Having fun with Christmas makeup looks is one of the best parts of the season, if you ask us. Second, maybe, to having a mince pie for breakfast.
Getting to go all-out on those shimmery palettes and bold lipsticks is very fun. Whether you’ve decided to treat yourself to one of this year’s Christmas makeup gift sets, or you want to learn how to apply eyeshadow like a pro, now's the time to really lean into the glitter.
"Christmas time is a makeup artist's dream as it’s the season for full-glam and daring looks," agrees makeup artist Hayley Walker. "We're more likely to experiment and be bold, whether trying a new look or wearing a brighter lipstick than we usually would. Metallics, glitter, and shines are always a big look for the festive season." Hard agree.
Here, we round up 23 Christmas makeup looks to inspire your December and beyond. We've also included tips on how to wear them and products to get the look, so you can shimmer and shine throughout party season.
Hayley Walker is a qualified beauty expert with over 20 years of industry experience. Qualified in all things beauty including skincare, makeup, nails, and holistic wellness, Hayley is a trusted source when it comes to sharing expert advice and tips on the latest beauty trends.
23 celebrity-inspired Christmas makeup looks
1. Sparkly copper eye
New Year's Eve gives it a run for its money, but there's really no better time for a sparkly eye than Christmas. Metallic tones are an excellent way to make a smoky eye all the more party-appropriate, as seen here on Jessica Chastain in gorgeous copper. If you have blue eyes, this will really make the colour pop.
RRP: £33
The easiest way of applying a single-tone eyeshadow is using a stick - they're highly pigmented and speedy to apply. Hourglass do some of the very best, and this shade is a good match for Jessica's copper eye look.
2. The matte red lip
Nothing screams Christmas more than a matte red lip, and Tracee Ellis Ross wears it so well. The secret to a bold shade like this is knowing how to apply lipstick with careful prep. Exfoliate first, then line the lips with precision and blot to stop it from smudging.
RRP: £27
This might be the perfect red lipstick – it's a true red with a velvety finish, that feels light on the lips and is never drying. It's just as impactful worn solo as it is paired with a shimmery eye look.
3. Merry Berry
If you want to try a twist on the red lip, use a deeper berry red shade like Davina McCall has here. Darker reds have a more wintery vibe and, if you pick one with more of a sheen finish it'll be more flattering than, say, classic matte scarlet – making fine lips look fuller.
RRP: £27
A couple of tones deeper than a traditional red, this is the perfect berry hue. Not just for Christmas makeup looks, this shade will work all year round. It has a flattering, almost glowing finish that will shine whatever you pair it with.
4. Golden wonder
Jodie Turner-Smith never shies away from a bold make-up look, and she pulls off this stiriking style with ease. The warmth of the gold really works with her skin tone, and we love the combination of a few different golds, as well as darker liner for an impactful, full-blown festive look.
RRP: £50
You don't necessarily need a Chanel palette to create this look, but who could resist this gorgeous number? It's the ultimate beauty gift idea. A wearable mix of metallics means this is surprisingly versatile, not just made for Christmas makeup looks.
5. Sapphire shimmer
This wonderful blue shimmery eye is a perfect choice of eyeshadow for brown eyes and really makes Thandiwe Newton's eye colour stand out. It's easy to recreate at home using a single bold shadow and a blending brush, just be careful to apply your makeup in the right order. "If you're going for a bold eye look, the risk of fallout is greater than normal," advises makeup artist Saffron Hughes. "Apply your face makeup after your eye makeup to decrease the chance of the dreaded ‘raccoon eyes’, where pigment has fallen underneath your eyes."
RRP: £55
Highly pigmented with a mix of bold blues, this is the perfect palette to get Thandie's look. Blend a couple of shades to add depth, or stick to just one if you want a simpler, more low-key look.
Saffron Hughes is an experienced makeup artist, and the resident expert at beauty website FalseEyelashes.co.uk.
