You’re rushing out the door, the guests are already arriving, and your makeup bag hasn’t even been touched. Sound familiar? A top NARS artist has unveiled five last-minute holiday looks that promise to rescue even the most chaotic of evenings, without requiring pro skills or a full glam session. One trick involves flipping your routine upside down.
Why Express Makeup Has Become the Holiday Lifesaver
The holiday season is as chaotic as it is joyful. Between end-of-year meetings, family obligations, travel, hosting duties, and last-minute New Year’s Eve plans, there’s often little time left for getting glammed up. That’s where express makeup routines come in.
Instead of elaborate techniques or full-face transformations, Matthieu Grandjean, lead makeup trainer at NARS Cosmetics, advocates for targeted beauty: choose one feature, eyes, lips, or skin, and build your look around it. The result is not only faster, but often more elegant, more on-trend, and easier to wear.
Why the “Sad Blush” Is the New Makeup Must-Have This Season
A Lightweight Base: Start With Less for More Impact
Grandjean’s first rule: don’t overload your skin. Forget full-coverage foundations or heavy contour. Instead, even out the complexion with a lightweight tinted base. Add a touch of peach-toned blush for warmth, then strategically apply powder only to the T-zone.
This “bare but enhanced” skin lets either your lips or eyes shine without competing with your foundation. Another professional tip, apply highlighter before your blush. According to Grandjean, this layering technique helps the skin reflect light in a more natural, seamless way, creating that glass skin effect popularized on runways and red carpets.
Two Looks to Try When You Have No Time Left
This bold-lip-first approach centers the face around rich cacao or deep brown lipstick shades, balanced by a soft shimmer on the eyes. These tones offer warmth and depth that instantly elevate the look. To offset the boldness of the lips, the eyes remain subtle yet radiant.
A touch of bronzer is applied as a base shadow to warm the eyelids, followed by a layer of iridescent shimmer to reflect light and add dimension. A thin line of black eyeliner, gently smudged into the waterline, brings definition without overpowering the softness of the eyes. A coat of mascara completes the eye makeup with a light, fluttery finish.
If you’re aiming for a smoky look this holiday season, the warm version is your best bet for a soft-glam effect that feels both festive and wearable. This timeless party favorite gets a fresh update with soft bronze and gold undertones that flatter all skin tones. A sweep of matte brown shadow across the lids creates depth, while a pop of gold shimmer in the inner corners brings brightness to the eyes. Eyeliner can be kept minimal for a softer finish. Pair this with muted cheeks and a neutral lip to maintain balance.
