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Breezing into each holiday soirée in a brand-new Tracy Feith number would be nice. But don't despair if this year the balance in your account won't support such grand entrances: Adding a few flashy items to your makeup bag instead of your closet is a cheaper means to the same effect.

By Sarah Bernard

Robin Narvaez, makeup artist at Borja Color Studio (118 East 57th Street; 212-308-3232), where West Chelsea impresario Amy Sacco and art world It-girl Yvonne Force get beautified, says holiday makeup is all about smokey, sexy eyes, defined by two contrasting shadows. She likes a combination of M.A.C.'s Beauty Marked, a dark metallic plum shadow ($12.50) and vanilla pigment with pink and gold flecks ($18) or Chanel's Euphoria eye-shadow palette, which comes with four colors, from coal to rosy pink ($52.50). Use the darker shade along the top and bottom lash lines, and the lighter shade as a highlighter above the crease. "No liquid liners!" pleads Narvaez. "You need to feel that it's soft. Start at the outer corners, then stop and look. It's all a building process. You can bring it in towards your nose in stages."

With dramatic lids, it's essential to define the brows Narvaez uses Elizabeth Arden's eyebrow powder ($16) in Sable for brunettes and Soft Blonde for everyone else. Finish the eye with this season's sixties throwback: fake lashes. M.A.C.'s are $7.50 for all sizes. "You can put them across the whole lid or cut them if you like, and stick them only on the outer edges," says Narvaez. Extend them further with two coats of mascara.

"Cheeks have to have a little more intensity than last year, when the eye was softer," notes Narvaez, who likes Clinique's rhubarb blush ($16.50). Meanwhile, lips are even lighter; line them with a neutral liner and fill in with a nude gloss. Try Trish McEvoy's Barely There lip liner ($16), which works with every lip tone and lipstick shade, and Sue Devitt Studio's Fire Island gloss ($18). If you can't give up your red, try a sheer one like midnight red from Chanel ($21.50). For extra sparkle, pick up a pot of glitter ($2.99 at Ray's Beauty Supply. "Just add a little dot right under the eyebrow."

Narvaez is offering 20 percent off her makeup applications ($100 instead of $125) at Borja Color Studio, as well as hair color treatments ($72 instead $90 for single process; highlights $140 to $180 instead of $175 to $225) until December 15.