6. Iridescent shimmer
We wouldn't normally pick Kate Moss as one of the go-to inspirations for Christmas makeup looks – her vibe is normally quite minimalist, with a touch of kohl. This look though, has us swooning. A glowing, iridescent glitter shimmer, paired with an exaggerated wing. It's perfectly paired down with a nude lip, to let the eyes really do the talking.
RRP: £23
These liquid eyeshadows are a real go-to for us during December. Just one swipe provides an instant, gorgeously glittery eye look without having to faff around with a bunch of brushes and steps.
7. Emerald eye with nude lips
Tess Daly looks gorgeous with this emerald eyeliner look paired with the best false eyelashes for a fluttery effect. This deep green shade means the focus is on the eyes, so pairing it with a nude lip keeps it wearable as well as letting this gorgeous colour speak for itself. "Pulling off a bold colour on the eye is usually about decluttering the details and avoiding the complicated shading," says MAC's head of artistry Terry Barber "A block of one colour teamed with a good coat of mascara is usually sufficient to add the drama without resorting to looking clownish."
RRP: £7.99
Swapping your eyeliner to a bolder tone is one of the easiest ways to try out Christmas makeup looks. Swipe along the eye line and blend with a fluffy brush, or use it as a graphic liner flick.
Terry Barber has been with M·A·C for 17 years. Now Director of Makeup Artistry for the UK and Europe, Barber is one of the brand’s most colourful, fashionable and ruthlessly blunt ambassadors. A showman, he loves the energy and creativity of backstage.
8. Purple Haze
Viola Davis loves a bold eye look – really, this entire article could have been written about her. This shimmery lilac eye pipped the others to the post as the ideal Christmas makeup look. It's fun and festive but still feels quite wearable and grown-up. We love how she's kept things monotone by adding a purple-toned lipstick – it all really works together.
RRP: £20
A single shadow can still have a huge impact, especially if it's as glorious as this pearlescent purple. This shade will work well on brown eyes, like Viola, but it will also make blue and green eyes pop.
9. Winged-out grey shimmer
Smoky eyes look really Christmassy with a dab of glitter on the lids. This look created by makeup artist Patsy O'Neill on Holly Willoughby features a winged-out black liner, smoky grey transition shades, and a good dose of silver sparkle. This is a particularly great choice of eyeshadow for blue eyes or grey eyes.
RRP: £5.99
You don't have to spend a lot of money to get the best eyeliner, as this brilliant pencil proves. It's buttery soft and easy to blend – it's just the thing for adding some edge to slightly cupcakey Christmas makeup looks.
10. Classic hollywood glam
Amal Clooney shows that the classics are still as impactful as the more trend-led Christmas makeup looks. This is a favourite of Walker's. "The classic duo for Christmas is a bold red lip with a gold eyeshadow," she says. "This Hollywood-glam makeup look is a timeless festive favourite that suits all skin tones and compliments the sequins and sparkles of festive fashion."
RRP: £26.50
Don't shy away from shiny reds – they can have a real impact, and they can be more forgiving than drying matte formulas. This is a nourishing formula in a blue-toned red –these shades help teeth look whiter, making this a doubly flattering buy.
11. Low key lip and dewy skin
There's no saying you have to have one bold feature for a winning look, as Jessica Alba perfectly demonstrates here. This glossy, brown-toned nude lip is paired with fresh-looking skin and an understated eye for a polished yet effortless finish. Want to achieve this highlighted skin without looking metallic? Hughes advises using a fan brush. "With their unique shape, fan brushes can lightly pick up powder highlighter and dust it along the tops of your cheekbones and bridge of your nose. If you are ever in a predicament where you have applied too much highlighter, don’t panic. Simply go over the highlighter with a powder brush to knock down some of the shine."
RRP: £52
Spendy, yes, but this brand makes some best highlighters on the market. The glow is always subtle, but gorgeous – your skin just looks good, not glittery, and in no way tin-manny.
