The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a chance to elevate your beauty game. From intimate family gatherings to full-on New Year’s Eve bashes, end-of-year celebrations inspire unique holiday makeup trends that add extra sparkle and drama to your style. Unlike everyday looks, festive makeup looks embrace bolder colors and creative details that instantly signal it’s party time. This is the moment to break out of your routine and try something special.
Embracing Seasonal Glam Makeup
The end-of-year holidays have a way of bringing out our most glamorous selves. After months of subtle looks, the trending holiday makeup values encourage a return to vibrant colors and shine. Winter’s party season is when colour cosmetic magic really comes into its own. The makeup that felt “too much” for a regular day suddenly feels just right for December. It’s the time to play with that extra sweep of highlighter or the bold eyeshadow you’ve been saving.
This seasonal shift means swapping understated autumn hues for something more celebratory. Holiday makeup trends tend to focus on elements that catch the light, think glitter-flecked shadows and rich lip colors. The goal is to strike a balance between festive and wearable. You can absolutely face events with confidence by dialing up the drama slightly: a touch more sparkle, a bit more color, yet still keeping things elegant rather than over-the-top. The vibe is fun and creative, but refined. It’s about expressing yourself and embracing a fresh, joyous look without losing the ease of a low-maintenance feel.
Eye Makeup: Dazzling Holiday Eyeshadow Looks
If there’s one place to let your creativity shine this season, truly, it’s in your eyes. When it comes to holiday eyeshadow looks, the motto seems to be the more sparkle, the better. From office parties to nights out, a bit of glitz in your eyes instantly telegraphs festive cheer. Here are some of the standout eye makeup trends to try this holiday:
- Glitter and Metallic Shadows: A wash of glitter or metallic eyeshadow is practically synonymous with holiday parties. Classic choices like gold, silver, and bronze are popular, as they echo holiday decorations. A swipe of gold across the lids or a touch of silver in the inner corners can light up your whole look. For a modern take, try rose-gold or holographic shadows that shift color in the light. These high-shine finishes ensure your eyes sparkle with every blink, and it’s a go-to technique for glam makeup for parties that demand a bit of drama.
- Jewel-Tone Eyes: Holiday time also invites richer hues in the eyes. Deep greens, vibrant emeralds, sapphire blues, and even plummy purples are making appearances in makeup for parties this season. A jewel-toned smoky eye can be a showstopper. You might do a shimmery forest-green eyeshadow for a nod to Christmas tones, or a navy-blue lid with silver glitter for a “winter night sky” effect. These colors are bold but still elegant, and they pair beautifully with the metallic trend.
- Graphic Liner and Creative Shapes: The reign of the cat-eye continues, but with festive twists. You can experiment with graphic eyeliner shapes to give your look a trendy edge. A twist this season is adding sparkle to the liner itself. There’s also buzz around the “siren eyes” look, which can be dialed up for the holidays by using dark green or deep plum liners instead of basic black. Even beginners can try a subtle version of these. Just remember to clean up edges with a bit of makeup remover on a Q-tip for that sharp, editorial finish.
- Embellishments and Extras: Taking eye looks a step further, some party-goers are adding tiny embellishments to their eye makeup. Rhinestones and pearls can be placed along the lash line or at the outer corners for extra glamour. A few small crystal gems under the eyebrow or at the outer corner of each eye can resemble shimmering snowflakes. An easy way to apply these is with a bit of eyelash glue for hold. It’s a high-impact detail that turns a simple smoky eye into a conversation piece. Similarly, colorful mascaras are in play: a swipe of emerald green or cobalt mascara on the lashes can be a fun surprise that ties into a monochromatic eye look.
- Luscious Lashes: Don’t forget lashes. Bold, fluffy false eyelashes or dramatic lash extensions are a hit for holiday events because they make your eyes look larger-than-life in photos. A pair of falsies that flare out at the outer corners gives that flirty, elongated shape, complementing any eyeshadow. If falsies aren’t your thing, consider layering on a volumizing mascara or even trying individual lash clusters for a customized level of drama. Lashes frame all the glitter and color you’ve applied, completing the eye look.
