7 Gorgeous Makeup and Hair Looks to Sport for the Holidays

Holiday makeup is your time to go glam, grand and glittery with your beauty routine. Think rich red lipsticks, metallic eyeshadow looks, timeless takes on winged eyeliner and shimmering highlights to set the tone for this celebratory, high-spirited time of year. 

For instant inspiration, check out our favorite holiday makeup looks and hairstyles that serve as the ultimate blueprint for gatherings, new years parties, holiday photos and everything in between.

7 Holiday Makeup Looks and Hairstyles to Try 

The holidays are a good time to have fun and push the boundaries with your beauty routine. Those glitter eyeshadows that you save for special occasions? Now is a good time to put them to use. The hair tinsel that you keep saving on Instagram for inspiration? Definitely appropriate for a holiday party and New Year’s glam. 

Check out our favorite holiday makeup looks and hairstyles, below. 

1. Bold Lashes, Winged Eyeliner and a High Ponytail

This makeup look is classic, glamorous and photographs beautifully. Whether you choose to go for voluminous, bombshell lashes via falsies or an impressive mascara that can add volume and length, like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara.

To complement the va-va-voom of your lashes, add some winged eyeliner using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner. We’re all for adding some rhinestones to your eye makeup look if you’re game for that too. 

Finish the makeup look by giving your skin a luminous glow with the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glow Nude Highlighter Palette and a radiant lipstick like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Les Nus by Colour Riche Intense Nude Lipstick.

A sleek, high ponytail is a great way to keep your hair out of your face while showing off your holiday glam. For the perfect ponytail free of flyaways and frizz, use the L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Mega Gel to smooth each strand in place.

2. Shimmery Eyeshadow, Vampy Red Lips and a Voluminous Blowout

The holiday season is the time when shades of red and vampy, burgundy lipstick reign supreme among all other lip colors. To make your lipstick the focus of the look, keep the eyes relatively simple and opt for light shimmer with the help of the L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow Makeup in Diamond Drop. 

For velvety, deep red lips that will last through an entire night of celebrating, we highly recommend the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Plum Dominant. The powdery matte formula is long-wearing and includes hyaluronic acid for a comfortable slip that lasts up to 16 hours. The slim bullet makes application precise and easy — no liner needed. 

Add a ‘90s-inspired voluminous blowout to your shimmery eyes and red lipstick look to bring everything together. Prep your strands with a heat protectant like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant and use a round brush as you dry your hair to provide volume and bounce.

3. Matte, Neutral Glam and Wavy Hair

Sometimes, keeping things simple is exactly what you need. Matte, neutral and glamorous makeup requires a flawless base, a glossy lip that complements your skin tone and matte bronzer to chisel your features. 

Start by perfecting your complexion with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder. For natural coverage that doesn’t look cakey, apply your powder foundation with a blush brush and lightly stipple the product into the skin.

To contour your features, reach for a matte bronzer like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer. Using a small, fluffy brush, lightly sweep the bronzer in an upward motion on the hollows of your cheekbones and your forehead. Top off the makeup look by lining your lips with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in Toffee to Be and applying the L’Oréal Paris 8 Hour Pro Lip Gloss, Hydrating Finish in Dulce de Leche.

To offset your glamorous complexion, let your hair air dry and embrace your natural waves and texture. Apply the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Non-Stop Dreamy Curls Leave-in Conditioner to your towel-dried strands to define your curls and control frizz.

If you don’t have natural waves, apply the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Simply Clean Midnight Color Care Serum to damp hair and create two braids. When your hair is dry, shake out the braids and you’ll have effortless beach waves.

Editor’s tip: If you’re looking to spruce up your neutral makeup look, try sporting the bedazzled hair trend or rocking a disco brow.

4. Colorful Cut Crease and Straight Hair

If you’re wanting to put your own spin on a colorful makeup look for the holiday season, we suggest looking for a shade that will enhance your eye color. Purple is ultra-flattering for brown eyes while peach and copper flatter green, blue and hazel eyes. 

If you have brown eyes, create a cut crease with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Violet Armour. To flatter green or blue eyes, create a copper cut crease using the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Enchanted Scented Eyeshadow Palette. Use the lightest shade in the palette to carve out your crease and use the darkest, matte shade above the crease to emphasize the shape. 

Finish the eye look by lining the lower and upper lash line with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Aubergine or Bronze and applying a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Original Mascara.

A cut crease brings the drama so keep the rest of your look simple. To achieve stick-straight tresses, prep your hair with a heat protectant like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In before reaching for your flat iron.

5. Reverse Cat Eye, Glossy Lips and a Slick Bun

The reverse cat eye focuses on the lower lash line rather than the lid, making it a great makeup technique for hooded eyes and those with short lid space. Begin by lining your lower lash line with the L’Oréal Paris Easy-Glide Mechanical Eyeliner, Waterproof in Brown Denim. Start at the outer corner dragging the liner across your lash line to the inner corner. Lightly smudge the line when you’re finished.

Repeat those last two steps to line your upper lash line. Then, take the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Matte-Ison Avenue and a fluffy eyeshadow brush to smoke out the lower lash line. To brighten your eyes, lightly apply a pale, shimmery shadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Petite Perle, on the top lid. 

Finish your makeup with a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara and a glossy lipstick like the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick with Pomegranate Extract in Beige Eden.

To let your smokey eyes and glossy lips be the forefront of your beauty look, rock a slicked-back bun with the help of the aforementioned L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Mega Gel and the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold, Light Hairspray Unscented.

6. Green Eyeliner, Luminous Skin and Metallic Highlights

When you think of festive colors, green and red are the first that come to mind, so to give your go-to makeup look a holiday-inspired twist, switch out your black eyeliner for colored eyeliner in a festive shade like dark green. Using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner in Green, create a sharp wing on your upper lash line.  

Connect the wing by lining the lower lash line with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Forest Green. Top off the eye look with a few coats of black mascara.

To get the look of luminous skin, we love the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup 4-in-1 Tinted Face Balm Foundation. With buildable, natural coverage, this skin care-makeup-hybrid is formulated with firming serum to even skin tone, smooth and firm skin over time. 

Green eyeliner and luminous skin is a relatively simple makeup look, which means you can have some fun with your hair. Try rocking some temporary silver highlights with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Silver. This semi-permanent hair color lasts until your next shampoo so you can sport a rainbow of hues throughout the holiday season.

7. Metallic Graphic Eyeliner and a Side-Swept Hairstyle

Trendy graphic eyeliner nods to some of this season’s hottest beauty trends while its metallic counterpart makes your look instantly feel holiday-inspired. Take a pointed liner brush and dip it into the L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow Makeup in Royal Onyx. 

Use the brush to create a winged eyeliner, dragging it across the upper lash line and across the lid to connect to the inner corner of your eye. 

Create a wing along the lower lash and apply a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Air Volume Mega Mascara, Lightweight Mega Volume Washable to lift and define your lashes. Pair the graphic liner with a bushy brow by sculpting your arches upwards with the L’Oréal Paris Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Brow Topcoat, Waterproof Universal Transparent. 

Complete the look with a side-swept style like whimsical beach waves, using a wide tooth comb to create a deep side part and a face-framing, side-swept style.

Next: 4 Tips to Make Your Makeup Look Smooth

Written By: Reece Andavolgyi, Photo Credit: IG @/leonoraczank.makeup, Design Credit: Sarah Duvivier