Tricks of the Trade: Three makeup looks to rock this holiday season

Hi, Kelly! It’s the -ber months already and I need to update my makeup. Do you have any tips on what I should wear to parties? —Kristine R.

The holidays are the happiest time of year for most of us, as this usually means we have relatively cool weather for the next couple of months; a string of events, parties and reunions to attend; and we have every excuse to wear our favorite holiday makeup looks. Every year our go-to makeup brands launch their Fall-Winter collections, and these are nothing short of exciting as we have free rein to explore and experiment with shimmer, color and shine.

You can certainly count on makeup to add a festive vibe to your look. For instance, red lipstick has always been my not-so-secret weapon when I want to look glamorous. It draws attention to my lips and brightens my skin tone, and it looks amazing with that little black (or white) dress. And while there have been many variations of red lipstick through the years, it remains one of the best makeup looks to wear for an event or important occasion.

As expected, this season will still be all about shimmery shadows and powders, bright eyeliners and, yes, red lipsticks. We’re definitely not complaining—these are exactly what we love about the holidays! Let’s revisit our favorite looks and see how we can update them. Here are three fabulous makeup looks we can wear for the holidays:

Red lipstick. The holidays are the perfect time to wear red, so you can actually make this your look of the season. And, as I mentioned earlier, this is one of the easiest ways to look made up and sophisticated. All you need to do is swipe on red lipstick. You don’t even need to apply much else—just foundation and powder and, of course, make sure your eyebrows are groomed and defined, and you’re good to go. Lucky for us, this season’s makeup is all about restraint, which means we are allowed to skip all that other stuff. You don’t even need to pile on the mascara! Of course, in order to get this right, you’ll need to start with the right shade of red. A deep red with brown undertones looks modern and fresh, or you can go for a bright red with blue undertones to match the festive season. Runway inspiration: Max Mara and A.F. Vandevorst

Try: Bobbi Brown Crazy for Colour in Blackberry and Hollywood Red, P1,350

Shimmery eye shadow. You can count on shimmer to draw the right kind of attention to your eyes. Try eye shadow in shades of gold and silver—think Christmas tree tinsel, but on the eyes. We want that sparkling effect on our peepers, but without going overboard. These days, we use it on the inner corners of our eyes. That’s all you really need to create a lasting impression. You may pair it with your go-to neutral eye shadow to give eyes some definition. Finish the look by adding a little blush and swipe a layer of clear lip gloss, and you’re good to go. Runway inspiration: Issey Miyake and Chloe

Try: MAC x Brooke Shields Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Mortal, P2,530

Defined eyebrows. Beautifully groomed, perfectly defined eyebrows create a fresh, youthful appearance. This is a look you can wear all year round. Since this season is all about subdued, muted makeup, this trend can be worn on its own. There is something so gorgeous about having natural-looking groomed brows and wearing little or no makeup. All you need to get this look right is an eyebrow tint to match the color of your brows, and clear brow gel to keep the hairs in place. You want a very natural look, and you can do this by brushing the hair strands upward. No need to create a strong, dark, squarish brow; just accentuate that fresh face. Runway inspiration: Etro and Carolina Herrera