Whilst browsing around at Refinery29 I came across a post that included five holiday makeup tricks. Although I personally won’t classify any of them as ‘tricks’, the looks featured are pretty easy to try out and adopt as your own signature holiday look, making it easier to hop around seasonal events and parties knowing you consistently look good.
Here are two of my favourites:

The skinny braids with bold red lip: Seen on Chanel Iman at Lacroix. There’s something really fun about mixing young playful braids with a really bold red, sophisticated lip…it’s a quirky play on contrasts that’s easy to pull off.
Above, clockwise from left: Christian Dior fall/winter 2009 backstage, photo via Style.com Beauty Gallery; Lipstick Queen Red Sinner, $18, available at Barneys New York; Bare Minerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation, $28, available at Beauty.com; Boots No7 Lash and Brow Perfecter, $5.99, available at Drugstore.com; Nars The Multiple in South Beach, $37, available at Beauty.com.

The smoky-lustrous lined eye: Sometimes black liner just isn’t enough. Hence, Anna Sui’s expert blended a shimmery gray shadow along with some eye-popping highlighter to a classic lined eye.
Above, clockwise from left: Anna Sui fall/winter 2009 backstage, photo via Style.com Beauty Photo Search; Julie Hewett Los Angeles Cheekie Cheek Shine in Peachie, $24, available atMiomia; DuWop Gray Eyes Eyeshadow Set, $32, available at Sephora; Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in Onyx, $16, available at Lord & Taylor; M.A.C. Plush Lash Mascara, $13, available at Bloomingdale’s.
You can find the other three looks over at the Refinery29 website.