Time to Shine: Easy, Festive Makeup Looks

You don't have to wear a lot of makeup to sparkle this season. Take the less-is-more approach and accent your best feature for the perfect festive flair.

 Play Up Your Eyes

Look on the Bright Side

To make eyes pop, start by curling your lashes. Clamp down at the roots and work outward to the tips, keeping the pressure the same to form an even curve.

Glow for It

To quickly go from day to night, apply a gold or silver eyeliner with sparkly flecks, such as Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner ($18, urbandecay.com).

Lash Out

Get sky-high lift with a volumizing mascara; try Rimmel London Max Volume Bold Curves Mascara ($7.19, drugstores). Wiggle the wand from side to side as you raise it to create a fan effect.



 Focus on Your Eye-Opening Color

If your skin is fair...

To perk up peepers, dust a silver shadow, like subtle CoverGirl Eye Enhancers in Sterling Blue ($3.47, drugstores), over lids.

If your skin is medium...

Pink hues keep olive-toned skin from looking sallow. A new one: MAC Cosmetics A Tartan Tale Eye Shadow in A Wish Come True ($19.50, maccosmetics.com).

If your skin is dark...


Get Cheeky

Gleam On

Rev up your lit-from-within radiance by exfoliating first. Sloughing dead skin cells with a gentle scrub will create a dewy canvas, says Sara Strand, founder of Pop Beauty. Next, apply a tinted moisturizer to even out your tone.

Add Color

With a fluffy brush, dust blush on cheeks in quick strokes. Sweep some on your brow bone, too. "This gives you a fresh-faced look that works day or night," says Napoleon Perdis, creator of the eponymous cosmetics line.

Top It Off

Tap a dot of liquid luminizer, like Almay Face Brightener ($12.49, drugstores), onto your cheeks with your finger. The glimmer makes skin look vibrant.


 Find Your Good-to-Glow Shade

If your skin is fair...

Brush on a sparkly pink blush, such as Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Fuchsia ($45, chanel.com), for a shimmering flush.

If your skin is medium...

Select a golden coral shade that's sheer, like Mark Touch & Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes All Over Face Palette ($15, meetmark.com), for a complexion that looks candlelit.

If your skin is dark...

Try NYC New York Color Cheek Glow Blush in Cherry Blossom ($2.99, drugstores), a rich hue that's perfect for deep tones.



Pretty Up Your Pout

Get Soft

Gently rub dry, flaky lips with a damp washcloth. While they're still moist, apply an emollient balm to lock in the moisture.

Go Light

A bold lip color will bring out your cheeks' natural flush, so it's best to skip the blush. Define your eyes with a taupe or gray liner and fill in your brows to add dimension. Finish with two coats of black mascara.

Gloss Over

Apply sheen only along your upper and lower lip lines. "This trick really makes your pout look fuller," Pond's celebrity makeup artist Kayleen McAdams says.