Makeup Artist-Approved Tips for a Glowing Holiday Makeup Look

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Planning your holiday beauty look can be a wonderful experience. There are tons of Instagram photos to take, the need to make sure your makeup stays put for the endless family party and maybe the pressure to impress your in-laws (in the words of a viral TikTok video, “we listen and we don’t judge…”). But the good news is that improving complexion yours doesn’t have to be a stressful process, especially where you have red carpet-worthy tips and tricks to follow.

If you’re feeling fancy and want to put on some sparkles, now’s the time to do it – but Tasha Reiko Brown he tells Us that there is an art to wearing glitter. Chanel makeup artist – who has worked her magic on A-listers including Gabrielle Union, Ayo Edebiri again Alicia Keys – says it is important to focus only on “one or two aspects of [face]” so that you do not pass. Doing so “allows for the shimmery elements of the makeup look [stand out],” he continued to explain. “[Look for] products with a lot of light, a shimmery texture and balms that bring light.”

Below, Brown’s top picks will help you say goodbye to 2024 and usher in the new year with plenty of glitz and glamour. Enjoy!

Next Level Pout

Brown shares two ways to take a red lip up a notch. You can either “[select] a formula with a light and pigmented finish,” or you can swipe on a “clear or glossy lip gloss” over a red lip.

Even if your red lipstick includes gloss, you can still lift the shine or “tone down” by choosing a “glossy lip gloss in the same shade.” (Brown loves Sephora’s collection About Shine Sheer Shine Lipstick in Ray of Red.)

Chanel Rouge Allure L’extrait in Rouge Royal is her “current trend”. The expert suggests pairing it with “satin skin and a clean eye.”

Brown recommends choosing a “thick” formula like Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Heat Universal Lip Luminizer + Plumper in Glass Slipper. “A thin gloss formula will slide around too much and may eventually ‘blend’ into your lip color, leading to lip bleeding.”

Radiant Skin

“I would like to add [shimmer] on the high points of the face to emphasize the features,” said Brown. These areas include “the top of the cheeks, the bridge of the nose, the bow of the lips and the center of the chin.”

“To keep your shine high, be sure to choose a fine texture, with small particles of glimmer,” Brown dishes. Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Liquid Luminizer in Enlighten is a great example of this, and if you’re using your finger to apply the product, Brown advises “using the pad of your ring finger for control.”

One of Brown’s favorites? Nudestix Nudies Glow Highlighter Stick in Bubbly Bebe. You’ll love the blended texture and dewy look it gives you.

If you’re not into highlighter, a “clear balm” like Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint in Dew will also provide a nice, bright finish.

When applying your glow boosters — especially powders, like Chanel’s Diamond Dust Oversize Illuminating Powder — the expert advises using a brush “smaller than your regular blush brush” to ensure precise application.

Glowing Lids

The “glittery champagne” color is one of Brown’s most popular shades for the holiday season. “It goes well with a pop of bold lip,” she insists. Brown breaks down two techniques that will work whether you’re using liquid or powder eyeshadow. For a seamless application, “use fingers or a firmly-fitted brush to gently tap the product onto the eyelids.”

Liquid formulas like Chanel’s Ombre Première Laque in Rayon have their advantages because they help reduce the chances of pigment movement.

She is a fan of Urban Decay’s 24/7 Moondust Glitter Eyeshadow Singles in Space Cowboy. Brown notes that “press — not swipe [the product] – to minimize any disruption.”