Pro Makeup Artists Share Essential Beauty Tips for New Year’s Eve
As New Year’s Eve approaches, it’s time to indulge in the fun of dressing up.
Whether you’re enjoying a cozy celebration at home or heading out for a festive night, we consulted top beauty experts to gather essential tips for achieving a stunning look.
First and foremost: go bold with your makeup! Whether you prefer a frosty, ’90s eyeshadow, striking metallics, or a dramatic cat-eye with standout lashes, bold choices are encouraged. “We’re stepping away from minimal makeup trends and ‘no mascara’ looks this fall,” advises Chanel makeup artist Kate Lee. “Shimmer and sparkle shine beautifully in candlelight or under disco balls during festive nights.”
For the ideal lipstick to complete your look, experts tell Us that a nude shade—whether matte or topped with a clear gloss—is perfect. However, if you lean towards classic reds, Sean Harris suggests elevating a “true red” with a deeper liner for added drama. “Pair it with a richer liner like MAC Chestnut for a vampy twist,” he recommends.
Keep scrolling for essential makeup tips and tricks, plus how to achieve a flawless faux spray tan:
MASTER YOUR METALLICS
Shimmery shades are a must for New Year’s Eve! Intensify the drama using the “color drench philosophy”—apply a single shade from lashes to brow bone, a technique favored by Chanel’s Kate Lee. For smoother application, apply eyeshadow before foundation to easily brush away any shimmer fallout. (One of her favorites is Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Lid Lustre.)
DITCH BLACK MASCARA
“Opt for colored mascara to enhance your iris color,” advises Lee. Try Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara in Écorces!
SKIP THE CLASSIC RED LIP
“Dab a nude lipstick in the center of your lips and blend outward,” suggests pro Emily Gray, who prefers a light nude shade. (She recommends Catrice Cosmetics Scandalous Matte Lipstick in 030 Me Right Now for this look). For that perfect holiday shine, Sean Harris recommends layering a luminous gloss like Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer on top.
NAIL YOUR EYELINER
“Choosing a liner in a shade that corresponds with your eyeshadow will help create a seamless transition from lash line to lid,” explains Lee. “For application, use a sharp, angled nylon brush like Chanel’s Les Pinceaux De Chanel Angled Eyeliner Brush.
ADD EXTRA RADIANCE
“For New Year’s Eve, I love using a shimmering highlight,” says Harris, who recommends taking Nars Light Reflecting Luminizing Powder and applying it to the high points of your cheekbones, brow bone, inner eye corners, and down the bridge of your nose.
CREATE NATURAL-LOOKING, FULL LIPS
“I always overdraw the center of the top and bottom lips to create a fuller effect,” says Gray. “Using a small brush or my finger, I blend the edges of the lip liner for a soft finish.” Harris also endorses a neutral lip liner, particularly a good brown option like the Ruby Kisses Plumping Lip Liner, perfect for pairing with a nude lip.
BUILD A BALANCED BASE
To make a metallic or frosty eye look stand out, aim for a complexion that’s neither too dewy nor too matte. “If your skin shows any flakiness or texture, use a classic Beautyblender to bounce in the foundation,” Gray advises.
LOCK IN MAKEUP
To finish, Gray swears by the Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray for its longevity and lack of a white cast. “Spray it 8 to 10 inches away from your face, ensuring the mist covers all areas.”
TAN AHEAD
If you’re opting for a spray tan before your event, Isabel Alysa, CEO of Dolce Glow, recommends scheduling your tan 24 to 48 hours in advance for optimal, natural-looking results. Skin prep is crucial; she suggests “exfoliating and shaving or waxing 24 hours before self-tanning” to avoid patchiness. If you’re doing it yourself, she advocates for a spray formula, like Dolce Glow’s Self-Tanning Mist, which applies evenly from a distance.
Before tanning, “apply a light layer of oil-free lotion to drier areas like wrists, elbows, knees, hands, and feet, as this helps prevent the tanner from pulling too much in those spots,” she advises. If you’re short on time, highlight areas like collarbones and shoulders to achieve a sculpted appearance with Dolce Glow Gimme More Contour.
