From the bright eyes of a child on Christmas morning to the glow of a warm fire, to the twinkle of holiday lights, ’tis the season to sparkle and shine. What better way to do it than with makeup? Put your most festive face forward with some of the season’s most sensational shades. Not sure where to start? Some of our favorite lines have rolled out specialty products and palettes designed to elevate your holiday look from ho-hum to ho-ho-ho. Grab ’em while you can because, like Santa, many of these products only come once a year.
Jones Road Pink Champagne Kit
Inspired by glasses of bubbly and the glow of candlelight, the four-piece Jones Road Pink Champagne Kit is everything you love about New Year’s Eve. Created by makeup guru Bobbi Brown, Jones Road has become a cult favorite for women of all ages for the way that it enhances a woman’s natural beauty rather than covers it up. This limited-edition collection has everything you need to create a subtle golden glow.
Put a sparkle in your eyes with the Sparkle Wash in Gilded, and define it with the Best Pencil in Onyx. Use the multi-functional Lip and Cheek Stick in Rosy Brown to add a pop of color, and then accent it all with the star of the show, the Mini-Miracle Balm in Pink Champagne. Use it on lips, cheeks, temples, and anywhere you want to look luminous. The kit comes beautifully packaged in a limited-edition Gold Jones Road Tyvek Bag for $72.
Sephora Favorites Glitz and Glam Makeup Set
Get a lot of bang for your holiday buck with the Sephora Favorites Glitz and Glam Makeup Set that covers you from lashes to lips. Featuring ten items from best-selling brands like ILIA, Benefit Cosmetics, Iconic London, Glossier, and more, it’s a one-stop shop for creating a glowing, glamorous look that holi-dazzles. Packaged in a pretty red quilted case, you can take all this glam on the go for $49.
Tata Harper Cool Girl Holiday Kit
OG cool girl Tata Harper made a name for herself by pioneering the world of luxury all-natural beauty products. She understands that a glowing face starts with glowing skin, so she combines her favorite skin and makeup products in the Tata Harper Cool Girl Holiday Kit. Inside every signature green Velvet Top Knot Bag is a four-step path to fabulous. Your holiday glow begins with the dewy skin-plumping Hydrating Floral Essence, followed by the cult favorite Resurfacing Serum. Apply the Flashy Cream Highlighter on cheekbones and top it off with Risqué Lip Cream in deep berry red. Easy to use on any skin type and tone, it will leave you party-ready and radiant for $120.
Patrick Ta Major Holiday Face Palette
Red and green have given way to pink this season, from décor to holiday dressing. If you’re dreaming of a pink Christmas, you can get the look with Patrick Ta’s Major Holiday Face Palette, featuring two new shades of bright blush and a sparkly eyeshadow quad in shades of rose and gold. Mix, match, blend, and brush until you achieve your perfect pink party shade. Just $65 at press time.
5 Top Tips to Look Fab This Holiday
As is evidenced by the season’s holiday collections, it’s all about the shimmer. If you shy away from sparkle because you have mature skin, you’ll be glad to know you can still glow. Yes, it’s true that in an untrained hand, sparkle can attract unwanted attention to fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness. But a little strategic application can make you look radiant at any age. Try these tips for achieving a lit-from-within luminosity.
Opt for creams over powders: Powder tends to settle into the lines on mature or dry skin, making them appear worse. A cream formula glides across the surface, adds a more natural sheen, and won’t seep into creases.
Think backward: Instead of applying your highlighter as the finishing touch to your makeup, put it on underneath your makeup. Or blend it into your moisturizer or foundation for a more natural finish.
Highlight strategically: We all know the power of flattering lighting; when placed correctly, highlighter can offer the same effect. A drop or two at the top of the cheekbone, above the cupid’s bow, or at the temples or browbone can lift the entire face.
Blend, blend, and blend again: There’s no such thing as over-blending when using highlighter or products with shimmer. Use big, fluffy brushes or sponges for a seamless finish.
Pick your placement: Metallic, glittery eyes, glowing cheeks, and super shiny lips can make you look like a disco ball. Choose one area and keep the rest simple. If you play up the eyes, keep the lips satin or matte. If you go with a lush liquid lip, keep the eyes neutral. Too much of a good thing can be too much.
The holidays are the time to be merry and bright, so don’t be afraid to experiment with the season’s makeup colors and trends to avoid looking like the ghost of Christmas past. Incorporating one or two modern elements is all you need to keep you looking and feeling current, festive, and fun.
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