The secret to getting all that bang for your buck? Shop the beauty aisle. "The holidays are the perfect excuse to get outside our comfort zones and try new beauty products!" says New York Beauty expert Eva Scrivo.
And at these prices, you can afford to spread a lot more holiday cheer. All of our featured buys will have you and your giftees looking, smelling and feeling fantastic for the whole new decade to come.
Holiday Party Beauty Tips
If you don't want to commit to a totally different holiday look, you can change your regular makeup by just dusting sheer metallic shimmer over your eyeshadow. "Gold, silver and copper look amazing over all shadow colors!" says Schlip. Bobbi Brown's holiday metallics have a reflective pearl finish that brightens every eye.
Product Link:
Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Chrome, Silver and Pewter,$22 each
Bobbi Brown
Take purple from fingertips to your lids and lips with a soft shimmering tone from Clinique's new Black Tie Violets collection. Use the light shades to highlight the browbone and blend the deeper hues into the crease and lashline; finish with a stroke of plum gel liner and a slick of sheer lilac gloss.
Product Link:
Clinique Black Tie Violets Holiday Collection,$14.50-$29.50
Clinique
If you love to pull out the holiday red this time of year, there's an updated way to wear it. Pair a sheer and toasty brown shadow with lots of volumizing black mascara and balance with a soft sheen warm blush, advises Celebrity Makeup Artist Yolonda Frederick. The red hue of the moment? A deep berry red like MAC's Blood Red Lipstick.
Product Link:
MAC DSquared Lipstick in Blood Red,$14
MAC
With all the shimmer products we play with during the holiday, it's important to keep the t-zone matte to prevent greasy-looking pictures. Estee Lauder's stunning compact doubles as a conversation-starting accessory you can pull from your clutch for touch-ups. The pretty powder comes in translucent - an airy mattifying shade that is perfect for all skin tones.
Product Link:
Estee Lauder Golden Lattice Powder Compact,$49
Estee Lauder
If your hair is boring you lately but you don't want to fuss with a difficult party updo, try spritzing some sparkle into your strands instead. Fekkai's Golden Glimmer Mist is a non-aerosol spray that leaves hair glittering with a light hold. Spray from the middle of your hair to the ends, and lifts layers up to get underneath too.
Product Link:
Fekkai Golden Glimmer Gelee Mist,$20
Fekkai
"Purple is the power color of the moment, thanks to First Lady Michelle Obama's constant use of it - it's the new red!" says New York Manicurist Sheril Bailey. Lancome's Untamed Plum polish is a deep, sexy version of the royal shade; wear it on short, neatly filed nails for a surprisingly neutral look that will compliment everything from party dresses to your favorite denim.
Product Link:
Lancôme Le Vernis in Untamed Plum,$18
Lancome
The easiest way to go from day to night for a holiday soiree? It's all in the eyeliner. "Smoke out your eyeliner by smudging it with an eyeshadow brush," says Celeb Makeup Artist Joanna Schlip. Maybelline's new Line Express creates intense color with a creamy formula perfect for smudging. When you're in a pinch, you can use the sponge smudger on the other end to blend; for super sultry results, use your eyeshadow brush.
Product Link:
Maybelline Line Express Eyeliner in Black Ebony,$4.69
Maybelline
For pretty and pouty lips, try this celeb-loved trick: "Add a layer of lipgloss one shade lighter than your lipcolor for instant glam," says Schlip. The lighter layer adds dimension to your lips, making them look fuller and more plump. Hard Candy's new Plexi Glosses come in a huge variety of shades, and are a steal at just $5 a pop.
Product Link:
Hard Candy Plexi Gloss,$5 each
Hard Candy
"A great way to turn any polish you already have into a holiday party-appropriate shade is to add a topcoat of shimmer over it. You get a fun and totally new color!" says Bailey. CND's new Colour Effects are a collection of sparkling lacquers specifically made to be applied over your polish for a whole new look.
Product Link:
CND Colour Effects,$11 each
CND
Love your favorite fragrance, but hate how the scent wears off after a few hours? "Rollerball fragrances, which fit right into your holiday clutch, are a great way to keep your favorite scent lasting all night long," says Sephora PRO Beauty Team Expert Annie Mercer. Tap, don't rub - it breaks up the perfume - onto your pulse points for long-lasting wear. Kat Von D's fun new roll-ons - Sinner and Saint - correspond with your mood.
Product Link:
Kat Von D Roll-On & Portable Fragrances in Sinner and Saint,$16 each
Kat Von D