Holiday Party Ready: Glassy Skin + Festive Makeup to Shine All Season
If you’ve been seeing “glassy skin” all over Instagram and TikTok, you’re not imagining it—this glow-from-within trend is still going strong, and honestly? Holiday lighting was made for it.
Think cozy twinkle lights, candlelit dinners, and all those photos where you want to look radiant without looking like you dunked your face in glitter. Here’s your glowing holiday skin care and makeup routine.
Today I’m walking you through how to get that soft, glossy holiday glow plus a few festive makeup tweaks so your look feels seasonal, polished, and party-ready.
Start With Deep Hydration (Your Holiday Glow Insurance)
Colder air, indoor heat, and long party nights can leave skin feeling dull and thirsty. So this step matters even more right now.
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Start with a gentle double-cleanse.
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Add a hydrating toner or essence.
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Follow with your favorite hyaluronic serum.
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Lock it in with a lightweight moisturizer.
CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser — followed by a toner or essence to rehydrate. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/4nJrgAK
Peach & Lily – Glass Skin Refining Serum for Face (1.35 ounces) – Hyaluronic Acid Niacinamide Serum – Sensitive Skin – Vitamin B3, Peach & Yam, Peptides – Self Care, Vegan, Cruelty Free, Korean Beauty. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/4qM77Nd
Peach & Lily Gel Moisturizer Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/49ElTzg
If your skin is extra dry this time of year, add one tiny drop of a lightweight facial oil to your moisturizer. It gives the most beautiful candlelit glow under makeup—never greasy, just alive.
Olay Super Serum 5-in-1 Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/3WM8m15
Use a Radiance Primer (Because Holiday Lights Are Brutally Honest)
This is the layer that sets the tone for that soft, glassy luminosity. Think “grown-up glow,” not “school play glitter.”
My go-to style of primer is something sheer and radiant:
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A glowy complexion filter
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A soft-focus luminizing primer
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Or even a liquid highlighter mixed into your base
For a little extra holiday magic, mix the tiniest dot of golden-champagne highlighter into your primer. Not enough to sparkle—just enough to catch the lights as you turn your head.
e.l.f. Halo Glow Filter is practically viral for this reason — it smooths texture and adds that candlelight sheen. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/47SQWoO
L’Oréal True Match Lumi Glotion is another secret weapon. A little on the high points of your face and suddenly you look like you had a facial yesterday. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/4p2RJui
Keep Foundation Sheer and Skinlike
To keep that glassy finish, go light on the base.
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Mix your foundation with a drop of moisturizer or serum.
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Apply with a damp sponge.
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Keep the sheerest coverage toward the perimeter of the face, and only build in the center if you know you’ll be photographed indoors.
L’Oreal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation with 1% Hyaluronic acid. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/3XivrbQ
Winter light tends to wash people out, so a tiny bit of extra coverage on the nose, chin, and under-eyes helps keep the look fresh rather than flat.
Bring in Cream Color for That Soft Holiday Flush
Cream blush and bronzer melt beautifully into this kind of base, and they keep the finish glossy (in the best way).
For holiday looks:
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Choose a berry, rose, or warm red-toned blush for a cozy, just-came-in-from-the-snow glow.
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Use a soft cream bronzer to gently warm your skin.
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Tap on a liquid or cream highlighter in a warm gold or champagne tone—the kind that makes people say, “Your skin looks amazing,” instead of “What highlighter is that?”
Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush melts right in. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/4i7ziSZ
A touch of Saie Glowy Super Gel on cheekbones and down the nose adds that “wet look” finish without sparkle fallout. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/482d3tZ
If you want to elevate the look for a party:
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Do a soft bronze smoky eye or a deeper berry lip.
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Pick one feature so your glow still takes center stage.
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Skip chunky glitter (it never behaves the way you want it to… especially on cheeks).
Set Only Where Needed (And Keep It Dewy Everywhere Else)
For a glassy holiday finish:
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Powder just the T-zone or anywhere you crease.
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Leave the cheeks and cheekbones dewy for that healthy, fresh sheen.
Milani Make It Dewy Setting Spray Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/4hNYAoR or NYC Dewy Finish Setting Spray Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/4oxnJqv Both lock in moisture and add a final mist of magic.
Finish with a dewy setting spray, held at arm’s length. After a couple spritzes, blink a few times to help melt the makeup into the skin and keep everything luminous without crossing into shiny territory.
Holiday Glow Takeaway
Holiday makeup doesn’t need to be complicated to feel special. When you start with well-hydrated skin and build soft, sheer layers, you get that lit-from-within effect that looks gorgeous under Christmas lights, candlelight, and yes—your front-facing camera.
Whether you’re heading to a holiday party, hosting family, or cozying up with friends, this look is effortless, pretty, and totally wearable.
Want More Glow?
If you’re planning your holiday beauty, organizing your home, or just heading into the new year with intention, don’t forget—you can grab my Living with Dana 52-Week Challenge Journal on Amazon right here:
https://amzn.to/44YKmN5
I hope your season is bright, beautiful, and full of that soft, dewy glow we all love.
xoxo,
Dana
