The festive season is full of glitter and glam, and the best Christmas makeup looks always incorporate these elements. The key to getting these looks just right is picking the right colours to reflect the season, such as gold, green, and red, and incorporating some sparkle to make them pop. If you’re looking for some inspiration or guidance on how to create the perfect Christmas makeup look, we’ve got you covered.
With the holiday season being so busy, we think that festive glam should be quick and easy to leave you with plenty of time to party or spend time with loved ones. Below you’ll find four completely different looks that can be created with just a few simple makeup products. Keep reading to find out how to recreate these stunning Christmas makeup ideas at home.
Cute Christmas eye looks
When creating a festive-themed makeup look, the best place to focus on is your eyes as dramatic eye makeup will make a statement. This look is perfect for Christmas parties at the office, or festive family gatherings, or it can be glammed up for a formal function.
Even better, there are two colour options to choose from, red like a robin or blue like a winter sky, though we would recommend using the same colour on both eyes rather than one on each eye to avoid a colour clash.
Here’s how to create the look:
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Step 1: Apply an eyeshadow primer if you’re using one, this is not necessary but will help to keep the look in place and avoid creasing.
- Step 2: Choose your base colour and apply this all over your eyelids, bringing it up to the brow and tapering at the ends to create a wing shape. You can use a piece of paper or tape to help you do this. For a bold blue, try using the YSL Full Matte Eyeshadow in Rebel Blue. Alternatively, if you prefer red, use the bold shade in the Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette 837 Devilish.
YSL Full Matte Eyeshadow 6 Rebel Blue £14.99 (RRP £27.00 Save £12.01)
Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette 837 Devilish £34.99 (RRP £48.00 Save £13.01)
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Step 3: Apply the chosen colour below the water line and around the corner of your eye, make sure that the eyeshadow meets to connect your eyelid and waterline.
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Step 4: Using a clean brush apply a silver eyeshadow to the centre of your eyelid, bringing it into the inner corner of your eye, and blending it out at the outer corner. The silver shade in theDior 5 Couleurs High Fidelity Eyeshadow Palette 567 Adore is perfect for this as it contains some sparkle to give more depth to the base.
Dior 5 Couleurs High Fidelity Eyeshadow Palette 567 Adore £41.90 (RRP £48.00 Save £6.10)
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Step 5: To add further definition, create a small winged liner using the L’oreal Volume Million Fatale Set and use the mascara in this set to lengthen the lashes after the next step. Ideally, you want to avoid using very long false lashes so that you don’t cover up the snowflakes we’re going to create.
L'Oreal Volume Million Fatale Mascaras & Eyeliner Set £19.74 (RRP £22.00 Save £2.26)
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Step 6: Using a white liquid liner like the Dior Diorshow On Stage Liner, apply some falling snow dots all over the lid and wait for them to dry. Once your snow is dry, bring your snowflakes into the mix by painting them on top of the red or blue eyeshadow. It can be tricky to make it neat, so if you don’t have a stencil you can just do some simple star or flower-like shapes.
Dior Diorshow On Stage Liner 001 Matte White £25.99 (RRP £29.00 Save £3.01)
- Step 7: The final step of this Christmas eyeshadow look is to apply your mascara and pencil eyeliner to the waterline if you wish. At this stage, you can also use eyelash glue to add some sequins or gems to the centre of each snowflake for added flair.
Christmas Eyeliner
If you’re looking for a Christmas eye look that is simple yet effective, subtle yet glamorous, the following makeup look is for you. We’re straying away from the classic glitters and golds and utilising a pink hue to create something feminine and festive.
This look is very simple to recreate, perfect for last-minute parties or gatherings as well as a go-to seasonal everyday makeup look that turns heads.
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Step 1: Apply your base makeup and eyeshadow primer if applicable.
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Step 2: Use a neutral eyeshadow shade all over your eyelid. The champagne shade from the Bobbi Brown Sandy Eyeshadow Palette is ideal.
Bobbi Brown Sandy Eyeshadow Palette (Blemished Box) £43.99 (RRP £49.00 Save £5.01)
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Step 3: Use a pink or red eyeshadow to create a gradient at the outer corner of your eye, blending it with the neutral shade towards the centre of your eye. Taper the edge out and slightly upwards to create a wing.