12. Brown smoky eye
We adored Penelope Cruz' Oscar look, created by makeup legend Charlotte Tilbury. Teamed with soft statement brows and a nude, glossy lip, this sultry brown eyeshadow look defines the eyes and adds instant glamour to any outfit, while the muted lip colour has just the right amount of pink to bring the look together.
RRP: £29.50
This is the perfect everyday brown, loved by the W&H beauty team. It's a versatile shade which will work well for all your Christmas makeup looks (amped up with a bit of glitter), but will also come in handy for daily wear all year round. It also helps that Bobbi Brown makes the best eyeshadow sticks around.
13. Grown-up gothic
Dame Helen Mirren doesn't shy away from a bold eye look, as this deep smoky eye shows. The more gothic take on the classic smoky eye is hugely on-trend for 2023 says Walker. "It's a go-to glam look," she says. "This winter, 90s grunge glam will be everywhere, so level up your smokey eye with a wet look finish and glossy, nude lips."
RRP: £24
Natasha Denona makes some of the best eyeshadow palettes on the market, but you don't have majorly spend to experience them. The mini sizes are great, and you get a more edited collection of shades.
14. Orange-red lip
A classic Christmas makeup look, red lips come in all sorts of shades and styles. This orange-red lip look, teamed with flawless skin and simple black eye makeup on Sandra Oh, feels more modern than classic red, as does laying off statement bright colours on the rest of the face. "With pops of colour being essential for new beauty, try a vivid orange as an alternative to a classic red lip," says Barber. "Wearing a shot of orange on an otherwise decluttered face will always ensure it is chic, not garish."
RRP: £20
This is the perfect orange-toned red – it has just the right amount of zing without being too intimidatingly bright. The creamy formula glides on, and won't dry out your pout.
15. Classic smoky eye
A smoky eye is one of those eyeshadow looks that adds just the right amount of drama for a special occasion. Classic smoky looks lend themselves well to brown, black, grey, and navy palettes while finishing with a metallic shade like Sarah Jessica Parker's look here is a surefire way to look Christmas party ready.
RRP: £45
Tilbury's palettes, while expensive, are worth the investment. High-quality and intensely pigmented, this professional-level palette makes applying an intricate smoky eye easy.
16. In the navy
Andie MacDowell stunned in a bold blue eye earlier this year. With such a statement shade, everything else can be pared back in terms of shade and finish – think a dewier, softer finish to the skin and an understated glossy lip with just a hint of pink.
RRP: £3.49
We love these eyeshadow singles - they're cheap and cheerful, and impressively pigmented. Tip - you can also use them as a graphic liner, if you apply with a damp, fine eyeshadow brush.
17. Feeling frosty
Another take on the blue trend is to go for a glittery finish. According to Walker, it gives the look a totally different effect. "Those wanting an edgier look, take inspiration from a winter wonderland and opt for a frostier makeup look with whites, silvers, and blue shimmering eyeshadows finished with a glossy nude lip," she recommends. "The cool-toned colours in this ice queen makeup look complement all skin tones and add shine to sparkle season."
RRP: £23
This is seriously pigmented – you only need the tiniest amount for an impressive shimmer. It's also available in lilac and jade green shades if you want to wear the trend in a different tone.
18. Glisten up
Great skin is always on trend, but it's an especially gorgeous Christmas makeup look to focus on glistening, radiant skin. Even if you don't feel particularly glowing this party season (a full month of drinking and cheese-coated carbs will do that to you), there are ways to cheat healthy skin just like Emily Blunt.
RRP: £14
This is glowing skin in a bottle. Use it as a primer or a highlighter to add a flattering candlelit glow. It even works on a month-on-mulled-wines face, and it's available in 12 shades.
