The definitive guide to Christmas party makeup

If there’s a time it party, it’s now. That means closing the laptop and dusting off your makeup brushes for some feel-good festive beautifying. Zoom parties are so last year: this is makeup designed to be seen up close and personal – preferably under some twinkly lights. Makeup so good you’ll want to RSVP to your neighbours’ dog-naming ceremony just for an excuse to show it off.

This is the perfect opportunity to play around with the bold, glittery portions of that makeup palette you regularly only ever use three shades from. ‘Christmas is the time to forget about what you normally wear and be a bit more flamboyant and experimental,’ says makeup artist Kim Brown, who created the looks for our photo shoot. ‘It’s nice to really go for it and there are so many amazing trends around that are super easy to pull off without having to be a makeup expert. You can just pile on a load of glitter and have fun with it.’

So bookmark this page under ‘party makeup inspiration’ and get ready to recreate these yuletide gems…

Glitter is for grownups. We repeat: glitter is for grownups. Paired with clean skin and little else, it can also serve as the ultimate festive get-up for people who don’t tend to wear much makeup as this stunning iteration demonstrates.

‘I call this look “minimalist glamour” as it’s all about using a glitter accent in a fresh, subtle way that has an understated elegance to it,’ says Kim. ‘The key is keeping the skin lovely and natural-looking to give it a modern edge, so I would start with a tinted moisturiser, BB cream or some highlighter mixed with moisturiser and then just spot-conceal where needed.’

Kim used a balm to give the sparkly stuff something to stick to before dabbing a little glitter over the top. ‘The placement is entirely up to you,’ she says. ‘I’ve used it around the outer corners of the eyes here but it works equally well in the inner corners or under the bottom lashline.’

According to Kim, the chunkier the glitter the more dramatic the effect, so if you’re after something a little more minimalist opt for a fine glitter. ‘Personally, I like a mix of different sized particles for maximum light reflection,’ she says. ‘Finish with a bit of mascara and some lip balm but skip the blush to keep it from becoming too theatrical.’

Red lips are a festive stalwart for good reason – they have the ability to instantly elevate a LBD while injecting a dose of glamour to even the most mundane of obligatory events. But here the statement lip staple has been treated to a high-shine upgrade.

‘This contemporary take on the classic red lip is your perfect party accessory,’ says Kim. ‘I paired it with spidery lashes to add some interest without the eyes vying for attention with the lips. As gloss tends to be a little more wayward, I always start with a base of lipliner applied over the entire lip to give it a little more longevity, before adding gloss and going back in with the liner to perfect the shape.’

Speaking of shape… Kim opted for a sharp bow to give the look a bit of structure that has a nod to 1980s punk. ‘I finished with some spiky lashes,’ she says, ‘which can be achieved by using alternate layers of mascara and loose powder before pinching a few lashes together with tweezers for a high-octane but thoroughly modern look.’

Step away from the greys and browns, there’s a new smoky eye in town and it happens to suit just about everyone. While neutrals tend to be most people’s default, adding a little colour into the mix can make for a surprisingly wearable take on the makeup classic and it is deceptively easy to do.

‘There are so many incredible jewel colours around at the moment which look super striking,’ says Kim. ‘Adding an element of colour can also look amazing if you have grey hair and is just a fresher, more youthful way to do a smoky eye, which some people worry can look a little heavy past a certain age.’ 

Kim doesn't think that you need to get bogged down in contouring. ‘For this look I did use a bit of darker purple in the socket line to add some drama but you can definitely achieve a modern, smoky eye with just one shade applied over the lid and under the bottom lashes,’ she advises. ‘Just be sure to blend out well using a fluffy brush.’ 

She added a little purple eyeliner around the lashline before finishing with mascara. Kim also kept the skin fresh with some warmth on the cheeks and lips. ‘I was going for that slightly 1970s palette where they would team parrot greens and purples with peaches and apricots,’ she says.

Metallics are perfect party fodder, offering a touch of molten magnetism that can be used as subtle highlights or dialed up for evening drama.

‘Metallic eyes are so versatile – you can wear them in many different ways,’ says Kim who opted for a graphic negative-space look here. ‘Bronze tends to be most people’s go-to but there are so many other options. I personally love silver which I think works on most skintones. Here, I used a liquid eyeshadow which I applied using a fine eyeliner brush. Seeing some skin in between makes the trend super wearable and it’s actually quite a subtle way of doing metals.’

Kim skipped mascara for a modern, editorial look but notes that some people may want to dress up their lashes for full-throttle glamour. ‘I kept everything else, including the skin, quite pared-back so that the eyeliner is the main focus,’ she says.

It may be the season of sparkle but that doesn’t mean you need a steady hand worthy of a surgeon to create festive-looking digits. Accent nails like the ones we’ve done here are surprisingly simple to do yet lend instant party vibes to your chosen outfit.

The most modern nail shape is short and slightly oval, so filing your nails is the first step. Then apply a clear polish to the tips in a half moon shape, sprinkle some glitter over the top and seal with a topcoat. For ultimate cool-girl kudos contrast your shimmery tips with a matte topcoat or go all-out with a glitzy gloss.  

Looking for more makeup inspiration? Our John Lewis Beauty Guide, Natalie Wright, is here to help…