Deck the halls and dust off the glitter – it’s timeeee! The holiday season is here, and with it comes a sleigh-full of bold, nostalgic, and surprisingly chic beauty trends. Christmas and New Year festivities for 2026 are serving up looks that shimmer like tinsel and glow like candlelight, all while celebrating individual style. It’s messy, but in the most chic, most smart, and undeniably cheery way. Ahead, we unwrap the standout themes and how to wear them with modern flair – complete with product picks and pro tips to light up every room you walk into.
Fly High with Retro Wings
Winged eyeliner never truly went away, but this year it’s spreading its wings in double time. Inspired by the mod ’60s and supercharged by Gen-Z creativity, the classic cat-eye has spawned bold new variations. Think Twiggy-meets-Euphoria effect. Celebrity makeup artist Lily Keys praises the look as “a take on the retro ’60s Twiggy eye… It opens your eyes and makes them appear bigger and more feminine, almost doll-like”.
The new wings aren’t limited to basic black, either. From graphic negative-space liner to pops of color, eyeliners are getting playful. On the Fall 2025 runways, we even saw reversed wings and exaggerated shapes – Chanel sent models out with heavy, extended wings meant to mimic false lashes. Pro tip: For an easy retro boost, trace white eyeliner in the gap between double wings, a trick straight out of Euphoria’s playbook. It will give you a lifted, widened gaze that’s equal parts vintage bombshell and futurist chic.
Tinsel Lids
Soft-focus shimmer on the eyes evokes the twinkle of holiday tinsel. This trend is all about glitter’s subtler, ethereal sister – a wash of fine, tinsel-like sheen across the lids that catches light at every angle. Makeup artist Alexx Mayo recently noted the cultural spark behind this all-over shine: the hotly anticipated film Wicked 2, starring Ariana Grande as Glinda. To achieve tinsel lids, look to Ariana’s own r.e.m. beauty line: a Starlet Liquid Eyeshadow in a shade like Fembot delivers a perfect look gleam.
The key is layering different textures of shine, for that final tinsel effect, don’t shy away from glitter gel applied sparingly near the brows or a few face gems at the outer corners. As celebrity artist Allan Avendaño puts it, “Sparkle and the holidays will always go hand-in-hand,” so why not take it all the way up this year? Tinsel lids ensure your eyes glimmer in every selfie.
Snow Angel Makeup
This style makes you appear as if you just stepped out of a snow globe: flushed cheeks, feathery lashes dusted in white, and a halo-like glow on the skin. The hallmark of Snow Angel makeup is an emphasis on pale, frosty accents that still feel delicate. Case in point: at Marco Rambaldi’s F/W 25 show in Milan, models paired snow-dusted lashes with fireside-warm skin. Those ice-kissed lashes instantly evoked freshly fallen snow, especially when set against a rosy, glowing complexion.
The timing feels especially right as Pantone named Cloud Dancer, an airy, softened white, its Color of the Year for 2026 — a shade meant to signal calm, clarity, and a collective reset. Snow Angel makeup mirrors that same idea visually: light, quiet, and intentionally gentle.
Overall, Snow Angel makeup is about embracing softness and light. It’s equal parts cozy and ethereal, the kind of look that pairs perfectly with a fuzzy earmuff or a velvet holiday dress. When you float into the party with your subtle sparkle and frosted lashes, you’ll look like the actual topper on the tree.
A 2000s Nod with Ombre Lips
Everything Y2K is new again, including the dramatic ombre lip that defined so many early-2000s music videos. Yes, that dark-liner-light-lip combo your favorite R&B divas rocked in 2001 is back, but with a 2025 update: it’s more subtle, more polished, and totally wearable. The essence of the trend is gradient color, typically a slightly deeper hue at the edges of the lips, fading into a softer shade at the center.
