Festive Makeup for Grown-Up Glow: How to Do Sparkle the Sophisticated Way
Amanda Ramsay is an award-winning professional makeup artist who specialises in makeup content and education for mature skin. Known as your over 40s makeup expert, Amanda has worked with thousands of Aussie women, including celebrities and personalities like Julia Gillard, Sophie Monk, Delta Goodrem, Collette Dinnigan, Jackie O, Miranda Kerr and Mia Freedman.
There’s something about the holiday season that makes us want to glow just a little more. A hint of shimmer, a touch of radiance, maybe even a softly twinkling eye, but if you’ve ever tried to “festive-fy” your makeup and ended up feeling more disco bauble than dinner-party chic, you’re not alone.
As a professional makeup artist working with women over 40 for over two decades, I can tell you this with confidence: sparkle isn’t the enemy, misplaced sparkle is.
Mature skin can absolutely wear glow, shimmer and light-reflecting products beautifully… when they’re applied with intention.
So today, I’m walking you through a step-by-step festive makeup look that’s polished, flattering and modern. Think luminous skin, softly glowing cheeks and eyes that sparkle subtly, never shouting for attention.
This is festive makeup that enhances your features, rather than competing with them.
Let’s glow, with class.
STEP 1 SKIN PREP: THE SECRET TO ELEGANT SPARKLE
If there’s one place where festive makeup can go wrong on mature skin, it’s skipping proper skin prep.
Shimmer clings to dryness and texture, so hydrated, plump skin is non-negotiable.
Start with Esmi Skin Minerals Refreshing + Hydrating Skin Snack Mist 100ml a deeply hydrating mist that quenches and hydrates thirsty skin. This creates a well-hydrated canvas that helps makeup sit beautifully all evening.
Follow with Esmi Skin Minerals Hyaluronic Glow Skin Treat Serum for an extra boost of juicy hydration, perfect for mature skin which needs hydration to plump out fine lines, quench thirsty skin creating a plump bouncy surface for makeup.Pro tip: Always let skincare absorb fully before applying foundation, give it 60 seconds. Your foundation will glide on more smoothly and avoid clinging to dry patches.
STEP 2: COMPLEXION - LUMINOUS, NOT LAYERED
Heavy foundations can settle into fine lines and look cakey. Not desirable. Instead, go for a complexion that feels like glorious, fresh, luminous lit from within skin.
I love L’Oréal True Match Hydrating Superblendable Foundation because its hydrating, buildable formula blends seamlessly without settling into texture, an instant confidence boost for mature skin girlies.
It gives a natural, satin finish that reflects light softly without looking greasy.
Pump foundation on to the back of your hand, push a foundation brush into the product and gently buff onto your skin for a softly diffused finish.
Less is more here… starting in the centre of the face and blending out. Spritz a finishing/setting spray onto a damp sponge and stipple all over your face, neck and decolletage for a long-lasting second-skin effect.
For under-eye brightening and targeted concealer, tap on a little L'Oreal Paris True Match 1.5% [Hyaluronic Acid + Caffeine] Radiant Serum Concealer, its creamy texture gives excellent coverage where needed. Again, spritz setting mist onto your damp sponge and stipple over the concealer for hydration and staying power.
Pro tip: Avoid thick under-eye concealer; it creates unwanted texture. A tiny amount blended really well looks smoother and brighter.
STEP 3: CHEEKS, SOFT FLUSH WITH A LUMINOUS LIFT
When we add sparkle to cheeks, we want a lift, not glitter. Cheek products should enhance cheekbones and bring warmth back to mature skin.
Start with Benefit Playtint Lip & Cheek Tint a sheer tint that offers buildable, natural warmth and stains. On mature skin it adds youthful colour without settling into texture, giving long-lasting colour to all us sweaty-Betty’s.
Next, layer L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush in 'Gold Pink'. Tts luminous pink-gold tone adds a radiant sheen that mimics candlelit cheeks, lifting and softening at the same time.
Finish on the high points with a highlighter stick like the Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight. Try to always opt for a glossy highlighter that blends like a dream and creates that subtle festive glow without sparkle overload.
Pro tip: If your skin is textured, keep your highlighter placed high on top of your cheekbone avoiding zones that are textured.
STEP 4: EYES TWINKLE WITH INTENTION
Eyes are where your sparkle can really sing but the key is balance. We want shine on the lid paired with soft structure under the lower lash line.
Start with L'Oreal Paris Infallible Shadow Stick in Twinkly Rose on the mobile lid. Its soft shimmer brightens the eye without catching every little line and it’s long last formula is a bonus!
From the Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Spice Palette, choose the light, sparkly shades to place just on the centre lid and inner corner, think pinpoint shine rather than full-lid disco. These cooler, soft glitters add dimension, fun and pop without emphasising texture.
Define your eyeliner and give a little “lift” to the outer corners of your eyes with Prada Pradalines Durable Gliding Eye Pencil in 'Embe'r and then, here’s a fun pro tip: use a small angle brush to press a little liner out into a micro wing. It lifts the eye and gives a modern glamour trust the brush to do the work!
Finish with Jane Iredale Lash Fixation Length & Definition Tubing Mascara perfect for mature lashes because the tubing formula separates and elongates without smudging.
Pro tip: Use shimmer only on the centre lid/inner corner this creates sparkle without emphasising heavier hooding lids.
STEP 5: BROWS. POLISHED, NOT PAINTED
Brows frame everything, especially when you’re wearing glow elsewhere.
Set with Maybelline New York Super Lock Brow Glue Gel to keep hairs in place and create fuller, fluffier texture (I’m not so quietly addicted to this product!), then use Benefit Cosmetics Mighty Fine Brow Pen for hair-like strokes where you’re a little thin, and Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil to extend the tail of your brow for added lift and polish.
Pro tip: Extend the tail of your brow more “horizontal” from the peak rather than downwards to keep your look open and youthful.
STEP 6: LIPS, LUMINOUS & DEFINED
For holiday lip glow that feels refined, start with a soft nude liner to shape the pout and keep colour lasting.
A great choice? DIOR Contour Lip Liner Pencil , which gives precise definition and creamy glide that’s gentle on delicate mature lip skin.
Finish with a shimmering gloss I love something like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Lip Gloss for its high-shine formula that doesn’t feel sticky and visually plumps the lips. This glossy finish brings balance to the soft eye sparkle and radiant skin.
Pro tip: Nude pencils and glossy finishes help lips look fuller and youthful which is exactly what we want for festive occasions. Having said that, if you love a bright lip, please go for it!!
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