MAC Director of Makeup Artistry Gregory Arlt on Holiday Beauty Trends

By Beth Whiffen
November 29, 2011

MAC

MAC Cosmetics' Director of Makeup Artistry created these looks for Michelle Trachtenberg, Skyler Samuels and Dita Von Teese.

On Trachtenberg: “She reminds me of a modern day Disney Princess: dark hair with fair skin and naturally berry-colored lips. Stunning! I love doing her makeup as the ingénue or giving her a smoky, sophisticated look.”

On Samuels: "Skyler literally looks like a living, breathing porcelain doll. Her skin is beautiful, and she's totally open to trying new things and having fun with her look!"

On Von Teese: “I love her look, her glamour, her aesthetic and her love of all things beautiful. Plus all we do is laugh when we work together, so it’s not even like working!”

With holiday party season officially in full swing, we sought guidance from the charming Gregory Arlt, MAC Cosmetics’ Director of Makeup Artistry and beauty guru to a slew of celebs (think Dita Von Teese, Annalynne McCord and Anne Heche) to find out about this year’s biggest holiday beauty trends.

Arlt maintains that the holidays are the best time of year to really glam it up and draw attention to yourself. “The lights outside all of the homes sparkle during the season, so why shouldn’t you?” he says.

We couldn’t agree more. Read on to find out how to turn up the volume on your look this holiday season.

Holiday Beauty Trend 1: Crimson Lips

Actress Skyler Samuels

“One of my favorite looks for the holidays, which we also saw on the fall runways, was the bold red lip,” says Arlt. “It’s always a great way to make a statement at a party or even at the office. I call red lipstick ‘the little black dress of makeup’.” It’s finding the perfect red that’s the hard part, especially when you have to consider whether it matches not just your skin tone but your personality as well.

For lighter to medium skin tones that are on the peachy side, Arlt suggests looking for a true red or orange-red. For lighter to medium skin tones that are more olive, go for a brick red, blue-red, a burgundy or a blood red. Women with darker skin tones should look for a deeper brick or burgundy red. “But there’s also some fun in a brighter red on a deep skin tone,” says Arlt.

The key to a flawless red pout is in the preparation. “Make sure your lips are exfoliated and well conditioned before applying a red lip,” says Arlt. “If you’re intimidated by applying it, try a neutral lip pencil and fill the red lip color in with a lip brush. You’ll get a more precise application.” Then keep the rest of your makeup soft. Your eye makeup should be minimal and your blush shouldn’t be overpowering. “For a retro look, try a black cat eye coupled with lots of mascara,” says Arlt.

If red isn’t your thing, there were a bevy of other bold lip shades on the runways. “We saw a big trend with fuchsias, oranges, and pinks on the lips coupled with a softer face,” says Arlt. “Skyler Samuels, star of ABC Family’s ‘The Nine Lives Of Chloe King’, is a client of mine and we recently did both a fuchsia lip and a classic red lip for two different events. It was so chic!”

Holiday Beauty Trend 2: Shimmer

Annalynne McCord: “She’s a chameleon! She’ll say to me, ‘It’s your face, Gregory... I only wear it!’ She’s not afraid to take chances with her makeup, and we’ve done everything from a bold eyebrow to a smoky eye to a modern bronzed goddess. Plus I absolutely love her and her humor!”

The runways were awash in gold and bronze tones this season, and the trend translates perfectly from the runway to real life around the holidays. “Shimmer is everything for the holidays,” says Arlt. “Smoky metallic eyes are hot, but don’t forget about the softer bronze shades as well.” Eyes done up in peachy golds, warm golds, and deep bronze shadows all popped up backstage this season. When going for an attention-getting eye like this, keep the rest of your makeup soft and minimal. “The shimmer from the shadows will be your definition this season,” says Arlt. “Sometimes we can actually create more drama by using reflective textures as opposed to darker shades.” To get this look, Arlt suggests sweeping a gold shadow over your eyelids and then lining the insides of your eyes with a black pencil to add a moody effect. “Keep the crease of the eyes soft and concentrate your depth at the lash line. A warm blush and neutral glossy lip will finish off the look beautifully. Try using an upper cheek highlighter as well. It adds sheen and luminosity to the face.”

Holiday Beauty Trend 3: Bright Cheeks

Anne Heche: “We’ve been working together for nearly 10 years and I adore her. She’s smart, talented, super funny and I love her pale ‘English Rose’ look. I usually keep her makeup soft, preferring to do a doll-like blush on her.”

“Doll-like blush was another huge trend we saw on the runways this season, and rosy cheeks look extra pretty when it’s cold outside,” says Arlt. To achieve this simple look, keep the face natural, with the exception of a warm coral or baby doll pink blush on the apples of the cheeks. To apply, look in the mirror and smile, suggests Arlt. “It makes the skin taut, and the blush should go right on the apple of the cheek. Get a small amount on the brush and work it in a circular motion onto the cheeks.” Finish off the look with a bit of upper cheek highlighter. For the rest of the face, Arlt suggests keeping it muted: “I love this look with a doll-like eye as well—minimal makeup, but using pastels, like a wash of sheer blue or grey on the lids, loads of black mascara and a nude lip.”

Plus: Gregory Arlt’s Top 5 Tips for Adding Instant Glamour