Holiday beauty has always loved a bit of spectacle. Glittering lids, lacquered lips, and enough highlighter to be spotted from across the room. Yet this year, something quieter and unexpectedly charming has slipped into the conversation. Beauty TikTok is calling it “mistletoe makeup,” but the name barely captures what makes it irresistible. Think of it as the soft, flushed, look normally reserved for rom-com finales, now reimagined for real life.
This trend taps into the fantasy of holiday romance as seen in movies. It emulates the warmth of flushed cheeks and turns it into a beauty statement. It feels modern. It feels unfussy. It feels like the antidote to the heavy, hyper-glam winter looks we’ve seen for years. And most importantly, it feels achievable after a long day at work when your party starts in ten minutes.
Mistletoe makeup is all about ease. It blends the biggest beauty movements of the year into one cohesive story: monochromatic color, softened edges, minimal eyes, and a quiet confidence that comes from not overthinking your face. Mistletoe makeup focuses on lips and cheeks, making them appear flushed in a way that could pass as your natural post-blush moment. Pink, cherry, berry, anything that looks like it could have happened naturally after stepping out of the cold.
The eyes go in the opposite direction. Barely-there lashes, no liner, and a hint of frosty shimmer create a fresh, youthful mood. Makeup artists say this shift reflects a broader movement in beauty where restraint reads as “cool.”
Matte balms and diffused lipsticks are ideal. Apply them directly, blot once, then smudge gently around the edges to keep things imperfect in the best way. If lip liner is part of your identity, choose one that blends easily rather than something sharp or graphic.
Once the cheeks are flushed and the lips look lived-in, add a spritz of setting mist. This trend is about embracing the softness and spontaneity of the season and letting your makeup feel like a natural extension of the moment.
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