The Holiday Makeup Vibes You Need

2022 is coming to a close and that means we have a busy holiday season that bookends the year. From Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas, Kwanzaa, and of course New Year's Eve, there are plenty of events taking place that mean beauty mavens everywhere need to come with their game faces on — literally. 

The holidays can be a fun time to explore different makeup looks, get creative, or select old faithfuls to see you through every holiday party that you’re invited to. Whether you like a bold look or something more lowkey that can work for dressy or relaxed events, we’ve got a few tips to help you look your best this holiday season. 

The Lowkey Glam

Makeup lovers know that there’s more than one way to rock a gorgeous makeup look. You can opt for an obvious effect, or go a bit lowkey instead. Since it’s the holidays, you might want to forego the truly no-makeup makeup look in favor of something with just a touch of color to show that you’re getting festive for the season.

While this still means that the majority of your makeup routine is going to center around a minimal effect that evens out skin tone or adds a soft touch of color, consider adding a shimmery pop of color on the center of your lids or even adding a little highlight to the center of your lips before topping with a clear gloss. And instead of a simple classic liner, go for a gentle cat-eye which adds a bit of drama. 

All of these options still call attention to your features but can pair well with casual and more formal affairs, making them great transitional options if you have to drop into multiple parties in one day. 

Match Your Holiday

Before New Year's Eve rounds out the year, there are three major winter holidays in December. So, depending on which one(s) you celebrate, why not incorporate colors that are representative of any of these three celebrations?

If you celebrate Hanukkah, you can play with blue and white — or even soft shades of gray. Christmas gives you the option of red and green, and Kwanzaa incorporates red, green, and black. Don’t forget that you can also play with tints and shades for all of these major colors. So, if jet black for Kwanzaa feels too harsh, lighten it to a charcoal gray. Meanwhile, if bold cobalt or royal blue seems intense for Hanukkah, switch it up for cornflower or even periwinkle. 

And if you need some inspo for how to leverage these bold winter holiday colors into your makeup look, consider adding them as an under-eye liner. Alternatively, you can create a fun graphic eyeliner look by creating a double line on your upper lids. After lining with your preferred regular liner, trace above that line using a liner or even a dampened brush dipped in eyeshadow to create a bold holiday look. 

All That Glitters

Of course, it wouldn’t be the holidays without a little sparkle, a little twingle twangle. So, there’s no better time of year to bust out the glitters and shimmers than wintertime. Whether you go for a bold disco-inspired glitter eye or opt for a shimmery highlight that plays up your cheekbones, there’s no wrong way to rock glitter and shimmer.

Don’t Forget the Body Glow

If you’re going to an evening holiday party and intend to wear an outfit that shows off your collarbones, don’t forget to show off this appealing body part with some well-placed body glow or shimmer. Less is more here as it’s easy to go overboard and end up with glitter or body glow that gets all over your clothing. But a little shimmer never hurt anyone and can create an eye-catching effect in low-light settings.

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