You can lean into the contrast a bit more, for instance, a cocoa-brown liner paired with a beige or pale caramel center, very J.Lo circa 2000. The key is blending well so it looks intentional and sultry, not stark. A creamy lip pencil like MAC’s classic Chestnut or Charlotte Tilbury’s Foxy Brown will give you that deep outline, while a lighter nude satin lipstick or even a dab of concealer in the middle can create the gradient. Top it with a clear or slightly tinted gloss to meld everything together and add that luscious shine.
Lip Stains
Champagne-proof and effortless lip stains continue to reign, but this holiday they’ve taken a decidedly earthy turn. We’re seeing a surge in brown, taupe, and nude-toned lip stains that enhance your natural lip color with a subtly sultry twist. In fact, Clarins’ Water Lip Stain in Nude Water has been singled out as giving that perfect hint-of-tint, “my lips but better” that leaves lips looking effortlessly flushed.
If you haven’t tried a lip stain in a while (memories of those drying old formulas?), 2025 is the time to revisit. New-gen stains are comfortable, often infused with moisturizers, and the neutral shades are infinitely flattering. You can layer a clear gloss on top of your dried-down stain to achieve a juicy finish without sacrificing longevity. Smudge-proof, subtle or bold as you want, and oh-so-kissable, nude lip stains are the under-the-radar trend that might just become your everyday signature.
Photo: Yakovleva, Hung Vanngo, Pinterest, Chadova Dasha, Guita Moda, Yakovleva
Bleached Brows
Bleached brows have transitioned from avant-garde runways to the mainstream in a couple of seasons. The famous faces like Zendaya, Jenna Ortega, Julia Fox, and Miley Cyrus have all experimented with bleached or drastically lightened brows, but our hearts were melted by Mia Goth. “Bleached brows give a more futuristic effect to the face,” explains makeup artist Diane Kendal. Indeed, a bleached brow instantly gives anyone that model-off-duty aura.
We’ve also seen variations of this trend: some opt for “soap brows” using a tinted brow gel a couple of shades lighter than their hair, achieving a muted brow rather than fully bleached. Surprisingly, this trend is more wearable than it appears. Lighter brows can actually soften the face and bring focus to your eyes and bone structure. So in 2026, you will have obsessive thoughts about finally bleaching your brows. It is very important you to say yes.
Photo: Sophia Sinot, Ssaweetie, YSL Beauty, Dechen Zin, Pinterest, Nina Park
Glass Hair
You’ve heard of glass skin, now get ready for glass hair. Essentially, glass hair means hair that looks incredibly healthy, sleek, and light-reflective. Nothing says luxurious quite like swinging a sheet of glossy hair over your sparkly dress.
Achieving this level of shine is part product, part technique, and part overall hair health. The trend has been propelled by the “skinification” of haircare, meaning people are treating their hair with the same care as skincare: bond-building treatments, peptide-infused serums, keratin masks, scalp exfoliants, all to get hair that’s internally strong and externally gleaming. Brands like Kérastase, Olaplex, and new players like COSRX are addressing hair health at a molecular level. Many of us have sworn by K18’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask.
This trend also ties nicely with the general ethos of the year: investing in hair health. And it’s a perfect excuse to treat yourself to a salon-level hair spa. Or, show yourself some love through nourishing at-home rituals.
Head-to-Toe Glow-Up
Why should your face have all the fun? This festive season, full-body shimmer is the ultimate accessory. “Body shimmer features finely milled, light-reflecting pigments that deliver a subtle, radiant glow, offering a more refined and skin-enhancing finish,” explains Diamond Hannah, product developer for Sol de Janeiro. There’s a practical element here: winter skin can be dull or dry, and a touch of shimmering body oil instantly revives it with both moisture and glow.
To get your shimmer on, you have options at every price: from drugstore, Palmer’s makes a great Cocoa Glow Oil with micro-shimmer, to high-end Tom Ford’s iconic Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil, or Patrick Ta’s Major Glow Body Oil for a high-shine finish. Even Fenty Beauty, the Body Lava, a few seasons back, and it was legendary. One huge plus: many of these products smell amazing, Sol de Janeiro’s has their signature pistachio-caramel scent, basically a vacation in a bottle.
