From Wine-Stained Lips to Tinsel Touches—10 Holiday Beauty Trends Fashion People Have Been Bookmarking for Months

November 21, 2025 / Swedan Margen /

There’s something about this time of year that feels undeniably magical. Whether it be the Fifth Avenue shop windows glittering with holiday presents or the clinking champagne glasses filled with golden bubbles, there’s a special magic that flutters in the falling snow. While we love cozying up in our homes in a face mask by the fireplace, we can’t deny how “outside” this cold-weather season demands us to be—especially when the pile of holiday party invites grows larger by the day. But if you find yourself in a glam slump before you shimmy into your party dress, allow us to inspire you with these burgeoning beauty trends that scream “taste.”

(Image credit: Launchmetrics; Vault Stock)

We took a look back at the makeup and hair looks that peppered the F/W 25 runways to see which expert-approved trends are coming to fruition—particularly as holiday season kicks into full gear. Between the icy swathes of frosted shadow that decorated Iris Van Herpen’s show and the windburn blush that rosied Stella McCartney’s collection, we have a full-blown holiday beauty guidebook. Top celebrity hairstylists and makeup artists, Dimitris Giannetos and Kasey Spickard, also weigh in on their holiday glam tips, tricks, and predictions.

Ahead, the top 10 beauty trends that are sure to turn heads this holiday season.

10 Holiday Beauty Trends to Try

Wine-Stained Lips

Two people with sheer, purple lip looks.

A red lip for the holidays is a no-brainer, but we can’t get this flushed, jammy look off of our minds. Plucked straight from the Zuhair Murad F/W 25 runway—an exquisite collection dripping in diamante embellishments and free-flowing silks—this merlot lip is a chic way to deviate from the classics while keeping things formal.

To recreate this look, dab a plum-colored lipstick onto your lips with your finger, making sure to concentrate the color in the center of the lips before feathering it out slightly beyond your natural lip line (the bitten-lip look, if you will). You can also use a sheer lip stain on your pout, diffused lightly with a fluffy brush along the edges, to achieve a no-budge look (helpful during nights of eating, drinking, and small talk).

Shop the Look

VIOLETTE_FR

Lip Nectar in Dahlia Noir

Glossier

Ultralip in Ember

Makeup by Mario

Supersatin Lipstick in Forest Hills

“Modern” Hollywood Waves

A model and Gigi Hadid wearing old Hollywood-inspired hairstyles.

If you’re looking for the perfect time to try something new, Giannetos says that the holidays is the “perfect” time. His top hairstyle recommendation? Old Hollywood ‘dos—but in a new, more modernized way. “I love the look of an S wave in the front, with a piece tucked behind the ear to highlight the face,” the celebrity hairstylist tells Who What Wear. Case in point: his timeless, yet striking silver creation on Gigi Hadid (though we also spied a flapper-esque iteration on the Murad F/W 25 runway).

“If you want to create this at home, you can use a 1-inch curling iron to add waves to the hair,” he starts. “The crucial part is to make sure you set the hair in place with clips and let it cool,” he explains. “From there, you just need to gently brush with a paddle brush and set in place with hair spray.” He trusts the Mason Pearson paddle brush for the most evenly fanned waves and uses the Dyson Supersonic to achieve the most volume. “Having the right heat tools also makes a big impact when it comes to achieving professional-quality hair looks at home,” he adds.