This holiday season might not resemble the grand celebrations of the past—farewell to extravagant soirées—but that shouldn’t stop you from dressing up, indulging, and trying out new makeup looks.
Furthermore, the stunning makeup styles that graced the autumn/winter ’20/’21 fashion runways can easily be recreated using clean, nontoxic products available at health-focused retailers. With insights from two makeup experts, we’ll guide you on how to achieve these looks.
The Soft Smoky Eye
Creating smoky eyes can often feel challenging and daunting! I’ll admit that my teenage attempts often led to a more raccoon-like appearance rather than a glamorous look.
However, clean beauty consultant Natalia Lavaggi reminds us that smoky eyes don’t have to be overwhelming or excessively dark. This season, a softer version of the smoky eye has been a standout on the runways of Dior and Givenchy.
- Start off gently. Use shades like gray, light blue, or lavender eyeshadow “around the rim of your upper and lower lash lines.”
- Introducing some depth, slightly smudge it using a blending brush or cotton swab.
- Increase the intensity. “You can use the same colors; simply add more or introduce darker shades like plum or charcoal into the crease,” Lavaggi advises.
- Elevate the look by adding a touch of black eyeliner to the lower lash line.
The secret to a polished smoky eye lies in the blending, Lavaggi emphasizes: “Blend well to eliminate sharp lines, and apply gently, building up the intensity as needed.”
For a final touch, beauty guru Nadia Albano suggests incorporating a hint of glitter to the center of the smoky eye “for a multidimensional effect.”
Bold Lips: Your Way
Not keen on the classic Hollywood red? No worries! This season, oxblood shades are making a striking appearance. Plus, if your lipstick smudges slightly—perhaps from a festive kiss under the mistletoe—there’s no need for concern. The blurred lip look was a highlight at A/W shows as well.
Look for formulations that contain natural pigments with nourishing properties, incorporating plant oils and cocoa butter.
Adding Subtle Sparkle
Albano describes glitter as “[It’s] always an exciting way to enhance texture, especially during the holiday season.” Eco-friendly and naturally glittery eye makeup offers a chic way to celebrate the extravagant embellishments seen on catwalks from Giambattista Valli and Erdem.
“Soft silver liners and metallic eyeshadows bring a sophisticated flair and add a festive touch,” Lavaggi explains.
If bold shine feels excessive for your virtual gathering, consider two understated natural options for that hint of sparkle: an illuminating powder (to highlight cheekbones and the nose bridge with a blush brush) or a solid illuminator (for fingertip application). Unlike artificial glitter, the shimmer in these products comes from natural mineral pigments.
