10 Perfect Holiday Makeup Ideas to Try

I’ll be the first to admit that as soon as the calendar flips to party season, my makeup bag gets a major shakeup.

It’s the one time of year I feel like I can really go all out with glittery lids and bold, vampy lips for all those dinners and get togethers.

If you’re looking for some fresh ideas to try, I’ve rounded up some gorgeous looks you have to see.

1. Smokey Bronze Eyes + Dark Lips

When cooler weather hits, I find myself reaching for my darker lipsticks pretty much constantly. You too? Moody reds and purples are just a fall and winter staple in my book.

For the holidays this year, try pairing your go to berry lip with a black and dark gold smokey eye. It creates such a vampy and sexy vibe.

2. Brown Matte Cut Crease

Who says a cut crease has to be super dramatic? I love that you can get the same effect with soft, brown matte shades, just like the look here.

When you pair it with a classic red lip, you’ve got a look that’s perfect for a family dinner or any holiday party. It’s a knockout!

3. Green and Gold Glitter Look

If a grey smokey eye feels a little too intense for you, you have to try this gorgeous gold and green eye makeup instead.

I find that sparkly and glittery shadows like these give an instantly festive feeling to any look. If you have brown eyes, I’d definitely go for gold, copper, green, and blue tones.

For blue eyes, try peach, bronze, purple, and chocolate brown to really make them pop. And if you have green eyes, burgundy, plum, pink, and cranberry shades will be your best friend.

4. Golden Smokey Eye and Red Lips

For me, nothing screams “holiday makeup” more than a golden smokey eye with red lips. It’s my go to for any last minute holiday event. Here’s how you can get it done.

Step 1: First up, you’ll want to start by putting on an eyeshadow primer or concealer and giving it a moment to dry.

Step 2: Next, sweep a neutral base eyeshadow across your entire eyelid. I find this little trick makes blending way easier later on. Then, take your favorite blending brush and dip the very tip into a dark chocolate matte eyeshadow. You’re going to apply that to the outer corner in a “V” shape, then blend it out.

Step 3: Now for the fun part. Gently tap a dark gold eyeshadow, like ABH’s Amber, onto your eyelid. To really make it pop, layer a baked gold eyeshadow, like ABH’s Peach Sorbet, right on top.

Step 4: To brighten things up, use a shimmery champagne color to highlight the inner corner of your eye. Take that same chocolate shade from before and use it to smoke out your lower lash line.

Step 5: To finish everything off, just add a black liner, some false lashes, and your favorite red matte lipstick. This look is a guaranteed win.

5. Purple Smokey Eye with a Pop of Glitter

This purple smokey eye with a hint of shimmering glitter is absolutely ideal for any festive event you have lined up. Shades of brown and purple are flattering on pretty much everyone, so I highly recommend giving this look a try!

I mean, December is the best time to add a little bit of glitter to your eyes, don’t you think? It has a way of brightening up your whole face and really making your eyes stand out.

As you can tell from this look, you don’t need to go wild with it. A little goes a long way here.

6. Smokey Cut Crease

The holidays are truly the perfect excuse to glam up your beauty routine, and a smokey cut crease is always a solid choice.

I’m telling you, this makeup technique is amazing for making your eyes appear bigger and, let’s be honest, way sexier.

7. Brown Smokey Eye + Gold Glitter Liner

Before the holidays really kick off, you have to make sure there’s at least one glitter liner in your makeup kit. Trust me on this.

You can create so many different makeup looks with it, and it’s such a fun and simple way to get that pop of glitter. Just swipe it along your upper or lower lash line for instant glam.

8. Gold Glitter Eye

I am completely obsessed with this gold glitter look. So, how do you get your eyes to sparkle like that? You’ll just need two things: an eye glitter glue and some loose glitter.

If you’re a glitter fanatic like me, this type of glue is an absolute must have for your makeup bag.

This product is literally designed to keep glitter on your eyes all night long, or at least until you decide to take it off. How amazing is that?!

9. Grey Smokey Eye with Glitter Liner

Step 1: Kick things off by priming your eyelids with an eye primer or concealer. Here’s a trick for a super smooth bottom edge:

Grab a piece of Scotch tape, press it on your hand a couple of times so it’s not too sticky, and then place it like you see in the picture.

Now, apply a peachy or orange transition color to the crease. Using a black matte shade, smoke out the top lash line.

Step 2: Next, apply a dark grey eyeshadow all over the eyelid.

Step 3: Blend it all out with a clean blending brush until you don’t see any harsh lines.

Step 4: Put a gel liner along your upper lash line.

Step 5: Right after that, apply a silver glitter liner just above the black gel liner.

Step 6: Make the inner corner of your eye pop with a silver glitter. You’ll use a black liner plus black and brown eyeshadows to smoke out the bottom lash line. Finish it up with some false lashes.

10. Green Metallic Look

Step 1: First, fill in your brows and add in your transition color.

Step 2: Take a dark brown eyeshadow and apply it to the outer corner of your eye, making a “V” shape. Blend it until you can’t see any harsh lines.

Step 3: Now, apply a metallic green eyeshadow or a pigment over your lid.

Step 4: Then, put a black gel liner along your upper lash line and blend that dark brown shade from earlier into the crease.

Step 5: Using a smaller brush, deepen the outer corner of your eye with a black matte eyeshadow.

Step 6: Apply black gel liner to your bottom lash line and smoke it out using black and brown eyeshadows. All that’s left is to apply your favorite false lashes to complete the look.