19. Raspberry kiss
Raspberry ripple – but make it seriously fabulous! Actress Priyanka Chopra shows how it's done here with beautiful raspberry pink lipstick, a soft smoky eye, and statement jewellery. The trick here is matching the all-out glamour of this Christmas makeup look with a beautiful hair-up style.
RRP: £37
For a really full-on fuschia shade, look no further than this beauty. Not only are Gucci lipsticks especially swoon-some to look at, but their formulas are brilliant, giving great colour payoff in one swipe.
20. Upside down eyes
If you have hooded eyes, it's easy for intricate eyeshadow looks to get lost. Mastering makeup for hooded eyes means getting creative, and a great way of making a Christmas makeup look work, is to bring your shimmery shadow underneath your eyes, just like Jennifer Lopez. This opens up the eyes and is a stylish new take on shimmer.
RRP: £26
VB's liners are the heroes of her makeup range – they're buttery soft, vibrantly pigmented and will last months of use. The buy will come in handy to create endless Christmas makeup looks.
21. Soft pink sheen
This soft pink look is surprisingly subtle and easy to recreate. Using all Charlotte Tilbury products, Maggie Gyllenhaal looks elegant and full of festivity, we'd recommend finding the best cream shadow with a sheer finish and applying it over eye primer to recreate the look. We love the matching pink glossy lip, too.
RRP: £21
Rare Beauty continues to impress us. This eyeshadow is impressively long-wearing, and we love how easy it is to apply – just swipe on and go. This dusky pink is surprisingly wearable and will help enliven all eye colours.
22. Bejewelled eyes
Christmas is the perfect opportunity to play with colour and textures, and there's really no better opportunity to step out with a glitzy eye. Contrasting bold hues like Lupita Nyong'o styles are a definite statement. Walker is a fan of this out-there look. "Why not experiment with stick-on jewels to really up your glam game?" she suggests. "Simply apply the jewels in the creases of eyeshadow for a 60s festive feel or simply apply along your eyeliner to really make your eyes stand out."
RRP: £7.99
You probably don't want to spend a lot of money on such a trend-led item, and thankfully Zara has the goods. They're quite a subtle shape and size, so it's a non-scary way to test out the bold Christmas makeup look.
23. Glazed port lips
Not quite the sort of port lips you spot in the mirror after the cheese course on Christmas day. This ultra-deep sheeny lip showcased by Salma Hayek is glamorous, fabulous, and ultra-modern. You will need to work with precision to attempt this at home. A steady hand, lip liner, and your matching lipstick will see you on your way to this winning look. Don't forget to check your teeth before you leave the house!
RRP: £9.99
We love everything about this lippie – the colour, the gold tube, and especially the fact that it's under a tenner. The sheeny finish is more forgiving than a matte, making your lips look plumper and fuller.
How to choose your Christmas makeup looks
- Think about your usual look. If you turn up to a Christmas 'do with a full face and false lashes, but a natural makeup look is normally more your thing, you might feel uncomfortable. Choose a look that you feel great in, not one that just isn't you. Of course, if you feel great with full glam on special occasions, as you were!
- Identify an area to accentuate. Pick one area you want to 'pop', be it lips, eyes, or dewy makeup on the skin, and then play to your strengths. If you know how to apply eyeliner well, try a feline flick or a bold smoky eye. If not, a little sparkle on the lids looks fabulous. Want your lips to look fuller? A matte berry hue can make lips appear smaller, but glossy lips and a creamy nude shade will work wonders.
- Practice makes perfect. Don't attempt to master how to apply lashes five minutes before it's time to leave the house. There's nothing wrong with going with what you know, technique-wise, then ramping up the drama with a bolder shade than usual. Or if you do want to try something new, give it a go beforehand so you know what's realistic for your skill level and what suits you best.
With this gallery of Christmas makeup looks, there's something for everyone. Whether you're a red lipstick aficionado, or you're all about eyeshadow, we hope we've inspired you to really lean into the sparkle this Christmas.
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