose two unexpected colours on the eyes, like this combination of cool, icy mint with warm, rusty pink. Make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes completed the look with loads of mascara and a pink lip. You could also switch the statement lip for a neutral or nude shade.

Try: Want to try this eye look for yourself? The best place to start is with the Natasha Denona Retro Glam Palette, £64, which contains the perfect balance of neutrals and pastel shimmers.

Graphic liner

The quickest graphic eyeliner look? A simple double wing. To create this, draw your winged eyeliner as you normally would, and add a shorter second wing just below the first one, anchoring it to the lower lash line. A hint of shimmery eyeshadow in the inner corners of the eyes and on the brow bone will elevate the look.

Try: Choose a fun, festive shade to create your graphic eyeliner. We love using the Waterproof Eye Pencil in Forest, £21, which is a deep green hue. 

Glittery smoke

To make your regular smokey eye holiday party-appropriate, simply smooth over a shiny silver shade over the inner half of the eyelids. You could also use other jewel tones – from metallic golds to sparkly emeralds. 

Try: Valentino Beauty Dreamdust in Skydust, £26 – the perfect smokey silver.

Easy Christmas make-up looks you can’t go wrong with 

Working with a beginner’s skill set? These make-up looks are beautiful but also super easy to execute. 

Subtle shimmer

If you’re a novice at eyeshadow application, try the one-wash-across-the-lids method. You don’t need to fuss around with ten different shades. Instead, pick one eyeshadow you love (preferably something shimmery) and apply an even layer across the mobile eyelid. Then, use a clean eyeshadow brush to blend away the colour into the crease. Finally, add a coat of mascara to complete the look.

Hyper glossy

Alternatively, you can leave the eyes untouched and focus on the lips. Choose a statement lip colour – it could be a bright fuchsia or deep chocolate. Let the rest of your make-up take a back seat. A layer of gloss over the lip colour will make it stand out more. 

Gold accents

Dabbing a hint of bright eyeshadow in the inner corners of the eyes will make them appear bigger and brighter. And if you choose a gold shade, it also doubles as a sparkly element in an otherwise simple make-up look. You can use a small brush to apply it with precision. Or pat the colour using your fingertip for a more diffused look.

Try: LUSH Fantasy Eyeliner in Golden Ticket, £15, for a precise, graphic look.

Red lips

When all else fails, paint on a saturated red lip and call it a day. If you have a few extra minutes to spare, add touches of bronzer, mascara and brow gel to polish up the look. 

Next read: Here’s Your Christmas Nail Mood For 2023