Here you are again. Surrounded by Christmas music and beautiful holiday displays, getting ready for the latest holiday gathering… and your face looking back at you in the mirror while that little question bobs through your head, “How do I do my makeup?” Well, never fear! There are so many options, be they subtle or completely extravagant! ’Tis the season to don red, green, and — of course — sparkles. So no need to worry. Here is your guide to how you can wow everyone you meet this Christmas season.
Bronzer: It’s winter and the rule of thumb is that, during this chilly season void of the ability to tan, one must create a sun kissed glow on their own. The important thing to remember however, is that a little bit of bronzer goes a long way. Creme is the best way to go if you want to add a dab of tanned dewiness to your skin. To add to this, use a bronzer with a slightly shimmery base (to mimic that sparkly snow that we lack in Florida). Dab it on your cheekbones and at the corners of your eyes to add some warmth to your face. Some suggestions for bronzers that you might use are: Too Faced Snow Bunny Bronzer, $30; e.l.f. Mineral Glow, $8; Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer, $9; Raw Natural Beauty Raw Minerals Mineral Glow, $25
Eyeliner: A perfect look for the holidays is a classic cat-eye. We have all had the horror story of trying to achieve that prim and proper cat-eye so try using a pen with a brush. Personally, the best eyeliner I have encountered would be the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, $18. I have been using this eyeliner for three years and have had very few difficulties with it in that time. There are cheaper versions of this eyeliner such as the Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Ink Pen Eyeliner, $8, which you can purchase at your local Target. Either way, think of it as a Christmas present to yourself because you will soon be nailing that winged liner! (If you really want to amp up that holiday glamour, add a touch of gold as shown below.)
Lipstick: Now, you can always go the classic route of a nice bright red lip, but why not mix it up this year and take some inspiration from that hot cocoa that you’ve been drinking nonstop this season? Brown lipstick has been making a name for itself lately and you can easily achieve this look yourself. Pair a nice warm lipstick such as Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Chestnut, $20 with a warmer lip liner such as The Sephora Collection Nano Lip Liner in Radiant Rosy, $5. This will give you that luscious full-lipped look that we’ve all been watching Kylie Jenner rock right now while also making you look warm and cozy amongst the chilly weather.
Eyeshadow: An eyeshadow trend that is making its rounds right now is the brown, and ever more natural, smoky eye. Pair this with that winged liner from earlier on and you’ll be stealing the show at every holiday party that you attend. How do you achieve this? It’s actually very simple. You’ll need a simple palette consisting of only three or four colors. One will be white for highlights, the second will be cream for your eyelid, followed by a warm brown for your crease and a darker brown for the outer corners of your eyes. You will be creating something similar to a cut crease with this look.
Step 1: Place the cream shadow onto your lids
Step 2: Use the warm brown and trace your crease. Blend outwards so that this fades into your brow bone.
Step 3: Place the highlight on your brow bone and blend down into the warm brown.
Step 4: Use the dark brown and blend it into the outer corners of your top eyelid. It should only take up a little bit of space. It should not take up half of your eyelid.
Step 5: Clean up your eyelid by placing one more light layer of the cream shadow on your lid. Voila!
Brows: The bold brow is a great look for the Christmas season. You will look mysterious and strong while also looking absolutely gorgeous! Have a fear of filling in your eyebrows? Don’t worry because that’s what this section is for. In order to fill your brows, you can use something as simple as a brow pencil or you can go a little bit fancier with a tool such as Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara, $8 or with a brow kit (my personal favorite being Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Genius Kit, $24). With any of these, the key is to keep your inner brow light and have the outer brow darker. This avoids an overdone look and keeps the brow clean. Remember, you’re enhancing your beauty. A little bit of definition goes a long way. You should also always remember to groom your brows before filling them. This makes the process so much easier.
Now for some fun looks… Here are a few exciting full looks to provide some inspiration to your holiday makeup looks. This is a season of joy and fun! Embrace your inner child and just do what makes you feel great! If you’re confident, you’re going to look absolutely stunning whether you’re wearing a ton of making or just a little. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have a lovely New Year!