20 Holiday Eyeshadow Ideas to Shine All Season Long (2025)

Table of Contents

Dramatic Metallic Bejeweled and Bedazzled Make a Statement Champagne Fizz Periwinkle Twinkle Classic Smoky Smudged, Sultry Eyes Blushing Beauty Holographic Detail Icicle Frost Silver Bells Pop of Flush The Gilded Age Cool Tones Sugar Plum Fairy Modern Holiday Champagne Dreams Ethereal Glow Siren Eyes Cut Crease

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With all the parties and special occasions, the holidays are the perfect excuse to play with makeup and jazz up your eyeshadow looks. From sparkling, shimmering lids to metallic, jewel-toned peepers, there are so many ways to make your eyes merry and bright (or smoky, or sultry). Ahead, we gathered some of our favorite eyeshadow looks that are currently getting us in the holiday spirit. Keep scrolling to find your perfect inspo.

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Dramatic Metallic

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Metallic eyeshadows are all the rage during the holiday season. They shimmer and frost in all the right places, making them the perfect texture and finish to wear to any festive event. With multiple shades to choose from, you can mix tones—like these purple and green hues—for maximum effect.

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Bejeweled and Bedazzled

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Sabrina Carpenter never disappoints in the makeup department, and this bejeweled eyeshadow look is at the top of our list for holiday inspiration. Start with a soft, shimmering shadow and apply stick-on gemstones around the eyes for that extra touch of sparkle.

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Make a Statement

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Make a dramatic statement with glittering lids and prominent false eyelashes at your next soiree. The holidays are the perfect time to go big or go home with your makeup.

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Champagne Fizz

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Sparkling bronze and champagne shadows are the perfect neutrals for the holidays; They go with everything. Finish with false lashes or a few coats of thickening mascara and you're good to go.

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Periwinkle Twinkle

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Opt for unconventional shadow shades this holiday season (like this periwinkle color) to brighten your eyes and skin tone. This powder blue-purple shadow is seasonally appropriate and so easy to apply: Just swipe the color on the lids and build it up until you're satisfied with the level of saturation.

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Classic Smoky

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The classic smoky eyeshadow look never goes out of style and is beautiful to wear during the holiday season for any event you might have. Start with waterproof black eyeliner and apply it on the top and bottom lash line and inner rim. Then blend the shadow on top and up to the crease, finishing with a prominent highlight underneath the eyebrow.

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Smudged, Sultry Eyes

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If you prefer natural eyeshadow looks, consider a slightly elevated holiday eye that's a little smudged and lived-in. Start by adding definition with black eyeliner, then blend a smoky shadow on top of the liner with a fluffy brush, going up into the crease for definition.

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Blushing Beauty

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Blending blush high around the cheekbones and into the crease is a shortcut to a stunning look. Start by applying a soft, matte taupe shadow to the lids, then add some definition with tight liner and mascara.

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Holographic Detail

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This holographic eye makeup is festive and chic, and applying it in one isolated area, like the crease, is a modern way to accentuate the eyes and make a statement. And remember: You can never have too much shimmer when it comes to holiday makeup.

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Icicle Frost

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Mixing light lilac and blue tones emulates the iciness of the holiday season and is another way to create a smoky eye look with non-traditional colors. Keep the inner corners light and bring depth into the crease when you DIY this one.

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Silver Bells

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Step up your eyeshadow game by applying glittery silver cream eyeshadow into the crease and the bottom lash line for a more abstract look. Place a lighter, holographic shimmering shadow in the center of the lid for contrast.

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Pop of Flush

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Mixing tones and textures is always a fun idea for eyeshadow looks. This one highlights a shimmery, champagne color on the lids while blush adds some contrast. Start by applying the shadow all over the lid up to the brow, then blend blush around the eyes and on the high points of the cheekbones.

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The Gilded Age

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Gold is a classic color associated with the holidays, and we love this gilded look on the lids that packs a powerful metallic punch. Find a cream or powder gold shadow with a high metallic finish and swipe it on the lids until you reach your desired level of shine.

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Cool Tones

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Cooler, icier shades like blues and purples are ideal for the holiday season—and the frostier the better. Picking a cool-toned shadow palette that offers a variety of shades is best for a look like this. You can mix your favorite tones and play around with color combinations, making it all the more fun.

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Sugar Plum Fairy

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Don't forget your soft pinks and purples for the holidays. With a touch of shimmer, this eyeshadow look pays homage to the sugar plum fairy, and we love it. Applying the lighter shade in the center of the lids and bringing dimension in with the deeper color in the crease creates visual contrast.

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Modern Holiday

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While red and green are on full display during the holiday season, you don't have to stick to traditional versions of the hues in your holiday-themed looks. Consider opting for a green with a twinge of teal and a red that looks a tad rosy. The result is a modern interpretation of the classic colors.

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Champagne Dreams

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This champagne shadow look paired with classic winged eyeliner is a staple you can wear on repeat. Adorn your lids with as much shimmer as you like, then top them with a long-wear liquid eyeliner that will stay put through all your festivities.

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Ethereal Glow

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Find your glow this holiday season with holographic lids and dewy skin. This simple makeup hits all the high points without being overly complicated. One shadow all over the lids and up to the brow paired with a simple cheek highlight and glossy lip is all you need to look positively radiant.

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Siren Eyes

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With wings in the outer corners that lift the eyes and a sheer wash of metallic eyeshadow, siren eyes are ideal for a dramatic makeup moment. Shape your wing, connecting it with the lower lash line so it appears blended, and finish with a set of falsies for maximum impact.

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Cut Crease

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Cut crease shadow looks are forever classics, and wearing them with defined eyeliner is a great way to accentuate your eyes. Apply a light shadow all over the lid and a deeper shade in the crease, blending slowly to ensure you maintain the contrast. Apply a flesh-toned liner in the bottom waterline to help the eyes appear brighter and more awake.