Makeup Artist-Approved Tips for a Sparkly Holiday Makeup Look

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Planning your holiday beauty look can be overwhelming. There’s a plethora of Instagram photos to be taken, the need to ensure your makeup stays put throughout never-ending family parties and maybe even the pressure of impressing your opinionated in-laws (in the words of the viral TikTok video, “we listen and we don’t judge…”). But the good news is that enhancing your complexion doesn’t have to be a stressful process, especially when you have red-carpet-worthy tips and tricks to follow.

If you’re feeling festive and want to incorporate sparkles, now’s the time to do it — but Tasha Reiko Brown tells Us that there is an art to wearing glitter. The Chanel makeup artist — who’s worked her magic on A-listers including Gabrielle Union, Ayo Edebiri and Alicia Keys — says it’s important to only focus on “one or two features of the [face]” so you don’t go overboard. Doing so “allows for the shimmer aspects of the makeup look to [stand out],” she further explains. “[Look for] products with lots of shine, shimmery textures that gleam and balms that bring light.”

Below, Brown’s top picks that will help you say goodbye to 2024 and ring in the new year with an abundance of glitz and glamour. Enjoy!

Next-Level Pout

Brown shares two ways to take a red lip up a notch. You can either “[select] a formula that has the shine intertwined with the pigment,” or you can swipe on a “clear or dazzling lip gloss” over red lipstick.

Even if your red lipstick incorporates sparkles, you can still elevate the shine or “double down on color” by opting for a “sparkled lip gloss in the same shade.” (Brown likes the Sephora Collection About That Shine Sheer Shine Lipstick in Ray of Red.)

The Chanel Rouge Allure L’extrait in Rouge Royal is her “current go-to”. The expert suggests pairing it with “satin skin and a clean eye.”

Brown recommends choosing a “thick” formula like the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Heat Universal Lip Luminizer + Plumper in Glass Slipper. “A thin gloss formula will slide around too much and may eventually ‘mix’ into your lip color, leading to lip-border bleeding.”

Glowing Skin

“I like to add [shimmer] onto the high points of the face to really accentuate features,” Brown says. These areas include “on top of cheekbones, bridge of the nose, bow of the lips and center of the chin.”

“To keep your shimmer elevated, make sure to choose textures that are fine, with small particles of glimmer,” Brown dishes. Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Liquid Luminizer in Enlighten is a perfect example of this, and if you’re using your finger to apply the product, Brown advises “using the pad of your ring finger for control.”

Another one of Brown’s favorites? The Nudestix Nudies Glow Highlighter Stick in Bubbly Bebe. You’ll love the blendable texture and dewy appearance it achieves.

If you’re not into highlighter, a “clear balm” such as the Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint in Dew will also deliver a gorgeous and luminous finish.

When putting on your radiance boosters — specifically powders, like Chanel’s Diamond Dust Oversize Illuminating Powder — the expert advises using a brush that’s “thinner than your typical blush brush” to ensure precise application.

Sparkling Lids

A “glittery champagne” hue is one of Brown’s most beloved shades for the holiday season. “It pairs perfectly with a bold pop of a lip,” she emphasizes. Brown spills two techniques that will come in handy whether you’re applying a liquid or powder eye shadow. For seamless application, “use fingers or a tightly packed brush to tap the product gently onto the eyelids.”

Liquid formulas like Chanel’s Ombre Première Laque in Rayon have their benefits because they help reduce the chances of pigment moving.

She’s a fan of Urban Decay’s 24/7 Moondust Glitter Eyeshadow Singles in Space Cowboy. Brown notes to “press — not swipe [the product] — to minimize any fallout.”