16 Easy New Year's Eve Makeup Looks to Ring in the New Year

makeup looks

@lisaeldridgemakeup / Instagram

A new year is a cause for celebration. But before we get to the resolutions to be the same amazing yet more awesome version of ourselves, it's time to dress for the occasion. While New Year's Eve is the perfect time to bring on the sparkle, bold colors, and a taste of the beauty trends we'll all be seeing in the year to come, you don't have to go all out with your makeup in order to have a successful night. If your plans are more low-key, there are plenty of makeup looks you can wear that don't require hours to perfect. Keep scrolling for 16 New Year's Eve makeup looks that are a relaxed approach to beauty, but stunning nonetheless.

Electric Eyeliner

Serayah wears thick blue winged eyeliner and neutral lips

@makeupvincent / Instagram

Make a statement by wearing a bold eyeliner in whatever color you choose. This electric blue is a perfect choice when wanting to play with bright or neon shades. While this look includes a thick liner, you can make it as thin or thick as you like. Apply the eyeliner pencil or gel along the lash line in an upward motion all the way towards the outer corners. If you're wanting to create a thick line, continue to fill the liner until it's thick enough. Set the look with a few coats of volumizing mascara.

Classic Red Lip

Woman wears wavy ponytail with face-framing tendrils, natural lashes, and a red lip

@brittsully / Instagram

The easiest way to elevate your look in seconds is to wear a bold lipstick color. The rest of your makeup can be as natural as you want because you've chosen to keep the drama in one place. This red lip look is sophisticated and perfect for New Year's Eve. Find a red lipstick that you feel really good in, and shape your lips with a matching lip liner to ensure the color stays put. Voila!

Celestial Eyes

close up of sparkling silver eye makeup

@mikaylaraedavis / Instagram

An easy way to amp up your beauty game for the most popular party night of the year is to bring in reinforcements. Applying sparkly eyeshadow around the eyes brings a whimsical touch to your look and takes no time at all to do. Apply your eyeliner as you normally would, whether you choose to wear a wing or smudge it up around the lashes. After you've applied your liner, blend a shimmering holographic eyeshadow around the top and bottom of the eye to add the slightest touch of sparkle.

Color Pop

Silver eyeshadow with peach liner on lower waterline

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Eye makeup looks that take minimal effort yet make a statement are the best looks for NYE. The shimmery cream eyeshadow and pop of liner color in the inner bottom rim of the eyes adds just enough detail to your makeup: People will think you spent a lot of time conjuring up such a masterpiece. Choose what eyeliner color you like best, and after you've blended your shadow on the lid, trace the bottom rim of your eyes with the liner to add the winning detail.

Rosy Flush

Model wears dramatic blended blush and eyeshadow look

@lisaeldridgemakeup / Instagram

Incorporating the same colors on the eyes, cheeks, and lips is a sure-fire way to step up your NYE makeup game without having to use several products at once. Monochromatic makeup is always a good idea, and this exhibit of pink hues has us wanting to try this look immediately. To re-create this look, all you need to do is blend an eyeshadow, blush, and lip color in the same color family on your eyes, cheeks, and lips. If you want to bring in a contrasting color for the final touch, apply it in the corners of the eyes for a subtle twist.

Glistening Chrome Lids

Gigi Hadid wears an iridescent sparkly eye makeup look and voluminous waves

@gigihadid / Instagram

A metallic eyeshadow that has a foil-like finish takes seconds to apply and lasts all night. No matter what you're wearing for NYE, this eyeshadow will complement anything. Apply an eyeshadow base and follow up with blending the eyeshadow to eyelids with a blending brush, or your finger. Your lids will be glistening and turning plenty of heads.

Glitter and Gold

Model wears golden glitter eye makeup and burgundy lipstick

@frenchtouchofmakeup / Instagram

We like to think it's appropriate to wear glitter any time of year, yet New Year's Eve gives us the green light to wear as much glitter as we want (and we plan to). Gold glitter on the eyelids followed with a dramatic lip takes little to no time at all to do yourself. Apply glitter to lids with an eyeshadow brush and then move on to a bold lipstick of your choice. We're in love with this Gatsby-esque look, by the way.

Byrdie Tip

When wearing glitter, it's essential to stick to one color, so the eyes look uniform. Applying a glitter like Lemonhead's Gildebeest Spacepaste in Champagne Wishes, ($22) will work well in helping to execute this look.

