15 Beauty Looks from Your Favorite Holiday Movies

With holiday parties right around the corner, you might need a bit of inspiration for hair and makeup. And where better to look than the iconic holiday movies you replay all season long — the following beauty moments were obviously appropriate for some of Tinseltown’s biggest stars, so they’ll work for your Tinselfest as well.

1. Cameron Diaz’s Soft Pinks in The Holiday

We’re so used to seeing bold pops of red and loud sparkle at the holidays, that this combination of soft pinks is refreshingly unexpected at this time of year. To bring this look forward 16 years (The Holiday came out in 2006!), use glossy, cream, or chrome-infused textures instead of powder or matte finishes.

2. Gabrielle Union’s Half-Up Hairstyle in Almost Christmas

Whether it’s worn straight, curled, or in micro-braids like Union’s, half-up hair is a classic go-to. But for something different, take a cue from her style and instead of a half-up look that you pull from the temples, try pulling the section to go back from the eyebrow arches. And then securing it in the back is where you can get as creative, elaborate, or simple as you want. Go flirty-feminine with this Erdem bow barrette, opt for easy but elevated with this gold-plated claw clip or be a power player with this Valentino hair clip.

3. The Video Vixens’ Glossy Red Lips and Nails in Love Actually

You can’t help but smile at this sexified, fictional backup band from Love Actually. But beyond their funny factor is how bold their festive beauty game is with the super-glossy red lips and perfectly coordinated nail polish. And don’t be fooled by this group — this look is universally flattering; you don’t need to be sandy blonde and fair to pull it off.

4. Lea Michele’s Dark Rimmed Eyeliner in New Year’s Eve

A heavy, smokey eye is always a good idea for New Year’s Eve. This look works especially well with Michele’s long bangs, which makes the eyes stand out against the heavy fringe and not get lost. Because it’s a long night, use a primer on the eye area and choose a smudge-proof liner and mascara to ensure longevity.

5. Nina Dobrev’s Beanie Hair in Love Hard

Cr: BETTINA STRAUSS/Netflix © 2021

Baby, it’s cold outside — and you need a hat on. Whether you’re heading out to a tree-lighting or lacing up your ice skates, your hair game shouldn’t suffer because you also want to be sensible. Cue Dobrev, who shows us the key to beautiful hair beneath a beanie: waves. Wavy locks keep a beanie from making everything look flat. If your hair is naturally voluminous, look for a hat with more volume as well — something that doesn’t  constrict or flatten.

6. Kat Graham’s Berry Lips in The Holiday Calendar

If you’ve never tried a rich berry or wine lip, why not give it a try this season? Try a lipstick or balm that has buildable color, meaning that the color gets deeper with each layer you apply. Try Ilia’s Wanderlust and 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Glaze. If you’re ready to jump straight into a berry that mimics Graham’s, Tom Ford Ultra-Shine Lip Color in Ete Brulant is a winner.

7. Kristen Stewart’s Grungy Waves in Happiest Season

Looking for something a bit unexpected? Try this ’90s-inspired look, complete with dark bobby pins securing the pulled-up side (Stewart’s left). Oh, you left your crimping iron back in 1988? No problem. To create crimpy waves on straight hair, start by braiding small sections across the entire head (the more braids you do, the tighter the waves will look), and run a flat iron over each braid. Then gently loosen each one (don’t brush them) and secure the waves with hairspray.

8. Vanessa Hudgens’s Bronze Lids in The Knight Before Christmas

Hudgens is proof that bronze on the lids and peach lips are a definite yes for any holiday ‘do. To intensify a peachy-bronze powder eyeshadow, try this trick: Run an eyeshadow brush under water and let the drips fall into the lid of the eyeshadow container; then run the brush through the shadow to pick up the powder and swirl it around in the water to create a liquid shade that’s more intense than the powder on its own. Shadow dupes to create Hudgens’ look: Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Golden Eclipse, Hourglass Scattered Light in Burnish and Tom Ford in Golden Peach.

9. Donna Reed’s Clear Complexion in It’s a Wonderful Life

A clear canvas is the trick to pulling off any understated look and skincare is the starting point. If you need a no-brainer way to address dark spots, discoloration, and dullness, try the Sunday Riley Morning Buzz kit, featuring vitamin C-infused products that will address those concerns while plumping skin with much-needed hydration to combat winter dryness. Ideally you’d start this regimen at least a few weeks before your big event. As Reed demonstrates, a clear complexion helps your features — especially eyes, lips, and brows — to pop.

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10. Magdalen Mills’s Ornamental Faux Hawk in Jingle Jangle

The movie’s hairstylist, Sharon Martin, created a faux hawk that she decorated with ribbon and studded with cogs, wheels, and screws that would’ve been in the toy factory. The toy parts might feel a bit odd for most of us, but substituting pearls or other pretty hair jewelry is what takes this hairstyle from fun to fabulously festive. And though this style might look complicated, it actually isn’t. (This YouTube tutorial does a good job with explaining how to get the look.)

11. Vera Ellen’s Red Lips and High Ponytail in White Christmas

Talk about simplicity with stunning results: The combination of a red lip and a ponytail that sits at eye level. This is the kind of look that can be done in the back of an Uber, making it perfect for when you don’t have a lot of time to redo hair and makeup.

12. Halle Berry’s Textured Pixie in New Year’s Eve

As the character in the movie shows, this is the ultimate work-to-play hairstyle. As with any look, avoid trying it for the first time right before you head out — play around to see how to make it work ahead of the event. To get the look, which works best on a layered pixie, start by rubbing a texturizing product through your fingers and palms and then pull pieces into a disheveled direction or try rubbing the palm over the hair in a circular “wax on” kind of motion.

13. Annabelle Wallis’s Glam Ponytail in Silent Night

Here’s a look that oozes classic, cool je ne sais quoi. It’s the unfussy center part, face-framing wisps and low ponytail that altogether make it a fab option for a holiday function. Take Wallis’s lead and juxtapose this low-key hairstyle with scene-stealing earrings.

14. Anna Kendrick’s Blush in Noelle

Whether the weather outside is frightful or not, ’tis the season for looking like you’ve stepped in from a chilly day or been sitting by the fire — whether any of that is true or not. And conveniently, blush is one of the biggest beauty trends of the winter ’22 season. To get blush that lasts, start by applying a cream or liquid blush and then top that with a powder one and be sure to blend.

15. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bun in The Family Stone

So her tidy hairstyle is supposed to represent her being uptight; and then she lets her hair down (literally and figuratively). But don’t let that turn you off the sophisticated updo. (Even fun girls rock a bun!) It’s a super-simple way to pull your hair together in a timeless style that works with both low necklines and high-necked tops. And yes, feel free to pull the pins out and let loose at the end of the night.

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