This is your invitation to ignore all the rules that tend to come with wearing makeup according to your age. No sparkles over 40? Let’s go full disco ball. Leave the bright colors to the youngsters? Color the rainbow on your face if you like. Too much makeup emphasizes lines? Who cares, you earned them.
It’s the holiday season, so why not get festive, experiment, and boost your mood with beautiful products that work for all ages. Whether you’re all about color or going for a subtler look, you’ll find something here that will make your end-of-year celebrations just a touch more joyful.
Aora Mirame Eyeshadow Palette
This sustainable Mexican beauty brand just turned two years old and it has injected some color into the often-beige clean makeup market. The Mirame Eyeshadow Palette (marked down to $45 from $65) is your go-to for unexpected, celebratory makeup looks for every holiday event on your docket. The matte and metallic formulas contain ethically-sourced mica, shea butter, and vitamin E. The 100% recyclable aluminum gold-toned packaging will bring delight to your getting-ready routine, and you’ll find zero plastic in all of their products. P.S., the Besame Mucho Classic Set collection of lip serums makes an excellent gift.
Merit Solo Shadow Sheens
If you’re a minimalist when it comes to makeup but looking to add a touch of shimmer to your holiday routine, Merit recently released new subtly-shimmery colors in their Solo Eyeshadow product. The “Sheens” ($26) create a soft glow—perfect on their own or, since they’re buildable, you can combine them with Merit’s matte shades or mix the sheens to your heart’s content.
Soshe Kismet Lip Set
Soshe’s products are refillable, which gives them points from the get go. But in addition to their sustainability cred, their products really deliver. The Kismet Lip Set offers a deep berry shade that is perfect for wintery celebrations. It’s not just a lip color but a lip treatment that’s buildable and conditioning. Intensify your look by defining it with Soshe’s lip pencil in the same shade that will ground the look with long-lasting matte definition.
POV Glow Kit
Prepping your skin before a full face of makeup is key for keeping your look intact, especially if you plan to dance the night away. POV Beauty, launched by beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira Hawken, has every product you might need for creating a perfect palette whether you’re going full on with glitter and glam, or just want that no makeup makeup look to last all night. The brand’s Glow Kit ($48) is the perfect way to test out POV’s products—and/or makes a great gift.
19/99 Glow Trio
This brand was created to work for all skin types from oily to dry, young to old. Their trio of glow-inducing sticks can be used as highlighter, bronzer, and blush. They’re designed to build a radiant, dewy complexion with a few easy swipes. Each product adds luminous shine that will amp up any holiday look but can also be used daily. Bonus: the brand’s Black Friday sale is already on, so this trio is marked down to $57, down from $102.
Axiology 3-in-1 Balmie Crayon Super Fan Pack
The festive season is the perfect time to experiment with fun makeup looks that you might not rock on a daily basis. If that’s your jam this season, Axiology’s motherlode ($119) of eco-friendly crayons for eyes, lips, and cheeks is a great place to start. You get 17 colors to try out, and they’re all plant-based and made with plum and hemp oils, cruelty-free, vegan, and the company is woman-owned. The products are also completely plastic free and they make a great stocking stuffer.
Nood Shape Tape
The last thing you need when trying to get out the door for a special event is a complicated bra issue. Eliminate the problem with Nood Shape Tape ($30). It provides lift as well as coverage, even for large breasts (even up to DDD+). It comes in a variety of skin types and is sweatproof and waterproof. You can also choose between 3-inch and 4-inch widths. Bonus: it’s made of sustainable bamboo fabric and the packaging is 100% recyclable paper.
NuSkin Lumispa
Holiday parties often mean wearing more makeup than you usually would, so it’s important to cleanse your skin thoroughly post-party—and it’s not always easy to remove every trace of your beauty look before bed. The Nuskin Lumispa ($199) does the trick without damaging your skin barrier. The silicone head is gentle but powerful, cleansing away dirt, oil, makeup, pollutants, and toxins through its patented Micropulse Oscillating technology to reveal glowing skin.