Christmas is a whirlwind. Between last-minute shopping and baking cookies, actually finding time to feel a bit glamorous can feel… unrealistic.
But… you don’t need a pro kit or hours in front of the mirror to look fresh and festive.
So, I’ve pulled together ten easy Christmas makeup looks and holiday makeup ideas that go from soft and subtle to full-on party glam, with step-by-step Christmas makeup directions so you’re never guessing what goes where.
Many of these looks infuse current trends like metallic Christmas eye makeup, jewel-toned liners, monochromatic palettes and even a soft goth twist.
Contents
1. Glam Gunmetal Smoky Eye
Soft metallic eyes are everywhere this winter, especially cool gunmetal and chrome washes you can literally blend out with your finger in about 10 seconds.
How to create the look
- Base: Hydrated, juicy skin. Apply moisturizer + a tiny bit of glow primer, then your usual base.
- Eyes: Take a liquid or cream shimmer shadow in a gunmetal, silvery olive, or taupe. Tap it across the lid with your finger, then use a clean finger or fluffy brush to blur the edges.
- Liner and lashes: Add mascara, top and bottom. Optional: A tiny wing with brown or black liner.
- Cheeks: Soft neutral blush
- Lips: Sheer gloss, nude, or a “your lips but better” shade.
Perfect for…
Evening Christmas parties, office parties, NYE vibes when you want to look like you tried way harder than you did. Gunmetal pairs beautifully with brown and hazel eyes.
The timeless smoky eye meets a modern twist: gunmetal shimmer blended into charcoal at the outer corners and bright silver at the inner corners. Thick, fluffy lashes and a glossy nude lip keep the focus on the eyes. It’s bold without feeling heavy.
2. Peach Bellini Glow
Soft peach eyeshadow, bronzed cheeks and a nude‑peach lip work together to create a warm, effortless glow. It’s perfect if you love warm tones but don’t want to go too bold.
How to create the look
- Base: Apply a light‑to‑medium coverage foundation and conceal as needed. Sweep a satin bronzer across the cheeks, temples and jawline for warmth.
- Peach eyes: Blend a matte peach shadow through the crease and onto the lower lash line. Press a shimmering peach shade onto the lid. Highlight the inner corners with champagne shimmer.
- Lashes: Add brown eyeliner and two coats of mascara. Fluffy lashes are optional.
- Cheeks: Use a peach-toned cream or powder blush and blend high on the cheeks.
- Lips: Finish with a nude peach lipstick or gloss.
Perfect for…
Daytime gathering, family photos or casual get‑togethers. The warm tones flatter most skin tones and feel softer than traditional holiday colors.
3. Mulled Wine Elegance
Inspired by the deep hues of mulled wine, this look combines plum-toned smoky eyes with a rich berry lip. Vintage meets modern in this color story. If you’re over the classic red lipstick holiday look but still want drama, try this.
How to create the look
- Even base: Use a medium‑coverage foundation and lightly set it. Keep skin luminous with a touch of liquid highlighter on the high points of the face.
- Plum eyes: Blend a matte mauve or soft burgundy into the crease. Add a deeper plum shade to the outer corners. Press a shimmering berry or pink metallic onto the center of the lid.
- Lower lash line: Use the same matte plum shade to softly smoke out the lower lash line. Highlight the inner corner with a pearl or rose shimmer.
- Lashes and line: Apply black winged liner or tightline for definition. Add lengthening mascara or half lashes.
- Berry lips: Choose a matte or velvet finish lipstick in a berry, wine or plum shade. Line the lips first for precision.
Perfect for…
Office parties, winter weddings or any evening event. Those with blue or green eyes will find plum tones very flattering.
4. Golden Radiance
Glowy holiday skin and warm gold lids recall the skin flooding trend (layering hydrating products to achieve plumpness and luminosity). This look feels luxurious while remaining approachable.
How to create the look
- Base: Layer a hydrating serum, moisturizer and illuminating primer to mimic the dewy, pearl skin. Let each layer sink in before applying a light reflecting foundation.
- Eyes: Sweep a warm brown into the crease, then press a metallic gold or bronze shadow onto the lid. Blend the edges seamlessly. Highlight brow bone and inner corner.
- Cheeks: Use cream bronzer and blush, then highlight cheekbones, nose and cupid’s bow with liquid illuminator.
- Lips: Choose a terracotta or warm nude lipstick with a satin finish. add gloss if you want.
Perfect for…
Family dinners, candlelit parties or any event where you want to glow without glitter. The look flatters all skin tones, especially on medium to deep complexions. The terracotta lip makes this look more wearable than bright red.
5. Classic Christmas Glam
Nothing says Christmas like green and red. Metallic emerald on the lids and a matte scarlet lip create instant holiday glamour.
How to create the look
- Skin: Apply your usual base. A bit of contour and peach blush balance the bold eye and lip.
- Emerald eyes: Prime lids, then apply a matte teal or forest green in the crease and outer corner. Press a metallic emerald shadow onto the lid. Blend. Highlight the inner corner with gold.
- Definition: Tightline or apply black eyeliner along the upper lash line. Add dramatic lashes or multiple coats of mascara.
