Indulging in the holiday spirit is a joyous affair, and for enthusiasts like us, reveling in Christmas makeup ideas takes a close second place—well, right after the thrill of unwrapping gifts. The festive gatherings, quality time with family, and the enchanting ambiance provide the perfect pretext to embrace vibrant jewel tones and the allure of glitter. While we cautiously reacquaint ourselves with social events, any occasion on your calendar becomes a splendid justification to wield those makeup brushes and finally delve into that eye shadow palette you’ve been eagerly eyeing.
Venture into the realm of makeup inspiration we’ve meticulously curated since the dawn of the year, ensuring you’re well-equipped for every conceivable scenario. From timeless cherry lips to audaciously neon hues, scroll down to discover a plethora of holiday and Christmas makeup ideas that will undoubtedly become your seasonal go-tos.
38+ Christmas Makeup Ideas:
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with 38+ stunning Christmas makeup ideas for 2023? Dive into a world of festive colors, glamorous transformations, and timeless elegance. This comprehensive guide will take you through the ins and outs of creating the perfect holiday look, ensuring you shine bright at every celebration.
Rock the Grinch Green Look This Holiday Season
Even the Grinch himself would be enchanted by this delicate green eyeliner. Elevate the allure by tight-lining the lower lash line with white liner and adding false lashes to the corners.
Unleash the Elegance with Ruby Red Christmas Makeup
Pair a cherry red lip with soft pink lids for a harmonious look. Infuse extra holiday sparkle by adorning face gems on the inner corners. Sunnies Face Fluffmatte in Hot Sauce and Half Magic Face Gems are the dynamic duo for this festive task.
Illuminate the Night with Celestial Glam Makeup Ideas
Draw inspiration from the winter night sky with lids adorned in starry blue. Makeup artist Mila Thomas, crafting this look for Sheryl Lee Ralph, utilized Danessa Myricks’ Colorfix Foils in Mermaid.
Master the Art of Gray Smoke Eyes for a Chic Holiday Look
Embrace disco vibes with a super-glamorous smoky eye, elongating the shape dramatically. A brush set like Sephora Essential Eye Brush Set or Sigma Beauty Basic Eye Brush Set ensures precise blending for that extra dose of drama.
Kitten Eye Mastery: A Subtle Yet Stunning Christmas Look
For the makeup minimalists, a sleek kitten eye is the epitome of chic. Opt for a pencil formula such as Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner for a soft and diffused allure.
Dazzle and Shine with Graphic Gold Makeup Techniques
A graphic cut crease paired with shimmering gold shadow exudes extravagance. Utilize a liquid eyeliner like Pat McGrath Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner for the perfect shape, complemented by MAC Frost Eyeshadow in If It Ain’t Baroque.
Holiday Glam Unleashed: Tips and Tricks for a Stunning Look
Sometimes, channeling your inner Christmas Barbie is a must. Red lips and winged liner, though holiday staples, get a fresh twist with dewy shimmer eyeshadow. Try Shiseido Aura Dew Highlighter in Lunar and Rare Beauty Lip Souffle in Inspire for a similar vibe.
Emerald Eyes: A Captivating Addition to Your Holiday Arsenal
Winter invites the exploration of richer tones like emerald, sapphire, and amethyst. Keep the rest neutral to let your eyes steal the show.
Glitter Wings Magic: Sparkle and Shine This Christmas
Exaggerated glitter wings, despite their stunning appearance, are surprisingly easy to pull off. Establish your base with glitter glue or cream shadow, using tape for a sharp edge. While the base is still tacky, pat on loose glitter with your finger. Remove the tape and use it to pick up any stray glitter. Add lip gloss, and you’re ready to captivate the crowd.
Wine Lips Elegance: Perfect Your Holiday Pout
Feeling edgier this Christmas? Swap classic red for a deep berry or wine shade. Opt for a long-wear liquid like Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Sensuel to ensure it stays put all night, even under a mask.
