Love triangles. Secret billionaires. Elaborate schemes where you pretend to be dating someone you hate, only to discover they’re actually your soulmate. What do they all have in common? They’re something that happens a lot in rom-coms but seemingly never actually happens in real life. I’m going to go ahead and add “kissing someone under mistletoe” to the list. It’s an act that’s a crucial plot point in many a Hallmark movie, but I can confidently say it’s never actually happened to me or anyone I know.
Still, there’s something so romantic about the tradition that it’s easy to see why it’s at the heart of so many holiday songs and movies. Hence, it’s the perfect muse for my go-to holiday makeup look this season. Meet what we’re dubbing “mistletoe makeup,” the romantic trend that captures that innocent, just-kissed feeling. Ahead, everything you need to know about the look and how to copy it for all your holiday parties.
The Trend
Let me set the scene. You’re at a fabulous party, wearing a new dress, and you’re a couple of glasses of champagne deep. You feel bubbly and flirty and find yourself face-to-face with your crush. Mid–lash bat, you both look up and find yourselves under some mistletoe. “How did that get there?” you ask, giggling, before going in for the kill. Post-kiss, your lips are full and pouty, and your lipstick is slightly smudged. Your cheeks? Majorly flushed, of course.
Mistletoe makeup combines some of the year’s biggest makeup trends, repackaged with a little holiday magic. It’s all about capturing innocence and flirtiness without falling into traditional, overly sexualized tropes. All the emphasis is on the lips and cheeks, which are both blushed with shades of pink and red and have a soft-focus, blurred effect.
To really up the “who, me?” effect, very little eye makeup is key here, so it’s a perfect time to try out the no-mascara trend if you’re up for it. (If, like me, you feel like a wet rat without a little lash, try one coat of brown mascara or very carefully placed individual lashes.) Definitely skip the eyeliner, but add a little frosty shimmer across the lids for some festive flair.
Getty Images / @leahdarcymakeup / Instagram / Byrdie
Celebrity makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell explains that this look is both totally unexpected and yet perfectly on trend, which is what makes it so magical. “When people think holiday makeup, they think sparkly eyeliner and a bold, vampy lip,” she says. “This is the opposite! This look is very innocent and pure—it gives the same energy as Pamela Anderson’s vibe: Less is more. It feels like a defiance against classic winter looks.”
She adds that monochromatic lips and cheeks are popular right now, as is the barely there lash trend. “Blush is so fun and youthful! It goes along with the cool-girl makeup trend but is a little more refined,” she explains. “‘No mascara’ is chic, and it’s having a moment, so all the elements of this look make sense.”
As far as muses go, let Addison Rae at last year’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball be your guide. The singer took her signature look—natural skin, no mascara, heavy blush, and a blurred red lip—and added a wash of shimmer that made it look like she just came in from a snowstorm. Hailey Bieber has also taken a twist on this look for a spin on countless occasions, including the Rhode holiday party.
How to Get the Look
If, like me, you’re always running 30 minutes late, this look will be your go-to this season, as it couldn’t be faster or easier. It’s really a less-is-more moment, and if you’re running to an event from the office, it’s easy to build on whatever you already have on your face.
@refybeauty / Instagram / Byrdie
For skin, minimal is the name of the game. Go as natural as you feel comfortable (a skin tint and some spot concealer are ideal). Add a little pressed powder to your T-zone to keep shine at bay, as a soft matte finish will pair perfectly with the blurred blush. Speaking of, the blush is the centerpiece of the look. Go for a shade that your cheeks naturally turn when you blush, whether that be a warm red or a baby pink for an “I’m cold” effect. Focus the pigment on the apples of your cheeks, but you can bring it up your cheekbones as well if you like.
“This looks screams Katie Jane Hughes Soft Smudge Lip & Cheek in Soft Orchid and Soft Pink,” suggests Sewell. “You can also just use your favorite lipstick on your cheeks and rub with your finger and call it a day.” See? The ultimate lazy-girl party makeup. Not into creams? Go for a pretty blurring powder formula like YSL’s Make Me Blush, Ciele’s Flush & Protect, or Soshe’s Blurring Pillow Blush.
After dusting some icy shimmer on your eyes, it’s time to finish with the lips. We’re going for blurred “makeout lips,” so you want something matte and imperfect. There’s really no better product for this than Violette FR’s Bisou Balm, which was inspired by just-kissed lips. You could also try Glossier’s Gen G lipstick for a velvety blurred-lip experience. If you can’t give up your lip liner, opt for something less precise, like Rhode’s, to keep the makeout vibes alive.
Just add mistletoe, and you’re ready to make some holiday magic.