- Red lips: Use a long‑wear red lip liner to define the shape, then fill in with a classic matte red lipstick. Blot and reapply for lasting power.
Perfect for…
Formal dinners, Christmas Eve festivities and themed parties when you want to honor the traditional color palette.
This combo absolutely pops on deeper skin tones and brown eyes, but it looks incredible on anyone who feels comfortable playing with color.
6. Sugar‑Plum Pastels
Pastels give holiday makeup a whimsical twist. This pastel Christmas makeup look uses soft pink shadow, blush and lips to create a dreamy, youthful vibe. It’s playful without veering into costume territory and feels refreshingly light next to all the deeper winter shades.
How to create the look
- Base: Apply a radiant foundation for a fairy-like glow and conceal where needed.
- Eyes: Sweep a matte pale pink across the lid. Use a deeper rose shade in the crease. Press a shimmering pastel or iridescent shadow onto the center of the lid and inner corner. Skip harsh liner—instead, apply a pink or brown mascara.
- Cheeks: Dust a cool‑toned pink blush high on the cheeks and across the nose for a flushed look.
- Lips: Apply a satin or matte baby‑pink lipstick and outline with matching liner.
Perfect for…
Daytime events, cookie decorating, or for anyone who loves whimsical beauty. Fair to light skin tones look ethereal in pastels, but deeper complexions can still pull off this look with deeper pinks.
7. Emerald Smoke with Nude Lip
A cousin to the Classic Christmas Glam but more neutral, this look features deep green smoky eyes paired with glossy nude lips. The focus remains on the eyes, keeping it sophisticated but slightly edgy.
How to create the look
- Base: Apply a satin foundation and apply bronzer along the cheekbones and temples.
- Eyes: Blend a neutral transition shade (soft beige or taupe) in the crease. Pack matte green or teal on the lid, blending upward. Press a metallic green onto the center. Highlight the inner corners with champagne.
- Liner and lashes: Add a winged liner with black or deep green and finish with volumizing mascara.
- Lips: Keep it neutral—choose a nude gloss or creamy lipstick with peach or beige undertones.
Perfect for…
Cocktail parties, virtual holiday calls or nights out when you want color without a bold lip. This festive makeup look works on all skin tones but looks awesome on warm undertones or green/hazel eyes.
8. Burgundy Jewel-Toned Liner
Colored eyeliner is having a moment this winter. Deep green and red liner shades are especially trendy for holiday looks. We used burgundy here.
How to create the look
- Base: Whatever you like, since this look doesn’t depend heavily on skin.
- Eyes: Draw a small wing with burgundy or deep red liner close to the lash line. Keep the rest of the lid simple (just a skin-tone shadow or a light beige). Add mascara.
- Cheeks: Sweep a rosy blush to balance the eye color.
- Lips: Sheer cherry balm, nude lipstick, or a blurred berry lip stain.
Perfect for…
When you’re bored with black liner and want it to feel Christmassy without glitter. Great for office gatherings, gift exchanges, or when you want subtle holiday cheer.
9. Soft Glow Angel
Ethereal glow and soft shades make this look pop. Think of dewy skin, pink‑gold shimmer on the eyes and a glossy pink lip that looks good from brunch photos to late-night FaceTimes.
How to create the look
- Base: Layer a hydrating primer over moisturizer. Apply a lightweight foundation or skin tint and spot‑conceal. Blend cream highlighter on cheekbones, brow bone and nose bridge.
- Eyes: Dab a soft pink or rose eyeshadow over the lid and slightly into the crease. Use a metallic rose‑gold or champagne pigment in the center and inner corners of the lid.
- Subtle definition: Tightline the upper waterline with brown liner and add mascara. Keep brows soft.
- Blush: Use a dewy cream blush in a soft pink.
- Lips: a glossy pink lip color.
Perfect for…
Christmas morning brunch, gift opening or virtual gatherings.
10. Soft Goth Christmas
If you’re drawn to darker aesthetics, this goth Christmas makeup look combines smoky brown eyes, black liner and deep burgundy lips. It channels the goth glam but softens it with glowing skin and feminine sparkle.
How to create the look
- Base: Apply a matte or satin foundation and softly contour. Use a warm blush to prevent a washed‑out look.
- Eyes: Blend warm brown shadow through the crease and lower lash line. Pack rich chocolate or black shadow onto the outer corners. Press a copper or gold shimmer on the center and inner corners to add depth.
- Line: Draw a precise wing with black liquid or gel liner. Tightline the upper waterline.
- Lashes: Apply volumizing mascara or strip lashes.
- Lips: Finish with a burgundy lipstick in satin or glossy finish. Use a lip liner to prevent bleeding.
Perfect for…
Holiday concerts, New Year’s Eve or any winter event with an urban twist. Works beautifully on both fair and deep complexions.
Final thoughts
The most beautiful holiday looks always start with well‑cared‑for skin, so if you do anything, give your face a little extra love this season.
You don’t need a 6-step routine or pro-level skills to pull off these gorgeous, easy Christmas makeup looks. A little shimmer here, a jewel-toned liner there, a classic red lip or soft glow is enough to feel festive without feeling overdone.
Whether you love soft angel skin, emerald eyes, or chic burgundy liner, the best holiday makeup look is the one you actually enjoy wearing.