Popsicle Lips: A Playful Twist to Your Christmas Makeup
For a fresh take on cherry lips, opt for a stained red with a glossy finish. Tinted lip oil achieves this effortlessly, offering a cool look that pairs well with both couch lounging and fancy party dresses.
Sculpted Blush Perfection: Enhance Your Festive Glow
Skip harsh contouring and use blush to gently sculpt your face. A bronzy pink like Chanel’s Rose Bronze adds subtle warmth, ensuring you look wide awake.
Snow Globe Eyes Tutorial: Create a Winter Wonderland Look
If you’re in the market for glitter visible even on the grainiest webcam, look no further. Contrast dark liner with chunky silver sparkles like Smith and Cult Glitter Shot.
Subtle Pastel Hues for a Delicate Holiday Vibe
Get inspired by falling snow with a subtle pop of baby blue. Line your inner corner with a pencil like Nyx Professional Makeup Slim Eye Pencil in Baby Blue, then smudge it with your finger. For an ethereal vibe, repeat the process on your outer corner without connecting the middle.
Classic Glam Revival: Timeless Beauty for Christmas
Holidays or not, you can’t go wrong with subtle brown shadow, rose lipstick, and plenty of highlighter. Elevate the look with pearl hairpins and an updo for that extra touch of timeless elegance.
Blue Christmas Wonders: Dive into the Cool Tones Trend
To maximize the impact of a bold shadow, layer it over a white base. Press play on “Blue Christmas” by Elvis to set the mood.
Rose Quartz Shadow: Embrace the Romantic Side of Christmas
The secret to making glitter feel wearable? Stick to universally flattering rosy tones, like those in Pat McGrath’s Rose Decadence Palette.
Candy Cane Liner Tutorial: Sweet and Bold Eye Makeup
Yes, it’s a little on-the-nose, but it’s also insanely cute. Besides, when else could you pull this off?
Mastering the Perfect Winged Liner for the Holidays
Winged liner and nude gloss form a fail-proof combo, regardless of the occasion. Try Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Caramel and Chanel Le Liner De Chanel for a similar look to Laura Harrier’s.
Earthy Greens Palette: Nature-inspired Christmas Beauty
To make any fun shade feel more wearable, add a halo of brown in your crease and on your lower lash line. This trick works with any color but looks particularly pretty, not to mention festive, with a soft green.
Shades of Blue: A Mesmerizing Holiday Eye Makeup Palette
Blue eyeshadow might seem intimidating, but skip the ’80s cliche by blending different shades of deep navy and turquoise. Dior’s 5 Couleurs Couture Eyeshadow Palette in Denim is perfect for achieving a similar look.
Graphic Liner Artistry: Elevate Your Christmas Look
Graphic liner has been trending hard, and the holidays are the perfect time to try something dramatic. Allow yourself plenty of time to get the shape right, keeping pointed cotton swabs and micellar water on hand for any mistakes.
’90s Glam Resurgence: Nostalgic Christmas Makeup Ideas
Channel your inner Kate, Naomi, and Cindy with matte neutral eyeshadow—Chanel’s Les 4 Ombres palette in Clair-Obscure is a fantastic choice—subtle contour, and brown lip liner.
Smoky Lilac Allure: A Modern Twist to Holiday Makeup
Switch up a traditional smoky eye with painterly shades of lilac.
The Grinch Eye Shadow Challenge: Festive and Playful
Lime shadow is an unexpected yet on-theme choice that will captivate even the Scrooge-iest of your friends. Rare Beauty’s Confident Energy Eyeshadow Palette boasts a stunning shade similar to this one.
Stained Lips Perfection: A Bold Statement for Christmas
If you’re wearing a full face of makeup, make red lips feel a little fresher by gently blotting—not swiping—a liquid lipstick for a flushed effect. Makeup artist Pati Dubroff used Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in True Red for this look on Margot Robbie.
Classic Crimson Lips: Timeless Elegance for the Holidays
Truly, nothing says Christmas like a velvety red lip. Complete the look with a subtle wing and a touch of blush.