The eyes are where you can really have fun with bold makeup looks this season. The key is to balance the look with the rest of your makeup, which brings us to the next significant element, the lips.
Bold Holiday Lips: Classic Reds and Trendy Twists
No festive look is complete without a statement lip. Bold holiday lips are a seasonal staple, instantly transforming your face and tying together that celebratory vibe. Let’s break down the lip trends:
- Classic Red – Revived: A true red lip never goes out of style, especially around Christmas. Many beauty lovers save their fiercest reds for December as a sort of tradition. A vibrant, blue-toned red can brighten your complexion and your mood. Paired with minimal eye makeup, a red lip becomes the star of your look. Makeup artists often recommend using a matching red lip liner to outline and fill in your lips before applying lipstick; this makes the color last through multiple eggnog toasts and prevents any bleeding at the edges. The best eye makeup pairing for a red lip is often something simple yet elegant, like a crisp black winged liner, which gives that retro glamour. It’s no wonder a bold red lip paired with winged eyeliner is touted as a fail-safe holiday combo for elevating any outing.
- Deep Berries and Vampy Tones: While red is classic, 2024’s holiday season is also embracing its darker cousin: berry and wine hues. Rich burgundy, cranberry, and plum lip colors are everywhere at parties this year. These sultry shades add a touch of luxury and pair beautifully with winter wardrobes. A dark berry lip can instantly amp up any look, and it’s ideal for evenings when you want something a bit more unexpected than fire-engine red. A vampy deep-red lipstick has been one of this year’s biggest trends, and there’s no better time to rock it than the holiday season. To wear these bold hues with confidence, take your time with application. Matte and satin finishes tend to dominate with dark colors, but you can dab a touch of clear gloss in the center of your lips to add dimension without losing that intense pigment.
- Glossy Lips and Unconventional Colors: On the other end of the spectrum from the mattes, glossy textures are making a comeback for festive lips. A shiny red or berry lip looks lush and youthful. Some trendsetters are even doing glossy lids and lips in jewel tones for a high-fashion holiday statement. In terms of color variety, while reds and berries rule, don’t shy away from other colors if they fit your style. B
- Nudes and Ombrés for Balance: Interestingly, not every holiday look requires a bright lip. If your eye makeup is extremely bold, a nude lip can balance it out. Nude in this context doesn’t mean dull. A rosy-brown or cinnamon nude with a hint of shine can look sophisticated and not wash you out. The 90s-inspired brownish nude lip, paired with a darker liner for slight contrast, has circled back into fashion for those wanting a soft glam approach. It’s perfect if you want something chic but not as vivid as red, say for a holiday brunch or a makeup birthday party event where you want to look great but not overly made-up.
Whatever lip style you choose, be sure to prep beforehand. Cold weather can quickly dry out lips, so exfoliate gently and apply a moisturizing balm while you do the rest of your makeup. Then wipe off the excess balm before applying your lip products so that everything stays in place.
Glamorous Glow: Radiant Skin and Festive Cheeks
Eye-catching eyes and lips are crucial, but the look isn’t complete without a gorgeous complexion to match. Achieving that winter glam makeup glow involves both skin prep and clever makeup application to ensure you have a radiant, healthy look. Instead of a heavy, powdery foundation, the trend is leaning toward a more natural dew. Think hydrated, plump skin that looks like you’ve just come in from a brisk winter walk. A dewy-finish foundation or BB cream can give you a subtle sheen.
This season, cool-toned highlighters are popular because they catch the light like fresh snow. Dab a bit on the high points of your face: the tops of cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and even the brow bone. In holiday lighting, these highlights will make your skin gleam magically. Just remember the distinction: we’re aiming for a “hyper-hydrated” sheen rather than chunky glitter on the face. The idea is to enhance your natural beauty so your skin looks healthy and alive, not to literally look sparkly.
