15 Holiday Makeup Looks People Love for December Nights
As December nights roll in, many are looking for the perfect holiday makeup looks to complement the festive season. Whether it’s a cozy family dinner or a night out with friends, the right makeup can really set the tone for the evening. From bold red lips to shimmering gold eyes, holiday makeup is all about embracing the magic of the season. There are countless ways to enhance your natural beauty while adding a touch of sparkle or drama.
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Classic Red Lip and Winged Liner

This look brings a hint of old‑school glamour that many people love during festive evenings. The focus is on a deep, matte red lip paired with a crisp black line along the upper lashes for a striking vintage vibe. The product that helps achieve this is MAC Retro Matte Lipstick Ruby Woo with a price around $22.
The red lip draws attention while the winged liner frames the eyes without competing. Cheeks remain soft and neutral so the face feels balanced. This style works well with simple hair and a little shimmer on lids to complete the look. It feels timeless and confident for a December night out.
Champagne Shimmer Eyes with Soft Nude Lips

This style aims for a glow that catches the holiday light under soft lamps and winter decor. Eyes take a pale champagne shimmer that brightens the orbital bone and inner corner while a soft nude lipstick keeps the lips gentle. A good product for this approach is Urban Decay Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette with price around $54.
The eyes appear luminous and inviting without overwhelming the rest of the face. Light mascara and groomed brows add subtle polish while foundation stays natural. The result offers an understated elegance that blends well with cozy outfits. It suits nights when you want a hint of glow but still wish to remain subtle.
Emerald Smoky Eye with Glossy Lip

This look embraces a richer color palette suited to holiday gatherings with friends or family. Smoky eyes in deep emerald tones give a sense of warmth and drama while a glossy, light lip provides balance. The product used for the eye shadow is Huda Beauty Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette Emerald with price near $29.
The dark green shadow softens into lighter shimmer near the brow bone for a gradient effect. Lips stay glossy without heavy pigment to keep focus on the eyes. Skin stays even but natural to avoid a heavy finish. This look stands out especially under twinkling lights or evening settings.
Icy Blue Eyeshadow with Silver Accents

This style captures the crisp feeling of winter nights with cool tones that pop under holiday lighting. The eyelids get icy blue shadow that blends into silvery accents on the inner corners creating a frosted effect. You can use NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Shadow Palette Brights with price about $14.99. Eyeliner and mascara remain black or dark gray to ground the look.
Lips stay nude or a soft pink to keep the cool tones on the eyes as the center of focus. A hint of highlighter on cheekbones adds shimmer without overdoing the face. This style works well for evening parties with snowy or wintry themes.
Deep Berry Lips with Subtle Eye

This style leans on rich lip color to carry a festive vibe while keeping eyes soft for balance. The lips take on a deep berry shade that draws attention and evokes winter warmth. The product that suits this look is NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Damned with price around $26.
Eyes remain neutral with gentle matte shadows and light mascara so they do not compete with the bold lips. Cheeks get a touch of soft blush to avoid looking flat. Foundation remains medium finish so skin appears smooth but not heavy. This look feels both cozy and striking for December dinners or holiday get‑togethers.
Warm Bronze Glow with Peachy Lips

This look aims for a warm radiance that suggests candlelight or firelight at festive nights. The face glows with sun‑kissed bronze tones while lips stay gentle peach for a soft finish. For bronzer you can try Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer which costs around $30. Cheeks and temples receive a light sweep of bronze so skin seems warm without heavy contouring.
Lips stay soft and inviting without high shine. Eyes remain simple with neutral shadows and a hint of lash definition. This style suits relaxed gatherings and outdoor events where you want warmth in your complexion.
Glitter Cut Crease with Frosty Highlights

This approach brings a bit of festive sparkle that moves with the light when you turn your head under holiday lights. A sharp crease line defines the lid then shimmer or glitter fills the mobile lid while frosty highlighter touches the brow bone and cheekbones. A handy product for the glitter effect is Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner Midnight Cowboy with price about $22.
The eyeliner helps add bright sparkle that stands out without being heavy. Lips stay neutral or lightly tinted to let the eyes shine as the main feature. Skin stays smooth but natural to avoid overloading the face. This look feels playful and festive and works for parties where glitter adds charm.
Gold Halo Eye with Velvety Lipstick

