5 Makeup Bag Must-Haves for the Holidays

The holiday season is a busy time for all of us – simplify your routine with these five makeup bag must-haves that will take you from work to play to one holiday party after another, all season long!

1. Red Lipstick

This season, it’s all about the perfect red pout. Even if you’ve never worn red lipstick before, you can easily find a flattering shade for your skin tone. Trust me – there is the perfect red lipstick out there for you, so don’t be afraid to own it and flaunt your perfect pout this holiday season. One to try: e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Royal Red , $5, eyeslipsface.com.

2. Gel Eyeliner

Longer lasting than pencil liners and easier to apply than a liquid, gel eyeliners are the perfect way to play up your eyes this holiday season. They take a little effort to master, but once you pull it off you’ll love how long-wearing gel liners are! Grab a basic black shade for a classic smokey eye, but don’t be afraid to be daring and add a splash of royal purple or blue to your holiday look. One to try: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, $21, Sephora.com.

3. Illuminating Highlighter

Leave the glitter body gel to teenagers and instead subtly highlight cheekbones, decollete and other strategic areas with an illuminating highlighter to help you look luminous and radiant for all of your holiday parties. One to try: Victoria’s Secret Luminous Cheek & Face Highlighter, $14, Victoria’s Secret.

4. Metallic Eyeshadow

Personally, I think metallic eyeshadow looks great any time of the year – but especially during the holiday season when you really want to make a statement! Silver and gold are my go-to colors for this time of year, but feel free to play around with unexpected metallic shades such as teal or purple for a unique look. One to try: SEPHORA COLLECTION Mini Eyeshadow Palette – Metallize, $12, Sephora.

5. Tinted Moisturizer

A lightweight, tinted moisturizer can help create the perfect canvas for flawless makeup application and allows your skin to breathe. If you’re more of a full-coverage gal, you can still get by with a tinted moisturizer by choosing one with more coverage. One to try: Benefit Cosmetics you rebel SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer, $30, BenefitCosmetics.com.

These are my picks for the top makeup bag must-haves this holiday season; do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts below!