49 Christmas makeup ideas to level up your festive glam

Party season is an open invitation to step away from your everyday routine because most of us expect extra from our Christmas makeup. It doesn't matter if you're a makeup minimalist or a dedicated maximalist, if there were ever a time for your glam game to truly shine in a way that feels personal, wearable and beautiful to you, it's December.

Even simple switches can give your makeup an extra edge. Sparkle-scattered lids can light up eyes, merlot-coloured lips can match that giant glass of vino that you very much deserve (and you can give it a modern spin by layering up a lip combo with a glossy top coat) and glowing candlelit skin is a classic for a reason. Likewise, switching out a trad black liner for a deep pine green or a statement silver is an easy win. And, if you're feeling experimental? This is your moment to really go to town.

So, if you fancy showing your fave lipsticks and liners a good time, but you're not sure which look to go for, we've lined up some of our favourite Christmas makeup ideas below. They're stunning, wearable and, they make a subtle (or bold) statement, depending on your vibe.

Sheeny red lip

Update a classic red lip with a slick of sheeny gloss to make it feel a little softer and more modern.

Sequin-studded eyes

Match your OOTD to your makeup by repeating the same detail – like this matching sequin outfit and eye look.

Pine liner

Trade out your black liner for this forest green shade for a cute nod to Christmas that's still super chic.

Fresh, windswept cheeks

We love the look a bracing winter walk give – fresh cheeks and a cute pink nose. Build it into your glam like Jodie Smith, who looks fierce and adorable at the same time.

Red & gold

Red and gold is a classic Christmas combo, but instead of doing gold eyeshadow, drape cheeks in gold highlighter instead for a perfect glow.

Grunge glam

To level up your smoky eye, incorporate a wet-look finish for a more grungy look (very in rn).

Burgundy lip and lots of lashes

There's a way of doing lips and eyes that isn't too much. Rather than a full-on smoky eye, stick to mega lashes like Shay Mitchell, then go in on a semi-sheeny burgundy lip and keep skin looking fresh.

Ice blue eyeshadow

This icy silver-blue eyeshadow is cool (in the literal and figurative sense) and to go fashion with your whole look, finish with wet-look hair and seriously dewy skin.

Glossy sugarplum

Channel sugarplum fairy vibes with a glossy plum blusher.

Smoked out eyes

If your aim this Christmas is sexy smoky eyes, this look created by Nikki Wolff on Simone Ashley is the perfect inspiration. Be sure to pair it with fluffy, brushed-up brows and a glossy lined lip.

Holographic eyeshadow

Luckily Lily's makeup artist, Valeria Ferreira listed the limited edition Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner she used to create the look and there's still some left at Harvey Nichols.

Bow eyeliner

How to make your Christmas eyeliner adorable? Try adding a bow motif.

3D glitz

Studded crystal gems scattered across the lid can quite literally take your makeup up a level.

Glossy and glowy

We can all live by Hailey Bieber's motto of keeping skin and lips glazed like a donut at all times. Translate it to winter with deeper sheer espresso lip tints and juicy plum shades on cheeks.

All about highlighter

Sometimes highlighter is the main event in a makeup look and it can be totally breathtaking. Isabellamakeupp added a soft-focus highlight across her cheek bones and eyes to create this beautiful look.

Lips and eyes

If you're considering whether to play up your lips or eyes, this is a perfect example of how to balance both.

Dazzling emerald

We adore this shimmering emerald look created by Hung Vanngo on Jodie Smith. It's a festive masterpiece.

Gold & nude

A hint of gold underneath eyes is a pretty way to make them the centre of your look.

Pretty in pink

This might be a sunshine-inspired look, but we think it works perfectly for Christmas time too. It's heavy on blush and highlighter, topped off with lots of mascara and a glossy lip.

Sparkly lids

Is it Christmas without silver eyeshadow? Hmm. Do it right like MUA Ash Kholm with all-out glitz on the lid and some smoky liner along the top and bottom lash line to add definition.

Glossy lips and glowy skin

Luxe sheeny skin with glossy lips and glitz eyes is a very pretty way to go.

Tinsel cupid's bow

This teensy glitter detail to define the cupid's bow not only feels beautifully festive, but it also puts the spotlight on a stunning lip shape.

