Merry Kissmas! Our Festive Shades Defined

There are very few occasions that make us want to reach for lipstick quite like Christmas.

Maybe it's the parties. Maybe it's the champagne. Maybe it's the fact that a good lip colour can make an otherwise very simple makeup look feel instantly festive.

Whatever the reason, December is the perfect time to move beyond your everyday nude and experiment with something a little brighter, deeper or glossier. Think classic reds, warm terracottas, berry tones, soft rosy nudes and those easy summer shades that look particularly good with glowing skin.

And festive lipstick doesn't automatically mean a perfectly painted red lip. Your Christmas shade can be sheer, blurred, glossy, matte or barely there. The best one is simply the colour that makes you feel good when you put it on.

So, consider this our guide to finding your festive lip personality.

The Classic Christmas Red

We couldn't write about festive lipstick without starting here.

A red lip is one of those beauty looks that somehow manages to feel timeless and completely transformative at the same time.

Wear it with fresh skin and mascara and suddenly you've made an effort. Add softly defined brows and a little blush and you've basically got your entire Christmas party makeup sorted.

When you're ready to buy lipstick for the festive season, don't assume there's only one correct shade of red. Cooler cherry reds, warm tomato tones, deeper brick shades and classic true reds can all create a completely different effect.

If a bright red normally feels intimidating, try pressing the colour onto your lips with your fingertip rather than applying it directly from the bullet. You'll get a softer, slightly blurred stain rather than a perfectly defined statement lip.

Same colour, very different mood.

The Festive Berry Lip

If classic red feels a little too traditional, berry is its slightly moodier sister.

Think raspberry, wine, plum and deep rose.

Berry tones can look beautiful with relatively minimal makeup because they bring so much colour to the face on their own. Keep your complexion fresh, add mascara and let the lip be the main event.

For a softer summer version, apply your berry colour to the centre of the lips and blend it outwards with your fingertip.

The result is less polished party lip, more just ate a bowl of berries somewhere extremely photogenic.

If you want more definition, add liner first and keep the edges clean. The beauty of deeper lip products is that the same shade can feel completely different depending on how you apply it.

The Warm Terracotta

For the person who wants festive makeup without looking particularly Christmassy, terracotta is an excellent middle ground.

Warm rust, cinnamon and earthy rose shades feel polished without being predictable and work beautifully with bronzed summer skin.

Pair your lip with warm blush, brushed brows and softly bronzed eyes for a tonal makeup look that feels pulled together without being overdone.

Terracotta is also one of those shades that transitions easily from Christmas lunch to an evening drink, which is useful when your festive calendar involves going directly from one to the other.

And unlike a very precise red, a warm earthy lipstick doesn't necessarily require constant mirror checks.

Which, after lunch and a glass of something cold, feels like a genuine advantage.

The Barely There Nude

Festive lipstick doesn't need to be bold.

If your Christmas makeup is all about glowing skin, a smoky eye or plenty of shimmer, a soft nude lip can bring everything together without competing for attention.

The trick is choosing a nude with enough warmth, pink or brown in it that your lips don't completely disappear into your complexion.

A shade close to your natural lip colour but slightly deeper is usually a good starting point.

Pair it with liner for a little more definition or tap lipstick onto the centre of your lips for a softer finish.

This is also the perfect lip if you're planning to spend most of Christmas Day eating.

Some beauty decisions are purely practical.

The Summer Pink

Australian Christmas beauty has one major difference from the traditional festive makeup mood: it's summer.

While deep wintery shades can still look beautiful, December also makes us want juicy pinks, warm corals and sheer rosy colours that work with sun kissed makeup and lighter summer skin finishes.

A pink lip with cream blush, bronzer and mascara feels fresh enough for Christmas lunch but still looks like you've made an effort.

If you're looking for more warm weather inspiration, our guide to lip shades to ignite a summer feel explores more ways to bring colour into your summer makeup routine.

The easiest approach is to look at the shades you naturally gravitate towards in blush. If warm peachy cheeks suit you, a peach or coral lip can create a beautiful tonal effect. If you love rosy blush, try bringing that same family of colour onto the lips.

Why Lip Liner Changes Everything

We're very much in our lip liner era.

A good lip liner can define your natural shape, create a base underneath lipstick and completely change the mood of a shade you already own.

For a classic red lip, choose a pencil close to your lipstick colour and use it to map out the edges before filling in.

For a nude, try a liner slightly deeper than your lipstick and blend it towards the centre for that softly defined 90s inspired effect.

For berry or plum shades, filling more of the lips with pencil before applying lipstick can help the colour wear away more evenly.

Your liner doesn't have to perfectly match your lipstick either. Playing with slightly different tones is one of the easiest ways to get more looks out of the lip colours already in your makeup bag.

Matte, Satin or Glossy?

Once you've chosen your colour, the finish can completely change how it feels.

Matte

A matte lip creates definition and impact. It's brilliant for classic reds and deeper colours when you want the lip to feel like the focus of your makeup.