Juicy Jewel Tones

Model with purple jewel-toned eyeshadow and subtle berry lip

@beasweetbeauty / Instagram

Jewel-toned eyeshadow is always a good idea when you want to play with color on the eyes. Whether you choose emerald, sapphire, amethyst, or gold tones, wearing color will enhance any New Year's Eve makeup look. Apply your jewel-toned shadow of choice on the lids with a blending brush and bring the shadow down under the bottom lash line if you want to make it appear smokier.

Watercolor Lips

Model wears blended pink lip stain and natural lashes

@kellijbartlett / Instagram

Wearing an ombré lip stain is a perfect way to tie in a popular beauty trend and be fully prepared for New Year's Eve and whatever the night may bring. First, choose your lipstick color (preferably on the bold side) and apply it to the center of your lips. After you've applied, use a fluffy brush or your finger to blend the lipstick outward to the rest of the lips to create a more sheer, washed-out color effect. Brushed-up brows and dewy skin are the perfect accompaniment to this look. Need a step by step? Check out this easy ombré lip stain tutorial.

Abstract Details

Model with graphic black eyeliner and platinum buzz cut

@dausell / Instagram

This year switch up your standard winged eyeliner by creating an abstract detail that will set you apart from the rest. Apply your liquid liner like you normally would across the lash line and then extend the line from the end of the wing, up and above the crease. This steps up your winged eyeliner ever so slightly and is ideal for special occasions. Apply a sheer highlight in the corners of your eyes to set the look and add a touch of sparkle.

Iridescent Liner

yara shahidi with iridescent eyeliner

@nikki_makeup / Instagram

Yara Shahidi kept her look super simple: neutral lid and lip, and some illuminating bronzer for her face. For her eyes, there's also not much to do here but draw out a heavy winged upper lid and line the top in an iridescent pencil. Shahidi wears blue here, but we think silver, gold, or a fun rose gold would be perfect in keeping with the metallics that New Year's Eve is associated with.

Colored Liner with a Heavy Wing

selma hayek with a heavy winged blue and black liner

@nikki_makeup / Instagram

Sometimes, you just have to let your eyes do all the talking, or in this case, your eyeliner. Selma Hayek's heavily winged black and metallic blue eyeliner works with any color combo. Try Ulta Beauty Collection's Gel Eyeliner Pencil ($9) in Starry Night for the perfect shimmery blue.

Mocha Lover

lori harvey with smoky taupe makeup

@nikki_makeup / Instagram

This taupe smoky eye and glossy milk chocolate lip combo complements Lori Harvey's skin beautifully. Brown smoky looks are just as beautiful as their heavier, richly pigmented charcoal counterparts. BareMinerals Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($20) in Latte is the perfect shimmery palette to nail this look. Apply a brown lip liner and feather into the center of your lips with a lipstick brush. Apply a shimmery balm or gloss over top and you're good to go.

Sheer and Glazed

hailey bieber with sheer glazed makeup

@nikki_makeup / Instagram

We credit Hailey Bieber for just about everything sheer and glazed. Her complexion, her makeup, her nails (which sent the beauty world into a spiral remember?). This look is the much more subdued cousin to all of the glitter looks you'll see this New Year's Eve, but it's still a shimmering star in our books.

To start out, makeup artist Nikki Wolf applied a glowing foundation with a soft brush and concealer to Bieber's under eyes for a bright finish before applying bronzer to match her skin tone. For Bieber's eyes, a soft shadow base in a shade that complements her bronzer was applied, and then a dark brown liner was used to wing out her outer corners. Wolf applied a pink lavender glitter overtop (try MAC Dazzleshadow in Shine De-Light, $24) to achieve the glazed effect. The look was topped off with a nude-lined lip and Bieber's Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment ($16).

Classic with Bold Lashes

margot robbie with classic natural makeup and bold lashes

@patidubroff / Instagram

Margot Robbie looks stunning in absolutely everything. But her classic, natural face and lip makeup and bold lashes made sure that her sequined black dress and sleek, center-parted hair stole the show at the Oscars. For this quietly glamorous look, apply a peach blush to your cheeks and neutral lip color with gloss over top. For the eyes, keep the lids almost bare and focus on the lashes and a smoky liner. We love Victoria Beckham's Satin Kajal Liner in Black ($30) and the addition of some false lashes might be fun!

Lavender Dreams

ashley park in head to toe lavender

@ashleyparklady / Instagram

If you're considering a monochrome look for New Year's Eve, go all out and style from head to toe. Ashley Park's lavender lids can be achieved with the ultra-pigmented ColourPop Lav_ish Shadow Palette ($14), which also features several glitter options for more sparkle. Keep your blush and lips light and simple so as not to draw attention away from your eyes.

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