Floating crystal liner

For the holidays, we're taking inspiration from Brooke Turnbull and replacing eyeliner with crystals.

Ice queen eyeshadow

This is giving us grown-up Elsa vibes. The cool-toned icicle blue is perfect if you're not keen on the warmer golds and burgundies.

Merlot lips

If you want something a bit different, mix up your lip shade by choosing a rich merlot over classic cherry reds.

'60s lilacs

Skip trad festive colours for something a little more unusual, we love this lavender mod eye.

Classic berry lip

Berry red lips are a Christmas classic for a reason. They're timeless, sophisticated and festive (and we even know the exact shade used to create Yara's look: Dior's Rouge Forever Lipstick in 999).

Icicle eyeshadow

Recreating the sheer sparkle of a melting icicle, this shimmering eyeshadow is an easy way to level-up your eyes for Christmas.

Chocolate cherry

If you don't fancy going full-on with your eye makeup look, this chocolate cherry lip by Jo Baker on Lucy Boynton is the perfect inspo.

Floating liner and glitz sparkle

A cool-girl way to add glitz to your Christmas makeup.

Moss green shadow

Subtle green shimmer along an ultra fluttery lash line is an understated way to nod to Christmas.

Silky pink

Don't fancy greens and golds? Go for a delicate wash of champagne pink sparkle across lids, matched with a silky pink lip.

Khaki-gold cat-eye

Skip jet black liquid liner for a pretty metallic like this khaki gold.

Sugar plum sparkle

This subtle dusting of lilac-pink sugar plum sparkle around the eyes is equal parts interesting and mesmerising.

Twinkling pine green

There's no better time to try bold hues together than during the party season and we love this combination of green and purple shimmery inner corners of the eyes, created by Joy Adenuga for Wunmi Mosaku.

Berry lips and cheeks

Create a tonal makeup moment by mimicking a berry lip colour across lips and cheeks.

Champagne shimmer

Light, bright and beautifully festive, we love this champagne shimmer eyeshadow with peachy cheeks and a muted red lip.

Candlelit skin

This lit-from-within look majors on the highlighter which gives skin glow across the high points (cheekbones, brow bones and cupid's bow).

Silver sparkle

Upgrade a smoky black shadow with silver glitter on the inner eye corners and along the lash line.

Disco eyes

For cosmic Studio 54 disco eyes we love this holographic blue and purple shadow. And if you want to give it a hundred percent, pair it with a red lip, too.

Beachy christmas

How to make sizzling beach vibes Christmas appropriate? This is a case study.

Smoky liner

Not into shimmer and bright shades? Try something ultra sexy and smoky like this look Nikki Wolff created on Chloe Bailey.

Cinnamon eyeshadow

This deep vampy lip shade with a sheer wash of cinnamon eyeshadow makes a statement but still feels delicate.

Holly shades

This look is serving peak Christmas, the holly berry lip and holly leaf eye is everything.

Green and gold

One of our favourite Christmas colour combos is green and gold – especially when one melts into the other. This fir green eyeshadow that drifts into khaki, then a halo of gold complements the matching gold highlighter perfectly.

Rebel smoke

This silver smoked shadow is toughened up with darker greys at the edges. The cherry on top? The cherry red lip.

Jewel tones

An opulent approach to Christmas party makeup is with jewel-toned shades like this amethyst and sapphire eye.

Currant floating liner

Floating liner is the perfect way to experiment with a festive hue if you're not confident in creating a smoky eye. We love this look on Melissa Barrera.

Graphic liner

This graphic eye makes a statement, but feels super modern and fresh.

Classic liner and nude lips

It's a classic for a reason.

Teal shadow

This glitz teal eye is a knock-out and paired with fresh skin it feels bang on trend.

Black and gold

Black and gold is a classic combo, but here the black kajal liner is intensified whereas the gold is a delicate barely-there wash on the lids.

Floating gold liner

Emphasise your eye shape by going in with a gold liner along the crease line – the effect will be a peekaboo look that becomes visible as you flutter your eyes.

True red lip

Sometimes Christmas calls for a sexy eye and bright red lip.

Grunge glam (with added glitz)

If you want a grunge look that feels festive, opt for smoky shades that have a bit of shimmer to them.

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By Elle Turner

For more from GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk