We’re in the thick of holiday party season. Shining bright like a diamond is no longer reserved for Rihanna. Now’s the time to cover your eyelids in glitter. Rock deep blue-blue-blue-red lipstick and cover that sh*t with lip glass. Debut a multicolored smoky eye the likes of which your family, friends and colleagues have never seen (on you, IRL).
In order to come off classy-glam and not David Bowie-glam, we highly suggest you pick just one feature to highlight, keeping the rest of your makeup fairly minimal. Not only will this keep you looking chic, it’ll also minimize the amount of time you spend prepping for the evening’s festivities. Win-win.
Click through the slideshow above for 18 such high-impact, low-effort holiday makeup ideas. Keep ’em on file for the party-filled weeks ahead.
Holiday Makeup Ideas
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Sparkle Eyeshadow
Apply heavy silver glitter across your lids and brow bone for a flashy, light-catching holiday makeup look.
Stella Jean Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Bronzy-Burgundy Smoky Eye
For a look that's romantic but not dated, swipe a mix of chocolate, burgundy and red-tinged bronze powder over your lids. Next, add a few taps of bold fuchsia eyeshadow. Don't worry if it looks a bit messy — you want it to have a lived-in feel.
Brock Collection Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Glitter Liner
Turn your tried-and-true no-makeup makeup look into a holiday-apropos yes-makeup makeup look by swapping your inky eyeliner for something more...iridescent.
Zimmermann Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Crystal Eyes
Line your eyes with (Swarovski) crystals, keep the rest of your makeup as natural as possible. Highlight your bling with a big-ass crystal earring.
Dries Van Noten Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Blurred Lips
Skip the lip liner. Use a makeup brush to blur the edges of your cherry-red lips and create an alluring, just-kissed effect. 'Tis the season.
Marco de Vincenzo Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Rounded Cat Eyes
Give your cat eye a rounded edge, dust it with glitter, pair it with structured blazers and sharply lined gowns.
Tom Ford Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Precise Liner, Precise Pout
Classic cat eyes and impeccably lined red lips are the Little Black Dresses of makeup. They never go out of style.
Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Silver Slashes
Now is the time to twinkle. To that end, draw a slash of silver glitter across the middle of each eye (beginning at the brow bone and ending at the top of the cheekbone). You can also dab a little on the inner corner of each eye, but keep the rest of your makeup low-key.
Anna Sui Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Bold Brows
Add power to your arch: brush upward with your tinted gel of choice. Again, we like this look with a mostly bare face. Pair it with a super-feminine frock for fun contrast.
Loewe Fall 2017; Image: Imaxtree
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Glittery Bordeaux Smoky Eye
Take a plum, burgundy or bordeaux lip liner — yes, you read that correctly — apply it to the crease of your eye and underneath your lash line, then blend it out to create a glossy smoky eye.
La Perla Fall 2017; Image: Imaxtree
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Demure Makeup, Demure Bow
Pair super-classic makeup — flushed cheeks, a rosy lip, an unobtrusive cat eye — with a faintly ironic black velvet bow for an edgy Nutcracker look.
Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini Fall 2017; Image: Imaxtree
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Glossy Crimson Lips
Dark lips are #trending. Wear yours glossed-over, with peachy lids.
Naeem Khan Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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White Bright Eyes
Dab a generous amount of silver powder on the inner corners of your eyes. Let it settle naturally before you set it. (This holiday makeup look goes great with dark colors.)
Calvin Klein Fall 2017; Image: Imaxtree
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Inky, Über-Graphic Cat Eyes
Rim your eyes in inky black liner, keep the rest of your skin bare (or close to it). Looks especially dramatic when paired with a turban.
Marc Jacobs Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Lived-In Shadow
Per makeup artist Lina Cantello: "The goal here was lived-in pastel green shadow toughened-up with a touch of black." Team it with festive (read: red, green or metallic) holiday looks.
Emporio Armani Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Bold Lashes
Load your lashes with waterproof mascara for a clumpy, mod vibe, pair your wide-eyed beauty look with an A-line shift dress.
Cushnie et Ochs Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Painterly Cat Eyes
Cover your lids in a paint-like block of glittery red. It's fierce, it's festive, it's not for the faint of heart.
Jour/né Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
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Colorblocked Eyes
Alternatively, this colorful, minty-fresh eye look requires much less effort/clean up. To make sure your eyes really pop, forsake all other makeup save for a glossy lip.
Tadashi Shoji Spring 2018; Image: Imaxtree
