Must-Have Affordable Beauty Recommendations and Tips for Holiday Makeup Glam

makeupbyren4
4 days ago
4 min read

Hi Gorgeous,

The holiday season is upon us, bringing with it festive parties, family gatherings, and countless opportunities to shine. Whether you want to dazzle at a holiday party or simply look stunning for your family photos, mastering the art of holiday glam is essential. Here are some expert tips and affordable beauty recommendations to help you achieve a radiant holiday look that will turn heads!

1. Prep Your Skin

A flawless makeup application starts with a well-prepped canvas. Your essential routine should be cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliating.

Cleanse your skin to remove any impurities.
Exfoliate gently to create a smooth surface (2 to 3 times a week is ideal)
Treat your skin with a serum depending on what you need - brightening, extra hydration, tightening, etc.
Don't forget to apply eye cream - it's the perfect base for flawless concealer.
Use a hydrating moisturizer (face and lips) to give your skin a luminous glow while ensuring your makeup stays put.

Pro Tip: Use a hydrating mist throughout the day to refresh your skin and keep it looking radiant.

I love the Pixi Glow Tonic for a gentle exfoliation - it makes a world of difference especially as our skin gets drier over the winter weather. We need to remove the dead skin cells for our skincare to properly absorb and for the makeup to look smoother.

2. Choose a Radiant Foundation

For a holiday glam look, opt for a foundation with a luminous finish. It's a little more wearable in cold winter months and it will give your skin a healthy glow that’s perfect for festive occasions:

Consider using a light reflecting skin care infused foundation or a tinted moisturizer for a natural yet radiant look. I love the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation or Fenty Eaze Drops.
If you prefer full coverage, try a foundation that offers a satin or dewy finish such as the Natasha Denona Foundation.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to blend foundation down your neck to ensure a seamless look, especially if you're wearing a lower neck evening top or dress.

I love the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation for a gorgeous, dewy foundation that's not too much. It has built in skincare and light reflecting to blur the skin and has a great range of shades.

3. Add a Touch of Color

The holidays are a great time to embrace color:

Blush: Choose a blush that complements your skin tone; think rosy pinks and reds and wine tones for that winter flushed look.

Pro Tip: Stick with cream blushes that say "balm" meaning they will blend out easier. And if you overdo the blush, just blend it out with whatever is left on your foundation brush to sheer down the color.

I love the Milani Cream blush - the shade Merlot is the perfect holiday color. It will work on every skin tone - just apply a smidge for lighter tones/more natural flushes and build up for more impact.

4. Glam Up Your Eyes

Your eyes are the place where we can have fun! Whether you prefer a smoky eye or a pop of color, make your eyes stand out:

Experiment with rich, festive shades like gold, burgundies, or emerald green. Glitter and shimmer can enhance your eye look and create a festive vibe. I love using liquid and cream shadows because they add extra vibrancy and pop.
Consider adding some false lashes for extra drama and volume. If you go for a more natural look, opt for cluster or corner lashes.

Pro Tip: Use a matte transition shade in your crease to blend bold colors seamlessly, adding depth to your eye makeup and also you need neutrals to balance out the bright colors. Pick a contour shade that works for your skin tone like a taupe or warm brown.

The ELF liquid metallic eyeshadows are super affordable and have some great holiday shades.

5. Define Your Features

Contouring and highlighting are essential for achieving that sought-after holiday glam, especially when you're taking photos:

Use a contour powder or cream to sculpt your cheekbones and enhance your jawline.
Apply a highlighting concealer under your eyes and to the middle of your forehead, bridge of your nose and chin for a brighter center of your face.

Pro Tip: For an extra festive touch, mix a bit of liquid illumnizer into your foundation for an all-over glow!

The Tower 28 Serum Concealer is one of my favorites - it floats under the eyes and doesn't get cakey or crease in our fine lines. I suggest going 1-2 shades lighter than your foundation to pick your highlighting concealer.

6. Bold Lips

A bold lip is the perfect finishing touch to your holiday look. Choose a shade that complements your overall makeup:

Classic reds, deep berries, or even metallic shades can elevate your holiday glam.
Ensure your lips stay hydrated by exfoliating and applying a moisturizing lip balm before lipstick.

Pro Tip: For a longer-lasting finish and a neater overall lip, line your lips with a lip liner before applying your lipstick to prevent feathering. I like to go slightly darker to give my lips a contour.

My favorite drugstore liners are the Maybelline Lifter Liners - they are so smooth and creamy and have a great range of shades. The shade Main Character is an amazing red to go with all your red lipsticks.

7. Set Your Look

To ensure your holiday glam lasts throughout the festivities, finish off with a setting spray:

A good setting spray will lock in your makeup and keep you looking fresh.
Choose one that offers hydration and a dewy finish for that ultimate glow.

Pro Tip: Apply setting spray, before, during and after the makeup process for ultimate longwear.

I love the ELF Hydrogrip Setting Spray - it keeps your makeup stay put and hydrated and prevents cracking in the cold weather.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to embrace the holiday season with confidence and style. Remember, holiday glam is all about feeling good in your skin, so have fun with your look! Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or attending a festive event, let your beauty shine brightly this holiday season.

I'm also an Atlanta Makeup Artist and Educator, if you want to book a Holiday Makeover or a Personalized Makeup Lesson and Shopping with me at my studio in Atlanta, don’t hesitate to reach out or visit www.RenelynThomas.com . Happy holidays and happy glam!