Charlotte Tilbury Recently Revealed the Secret to Her Most Impeccable Holiday Party Makeup

      (Image credit: Charlotte Tilbury) The holiday season has officially begun, and I found myself in need of some makeup inspiration. Each year, I tend to create the same look for parties and events because I'm inherently low-maintenance, but I thought, who better to seek makeup advice from than the holiday glam expert, Charlotte Tilbury? The renowned makeup artist revealed that this is her favorite time of year. "Darling, I always anticipate the holiday season—the fun is endless, and it’s the ideal time to play with makeup," Tilbury shared with me. She also allowed me to in on her best-kept secrets for the holiday season, including her preferred looks and top makeup application tips. We’ll cover the looks in a bit, but first, Tilbury emphasizes a few key points for holiday makeup. "Not everyone realizes this, but setting spray can be utilized throughout your makeup routine to prime, enhance, and secure a flawless look that lasts," she advises. You can also apply a setting spray directly to your eyeshadow brush before blending it onto your eyelids, which will help your eyeshadow adhere for hours.

      Another technique she loves is what she calls the sandwich hack. "I'm obsessed with this," she shares. "[It's] the ultimate airbrush solution! Just set your completed makeup with my Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray ($38). After it dries on your skin, apply my Airbrush Flawless Finish on the center of your face and beneath your eyes if you've used concealer, then finish with another mist of setting spray. By adding powder between layers of setting spray, your makeup will look impeccable all day and night!"

      If you're eager for more of Tilbury's holiday makeup tips, keep reading. She revealed all her favorite looks and products for the party season ahead.

      Dreamy, Soft-Glazed Eyes

      Tilbury loves a dreamy, shimmery eye look during the holidays for its versatility and suitability for various occasions. "I enjoy creating it with my new Hollywood Instant Look in a Palette," she explains. "It combines all my trusty, easy-to-use powder formulas for eyes, face, and cheeks, organized into seven easy steps anyone can follow. It’s like painting by numbers!"

      To achieve the ethereal soft glaze Tilbury adores, she advises applying a shimmer shade of your choice to the center of your eyelids using your ring finger for enhanced color payoff. If you want to elevate your look, start by blending warm nude or even brown shades for darker skin tones across your eyelids before adding shimmer. "Use a windshield-wiper motion to diffuse it upwards and outwards for an eye-lift effect," she notes. For added depth and smokiness, she recommends finishing with a darker shade through the crease of the eye and along the top and bottom lash lines.

      Get the Look

      Charlotte Tilbury

      Instant Look in a Palette

      NARS

      Afterglow Tempting Eyeshadow Palette in Lavender Haze

      Natasha Denona

      Essential Eyeshadow Duo - Mia

      Flawless Velvet Skin

      Tilbury asserts that every holiday look requires a velvety-smooth base—it's crucial for achieving flawless, almost poreless skin. "I love a flawless complexion that appears airbrushed, blurred, and soft-focused but still looks and feels like skin," she shares. "Some people find full-coverage foundation intimidating, but remember that less is more. You don’t always need a full pump to maximize your foundation—often, half a pump is enough for a perfect complexion!"

      The first step is essential. Tilbury recommends starting with a rich, hydrating moisturizer as your base. If you're a fan of primer, now is the moment to apply it too. Personally, I love Milk Makeup's Hydro Grip Primer ($38) because it provides a tacky (not sticky) surface for foundation application. Whenever I use it, people ask how my foundation looks so good—it's always my secret!

      If you're opting for a full-coverage foundation like Tilbury's Airbrush Flawless formula, here's her application tip. "Dispense half a pump of my new Airbrush Flawless Foundation onto the back of your hand, pick it up with [a] brush, and buff it from the center of your face outward. This method not only provides better control and a seamless blend, but it also helps achieve a more natural, second-skin finish!"

      Tilbury has recently updated her classic Airbrush Flawless Foundation formula, and I'm truly in love with it. She's right about needing just a small amount; I barely require half a pump to cover my entire face—the formula is so effective. According to Tilbury, it's now infused with skincare ingredients that target fine lines, uneven texture, and hyperpigmentation.

      If full-coverage formulas feel too heavy for you, don’t worry. You can still get a similar look with a medium-coverage foundation—you just