For enhanced precision, we strongly recommend using a crayon-type eyeshadow such as the Lancome Cream Eyeshadow Stick in quartz rose. Using a cream eyeshadow will make the colour bolder, resulting in a more refined look.
Lancome Pink Eyeshadow Stick 29 Quartz Rose £11.65 (RRP £22.00 Save £10.35)
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Step 4: Take your white liquid eyeliner and create a highlight that sits on top of the pink wing you created.
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Step 5: Take your black liquid liner and create a contrasting wing that runs from the inner corner of your eye to the outer of the pink wing. Make sure that the ends of the white and black lines meet at the endpoint of the wing, which should now be filled in with pink.
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Step 7: Use the pink Lancome eyeshadow underneath your waterline and blend it out with a blending brush or rounded eyeshadow brush. Then, apply your mascara or false eyelashes to complete the eyes.
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Step 8: This look is brought together by a red lipstick. A bright and cheery red like the Chanel Rouge Coco in 472 is ideal for incorporating Christmas colours, but if this isn’t your thing a deep rouge would also work well.
Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Red Lipstick 472 Experimental £35.99 (RRP £37.00 Save £1.01)
Best Holiday Makeup Idea
Using just a few of the products listed in the previous makeup looks, you can create something that totally embodies festive fun. This cute reindeer look is one of our favourites and it is more simple than it looks, so no special skills are required to create a unique look that’ll be the talk of the Christmas party.
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Step 1: Apply your foundation, but don’t contour how you usually would for your everyday makeup.
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Step 2: We’re going to use the Bobbi Brown Sandy Eyeshadow Palette to create our contour, though you can use a contour stick or other product for this step if you prefer. Try to choose a brown or beige colour that is just a few shades darker than your natural skin tone.
To make the reindeer-like effect, take your chosen shade and apply it to the sides of your nose, bringing it up to your eyebrows and around the corner of your eyes until it sits above your cheekbones. This should resemble two halves of a heart.
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Step 3: Buff out the contour to make it heavy and defined, especially around the eyebrows.
- Step 4: Take your black liquid eyeliner and apply a thick line to your eyelids. Extend the line past the inner corners of your eyes and out past your eyebrows to create the base shape of the eye look. Gradually build this line up to create a thick and dramatic wing like in the image.
- Step 5: Using the same liner, colour in the tip of your nose, making sure to get the sides.
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Step 6: Again with the same product, line the top of your lip, leaving the bottom lip blank. Then, apply some rosy blush to your cheekbones underneath the contour and the very tip of your nose.
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Step 7: Now using the white liquid eyeliner, add some spots of varying sizes to your cheeks and eyebrows.
- Step 8: Add any finishing touches such as lashes, glitter, or lip gloss to complete your reindeer-inspired makeup look. Don’t forget your ears and antlers.
Easy Christmas Makeup
The easiest Christmas makeup is a simple red lip paired with a little bit of sparkle on the eyes, as this type of look screams Marilyn Monroe and reminisces the classic ‘Santa Baby’ vibe.
However, the best part is that the look can be as subtle, sultry or as dramatic as you like because you can adjust it to suit your personality and it works well with any outfit. For us though, we think this festive glam look is best paired with a Santa hat and a sequin dress to truly embody the festive spirit.
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Step 1: Apply your base makeup.
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Step 2: Using the Chanel Les 4 Ombres Eyeshadow Palette in 274, create a shimmering golden eyeshadow. You can then apply eyeliner, mascara, or lashes if you want more drama.
Chanel Les 4 Ombres Gold Brown Eyeshadow Palette 274 Codes Elegants £50.00 (RRP £51.00 Save £1.00)
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Step 3: Add a long-lasting bright red lipstick like the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in red dominance.
YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick 87 Red Dominance £24.99 (RRP £32.00 Save £7.01)
- Step 4: Complete the look with any finishing touches such as a glittery highlighter or a blush.
It’s as simple as that, a fail-safe Christmas party makeup look that’s as easy as it is stunning.
Get in the festive spirit with Hogies
Our collections are filled to the brim with discounted designer cosmetics, skincare, and fragrances - ideal for finding the perfect stocking fillers or gifts this year. Alternatively, if you’re in need of some new cosmetics to upgrade your personal collection, or if you’re looking for Christmas gifting inspiration, you can find a range of clearance cosmetics and special offers at Hogies.