1. Sugar Plum Shadow
Purple may not be your usual go-to shade of eyeshadow, but it should be – there’s a purple hue perfect for enhancing every eye colour. Brown eyes appear lifted with a deep plum shade, blue eyes brighten with a sweep of pale lilac on lids, and green eyes intensify with a rich purple shimmer. Festive and flawless.
Step 1: To give your eyes a Christmas glow-up, dip a tapered eyeshadow brush into your chosen purple hue from the Smokey Eye Drama Kit in Luxe Lilacs. Tap off the excess pigments to avoid overloading the eye and causing eyeshadow fallout.
Step 2: Buff eyeshadow onto the eyelid, working colour into the crease and blending upwards and outwards to the brow bone, creating a rounded, cloud-like effect around the eye. Next, use an angled eyeliner brush to apply the same shade along the lower lash line. For a smokier effect, blend with a cotton bud to soften the line.
Step 3: Using your fingertip, dot a small amount of the palest purple shade in the palette onto the inner corner of the eye to highlight, lift and brighten. Finish with a few coats of your favourite mascara.
2. ‘Tis the Season to Smokey Eye
Kohl for Christmas? Everyone loves a classic smokey eye, featuring layers of smudgy kohl eyeliner, a sweep of shimmering eyeshadow and lashings of mascara. Get your eye makeup looking flawless for the festive season in just a few steps.
Step 1: Take a freshly-sharpened Kohl Pencil in Black, and look straight ahead in front of a mirror. Glide liner from the inner to the outer corner of the eye along the upper lash line, as close to the lash root as possible. Repeat for the lower lash line, taking care to meet liner at the corners and ensuring there are no gaps. Use a cotton bud to lightly blend and smudge eyeliner, creating that smokey effect.
Step 2: Using a flat eyeshadow brush, apply Wild Shadow Pot in Auburn Envy all over the lid, leaving a slightly sheer finish to allow liner to show through. Turn the eyeshadow brush at an angle so the bristles lie flat. Then, use the tips of bristles to blend shadow along the lower lash line, on top of liner.
Step 3: Finish with face-framing details. Sculpt brows by etching Eyebrow Pencil into arches, before grooming with the brush on the lid to blend. Curl lashes and zig-zag cult-classic False Lash Effect Mascara from root to tip for a full, fanned-out effect.
3. Shine Bright in Bronze
If earthy tones are your signature shade for a daytime look, opt for a touch of metallic to get party-ready in an instant. Bronze is a suits-all shade, giving eyeshadow a festive glow-up, and pairs perfectly with a velvety nude lipstick.
Step 1: Using a fluffy eyeshadow brush, buff the metallic bronze shade from Masterpiece Nude Eyeshadow Palette in Cappuccino Nudes all over the eyelid, into the crease and up to the brow bone. Then, use the tip of your eyeshadow brush to blend shadow along the lower lash line.
Step 2: Use the MUA-approved tightlining technique to create the illusion of bigger eyes and fuller lashes. Make sure the tip of Masterpiece Kohl Kajal Pencil is freshly sharpened, then look straight ahead into a mirror and glide the smooth pencil from the inner to the outer corner of the eye, as close to the lash root as possible. Fill in any gaps between lashes by etching short strokes in between.
Step 3: Next, apply eyeliner along the waterline for even more definition. Use your ring finger to lift your eyelid a little, which will help to reveal the upper waterline without pulling the delicate skin around your eyes. Then, look down into a mirror and trace around the waterline with the tip of your kohl eyeliner. Repeat for the lower waterline, looking upwards into a mirror for easier application. Finish with a sweep of Lash Revival Mascara.
4. All That Glitters is Eyeliner...
Dazzling disco-inspired liner is guaranteed to stand out on the dancefloor. Switch up a classic Christmas beauty combo of black winged liner and a red lip for a slick of shimmering navy this party season.
Step 1: Start by wetting an angled eyeliner brush – this will intensify the eyeshadow pigment and allow for more precise application. Then, take Masterpiece Nude Eyeshadow Palette in Skylight Nudes and dip the wet bristles into the navy blue shade.
Step 2: Glide the shadow-loaded brush from the inner to the outer corner of the eye, lifting the brush slightly at the outer corner to create a subtle winged effect. Repeat to build colour and fill in any gaps close to the lash line. Frame eyes with a few coats of lash-plumping 2000 Calorie Mascara.
Step 3: Next up, a festive red lipstick. Start by applying Colour Elixir Lip Liner in Ruby Red, etching around the lip line and cupid’s bow to add fullness and create a pillow-y effect. Feather colour into the centre of lips to act as a base. Then, glide Velvet Mattes Lipstick in Desire onto lips, building intense, long-lasting colour ready for Christmas kisses.