Pink Flush Bliss: Add a Rosy Touch to Your Christmas Look
Fake like you just got in from the cold, even if you’ve just been watching holiday movies. Add a flush of hot pink on your eyes, lips, and cheeks using a multiuse product like Ilia’s Multi-Stick.
Sunset Eyes Tutorial: Capture the Warmth of the Season
If you’re more of a summer girl, go for golden eyes and fresh skin.
Blue Wings Mastery: Soar High with Blue-toned Eye Makeup
One of the easiest ways to wear color is by skipping eyeshadow entirely and going for a bold liner instead.
Warm Neutrals for a Cozy and Chic Holiday Appearance
A sultry, soft glam where everything is in the same color family is perfect for both a date night or an intimate family gathering.
Berry Eyes Temptation: Embrace the Richness of the Season
Red isn’t just for your lips; it looks just as pretty artfully smudged across eyelids. Keep your lipstick and blush in the same tone to pull everything together.
Retro Eyes Revival: Nostalgic Holiday Beauty Inspiration
Holiday doesn’t always mean glitter. This ’60s-inspired eye look is still insanely glamorous without a sparkle in sight.
Full Glam Guide: Elevate Your Christmas Makeup to Perfection
Look like you just stepped off the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular stage with ’50s-inspired eyeliner and the perfect red lipstick. (Details on the shades the Rockettes wear on stage available if you’re interested.)
Deep Green Allure: Dive into the Mystique of Dark Greens
An evergreen liner rimmed around your eyes is the perfect intersection of glam-meets-grunge. Pair it with a matching green mascara like L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara for a look that will have the whole party talking.
Mastering the Lower Liner: A Subtle Yet Impactful Addition
Edge up a classic red lipstick with a little black eyeliner on the lower lashline. Keeping the liner on the outer third of your eyes makes them look wide open and has a cool ’60s vibe.
Green Glitter Delight: Sparkle and Shine with Confidence
It honestly doesn’t get any cooler than this. Makeup artist Allan Avendaño used the Viseart Editorial Brights and Dark Mattes palettes for the base before adding tiny gems (use nail crystals from Amazon and eyelash glue for a similar effect). Complete the look with a red lip for extra festivity or a clear gloss to keep the focus on the eyes.
Major Wings Mastery: A Bold and Daring Christmas Look
While subtle takes on eyeliner have been trending this year, there’s no time like the holidays to pull out all the stops. Make oversized wings and fluffy lashes the centerpiece of your look with KVD Beauty’s Tattoo Waterproof Eyeliner for a cat eye that will stay put all night.
More Holiday Planning & Ideas You’ll Love:
Discover the Perfect Christmas Tree Topper: 27 Options for Every Holiday Style
40+ Red Sweater Outfit Ideas For Every Occasion
Unlocking Timeless Elegance: 25 Dark Academia Outfits
Chic Holiday Nails: 24+ Simple Black Christmas Nail Ideas
24+ Stunning Red and White Christmas Nail Ideas
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Curious minds may have questions. Here are some FAQs to guide you:
- How do I prevent glitter fallout when using glitter eyeshadows?
- Applying a glitter primer before eyeshadow can help minimize fallout.
- What are some affordable options for creating a DIY Christmas makeup kit?
- Look for budget-friendly brands for eyeshadows, lipsticks, and nail polishes.
- Can I mix metallic eyeshadows with other finishes for a more dimensional look?
- Absolutely! Mixing metallics with matte or satin finishes can create a beautiful, multidimensional effect.
- How can I make my holiday makeup last all night?
- Invest in a good setting spray and opt for long-wearing foundation and eyeshadows.
- Any tips for creating eyeliner art for beginners?
- Start with simple designs and use a fine-tip eyeliner brush for precision. Practice makes perfect!
Wishing you a Merry and Glamorous Christmas! May these 38+ stunning Christmas makeup ideas for 2023 add a touch of magic to your celebrations. Embrace the festive spirit, shine bright, and create unforgettable memories with your glamorous holiday look.