This style captures old Hollywood glamour with a modern holiday twist by bringing light to the center of the lids and shadow around the outer corners. Eyes glow with a golden shimmer at the center then dark shadow fades outward for depth. For this look you can use Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Bronze Ambition Eye Shadow stick set priced around $48.
Lips wear a velvety lipstick shade in muted nude or soft rose to keep attention on the eyes. Cheeks stay minimal with a light sweep of color under the cheekbone. This makeup feels rich without being heavy and works beautifully under warm indoor lights at festive dinners.
Rose Gold Glam with Dewy Skin

This look pairs soft rose gold tones on lids with glowing skin that reflects holiday lights softly. Eyes get a gentle wash of rose gold shimmer while cheeks pick up a luminous highlighter. A suitable product is Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette with price around $42. Lips get a rosy nude gloss or balm that keeps the effect light.
Skin stays dewy but balanced with minimal powder, so glow shows naturally. Brows are shaped softly to frame the face without overpowering. This style feels radiant and approachable for both intimate celebrations and casual holiday events.
Metallic Eyeliner with Minimal Base

This style plays with metallic liner to catch light while keeping the rest of the makeup light and fresh. A narrow metallic line along the lash line gives subtle shine while base remains barely there so skin looks natural. For this liner you could use NYX Professional Makeup Vivid Brights Liquid Liner Bright Lagoon with price about $12.99.
Lips may stay soft or bare to keep attention on the eyes. Cheeks remain natural with a small sweep of blush if needed. This look feels modern and simple while still having a festive twist. It works well if you want to skip heavy makeup but still stand out.
Silver and Black Smoky Eye with Matte Nude Lip

This dramatic look pairs a deep black smoky eye with silver shimmer accents in the center of the lid to make the eyes pop. A matte nude lip balances out the bold eyes, ensuring the look is sophisticated without being too heavy. The product you can use for this look is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation priced around $34, which helps maintain a smooth base while allowing the bold eye makeup to shine.
The focus remains on the eyes, while lips and cheeks stay simple. A touch of highlight on the cheekbones brings a subtle glow to the face without detracting from the overall makeup. This look is ideal for late-night parties or special December events where you want to stand out with intensity.
Soft Mauve Smoky Eye with Glossy Lips

Soft mauve tones on the eyelids create a beautiful smoky eye that remains gentle and wearable for any December evening event. Paired with glossy lips, the overall effect feels feminine and chic. A great product to achieve the mauve tones is the Maybelline New York The City Mini Palette in “Matte About Town” priced at $7.99.
The glossy lips ensure the makeup remains soft, and the whole look is balanced without any one feature overpowering the other. A natural flush on the cheeks completes the soft, romantic vibe of this makeup style. This look works well for both formal and casual holiday get-togethers.
Warm Copper Eyes with Bold Brows

This makeup look uses copper eyeshadow to bring warmth to the face, with bold brows that frame the eyes and create a strong, structured look. A product that suits the warm copper eyes is the ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in “Sequin” priced at $6. The brows should be filled in to match the intensity of the eyes, making the whole face appear bold yet elegant.
Lips can stay nude or a soft peach to maintain the warmth and balance the copper tones. A light sweep of bronzer gives the face some depth, creating a sculpted effect without the need for contouring. This look is perfect for festive dinners or holiday events that call for a bit of dramatic flair.
Pink Glitter Cut Crease with Matte Lip

This look adds a bit of fun with pink glitter placed in the center of a cut crease while the lips stay matte for balance. The cut crease technique adds dimension to the eyes and the pink glitter creates a playful, festive vibe. A good product to achieve this look is the Tarte Cosmetics Tartelette in Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette priced at $39.
The matte lip complements the bold eyes, ensuring the overall effect is not too overpowering. Light mascara defines the lashes without overshadowing the rest of the makeup. This style is ideal for holiday parties where you want to bring an energetic and lively vibe to your look.
Deep Plum Lip with Subtle Gold Highlight

This sophisticated style focuses on a deep plum lip that gives a rich, festive look, with subtle gold highlighter to give a warm glow. For the lip, a product like NARS Audacious Lipstick in “Liv” priced around $34 gives a full-bodied, long-lasting color. The gold highlighter, applied to the high points of the face, adds a luminous touch without detracting from the deep lip color.
Eyes remain simple with a soft brown shadow and light mascara to keep the face balanced. This makeup look is perfect for an evening gathering when you want a bold lip with a touch of elegance.
This article originally appeared on Avocadu.
