The holiday season will be here before we know it. Yes, that means we should probably start planning and preparing for all our commitments (travel itineraries, events, parties, you name it), but we’d rather focus on the fun stuff, like which holiday makeup looks we’ll be wearing. After all, in our opinion, there’s no better time to take a maximalist approach to makeup than during the holiday season.
While we’re constantly searching high and low on Instagram and Tik Tok for the best makeup looks, we get a good dose of inspiration from celebrities, too. The latest celeb to make it into our saved folder (because, yes, we have one) is Lupita Nyong’o. Recently, she attended Beyonce’s Wearable Art Gala with an eyeshadow look that can only be described as a bold and decadent combination of color. Keep scrolling to see the exact products that celebrity makeup artist, Nick Barose, used to create it. Hint: it involves a dreamy blue eyeshadow palette that you’ll just have to get your hands on.
Here’s the ideation for the look. With a combination of rich purple, dark blue, emerald green, and a swipe of gold on the brow bone, it’s as maximalist as it can be. We love it, especially since it’s giving us an ’80s vibe (and an ’80s vibe was just the thing Barose was after). “The theme for the event is Harlem jazz era with its icons like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, but I also wanted to pay homage to the next generation of icons like, 80s Aretha Franklin and Patti Labelle with fun, colorful 80’s eye makeup on Lupita,” Barose says.
Here’s a close-up of the look on Nyong’o. It looks like the gold was eventually swapped out for (or layered over) a pink-purple highlight. We love how the eyes take center stage thanks to a fresh complexion and soft berry lip. They’re complementary, not competing.
Nyong’o is an ambassador for Lancôme, so it’s no surprise that Barose used products from the brand to create this look. The first product he used was this eyeshadow primer to prevent creasing and fading, while making the pigments pop.
Next, he applied emerald and khaki green shadows on the center of Nyong’o’s eyelids, before following up with the electric blue shade from this Lancôme palette. He applied it to the outer corners of her eyes, shaping it up and out into a dramatic and elongated wing shape.
Barose applied this pink-purple shade to Nyongo’s brow bone and the inner corner of her eyes, like a highlight.
Next, Barose lined Nyongo’s eyes with this felt-tip liner for extra definition. It’s a waterproof liner, so it’ll stay put for hours without smearing or smudging.
As the final touch, he applied a couple coats of this mascara to Nyongo’s lashes for length, volume, and definition. (The curved brush is great for lifting lashes, so if yours tend to fall straight, it’s a good option.)
This eyeshadow palette will see you through the holiday season and beyond.
I’m obsessed with this sparkling eyeshadow topper.
This bright pink blush is everything…and only $3.
A vivid red lipstick is a must for the holiday season.
This baked highlighter will make your skin shine bright.
