Every December people ask me the same thing: how do I get my holiday makeup to look fresh at 8 PM and still look fresh at midnight? Here’s my exact step-by-step, the products I reach for by type, and the little tricks I’ve learned from years of long nights, holiday lights and a lot of photos. — Cami Del Toro
Start with skin, not makeup
The secret to holiday makeup is honestly the hour before. Cold nights, heaters and party lighting all make skin look drier than it is, so I give my face a real drink first: a gentle cleanse, a hydrating serum, a rich moisturizer and a few minutes for it to sink in. If I have time, I do a sheet mask while I pick my outfit. My full morning and night steps are in my skincare routine, and on a party night I just do the night version early.
Lips need prep too. A quick lip scrub and a thin balm while I do the rest of my face means my red lip goes on smooth instead of patchy.
Step 1: A glowing, thin base
I use a light, dewy foundation or a skin tint and only put it where I need it, mostly the center of my face. Thin layers last longer than one heavy one. Concealer goes under the eyes and around the nose, then I press everything in with a damp sponge. A tiny bit of cream blush on the apples of my cheeks, blended up toward my temples, keeps me from looking flat in flash photos.
Step 2: Set only where you shine
I’m not a fan of baking for a party. Instead I press a little translucent powder on my T-zone and under my eyes, and leave the rest of my face glowy. A setting spray at the end melts everything together.
Step 3: The soft brown smoky eye
With blue eyes, warm browns are my best friend. They make the blue pop more than black ever does. Here’s how I do it:
- A soft taupe shadow all over the lid as a base.
- A medium chocolate brown in the crease, blended with small circles.
- A dark brown pencil pushed into the upper lash line and smudged with a small brush.
- The same brown smudged lightly under the lower lashes, only on the outer half.
- A champagne or soft gold shimmer pressed onto the inner corners with my fingertip.
Finish with two coats of black mascara. For a big night, I add a few individual lashes on the outer corners. They look natural and they don’t pinch after five hours like a full strip can.
Step 4: Brows that frame it
My brows are naturally dark, so I just brush them up with a clear gel and fill in any gaps with tiny strokes. Big holiday makeup with messy brows always looks unfinished to me.
Step 5: Bronzer and highlight
A soft bronzer under the cheekbones and along the hairline, then a little highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones and the tip of my nose. Candlelight and string lights do the rest. Go lighter than you think. Holiday lights are already sparkly.
Step 6: The classic red lip
A red lip is my holiday signature. I line my entire lip with a red liner first, then fill it in with a matte or satin lipstick, blot with a tissue and apply a second layer. Lining the whole lip is the trick that keeps it from fading in the middle when you eat and drink. A little concealer on a flat brush around the edges makes it look crisp.
Not a red-lip person? A deep berry or a warm rosy brown gives the same holiday feeling and is a bit more forgiving. It also matches beautifully with the velvet, satin and black dresses in my holiday party outfits.
Three looks for three kinds of nights
The office party
Skip the lashes and go with a berry lip stain. Polished, easy, and nobody has to watch you reapply in the bathroom.
Holiday dinner with family
The same soft brown eye, a rosy nude lip and lots of glow. It looks great in family photos and doesn’t feel like too much at the table.
New Year’s Eve
Go all out: extra shimmer on the lids, individual lashes, a true red lip and a little body shimmer on the collarbones. It’s the one night where more really is more.
My touch-up kit
Everything fits in a small clutch:
- My lipstick and lip liner
- Blotting papers (better than powder all night)
- A mini setting spray
- A cotton swab for any smudged liner
- Bobby pins and a tiny hair tie
Hair to match
Soft glam makeup loves big, loose waves or a sleek low bun. If I’m wearing a red lip, I keep my hair simple so the lip is the star. On rainy LA nights, I go for the bun every time.
Taking it all off
No matter how late it is, I never sleep in my makeup. An oil cleanser first to melt everything, then my regular cleanser and moisturizer. On the morning after, I keep it cozy, which you can see in my cozy night-in guide. And if you’re planning what to do with all those party nights, my guide to winter in Los Angeles has my favorite spots.
Looking for the full map of my fashion and beauty posts? Start with my style guide.
Every holiday post in one place lives in my holiday season hub.
For the hair side of my routine, read my winter hair care routine.
FAQ
What is Cami Del Toro’s holiday makeup look?
My holiday look is soft glam: a hydrated glowing base, a smudged brown smoky eye, a little shimmer on the inner corners and a classic red or berry lip.
How does Cami Del Toro make her makeup last at a party?
I prep with a good moisturizer, use thin layers, set only the center of my face, blot instead of powdering all night and line my whole lip before applying lipstick.