It's party time! Soft-focus glamour ushers in the year-end beauty mood

For this season, soft blush with light tones add a gentle flush high on the cheeks. Photo: Armani Beauty

With year-end events filling the calendar, this time around makeup trends are taking on a refreshed mood.

For upcoming parties, weddings and festive gatherings, keep it glamorous, yes, but lighter, softer and infinitely more wearable.

Brand founders, beauty trainers and makeup artists agree that 2025’s year-end beauty is defined by radiant skin, gentle smokiness and colour choices that feel both celebratory and effortless.

Across the board, these experts favour clean, healthy-looking bases that let real skin shine through, paired with eyes in diffused browns, jewel tones or metallic shimmer.

Lips shift between glossy, juicy finishes and plush blurred textures, while blush stays lifted and natural with subtle highlights catching the light.

Whether it’s soft gothic glamour, festive reds and berries, or modern nude palettes, the season’s looks all share a common goal: enhancing your features with confidence, comfort and a touch of holiday magic.

Glowing skin

Warm golds and dark brown shades are a popular blend when it comes to eyeshadow. Photo: Azmier HisyamuqrisThis season’s complexion mood is all about fresh, healthy-looking skin that feels polished but never heavy.

Makeup artist Ellie Pahlavan notes that a flawless-but-fresh complexion is the main focus this year.

“Lightweight foundations, soft glow finishes and seamless blending are trending because people want to look like the best version of themselves, not overly filtered,” she says.

“This style photographs beautifully and lasts longer without looking heavy after hours of dancing or celebrating. It also pairs well with any lip or eye trend.”

Sisley Paris trainer Emmy Teo lists “glamour with a touch of boldness” as a top trend for skin.

“Focus on luminous skin and features. For the face, a flawless, glowy base is key.

To set the makeup while maintaining the glow, Teo recommends applying a perfecting, moisturising loose powder.

Read more: Vanity Fare: The latest holiday beauty offerings bringing festive glamour

Elegant enhancements

For this season, blush stays soft and lifted, with rose, coral and warm pink tones adding a gentle flush high on the cheeks.

Teo notes that this season, blush and highlighter trends are moving away from sharp contouring and towards soft, diffused blush placement.

“Blush is applied high on the cheekbones to lift and warm the complexion, with rose, coral or deep pink tones being most popular.

Highlighter follows the same “soft glow” direction: think cream textures, champagne or gold tones, and placement only on the high points for a subtle, light-catching sheen.

Mascara keeps the focus on fluttery volume, lifting and opening the eyes without looking overly dramatic. Photo: Ellie Pahlavan“The highlight should be subtle, placed just on the high points of the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and the cupid’s bow to catch the light naturally,” says Teo.

CEO and director of AMC Retail Malaysia Sdn Bhd (which brings in multi-brand Japanese beauty store Ainz & Tulpe) Naotsugu Kamijo says warm pinks and soft peach colours, applied lightly for a natural look, are all the rage right now.

“For highlighters, gold and champagne shades are in style, used on cheekbones, brow bones, and the nose to add a pretty, glowing shine that’s perfect for celebrations,” says Kamijo.

Makeup artist Azmier Hisyamuqris says that liquid blush is still going viral on social media, with creators experimenting with the trend in various ways.

“Liquid blush and textured highlighter are used to give off a glowing effect, with nude and pink hues continuing to be top choices,” he says.

Modern shimmers

Eye looks this season strike a balance between softness and impact, favouring diffused definition over harsh lines.

Azmier names “soft goth” as a top trend, which is the usage of wearable dark colours.

“Three words that encapsulate this are ‘timeless, bold and glam’, with a focus on monochromatic makeup, leaning towards dark browns and warm gold,” says Azmier.

“A popular eyeshadow hue that never goes out of style is brown as it’s a versatile option which can be styled in eyecatching ways.”.

Teo says that eyeshadow palettes are gravitating towards metallics and shimmer, with golds, bronzes and rich burgundy taking the lead.

“These are often layered over a deep matte base for dimension,” she adds.

Instead of harsh, high-contrast smokey eyes, the new trend is a diffused, smudged look using browns, taupes, or even soft metallics, says Pahlavan.

“This is popular because it’s easier to wear, looks more modern, and suits every age and face shape. People want drama, but in a softer, more sophisticated way,” she says, adding “Jewel tones, deep greens and purples also make an appearance for festive nights, often layered over matte bases for added depth.”

When it comes to eyeliner, blurring for a softer look rather than bold, graphic lines is more on-trend.

“Mascara keeps the focus on fluttery volume, lifting and opening the eyes without looking overly dramatic,” says Pahlavan.

Eyeshadow palettes are gravitating towards metallics and shimmer, with golds, bronzes and rich burgundy taking the lead. Photo: Sisley ParisEyeshadow hues that remain popular are deep and dark browns as they can be styled in many ways. Photo: Bobbi Brown

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Juicy freshness and bold sophistication

If bright and bold reds are shades you avoid throughout the year, party season is the perfect time to break them out.

“The popular colours are classic, vibrant reds with a slight blue undertone for maximum impact, and deep, cool-toned berry shades that feel luxurious and modern for evening events,” says Teo.

Kamijo shares this sentiment, naming bold reds and striking berry shades as popular hues, paired with a glossy finish.

According to Pahlavan, lips have two major directions this year.

“Glossy, juicy lips with lip oils or lip-plumping glosses, perfect for a hydrated, fresh look; and velvet, blurred lips inspired by South Korean beauty, which is all about soft edges, natural colour, and a very chic finish,” she says.

“Both styles are trending because they feel youthful, comfortable and less ‘done’ than the old bold lip approach. Gloss makes the face look fresher; blurred lips make the whole makeup look effortless but still put together,” she adds.

According to our four experts, minimal glam with a clean, perfected base is the overarching theme for year-end makeup trends.

“When the base is beautiful and natural, everything else falls into place. It looks timeless, sophisticated and very modern,” says Pahlavan.