A Winter Constellation by CHANEL

Words by Maya Avram

Star constellations and twinkling lights epitomise the festive season, it's also a time when beauty becomes an expression of joy. CHANEL’s Holiday 2025 Collection draws on Gabrielle Chanel’s fascination with the cosmos and the eternal allure of the night sky. Limited-edition eye palettes, blushes and lips colours shimmer with iridescent finishes, designed to celebrate the year’s end with elegance and a touch of celestial glamour.

The collection was dreamt up by CHANEL’s makeup creation studio and Cécile Paravina, a visionary artist handpicked for her trailblazing approach to beauty. Embodying Gabrielle Chanel’s spirit of innovation, she reinterpreted the Maison’s codes through a celestial lens, delivering a mesmerising line-up of limited-edition creations. Highlights include the LES 4 OMBRES eye palette in glowing blue and violet tones; LES SIGNES DE CHANEL Illuminating Powder Blush in delicate shades of rose and peach; and ROUGE ALLURE VELVET Luminous Matte Lip Colour in two refined shades of rosewood. Completing the collection is its pièce de résistance, the covetable fragrance purse sprays in black and ivory – an ode to timeless elegance.

Eyes shimmer like stardust for The Comet look, echoing the flickering radiance of a midnight sky. “It’s such a universal look,” says CHANEL UK make-up artist Anne Payne, noting the blue gradient shades flatter all skin tones and eye colours. Begin by defining the eyes with the STYLO YEUX Long-Lasting Eyeliner in ‘Noir Intense’, adding depth and dimension. Next, sweep on the limited-edition LES 4 OMBRES eye palette in ‘Nuit Astrale’, a quartet of celestial blues, violets and greys that “feel really creamy, making them easy to blend as they set in a beautiful satin finish,” Payne explains. To soften the cool drama, apply LES SIGNES DE CHANEL Illuminating Powder Blush in ‘Pêche Lumière’ on the cheeks. Its warm hue offers a lifting effect, enhanced by the pearlescent CHANELBAUME ESSENTIAL in ‘Sculpting’ which lends your complexion a frosted flush. Finish with ROUGE ALLURE Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in ‘Abstrait’ – a powdery pink that glides onto skin, leaving a luminous finish that ties together this constellation of celestial tones.

Inspired by the glittering blaze of the stars, The Lion Look delivers bold, seasonal intensity. Begin by defining the top and bottom lash lines with SIGNATURE DE CHANEL Intense Longwear Eyeliner Pen in ‘Noir’ for depth and dimension. Then, “on the top lid, use LE LINER DE CHANEL in the red-toned ‘Écarlate’, and on the bottom, the orange-tint ‘Flamboyant’,” says Payne, noting how beautifully the combination highlights the eyes. On the lips, the vinyl-like texture of ROUGE ALLURE LAQUE Ultrawear Shine Liquid Lip Colour glides effortlessly, making a statement in crimson. “The warm tone feels particularly seasonal – what better time to wear a bright lip than at Christmas?” Payne points out. Sculpt and illuminate the complexion with LES SIGNES DE CHANEL Illuminating Powder Blush in ‘Pêche Lumière’, a peachy hue infused with golden light. As the final flourish, massage COCO MADEMOISELLE Body Oil in ‘Pearly’ across the skin for an all-over glow that feels as decadent as it looks.