From Subtle to Bold: Tailoring Your Look to the Occasion
The beauty of this year’s holiday makeup trends is that they’re highly adaptable. You can tone them down or crank them up, depending on the occasion and your mood. It’s essential to find your sweet spot on the spectrum from soft glow to all-out sparkle. Consider the context. Are you getting ready for an office makeup for parties event, a family Christmas dinner, or a wild New Year’s Eve countdown? For a more conservative or professional gathering, you might opt for a classic, polished look. A perfect example of this is the tried-and-true combo of a clean winged eyeliner and red lipstick we mentioned. It’s festive yet elegant, and not too “out there.” Or you might do a soft shimmery taupe eye with a mauve lip. These looks incorporate the holiday spirit in a refined way. Many people have certain Christmas makeup ideas reserved for family events versus nights out.
The best holiday makeup look for you is the one that makes you feel fabulous and fits the celebration at hand. Don’t hesitate to adapt the ideas to suit your comfort level. You might practice a toned-down version of a trend first. Try a small amount of glitter along your upper lash line as eyeliner, before you commit to a full glitter smoky eye. Or wear a bold lip at home for a few hours to get used to seeing yourself in it, before debuting it at a party. Makeup is meant to be fun, especially at the holidays, so there’s no right or wrong. You can be a shimmering snow queen one night and a classic Hollywood starlet the next.
Bringing in a Pro: When to Hire a Professional Makeup Artist
This is the season of events and photos, and sometimes having a professional makeup artist work their magic can be a game-changer. If you have a significant event or simply want to treat yourself, hiring a pro can ensure you look flawless and feel stress-free. Here are some tips and considerations when booking a makeup artist for your holiday glam, including how to book makeup artists online and what to expect in terms of party makeup prices.
Why Hire a Pro? Professional makeup artists bring expertise that can elevate your look from great to stunning. They understand how to enhance your features, how to make makeup last through hours of dancing and toasting, and how to tailor a style to your outfit or the event’s theme. They also have high-quality products and tools. If you’re not confident in creating a complex look yourself, or you simply want to relax and be pampered before an event, it’s well worth it. Many people also hire pros for group events. Say, all the bridesmaids for a winter wedding get their makeup done together, or a group of friends getting ready for a holiday party might hire an artist for the evening.
In the past, finding a makeup artist meant word-of-mouth referrals or visiting a salon weeks in advance. Now, it’s much simpler to find and book makeup artists online. There are apps and services like Glamsquad that let you see available professionals in your area, browse their portfolios and reviews, and schedule an at-home appointment in a few clicks. The beauty of these on-demand services is that a vetted makeup pro can come right to your door, which is incredibly convenient amid a busy holiday schedule. No need to drive to a salon in the snow and traffic while wearing your party outfit. Instead, you can sip cocoa on your couch until the artist arrives with their kit. Because of this convenience, on-demand beauty bookings have surged for special occasions. With a quick online request, you can have a pro show up the afternoon before your event, get you fully glammed up in about an hour, and you’re all set. This ease of booking means even last-minute invites don’t have to induce panic.
Whether you celebrate with a crowd or have a quiet season, take the opportunity to enjoy the transformative power of makeup. It’s not about impressing others. It’s about expressing yourself and amplifying the joy of the moment. So go ahead and swipe on that extra coat of mascara, dab on that glitter, or call up a makeup artist friend for a new look. From Christmas Day to the countdown at midnight, and even to themed parties beyond, let your makeup be as bright and memorable as the occasions themselves.
Sources:
- Grace Day, “From Glossy Skin to Berry Lips, These Are Winter 2024’s Biggest Makeup Trends,” Who What Wear (Nov. 15, 2024) whowhatwear.com
- Ashley Rebecca, “15 Christmas Makeup Ideas—From Raspberry Lips to Shimmery Eyes,” Byrdie (Nov. 26, 2024) byrdie.com
- StyleSeat Pro Beauty Blog, “How Much Do Makeup Artists Charge?” (2023) styleseat.com
- Glamsquad Blog, “Halloween Makeup Looks You Can Book On-Demand” (Oct. 25, 2025) glamsquad.com
