Navratri 2026 makeup guide: 9 days, 9 stunning looks to match your festive mood

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Navratri is that time of the year when getting ready is almost as exciting as the celebrations themselves. You have colourful outfits to pick, jewellery to match, Garba nights to plan, and, of course, makeup looks to go with it all. Instead of sticking to the same look every day, try something different. Keep it soft and simple one day, add a little colour the next, or go all out with a glam look when you’re in the mood. There are plenty of ways to have fun with makeup while still keeping it easy to wear. For expert advice, we spoke with Monika Khullar, Head of Training and Artistry at Anastasia Beverly Hills, who shared easy ways to create nine different makeup looks for the nine days of Navratri.

For the first day, keep things easy and fresh. Keep in mind to make the base minimal this will let the natural skin show through, and in between, add a soft peachy blush that would go with your peach nude lip. Shape the brows neatly and finish with mascara. You don’t need too many layers or a lot of makeup to get that festive feel. Monika says, “Sometimes, keeping it simple and letting your skin show through is all you need for a fresh festive look. When you are starting with a softer look, focus on fresh skin and a little colour on the cheeks. You don’t always need a lot of makeup to look festive.”

Gold and festive makeup go hand in hand. For Day 2, a touch of gold is all you need to create a festive glow, no extra glitter required. Try a warm brown or nude eyeshadow and add a little gold shimmer or a light gold metallic eyeshadow to the centre of the eyelid. Keep the lip liner soft and pair it with a nude lip. Keep the rest of the makeup simple and let the eyes shine with a touch of gold that catches the light beautifully.

Bring some pink into your look with a rosy blush, a soft pink eyeshadow, and a pink or mauve lip. The shades don’t have to match perfectly. Just pick colours from the same family and the whole look will come together naturally. Monochrome makeup is very easy to create at home. Pick one colour family and play with different shades of it on your eyes, cheeks and lips. It looks put together without requiring too many products.

If you usually keep your eyeliner simple, try a small wing on day 4. It doesn’t have to be bold even a tiny flick at the outer corner can make your eyes look more lifted. Keep the eyes easy with a neutral or slightly shimmery/metallic eyeshadow, tidy brows, and a coat of mascara. Add a little nude peachy blush to the cheeks and finish with a nude lip. This look is perfect with a colourful outfit because the makeup stays simple but still stands out. A waterproof eyeliner is also a good idea, especially if you’re heading out for Garba and know you’ll be wearing the makeup for hours.

For this look, keep the eye makeup to a minimum and let the blush stand out. Go for a bright pink or warm rose shade and add it little by little until you get the colour you like. Keep the eyes soft and finish with a nude lip for a simple, subtle kind of look. “Blush can completely change the look of the face. Start with a small amount and build it gradually. This gives you a fresh flush instead of making the colour look too strong,” says Monika.

Heading out for Garba or Dandiya? This is a good day to bring out the bronze eyeshadow. Start with a warm brown eyeshadow on the lids and add a bit of bronze in the middle. Add eyeliner and mascara, and keep the lips in a warm nude or caramel shade. It’s festive without feeling like you’ve put too much makeup on. If you’re wearing gold/silver jewellery, the bronze tones will look even better with it. The idea is to make the eyes stand out without making the whole look feel too much.

After a few softer looks, it’s time to let the lips do the talking. Lead with a berry, deep rose, or wine shade. Keep the eyes simple with a bit of eyeshadow and mascara. You can use a lip liner before the lipstick if you want a cleaner finish. Since Garba nights can go on for hours, pick a lipstick that won’t need too many touch-ups.

Smoky eyes don’t always have to mean black eyeshadow. In fact, brown and bronze can give you a much softer result and are easier to wear with colourful Indian outfits. If you’re trying a smoky eye for the first time, brown is a great colour to start with. Keep the colour darker close to the lashes and blend it well up to the crease for a soft, defined look without making the eyes too dark. This gives the eyes some definition without making the look too heavy. Keep the cheeks softly flushed and finish with a pink lip.

With nine days of celebrations, your makeup has to keep up too. Between Garba, travelling, meeting friends and taking pictures, you’ll want your makeup to stay put for as long as possible. Start with well-moisturised skin and give your skincare a little time to settle before putting on makeup. Long-wearing products can help, especially when it comes to your base. For late-night Garba sessions, waterproof eyeliner and mascara are also worth reaching for. Once you’re done, lock it all with a setting spray it will help bring everything together.

But perhaps the best Navratri makeup tip is not to take it too seriously. You don’t need a completely different face every day. Change one thing: a new lip colour, a different eyeshadow, or a brighter blush- and see what you like. Nine days give you nine chances to experiment. After all, Navratri is about celebrating, dancing, and having a good time, so whether you love soft peach, bright pink, golden shimmer, or a bold berry lip. Your makeup should add to that, not become another thing you have to worry about.