Beauty

7 Holiday Makeup Ideas For Women Over 40 That Nail Polished Party Glamour

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If you can believe it, the holidays are just weeks away — and with them come a slew of parties celebrating the season. These festivities, of course, call for some glam moments — however, ultra-glittery lids aren't a fit for everyone, especially those who lean more towards polished and mature approach to makeup. Thankfully, there's no shortage of celebrities (not to mention, their supremely talented makeup artists) dreaming up looks that are not only red carpet-worthy, but also ideal holiday makeup ideas for women over 40. You'll definitely want a page out of these ladies' books.

A red and green look with all the trimmings doesn't quite fit your personal beauty aesthetic? Don't sweat it. Despite the abundance of such makeup looks on your social media feeds and overtly festive product launches popping up all over, there are plenty of dialed-down ideas to pull inspiration from, too. For your upcoming events, why not try the glam smoky eye J.Lo loves to wear on the red carpet, or embrace color with Elizabeth Banks' playful pink lipstick?

Start clicking through for plenty of beauty inspiration for holiday occasions, both upscale and relaxed, and the products you'll need to nail the celeb-loved looks.

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Smoldering Smoky Eye, Bronzed Skin, & A Nude Lip

J.Lo's beauty look for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame event on October 30 was seriously stunning. But it wasn't just her fun ponytails that stole the show — the star's smoldering classic smoky eye, glowy golden skin, and glossy nude lip made a statement, too. Emulate the look created by makeup artist Mary Phillips for an upscale holiday party.

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Pink Lipstick & Soft Shadows

Alhough red lipstick is synonymous with the holidays, you can go for something a notch brighter is that's more your jam. Copy Elizabeth Bank's look and swipe on a vivid pink shade. For her eyes, celebrity makeup artist Gita Bass kept it fairly simple with fluttery lashes and soft pinkish-purple shadows. Give the skin a healthy glow by swiping on a bit of blush and highlighter.

Long Lashes & Subtle Contour

Go for a look that's unexpectedly neutral and natural for the holidays by taking inspiration from Kourtney Kardashian's subtle but polished vibe. Recreate the look by applying a long set of lashes and nude shadows. In typical Kardashian fashion, the oldest sister went with a stunning sculpted contour. For this, a contour palette or bronzer will do the trick. Then, add some blush to give the face a flushed, sun-kissed appearance. Last but certainly not least, pull out a nude lipstick and seal the deal with a shiny gloss.

Ultra-Glam Lashes & Rosy Lips

If you're looking to pull out all the stops with your holiday beauty, this ultra-glamorous moment on Jessica Chastain for the opening of Rome Film Festival has you covered. To achieve the sultry lids, celebrity makeup artist Mary Greenwell used Tom Ford Beauty's Eye Colour Quad Sous Le Sable and Shiseido's Eye Pencil MicroLiner Ink. Chastain's voluminous lashes are thanks to Sensai's Lash Volumiser and Loveseen's Luca falsies. For the lips, she used Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme in 114.

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Neon Lips & Subtle Lids

Don't be afraid to go against the traditional holiday beauty norms. Rather than a deep burgundy or red lip shade, experiment with a striking pink, like the hue sported on Maggie Gyllenhaal. Makeup artist Vincent Oquendo made her pout the focal point of the whole look by opting for toned-down shadows. Complete the look by spritzing on Tatcha's Luminous Dewy Skin Mist for some glow.

Shimmery Smokey Eye & Red Lips

Kerry Washington's look for the 2021 Emmy Awards is the epitome of holiday beauty. Between her shimmery smokey shades and perfectly curled lashes, the actor's eyes sparkled from afar — courtesy of celebrity makeup artist Allan Avendaño. But, that wasn't the only thing that stood out — Washington's vivid red lipstick made quite the statement. Try out this look for any holiday parties or birthdays on your upcoming schedule.

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Strong Brows & Sculpted Cheeks

Celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta worked his magic on model Adriana Lima and created this bold, glamorous look complete with strong arches and mod nude lips. If you're in need of some help in the brow department, call up an expert to shape them. Once you're all groomed, fill them in slightly with a pencil or powder. Thanks to your full arches, you don't need intense shadows (unless that's your taste). Long lashes compliment feathery brows beautifully.

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