FROM EYE-CATCHING HUES TO MELTING TEXTURES THAT RADIATE FESTIVE CHEER, OUR CAREFULLY CURATED EDIT OF HOLIDAY MAKEUP COMES IN PACKAGING SO RESOLUTELY CHIC, EVEN BEAUTY JUGGERNAUTS WOULD SWIPE RIGHT. THIS HIT LIST IS READY TO DELIVER A FACE THAT GLOWS, WINKS, AND STEALS THE MISTLETOE SPOTLIGHT AT EVERY SEASONAL SOIRÉE
BY ARCHANA AITHAL ROSE
About Face Cheek Freak Blush Balm
An ultra-creamy, lightweight balm blush that melts into a soft, translucent wash of color: perfect for a festive flush on cheeks, a dreamy watercolor wash on holiday lids, or a chic French girl pout. $18, aboutface.com
Laura Mercier Ultra-Blur 24HR Hydrating Setting Spray
From the brand behind the cult favorite Translucent Loose Setting Powder comes this new hydrating setting spray. The near-magical mist keeps makeup melt-proof through even the afterparty thanks to hyaluronic acid, ectoin, niacinamide, and white lily extract, which blur, hydrate, and leave your visage with a soft dewy glow so good you might just skip the champagne toast to admire your reflection instead. $39, lauramercier.com
Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Light Edit
Hourglass turns up the holiday magic with this new limited edition collab with tattoo artist Sasha Unisex. Inside the sleek tin lie six sculpting shades: Dream Light finishing pow der, Diffused Bronze Light bronzer, Aura Light highlighter, and blushes in Strobe Light, Radiant Peach, and Vibrant Pink, made to catch candlelight, twinkle under the tree, and glow long past midnight. $94, hourglasscosmetics.com
Armani Beauty Skin Tint Longwear & Care
For the clean girl who’s on a holiday glow-up arc, this weightless skin tint is basically golden hour in a bottle: 92% serum, 100% main character energy. Packed with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and light-catching pearls, it gives skin that glazed, well-rested-in-St.-Moritz look even if you’ve been up all night wrapping gifts (or flirting under mistletoe). $49, giorgioarmanibeauty.com
Guerlain KissKiss Bee Glow Oil
A luminous nod to Guerlain’s storied mastery of lip alchemy, this kissable, cult-favorite tinted oil returns this holiday season in a universally flattering sparkly peach. Enriched with the maison’s signature honey-infused base and pH-reactive eosin, it nourishes, tints, and glosses in one swoop, sealing in moisture with light-catching oils for a 3-D shine worthy of the mistletoe. $40, guerlain.com
Milk Makeup Kush Big Hit Volumizing Mascara
Your lashes’ holiday plus one, this clean buildable mascara brings drama that lasts longer than the party. Wiggle, layer, flirt: its conditioning formula keeps lashes plush and lifted for 12 hours with no flakes nor smudge, just full-on festive flutter. $34, spacenk.com
Victoria Beckham The Foundation Drops with TFC8
Born from Victoria Beckham’s signature skin-first philosophy, this serum-like foundation is as polished as Posh herself. Infused with Augustinus Bader’s cult TFC8 technology, it glides on like silk, blurring imperfections while feeding your skin the good stuff: think effortless luminosity, 12-hour wear, and that quietly confident glow Beckham has perfected. $110, victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Diorshow 5 Couleurs Holiday 2025 – Limited Edition Plum Parade
Housed in a gilded limited-edition case, Dior’s iconic eyeshadow palette gets a lavish holiday upgrade with creamy, long wear shades embossed in the house’s cannage and star motifs. Two radiant harmonies in matte, satin, and pearly finishes invite a touch of celestial drama for the daring. $75, dior.com