As far as holiday eye makeup goes, glitter gets all the love. Think metallic shadows, sparkly cut creases, even a rhinestone or two planted at the outer corners for some pizzazz. The glitzy display is well warranted: During a season defined by magic and joy, why not twinkle like a string of holiday lights? Glisten like a glass of Champagne on New Year's Eve? Yet again, this year's celebrations might look different from pre-pandemic jaunts, but your bedazzled visage can still make a festive statement. An ode to the glitter-dusted floor of an epic holiday party. 

Think of how you use highlighter: By spotlighting areas of your face with a pearly hue, you're carving your bone structure and helping those cheekbones stand out. That's exactly what's going on here with eyelighter—but instead of your cheekbones, you're "carving" your eyelids with an icy shadow. This detail helps every eye shape catch the light in just the right places, thus making the orbs appear brighter and wide-awake. 

Highlighting certain regions also creates the illusion of a dewier lid, if that's what you're after: "You can get that glossy eye without having the tackiness of a gloss [actually] on the eye," says celebrity makeup artist Dillon Peña. The light catches on different parts of the eyelid, just like a shiny gloss would.

First and foremost, it's important you choose an icy, iridescent shade. Pearly whites, frosty blues, shimmery pinks all fit the bill—just make sure the shadow has cool tones. "It reflects more light and adds dimension, making eyes appear more open," says Khan. While you can opt for a warmer tone if you choose, a frosted, icy shade adds a cool, wintertime beat. Think more snow queen, less disco queen (although, we adore both). 

For those of you wondering: Yes, you can always just use a straight-up pearl highlighter on the lids. A highly pigmented eyeshadow might make it easier to deliver more impact, but if you prefer a subtler look, by all means, repurpose your go-to highlighter. The product itself isn't necessarily what's important here (aside from the cool-toned shade); it's the strategic placement of the eyelighter that helps the eyes stand out.