The festive season brings so much to cherish, but for us, the glamour of holiday makeup is right up there—just after the joy of gift-giving! Whether it's big-fat celebrations, cosy a small intimate affair, there's no better time to indulge in a little extra sparkle during this last festive quarter of the year. With Durga Puja to Diwali to Sankranti all around the corner, it’s the perfect excuse to go bold with rich colours and a touch of shimmer. Even as we ease back into the buzzing social events, any festive occasion is a great opportunity to bring out your makeup brushes and finally experiment with that eye shadow palette you've been eyeing for so long. Whether it's a grand puja night or a small family get-together, let your makeup reflect the joyous spirit of the season!
Here are some festival makeup ideas to rock this season!
Glitterati
This is the time to pull out all the stops. Besides, there’s no such thing as too much highlighter or sparkle. And when the mood is all about rich hues and glitter, why shouldn’t the beauty look match? Choose to go subtle, sophisticated or OTT with glitter this festive season. The mantra? Balance. Want to own a shimmer face? Sharp brows, minimal eyes and muted lips are to compliment. Entering the disco ball territory with whispers comes in handy with this subtle dream. Pro tip: Take it off right with baby oil or mild face cleanser.
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Artistic Play
If there is the best time to play with makeup, the festive season it is. As much as we love seeing experimental makeup on the runway, we think this one’s easy to recreate at home. Use an eyeshadow palette or DIY with your fave lip colour to create carefully careless paint strokes in the corner of your eyes. This graphic red eye is experimental and lets you improvise. To serve a final touch to this artsy vibe, choose the right balance between a warm and a cool nude. While your eyes do all the talking, let the base be simple, young and fresh.
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Modern Desi
Kohl eyes and nude lips, this timeless look is to go with any festive attire. We’d call it understated glamour with ethereal panache. Pro tip: While you play with a highlighter, let the lips be a subtle nude or pink. Who doesn’t love traditionally rooted fashion and beauty? Remember the messy bun with fresh flowers our mums and dadis sport? Feel free to play your way with hues and colours. Guess you’re stealing the limelight with this one.
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Neutral And Subdued
For all of us who believe in natural wonders, there’s good news. You can go neutral with your cheeks, eyes, and lips – all at once and still look fly. The trick? A hint of highlighter and a delicate flush of colour on the cheek. Neither overdone nor trying too hard, a lit-from-within glow is always a win! A sleek crown going into neat flat waves or just a regular bun does full justice to this look.
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Pretty In Rose
Adobe red lips, gold liner and glossy lips. Who said drama can’t be demure? This look will evoke balmy evenings and long summer nights just when you crave them the most! Sport this look on any occasion with an otherwise natural base and muted lips. Trust us, it looks so gorgeous it seems tough to conquer. We promise it’s easier than it looks, and you’re going to get addicted!
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Blushed Cheeks
With winter’s chilly breeze already giving your face a natural rosy tint, so why not take it up a notch for your holiday parties? Add some definition to your cheeks with a deep, plum-toned blush. Try sweeping a violet hue and blend that along with a statement pink blush, onto your cheekbones to achieve that festive glow. For an extra pop, embrace the draping trend—basically contouring with blush—to effortlessly sculpt your face for a more sharp look.
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Golden cut crease
A gentle bronzed blush paired with a bold eye, LUH-VE! Play around with your eye makeup by brightening your inner corner with a highlighter and taking it up a notch with an addition of the yellow gold arch that connects your inner corner of the eye with the crease. Start with a layer of yellow eyeshadow and top it with warm gold. As for the rest of your face, you can go for a nude lip and bronzed cheeks providing for a clean base for your eye makeup to shine through.
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Graphic It Up
Everyone does a winged eyeliner girl, it's time to switch things up. Wear a striking eye makeup to that Diwali cocktail dinner and make sure to have all the eyes on you. Accentuate your eye shape by adding graphic kibes above and below your lids as a continuation to your basic standard eyeliner wing. Experiment with any number of colours or you can also opt for a neutral shimmer for the extra pizzaz.
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Neons For The Win
If you think neons are outdated, you might want to think again. This look on Priyanka Chopra Jonas is proof that it works for your eyelids, in any season and event. Her twist of combining a smudgy black eyeshadow with her neon pink makes this look perfect for any event. In fact, a neon-coloured glam choice adds a touch of oomph to New Year's Eve parties and gives you the ideal opportunity to start a new year with love and light (literally!)
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The Classic
When in doubt, go for the ultimate holiday look: a sparkling gold eyeshadow paired with bold red lipstick. It’s a timeless classic, and Emma Stone shows us exactly how it’s done with her shimmering champagne-gold eyes and striking ruby-red lips.
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That’s That Me Espresso
Channel your angel energy by going for a halo eyeshadow look. This glam has an old Hollywood charm that is all about softly blending a deep brown on the outer corners of the eyes, with a shimmering iridescent right in the centre of the lid. To finish off the sultry, smokey effect, use a brown eyeshadow pencil, and smudge it along the inner and outer corners, the crease, and the lower lash line.
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Cherry Red Madness
The biggest trend of the year and for all the right reasons, cherry red was a colour that showed its presence in our outfits one way or another. Embrace this trend with your glam this festive season and start with cherry red lipstick, basically the star of the look. Pair it with a soft, neutral eyeshadow to keep the focus on your lips. A hint of blush in a matching tone adds a natural flush, tying the look together.
