Fashion

16 Must-Have Holiday 2016 Makeup Sets

by Rosie Narasaki

It's never too early to start gearing up for the holidays, is it? I mean, sure, Christmas carols playing on a loop in all your favorite stores starting the day after Thanksgiving can get a little annoying, but all the fun holiday 2016 makeup sets make it all more than worth it. The holidays really do bring on quite the beauty smorgasbord — if you're not scoring amazing deals on sets to split with your friends, you're at least getting a hold of to-die-for limited edition shades and next-level packaging. There's so much out there that it's honestly tough not to go a little bit overboard.

This year's yuletide tidings are, to put it lightly, amazing. You'll find that, in addition to the all-inclusive palette and mini lipstick sets that are usually so popular this time of year, there are also a veritable ton of exciting new highlighting palettes currently hitting the market. This has definitely been a great year for highlighting, and this year's holiday makeup sets definitely reflect that.

All in all, it's clear that we're already gearing up for an exciting holiday season for makeup — and if I have any friends reading this article, let it be known that this is basically my Christmas list for the year.

1. Too Faced The Chocolate Shop

Too Faced The Chocolate Shop, $71, Amazon

No one does Christmas quite like Too Faced — they've already got to die for packaging, and come the Yuletide season, they seriously kick it into high gear. It's about as adorable as they come and it has everything in it, from a gorgeous selection of eyeshadows, bronzers, blushes, and illuminators, to other essentials, like their Better Than Sex mascara, and their Melted Lipstick.

2. Stila Star Light, Star Bright Highlighting Palette

Stila Star Light, Star Bright Highlighting Palette , $39, Sephora

This adorably named highlighter trio from Stila is basically the perfect stocking stuffer.

3. Urban Decay Blackmail Vice Lipstick Palette

Urban Decay Blackmail Vice Lipstick Palette, $25, Ulta

As uniquely (and chicly) packaged as you'd expect from any Urban Decay palette, this collection of lipsticks houses twelve shades, in every finish and color imaginable. Standouts include Big Bang (a metallic hot pink), 714 (a matte red), and Blackmail (a super deep matte berry wine).

4. Tarte Tartiest Paint Palette Collector's Set

Tarteist Paint Palette Collector's Set , $134, Amazon

Equipped with every neutral shade of eyeshadow you could ever want (and a few bolder options as well) Tarte's latest holiday palette also features three lovely blushes, a lip gloss, a mascara, and a brush.

5. Buxom 6 Degrees Below Sexy Plumping 6 Pc Mini Full-On Lip Polish Collection

Buxom 6 Degrees Below Sexy Plumping Lip Polish Collection , $24, Sephora

These tiny plumping glosses are universally flattering, and the tiny red bow makes the set a must-have.

6. Smashbox Light it Up 3 Palette Set

Smashbox Light it Up 3 Palette Set , $23, Sephora

If you're looking to go bold this holiday season, Smashbox has got your back with this eye/lip/contour trio. The other bonus for this gift set? Well, you can split the three palettes up and give them to three different friends (or two different friends, seeing as you'll likely want to keep at least one for yourself).

7. Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipsticks

Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipsticks, $49, Sephora

If you choose to split these mini lipsticks up, there's truly something for everyone — the set comes with every shade from a sedate mauve to a high-fashion navy blue.

8. Bobbi Brown Bobbi to Glow Shimmer Brick Palette

Bobbi Brown Bobbi to Glow Shimmer Brick Palette , $52, Sephora

Here's your chance to stock up on all of the Shimmer Bricks you've loved from afar — all three shades are completely distinct, and they're all mad pretty.

9. Laura Mercier Fall in Love Face Illuminator Collection

Laura Mercier Fall in Love Face Illuminator Collection , $96, Amazon

If you're feeling extra indulgent this year, this drop dead gorgeous illuminating palette might do just the trick. With its four buttery shades, it's sure to enhance any complexion.

10. Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite Set

Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite Set , $25, Sephora

Honestly, does it get any cuter than mini lipsticks for Christmas? These four neutrals are great together, or split up as tiny stocking stuffers.

11. Ciate London Mini Mani Month Nail Polish Set

Ciate London Mini Mani Month Nail Polish Set , $59, Sephora

Got a nail polish fanatic in your life? Make their day with the cutest advent calendar to ever exist.

12. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit - Surreal Light, $70, Amazon

A mix of pressed powder, bronzers, blushes, and illuminators, this palette is about as classy as they come. Housed in a chic marbled case, these five complexion-perfectors are something of a must.

13. Beautyblender + Too Faced Holiday Set

Beautyblender + Too Faced Holiday Set, $40, Sephora

This set combines two of your favorite brands and contains a beautyblender, a blotterazzi, and an adorable Too Faced eyeshadow duo.

14. Marc Jacobs Beauty Up All Night Five-Piece Petites Le Marc Lip Crème Collection

MJ Beauty Up All Night Five-Piece Petites Le Marc Lip Crème Collection, $35, Sephora

Well, I'll be darned if these five beautiful mini lipsticks don't come in the cutest Marc Jacobs makeup case around.

15. Becca Blushed with Light

BECCA Blushed with Light Palette, $33, Amazon

Becca's new palette isn't for sale yet (it's set to launch Sept. 26) but you'll definitely want to keep it in mind. It comes with two well-loved shades, a blush in Songbird, and an illuminator in Snapdragon — as well as a third, brand new shade dubbed Wisteria.

16. Lancome Juicy Tubes Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss Set

Lancome Juicy Tubes Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss Set, $32, Nordstrom

Lancome's Juicy Tubes may have had their hey day in the early 2000s, but they're just as awesome now as they were then.

Images: Courtesy Brands