7 Non-Costumey Christmas Makeup Ideas to Try

The holidays are a time of giving – and serving badass Christmas makeup looks that are, as the Gen Zs would say, giving. Time to bring on the shimmer and glitter, shine your brightest, and be the gift that you are (wink, wink!). Check out this roundup of creative makeup looks to match your holiday-ready outfits and the festive, merry energy of the season. Enjoy!

Bring on the Christmas cheer in a very demure, very subtle way with this holiday-ready, diva-inspired look. Think: strong and sultry eyes, flawlessly bronzed skin, and super straight pop star hair.

Start with a full coverage base. Next, sculpt and contour your cheekbones and nose line with bronzer and concealer. Lastly, don’t forget to dab on highlighter on all the important key points of your face: the apples of your cheeks, the tip of your nose, and your lips’ cupid’s bow. 

Let your eyes do the talking by putting on a mix of sage and metallic green on your lids, with lighter and more glittery shades illuminating the inner corners of your eyes. Finish off with a nude or MLBB lippie.

Behold, a Christmas makeup version of TikTok’s sunset blush trend. Start with the basics: a lightweight base (fake freckles optional!), groomed and fluffed-up brows, and slicked-back hair. Next, dab on the full sunset spectrum–a blend of pink, orange, and yellow on your eyes, a peachy pink for blush, and a coral hue on your puckers, and you’re good to go.

Take inspiration from the golden Christmas balls on your tree (half kidding!). This Christmas makeup idea is all about gold, gold, gold, from your outfit and accessories, down to your beauty look.

Start with full base coverage, then sculpt your cheekbones for extra definition with a bronzer. Do your lids like a goddess. Start with a white silver-gold shimmer as the base color of your lids, then dust it off with orange-gold eyeshadow along the eye sockets. As a final touch, add a mix of gold glitter along your lower lash line, and line your outer eye in perfect precision for a winged look. For the lips, go for a demi-matte in rust or orange-red. 

A low-key Christmas makeup look that guarantees a double-take is one that’s sleek, cool, and effortlessly put together. Begin with a barely-there matte base for a flawless canvas. For best results, level up your skin prep with POND’s Age Miracle Double Action Serum with Niacinamide and Prebiotic Complex for a Youthful Glow, which you can put on the night before and on the day of your party. It’s formulated to help regenerate your skin and give it extra nourishment and hydration, so it’s prepped and primed for the big day ahead.

As for your brows, they need not be plastered on – keep them natural-looking but groomed using brow mascara. For the lids, rock the quintessential smokey eye look of the ’90s hotties by layering eyeshadow hues of tan and gray. Then, keep your blush subtle by dabbing on a dusty rose in a matte finish on the apples of your cheeks. Finish the look by putting on a long-wearing lipstick in taupe, coffee, or dark brown, and top off with a gloss.

‘Tis the season to bring on the color! Whether you’re in it to have the merriest time – and have the best beauty photos, or are out to get noticed at a holiday party (we support you!), here’s a Christmas makeup look that packs a punch.

Start with a striking hue on your eyes. Prime your lids and apply the color you fancy: We suggest a funky purple, an electric yellow, or a shocking aqua blue. Dab on some shimmer onto the middle of your lids for extra batting power – fake lashes are a plus! Keep the rest of your face slightly dewy and clean and go for a glossy liquid lippie for your puckers.

If you’re going for a can’t-hurt-a-fly, girl-next-door look for the holidays, this one’s for you. The focal point here is your as-flawless-as-possible, glowing, pearly skin, so skin prep is crucial! Be sure to apply a hardworking moisturizer, such as POND’s Age Miracle Ultimate Youth Day Cream, formulated to help reduce signs of aging as well as give skin radiance, smoothness, and hydration, for youthful-looking skin.

Follow with your usuals: sunscreen, a mattifying primer, and a dewy but full coverage base. To create the makeup look, start by dusting your lids with a salmon pink or a dainty apricot. Next, apply a highlighter on the high points of your face, and add shimmer and shine for extra glow. Lastly, put on a toned-down rosy-pink gloss on your lips.

TikTok trends come and go, but the classic Old Hollywood glam look is forever. It’s the quintessential main character beauty look before “main character” was even a thing! This tried-and-true look exudes a vibe that’s as festive and fiery as the holiday spirit, while being chic and elegant all the same.

For your lips, reach out for your reddest red, deepest red, or your just right red – whichever suits your skin tone best. Keep everything else neat and prim and go by the rule book: clean base, minimal contour and blush, and a slight smokey eye. Finally, style your hair in big, sultry waves, for extra star power. 

Here’s to a merry holiday season in the most dazzling – and most giving – Christmas makeup looks!