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Caramel Tones For The Win
Opt for a sun-kissed look by layering soft caramel hues on eyes, cheeks, and lips. Apply the caramel colour on the lids and blend this into the crease area to create soft depths. Give your cheeks a pink glow with a touch of warm caramel blush, and finish your look with lips dressed in caramel lipstick or gloss. It's simple and so chic—perfect for any daytime or nighttime celebration.
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Shimmer Through
This subtle shimmer-bronzed makeup look is all the glitz and glam you need if you are going for a bronzed Goddess look. Sweep some warm bronzer across the cheeks, temples, and jawline to generate face depth. Apply a touch of soft-shimmering highlighter to the tops of cheekbones and across the bridge of the nose to further enhance that radiant look. Pair that with a colour that's rather neutral and has a bit of shimmer on your eyelids, add in a good swipe of mascara, and seal the look off with a nude lip gloss. And there you have it, an effortless glam look perfect for any festival or outfit.
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Velvet Tease
'Tis the season for velvet! Don’t just save it for your holiday party outfit—bring that luxurious texture to your eyes too. Go for a creamy, buildable eyeshadow in a rich, velvety shade. To finish the look, line both your upper and lower lids with black eyeliner. Keep the rest of your face fresh and simple with a glossy base and a no-makeup makeup look on your cheeks and lips, choosing nude and brown tones.
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Hashtag Glossed
A shimmery green with a pop of orange and yellow-gold topped off with the glossiest lips around—this out-of-this-world makeup look has us excited to embrace our bold side this year. Keep your skin natural with a touch of pink blush, swept high on your cheekbones. Add some highlighter to your nose and brow bones, and you'll be all set to ring in at any dinner party.
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Frosted
Give this festive season a frosty twist by opting for icy white makeup to match your fit. Start off with an icy white frosty shimmer eyeshadow. Apply it, capturing the light, and blend out, leaving a soft frosty finish. Pair that with a subtle silver eyeliner for elegance. Let your skin glow with a cool-toned highlighter. Seal off the look with a pale nude lip that gives a sleek, frosted feel to the overall look—the perfect look to get into the holiday season. This is a quite chic and modern take, sure to catch attention.
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Pearl-Core
Creating a dreamy pearl look is a fantastic choice for a holiday party. It’s a bit unexpected and brings a playful, ornate vibe without going overboard. Plus, it's surprisingly easy to pull off, even if you're not a makeup pro. Start by prepping your skin with your usual routine—moisturizer, primer, and foundation. Then, go for a soft, shimmery eyeshadow to lay the base. Once you're ready to apply the pearls, you can use tweezers for extra precision, but honestly, your fingers will work just as well. The ideal look to show your quirky, fun side to any get-together or party.
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Siren-Eyed Beauty
The vixen eye, also known as the fox or siren eye, was dubbed one of the hottest eyeliner trends to date only recently. That includes lining inner corners for a sleek, elongated shape that is both bold and alluring. To achieve this trend, start by carefully lining the inner triangles of your eyes with a sharp eyeliner, extending the line slightly for that captivating, feline effect. Pair your vixen eyes with pearly white eyeshadow for a bright, luminous finish, and add a touch of creamy pink blush to your cheeks. The siren eye trend is all about that sultry, mysterious vibe, making it perfect for those looking for a makeup look to match their sequin or net-work black outfits.
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Smokey Eyes
Elevate your classic smoky eye by adding a sultry twist with a pop of colour along your lower lash line. This under-eyeliner trend has been making its comeback, particularly for those with hooded eyes, as it creates an eye-catching effect that opens up the eyes. To achieve this look, start by applying your usual smoky shades on the upper lid, then choose a colour matching your outfit or contrasting shade for extra drama and apply this over your lower lash line. Carefully blend the colour to soften the edges, and finish off with a coat of mascara on both your upper and lower lashes to tie the whole look together. The result? A bold, sophisticated twist on a timeless style that's sure to make your eyes stand out.
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Conclusion
Makeup is a fun and effortless way to get into the festive spirit, and certain looks just scream party season. Glittery eyeshadow? Absolutely. Bold red lips? Definitely. While these iconic crimson lips and sparkly eyelids are Diwali puja or Christmas dinner party staples(and for good reason), they're only the beginning when it comes to winter party makeup. This time of year provides the perfect excuse to up your beauty game and we hope this guide helps you achieve the glam moment you need this festive season!
FAQ
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How to put on makeup for a festival?
Festivals and concerts are the perfect excuse to get a little wild with your look—rules are flexible, and you can go all out. But there are a couple of key things to keep in mind: slather on (and keep reapplying) SPF, and to ensure that your makeup stays intact, spritz some setting spray.
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Can I do my entire makeup without using a foundation?
Absolutely, you can do your makeup without foundation and still get a smooth, even look. Instead of using foundation, try a lighter option like a tinted moisturizer. It’ll give you a fresh base without feeling like your base is cakey!
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How to get the skin ready for festive makeup?
Start with a double cleanse to ensure your complexion is fresh and glowing. Try Gua Sha for a lift, and don’t skimp on hydration—layer up with your favourite products. Keep face mists handy and use sheet masks for an extra boost.
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How to choose the correct foundation shade for my skin tone?
For olive-toned skin, brown and copper blushers look great. If you have a medium skin tone, peachy shades work best. Fair or blonde skin looks lovely with pink or rose blushes. And if you're blonde with a warm skin tone, beige blushes are a perfect match.
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How to do makeup in under 5 minutes?
For a quick five-minute makeup routine, start with a tinted moisturizer or BB cream for even coverage. Apply a cream blush for a fresh look, then swipe on mascara and a neutral lipstick. Finish with a quick brush of bronzer or highlighter on your cheekbones for a radiant glow.
