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Perfect Your Christmas Makeup Look With Some Festive Holiday Glam

When it comes to Christmas, you’re either the person who’s going to be in full glam by 10 am or the person who spends all day in their pyjamas — or maybe you’re both!

The festive season is a great time to elevate your everyday makeup look; throw on some shimmery eyeshadow, break out the red lipstick, and don’t forget the winged eyeliner.

Here’s a rundown of some of my top makeup essentials for the best Christmas makeup; whether you’re getting ready for a party or staying in, here’s everything you need for a festive look.

6 Christmas Makeup Essentials

For me, Christmas makeup needs to be two things: long-lasting and glowy. Here are the six products I come back to time and time again that deliver just that.

Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter

Everyone–and I mean everyone–talks about the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, but it really does mean that it’s good. A few swipes of this over the face will give you a bit of coverage and an all-over glow. If you want an affordable alternative, the ELF Halo Glow is just as good at a fraction of the price.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Face Powder

I have tried so many different face powders in my time, but the one I always come back to is this less-than-$10 option from Maybelline. The Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Face Powder is seriously good and mattifies everything in a flash. I’m also done pretending I like loose powder; just give me a pressed powder that I can chuck in my makeup bag, please!

Glossier Haloscope

Glossier’s Haloscope is one of the first products I ever tried from the brand, and it’s still one of my most reached-for products. In comparison to their other items, I think it’s criminally underrated. The balm and highlight combo gives the perfect dewy look to the skin that looks super natural.

VIEVE Soul Shadows – Gilt

Once you have one great eyeshadow palette, there’s no holding you back from creating looks a makeup artist would approve of. For me, I suit warmer-toned browns best, so an eyeshadow like VIEVE’s Soul Shadows in Gilt is perfect. All you need is four colours, and you have a range of looks at your brush tips (don’t let them convince you to buy huge eyeshadow pallets where only a few shades will inevitably be used).

Tower28 MakeWaves Mascara

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Tower28 MakeWaves Mascara is the best on the market. It lengthens, defines and volumises the lashes like no other, plus you never have to worry about them getting clumpy. It’s best in class, and I don’t see myself ever straying away from it.

Dior Liquid Lipstick in 999 Forever Dior

Finally, a staple red lipstick is a must-have in any makeup bag. I really like the Dior Liquid Lipstick in 999 Forever Dior, but it’s all about trial and error to find which shade suits you best. 

A Christmas Makeup Look For Every Occasion

Now you’ve got your makeup products sorted, here is some inspiration for your Christmas look, including festive makeup tips and tricks for beginners.

Simple Eye Makeup and A Festive Red Lip

When I think of Christmas makeup ideas, my mind immediately goes to a chic red lip. This look is simple, with statement lips and a swipe of shimmery eyeshadow on the lid.

For a great red lip, I love the Dior Liquid Lipstick in 999 Forever Dior. This lipstick lasts all day and is the perfect bright red. The NYX liquid lipsticks are just as beautiful for a similar product that’s a little more budget-friendly. I’d then finish off the look with something like the REFY gloss in Red to intensify the colour.

Bare Face and Shimmery Eyeshadow

If you want to look like you’ve done a lot, even if you’re rocking a pretty simple holiday look, this is the Christmas party idea to follow.

Keep most of your face simple with a nude blush, lips, and eyeshadow look all over the lid. Then, use a duochrome shadow, like the ELF Duochrome Liquid Eyeshadow, in the inner corners and into the crease.

“Latte” Eye Makeup Look and Red Lips

Latte makeup was a big trend this year, but I don’t think it will be going anywhere. This matte makeup tutorial is super pretty with smokey brown eyes, neutral blush and a bright pop from the red lipstick. This affordable palette from ELF has all the shades you’ll need to achieve the latte hue.

Shimmery Christmas Eye Makeup Looks

I hope you’ve got plenty of highlighter, as you’ll need it for this easy Christmas makeup look. It may look simple, but this glowy look is perfect for a holiday party.

To achieve a great glow, I’d use something like the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter as a base and then use a creamy highlighter like Glossier’s haloscope to finish everything off.

Snow Globe Sparkle and Shimmer

Look like you’ve come straight out of a snow globe with this super shimmery eye look. This is a classic Christmas makeup look that really isn’t too difficult to do yourself.

The star of the show is the shimmery eyeshadow, I would use Urban Decay’s Space Cowboy, or Metallic Champagne from rem beauty.

A Celebrity-Inspired Classic Christmas Glam

Something about Sabrina’s makeup look just screams holiday party to me; maybe it’s the blown-out hair or the rosy pink cheeks, but it screams festive.

Use plenty of mascara and eyeliner on the eyes, and don’t forget a dot of shimmer in the inner corners. Use a rosy pink blush, like Beverly Hills from Merit and a matching pink-nude lipstick with gloss.

Pink Cheeks, Glossy Lips and a Metallic Eye

Can you tell that I love a glowy Christmas makeup tutorial this year? I love this look in particular, as it looks like there’s almost nothing on the face apart from a super glowy primer. Finished off with sparkly eyeshadow and a nude lip, perfection.

Easy Christmas Winged Eyeliner and Nude Lipstick

A soft, smoky eye with winged eyeliner is a look that’s never going out of style. Take a black pencil eyeliner and run it along the upper lash line and out at the end, then using a smudger brush (or just your finger), blend out the edges for a softer look.

Barely-There Makeup and Long Lashes

This is about as natural as you’ll get; it’s a simple paired-back base with lots of mascara and a slight hint of black eyeliner on the top lashes. For long, full lashes, I highly recommend the Tower 28 Mascara; it makes my lashes look better than anything I’ve ever used.

Elevated Everyday Makeup for Party Season

Finally, an elevated take on simple everyday makeup, as modelled by Sydney Sweeney. I love the soft pink tones of this look; it’s simple and playful and would make a stunning Christmas look.

What look are you going to recreate this Christmas?