As much as I adore striking, avant garde makeup looks (and write about them often!), my own makeup routine leans rather minimalist. I rarely wear a full face of foundation, let alone take the time to fashion a razor-sharp cat-eye on a regular basis. (It’s more common than you think among beauty editors; our regimens tend to be pretty low-maintenance!) That said, I’ve found myself fawning over quite a few glitzy makeup treasures over the past few weeks, from new launches that strike the perfect balance between festive and minimalist-chic to seasonal stalwarts I turn to as soon as the first holiday soirée hits my Google cal.
The key, I’ve found, to jazzing up your glam while keeping the overall look understated is to choose just one feature to dress up. Much like opting for a statement accessory (a pretty brooch, perhaps?), committing to one head-turning shade—be it a shimmery shadow, bold lip, or colorful lash—will allow you to indulge in all the drama without throwing the beat off balance. It’s a give-and-take, as French makeup enthusiasts will tell you. So in the spirit of minimal holiday glam, I present to you my favorite products to enhance each feature, whether you’re gunning for a stunning eye look, a velvety lip, or cheekbones that dazzle under the twinkling lights.
My 14 Staples for Chic and Minimal Holiday Makeup
MERIT Beauty
Solo Shadow – Iris
Merit’s recently launched pot of shimmer is glitter eye shadow for those who don’t love glitter eye shadow (self very much included). It doesn’t contain actual glitter particles but a pearlescent sheen within a creamy, blend-with-your-fingertips formula. Each shade is inspired by the burnished metallic shadows seen on the likes of ’90s supermodels, and all six are truly worth a whirl; though, I’m especially partial to Iris, a soft, shimmery plum (pictured here) that gives my lids some instant depth.
COVERGIRL
Eye Enhancer Wrap Tubing Mascara – Midnight Stride
On days I feel too overwhelmed to bother with eye shadow (which is often, I admit), I’ll opt for a colorful mascara. It’s arguably the most low-lift way to add some oomph to your eye looks, and I never fail to earn compliments when I coat my lashes in blue, green, or burgundy pigment. This new navy number from Covergirl has been my go-to as of late, not only for its rich, eye-catching color but also for its impressive lightweight, long-wearing formula. (I can confirm: It’s sweat- and snow-proof!)
MAKEUP BY MARIO
Ethereal Eyes Eyeshadow Palette: Nature
Iconic makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic recently taught us how to achieve chic, “cinnamon spice” holiday eyes (swoon), and the star of the show was his just-launched Ethereal Eyes Eyeshadow Nature Palette. The twinkling assortment of gold, bronze, and copper shadows is all you need for an immaculate eye look that looks like you spent hours in the makeup chair.
Dior
Rouge Dior Forever Liquid Sequin Duo
An MVP of the Dior holiday collection, this dual-sided liquid lipstick has been a godsend for my holiday party schedule. It has incredible long-wear, and the finish is just glittery enough to punch up my usual red lip. I love the creamy, shimmery pigment on its own, but layering the clear gloss on top is such a nice, juicy touch.
r.e.m. beauty
Wicked Cherry Blossom Blush Palette
I don’t normally opt for cool-toned, bubblegum pink blushes (I’m more of a mauve girl), but there’s something about the holiday season that inspires me to go even brighter. That said, I’m obsessed with the two shimmery shades in this three-pan palette. Pro tip: Swirl them both on your lids and cheeks for a “sugar plum fairy” moment.
CHANEL
Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick
Not a new product, but I can’t resist calling out Chanel’s iconic Baum Essentiel. It’s my secret weapon for angelic skin year-round, but especially as the holiday season heats up.
Violette_FR
Lune Liner Multichrome Liquid Eyeliner
Leave it to French makeup artist Violette Serrat to create the most user-friendly (and chic) glittery liquid eyeliners of all time. With an ultrafine precision tip and multichrome pigments, it’s genuinely impossible to mess up. Not to mention, each shade reads slightly different as it catches the light; this fiery orange, for example, can appear green or gold depending on your environment.
Gucci
Luminous Face & Lip Gloss
Enter my multitasking makeup hero, from “wet” lids to glistening cheekbones to glossy lips. The versatile balm delivers an instantly luminous effect without any shimmer whatsoever—as if your features are naturally bathed in candlelight.
ANFISA Skin
Ân-Gloss Ceramide Lip Tint – Spice Cake
This sheer, rosy brown tint goes with everything. I adore it for my everyday looks (paired with a mauve lip liner), but I also love adding a few extra layers for an intense, toasted lip.
It’s easy for liquid shadows to capture my heart, as they tend to be more user-friendly than their cream and powder counterparts. (Just swipe and go!) This pewter-brown shimmer is especially dreamy when I’m craving something a little moody.
Armani Beauty
Cheek Tint Shine
Like I said, I become a bubblegum pink stan during the holiday season. This liquid Armani number was actually the first shades I fell for, given its sheer yet buildable color payoff and subtle shimmer. “Disco blush” at its finest.
Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush – Cherry Flush
Okay, but red blush is also so cheery! And I’m not the only one obsessed: Google searches for “red blush” are up 83 percent. I personally love to lean into the snow-angel effect and wear a crimson hue—namely, this Glow Recipe Serum Blush—with nothing else to let the skin-like flush really shine.
Patrick Ta
Major Glow Creme & Powder Light Reflecting Translucent Highlighter Duo – Baby
Despite the baby-pink pigment you see here, this is highlighter duo functions as more of a blush topper than a blush itself. Still, it looks like straight-up magic on the cheekbones. I like to dab a little of the powder on the tip of my nose for an extra-frosty effect.
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Satin Kajal Liner – Cocoa Pavé
Victoria Beckham Beauty’s eyeliners are arguably my favorites of all time. (One sells every 30 seconds, FYI, so clearly I’m not alone in my obsession!) The formula is creamy and comfortable, they glide like a dream, and the shades are simply divine. Cinnamon, a warm, shimmery brown, tends to be my holiday pick, but I’m falling hard and fast for the new Cocoa Pavé, which is leans more cool-toned. I’d hop on this one quick—it’s bound to sell out by December 26.
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