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Holidays are a time for dressing up and looking your best, whether you want to go all out and get glamorous or just add a little color to your everyday look. Famed beauty expert and beauty director of ELLE magazine Emily Dougherty shares her best holiday beauty advice, along with tips from some of the most famous makeup artists and hair stylists in the world, as featured in the beauty pages of ELLE magazine.    

Fragrance: “With all the fragrances out there, it can be tough picking the right one for the right person,” says Dougherty. Every month ELLE reveals its readers’ favorites in the Top 5 feature. ELLE polls readers across the country on their specific favorites in a hot beauty category and readers log on to ELLE.com to share their picks. For the December issue, Dougherty asked readers to pick their favorite scents that never miss. According to them, you can’t go wrong with one of these winners: Benefit Maybe Baby, Chanel No. 5 Parfum, Clinique Happy, Thierry Mugler Angel Eau de Parfum, and Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne.

Skin: “If you have a little time, prep your skin for a night out with a smoothing scrub,” Dougherty advises. “Follow with a light moisturizer, and then put concealer just where you need it.” Finish with a dusting of powder. Celeb tip: For a face perfect for holiday photos, Gina Brooke, makeup artist to Madonna, suggests prepping the skin with Lisa Ashley The Ultimate Moisturizer Silicone Spray, for an immaculate complexion.”

Eyes: “Adding a little eyeliner is the quickest way to add drama for night,” says Dougherty. “This year, try deep, beautiful jewel-tones, like emerald or plum. If you’re not so brave, brown and black are always good options.” Celeb tips: Kristofer Buckle, makeup artist to Renee Zellweger, says, “You can transform any pale daytime color into a sultry smolder by mixing it with some La Femme black eye shadow.” To brighten eyes, Joanna Schlip, makeup artist to Laura Linney, always uses Rhoto Zi eye drops, to refresh make tired eyes and give them sparkle for the camera.

Lips: “Put aside your everyday gloss and dress up with a lipstick,” Dougherty says. “Companies have put skincare technology into lipstick formulas, so you get incredible moisturization along with color.” Celeb tips: Kristofer Buckle loves Dior Rouge lipsticks in Fiery Red and Whispering Plum, “Dramatic red lips always up your diva quotient,” Buckle says. To get holiday-photo-perfect lips, Jo Strettell, Demi Moore’s makeup artist, makes her own moisturizing lipstick. She dips a Duwop Neutral Lip Pencil into a pot of Le Mer lip balm before drawing it over the mouth. You never want dry, flaky lips on camera,” Strettell says.

Hair: “Lace and thin jeweled headbands are a beautiful way to keep stray locks in place,” says Dougherty. “If your hair tends to get limp by the end of the day, pull it back in a smooth chignon.” Celeb tips: To smooth ends after blow-drying, Peter Butler, Lindsay Lohan’s stylist, uses Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Weightless Anti-Frizz Serum. For an updo-ready root boost and to help teasing hold, Ted Gibson, Angelina Jolie’s stylist, suggests sprinkling a little Johnson’s Baby Powder into the crown, carefully avoiding the hairline.     “Remember, it’s the holidays, so anything goes,” Dougherty says. “Be brave and try something new.”

ELLE’s Emily Dougherty is a leading voice in all things beauty. Not just a beauty maven, Dougherty is an investigative journalist who aims to cut through the beauty confusion and report fairly on the newest ingredients, best trends, and most wearable shades, providing real beauty know-how for every woman.