Charlotte Tilbury's Party Takeover: 5 Looks To Master This Holiday Season

It's time to shine...

Christmas is the perfect opportunity to up the ante, so we asked celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury to create five stand out looks especially for Marie Claire. Prepare to wow.

Glitter Ball

Whether you want high-octane glitz or just a hint of sparkle, this look is playful, easy-to-do and will take your party look from zero to hero. 'Start off with a flawless canvas,' says make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury. Here, she used her Magic Away Concealer, £24 and Light Wonder Foundation, £32. You’ll also want to apply concealer to your lids and under-eye area to give the glitter something to adhere to,' adds Tilbury who shared her exclusive pro tips on this shoot.

'Then, pat the loose, chunky flecks over the top with your ring finger, working fast, before they sets. Finish with one coat of mascara, applied just at the roots, to keep it looking modern.' Try Sleek Glitterfest Biodegradable Glitter in Silver, £5.49, and Yves Saint Laurent The Curler Mascara in Black, £26.

Guilty Secrets

Chocolate and gold: The winning make-up combination for every skin tone. But the festive season gives us license to be more adventurous, so take yourself out of your beauty comfort zone and use metallics to pump up the drama. You’ll need to start with a glossy complexion, so give dull skin a light-bulb moment with Charlotte Tilbury’s Bar of Gold Palette, £49, which delivers a metallic sheen to cheekbones, nose and cupid's bow.

For sculpted eyes, sweep Chanel’s Longwear Powder Eyeshadow in Chocolate Brown, £26, over lids before dabbing sparkly Tom Ford’s Shadow Extreme in TFX2 Gold, £30, onto the inner corners. 'The key is to blend, blend, blend with a make-up brush so the two tones meld seamlessly,' says Tilbury. To enhance the mouth, she swiped her Matte Revolution Lipstick in Birkin Brown, £24, onto model Veridiana’s lips.

Mad About Matte

Whatever else you wear, red lipstick will have you party-ready in seconds. This season’s top lip tip? Focus on the finish. Shiny can look OTT, but a velvety matte stamp is both chic and cool. Plus it’s all the more doable now that lipstick formulas are flexible and soft, rather than chalky and dense. 'If you want to re-shape and re-size your lips and Cupid’s Bow, stencil first with a "stealth liner",' says Tilbury.

'Trace the natural outline of your lips, correct any asymmetrical unevenness, then enhance the roundness by going slightly outside the lip line.' Try Tilbury's Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Kiss n Tell, £16, and then press Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick in Tell Laura, £24, straight from the bullet onto your mouth.

Back to Black

Smoky eyes are elegant, mysterious and face lifting but can also be unnecessarily complicated and time-consuming to create. Tilbury’s technique involves just two products. Start off with a cream base such as BareMinerals’ Gen Nude Eyeshadow + Primer in Exposed, £19 to encourage anything you apply on top to stay put.

Then, use a small brush to create a chunky, feline shaped line of black shadow and sweep it down on to the lower lashline. Add a slick of black eyeliner for more intensity. We love Charlotte Tilbury’s Smoke shade from The Sophisticate Palette, £39, and the Classic Eye Pencil in Audrey, £16 – both are dark and matte. Mascara (try Legendary Lashes Volume 2, £25), brushed up brows, nude blush and flushed lips are just dressy enough.

Pink Power

Christmas is a time to get creative with colour but, instead of a rainbow palette, just stick to one shade. Tilbury chose millennial pink – unexpected, yes, but boy does it work. Step one: create a sheer makeup base. 'I like to massage the skin with my Magic Cream, £70, to stimulate lymphatic drainage and boost circulation,' she says.

Next up is a sweep of the Hollywood Beauty Light Wand, £29, over the tops of cheekbones, the tip of the nose and the inner corner of the eyes. 'It gives this amazing spotlight sheen,' says Tilbury. Add a light wash of rosy-coloured cream shadow to your lids – try Givenchy Ombre Couture Cream Eyeshadow 16H Hold Waterproof in Rose Illusion, £20. Then apply Charlotte Tilbury Kissing Lipsticks in Velvet Underground, £24. Skip mascara, this look is impactful and fresher without it.

Which one of Charlotte's looks is your favourite? Let us know at @marieclaireuk.

For more make-up tips, tutorials and product recommendations, head to our beauty section at the top of the page.

Lisa Oxenham is a trailblazing beauty editor, journalist, stylist, and creative director with over 20 years of transformative impact in the beauty industry. As the Beauty and Style Director at Marie Claire UK, she orchestrates high-profile shoots with celebrities and influencers, creating visually stunning and globally resonant content.

A passionate advocate for sustainability, Lisa serves on the Advisory Board for the British Beauty Council's Sustainable Beauty Coalition and the Media Advisory Board. She is also an ambassador for the Soil Association certification and the Amazon Research Institute. Through her "In The Loop" column, she keeps readers informed about the latest advancements in sustainable beauty and supports brands that champion environmental causes, emphasising the need for the beauty industry to reset its priorities.

Lisa's influence extends beyond words; she directs inspiring short films on sustainability and challenges in the beauty industry and is a sought-after public speaker. Recently recognised in the Who’s Who in Natural Beauty 2023, she also champions mental health and eco-conscious practices, demonstrating that glamour and environmental responsibility can coexist beautifully.