New Year's Eve Makeup Ideas From the Runways

You’re all set on the New Year’s Eve wardrobe front, from the perfect party dress to the ideal glitzy footwear. Now it’s time to shift the focus to your New Year’s Eve makeup. (Which should be different than the holiday beauty look you plan on rocking December 24 or 25.) Sure, you could go the standard route with just a swipe of bright red lipstick or glitter eyeshadow. But where’s the fun in that?

This year, we’re all about thinking outside the box. Especially since we may all still be celebrating over Zoom so your makeup really needs to stand out. Instead of overdosing on glitter, try concentrating the sparkle on just your eyes or your lips. You can also opt for holographic highlights for a subtler shine. When it comes to lipstick, skip your go-to lip color in favor of darker shades. Or go bold with a diffused effect. Pro tip: There’s never been a better time to try colored mascara.

Check out the New Year’s Eve makeup ideas that are sure to make an impression as you (safely) count down to 2022.

Images: Imaxtree

[ Next: How to Wear Glitter From Head to Toe (No Matter Where You Fall on the Sparkle Spectrum) ]

Update: 28 New Year’s Eve Makeup Ideas We’re Stealing From the Runways

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Go ahead and mix metallics for a cool futuristic effect. A petal-soft pink lip helps ground the look.
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Highlight your eyes with a copper eyeshadow. Add in gold eyeliner on the inner corners for a fresh spin on smoky eyes. Extra credit if you jazz up your ‘do with flashy barrettes.
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Go big or go home. Attach rhinestones to your lids to make your eyes sparkle. Keep the rest of your beauty look minimal.
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Or place a few sparklers underneath your eyes.
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All you need to shake things up for New Year’s Eve is a pretty purple lipstick. It’s goth meets glam.
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High-shine lips are back in style. Swipe a frosty lilac shade on the inner corners of your eyes to up the shine factor.
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Blush draping is still a thing. Accent your cheekbones and eyes with a pinkish hue. Work in a little orange on your eyelids almost up to your brow bones to complete the look.
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Be heavy handed while applying striking silver eyeshadow. A glossy pout is the perfect way to polish off the look.
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Upgrade your cat eye with blue sequins. Make sure to use a matching but bling-free eyeliner under your eyes for a cohesive feel.
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Use two vibrant glittery shadow shades to create a party-ready cat eye.
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A wine-colored lipstick is unexpected, especially when it’s smeared on top.
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New Year's Eve is the perfect time to experiment with colored mascara. Keep the rest of your face basically bare so your lashes will really stand out.
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Use a sunny yellow liner to draw attention to the inner corners of your eyes. Pair with a slightly diffused pink lip.
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Ring in the new year with a disco ball-inspired lip.
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Embrace a more subtle shimmer by swiping on a luminous purple shadow.
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Who says you have to shine on New Year's Eve? There’s no sparkle here, but the hot pink shadow extended back to the hairline is definitely eye-catching.
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This metallic tangerine lip color is peak party makeup.
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Go ahead and lay it on thick. Use gold shadow to create a stunning cat eye.
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Use sparkle sparingly by concentrating silver glitter on the inner corners of your eyes and across your nose for an otherworldly effect.
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The golden highlights take this peachy pink shadow to a whole new level.
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A scattering of transparent sequins on your lids is pretty low-key by New Year's Eve standards.
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Highlight your black mascara by sprinkling silver glitter under your eyes.
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Surround your eyes with periwinkle shadow for a wintry vibe. A cool coral lip only enhances the effect.
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Swipe on silver shadow all the way up to your eyebrows. Keep the focus on your eyes by only adding some pink gloss to your lips.
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Don't think of these as rhinestone tears. They're diamanté rays.
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Christmas is over so ditch red lipstick in favor of something electric, like this cool pink shade. Glowing skin is the only thing needed to finish off the look.
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A dab of gold leaf (or pigment) across your eyelids is a lo-fi way to sparkle this New Year's Eve. And you don't have to worry about smudging.
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These metallic two-tone lips are the perfect way to end the year for anyone whose beauty resolution is to be more playful with their makeup.
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Make your eyes shine by placing metallic star accents underneath your lower lash lines. Just make sure they're down far enough so the points won't hurt your eyes when you blink.
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Elevate neutral makeup with sheeny finishes on your eyes, lips and skin.
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This isn't a wing or a flick. The sparkly black eyeshadow has a dramatic curved shape to make eyes look supersized.
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Who says you can't go natural for New Year's Eve? Softer makeup allows you to go big when it comes to your hair and earrings.
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Draw even more attention to your golden eyeshadow with a streak of white eyeliner. Add in a pinkish lip to round out the striking look.
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Instead of basic black, celebrate this New Year's Eve with winged brown makeup.
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Deep red-brown lipstick and blue-gray eyeshadow equals a stunning and unexpected look.
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Shimmering pewter eyeshadow makes eyes pop, but strokes of teal eyeliner make it memorable.
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Choose a lip color a few shades darker than classic cherry red for a more dramatic finish. Eye gloss is an effortless way to balance burgundy lips.