Good preparation matters though, as very matte textures can make existing dryness more noticeable.

Satin or cream

Satin and creamy formulas are the middle ground. You get noticeable colour without the completely flat finish of a traditional matte.

They're a particularly easy choice for long lunches and parties because they can usually be touched up without too much ceremony.

Glossy or sheer

A sheer or glossy finish feels fresh, easy and very Australian summer.

Try a juicy red, rose or pink when you want festive colour without the commitment of a fully opaque lipstick.

And if you love a more matte complexion around your statement lip, our guide to the best matte foundations has more tips for creating that softly polished base.

How to Prep Your Lips for Festive Makeup

No lipstick shade looks its best when your lips feel uncomfortable underneath it.

If they're dry or flaky, gently smooth away loose skin when needed and follow with a nourishing lip balm.

Give it a little time to absorb before applying liner or lipstick. If there's a thick layer of balm sitting on the surface, your lip colour may slide around rather than staying where you put it.

This matters even more with matte formulas.

If your lips are already feeling particularly dry, you also don't need to force yourself into a matte lipstick simply because it's Christmas. A comfortable cream, balm or sheer formula can look just as polished.

The best festive lipstick is one you aren't desperate to remove twenty minutes later.

How to Make Your Festive Lip Last

Christmas lipstick has a fairly demanding job description.

There are drinks. Lunch. Snacks. More drinks. Dessert. And possibly an afternoon swim depending on how your Christmas Day unfolds.

Start with thin layers rather than applying a huge amount of product at once.

For stronger colours, define your lips with pencil and shade some of the liner towards the centre before adding lipstick. Apply your lip colour, blot if appropriate for the formula, then add another light layer.

Most importantly, accept that lipstick is makeup and makeup moves.

A touch up after lunch is completely normal. You don't need your lipstick to survive Christmas pavlova untouched for it to be considered a good formula.

Build the Rest of Your Makeup Around Your Lip

Once you've chosen your festive shade, deciding on the rest of your makeup becomes much easier.

A classic red can look incredible with barely there eye makeup, mascara and softly flushed cheeks.

A nude lip gives you room to experiment with metallic eyeshadow or a smoky liner.

A berry lip pairs beautifully with fresh skin and understated eyes, while terracotta works with warm bronzer and earthy shadow tones.

You can explore the wider makeup collection for the products that bring the rest of your festive look together, but don't feel like Christmas makeup needs every category at once.

One strong feature often makes much more impact than trying to make your eyes, cheeks and lips compete for attention.

What Lipstick Should You Keep in Your Handbag?

If you're heading from lunch to drinks or bouncing between Christmas parties, choose the product you're most likely to need for touch ups.

If you're wearing a bold red, that's probably your lipstick.

If you've created a nude lip using mostly pencil, your liner may be more useful. If you're wearing something sheer, a tinted balm may be all you need.

There's no need to bring three liners, two lipsticks, a gloss and an emergency backup shade.

Your handbag already has enough going on in December.

Frequently Asked Questions

What lipstick colour is best for Christmas?

Classic red is always a festive favourite, but berry, rose, terracotta, nude, coral and pink can all work beautifully. Choose a colour that complements the rest of your makeup and, more importantly, feels like you.

How do I choose the right red lipstick?

Experiment with different undertones rather than assuming all reds will look the same. Cherry, blue based, orange red and brick shades can create very different effects. Trying the colour against your complexion is usually the easiest way to find one you love.

What lipstick works for an Australian summer Christmas?

Sheer reds, rosy pinks, coral, warm nude and terracotta shades all work beautifully with lighter, glowing summer makeup. There are no seasonal rules though, so a deep berry is still completely welcome in December.

Do I need lip liner with lipstick?

No, but it can help define the lip shape and create a more intentional finish. It's particularly useful with stronger colours such as red, berry and deeper matte shades.

How can I make my lipstick last through Christmas lunch?

Apply your colour in lighter layers and consider using pencil underneath. Eating and drinking will naturally remove some lip colour, so keeping your lipstick nearby for a quick touch up is usually the most realistic solution.

Is matte or satin lipstick better for Christmas?

It depends on the finish and comfort you prefer. Matte gives you a more defined statement look, while satin and cream formulas can feel softer and are often easier to touch up throughout a long day.

Can I wear a bold lipstick with bold eye makeup?

Absolutely. If you want a more balanced look, choose either the lips or eyes as the main focus. If maximal makeup is your thing, though, Christmas is a very good time to commit to it.

Merry Kissmas

The festive season is a very good excuse to rediscover the lipsticks hiding at the bottom of your makeup bag.

Wear the red you normally save for special occasions. Try a berry shade with almost no other makeup. Bring back your favourite brown liner. Swap your everyday nude for something pinker, warmer or glossier.

Or wear exactly the same lip colour you wear every other day because you know it looks good.

Christmas beauty should feel fun, not like another thing you need to get right before December 25.

Find your shade, add a little liner if the mood strikes and keep the lipstick somewhere accessible for after lunch.

Merry Kissmas.