Photo: Amanda Lee, Shik Cosmetics, Brunel, Brunel, Kylie Jenner, Pinterest
Cinnamon Sugar
Leave it to Mariah Carey, the unofficial face of the holiday season, to give a familiar festive look a new name. This winter, warm cinnamon browns, soft bronze tones, and delicate golden shimmer resurfaced across TikTok and beauty feeds under the label Cinnamon Sugar. Rather than being sparked by a single viral moment, the look gained traction through holiday campaigns and branded content, including Mariah’s seasonal collaborations and Sephora-led festive activations. Beauty creators quickly picked up the mood and the name stuck.
Essentially, Cinnamon Sugar is a refined take on classic holiday glam: bronzy-brown eyes with a subtle glow at the center of the lid, softly flushed cheeks, and a cinnamon-nude lip.
Embrace Skin
In a world of high-coverage everything, one of the most refreshing trends is simply letting real skin shine through. Dubbed the embrace skin movement, it’s all about sheer, minimal complexion products and visible freckles. Cons to the iconic Pamela Anderson, who went viral this year by attending events completely makeup-free and looking stunning doing so.
This trend doesn’t necessarily mean no makeup at all, but it prioritizes skincare and glow over coverage. Products like the Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint, a cult-favorite for its barely-there finish, or a light skin tint like Charlotte Tilbury’s Unisex Healthy Glow can even out tone while being virtually imperceptible on the skin.
Photo: Nicole, Lilly Keys, Tashi Rodriguez, & Other Stories, Josh Aronson, Gina Kane
Intricate Updos
Intricate updos take the familiar idea of a gathered hairstyle and quietly elevate it through construction: twists layered over twists, sculpted loops, micro-braids woven into buns, sections folded, knotted, and pinned with purpose. At first glance, it reads as classic, but look closer, and the architecture reveals itself.
This is the kind of hair that’s been quietly dominating red carpets and after-parties lately. Think of the way Sofia Richie consistently wears her hair: restrained, polished, but never boring. Perfect for holiday dinners, black-tie events, or a New Year’s Eve moment when you want your hair to say effort without ever looking overdone.
Short and Bold Nails
This trend seems in line with a broader practical glamour wave. After years of complex nail art and impractical lengths, there’s a collective sigh of relief in going a bit shorter. Short nails are easier to manage, and the bold colors ensure they’re anything but boring. In fact, a solid coat of glossy black on a short, rounded nail can often make more impact than elaborate art on a longer nail, it’s confidently simple.
Popular colors in this short bold nail category include: midnight navy, rich burgundy or oxblood, espresso brown, and of course classic noir black. Even dark emerald greens or plums can work, though the focus this year has been slightly more on blues, browns, and reds.
Photo: Camila Morrone, Luxio Gel, Chanel, lnsta Nails, Noa Beauty, Mateja Novakovic
Hair Adornments
From satin bows to sparkling brooches, hair this season becomes a canvas for ornamentation. The 2026 Pinterest Predicts report named brooches one of the key upcoming trends, and we’re already seeing it materialize across holiday beauty campaigns: zoom in, and there’s always something shimmering in the hair.
Bows make a graceful return, especially in rich velvets and deep jewel tones. A long ribbon tied low around a ponytail, or a miniature bow nestled above an ear, brings softness and a whisper of vintage charm. Meanwhile, pins and clips take on a more sculptural tone: baroque pearls, retro brooches, rhinestone barrettes.
There’s a sense of play and personal expression here: your hair becomes one more space to speak through style. This is about modern opulence, restraint with impact, and using every inch of your look to say something.
Photo: Lelet, Alexis Badiyi, Jennifer Behr, Pinterest, Pinterest, Lelet
