Caught up in the excitement of going out for the holidays, many women go overboard with makeup.

"People think they have to pack on the glitter when it’s not necessary," said John Stapleton, senior artist for M.A.C Cosmetics. "You don’t have to use a lot of products when simplicity can have more of an impact."

Stapleton was in town for last weekend’s "Divine Night" event celebrating the brand’s 1970s glam-inspired holiday collection, honoring late fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez. The illustrator’s work graced the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Interview and The in the Studio 54 era, when he was credited with discovering Grace Jones, Tina Chow and model Jerry Hall.

The timing is perfect considering the ’70s moment on the big screen in films like "American Hustle," and the return of Ron Burgundy in "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues."

"Forecasting played a part in it, but makeup for the holiday is driven by lighting," Stapleton said. "It gets dark a little earlier, so we think of candlelight dinners and ways to light up the skin, like using mineral powders with a built-in sheen. It adds dimension to the cheek so it gleams more in the light."

On shirtless male models, he was showing shoulders prepped with M.A.C’s Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Powder, and Strobe Cream, which offers an otherworldly opalescence that varies with the way light hits the skin. Think Ziggy Stardust. After that the models were patted down with a light dusting of M.A.C Pigment in "Old Gold" for an overall glow.

Women’s lips were finished with "Prepare for Pleasure" Divine Night lipstick. A ’70s look would not be complete without contouring, though this time around, Stapleton said the new contouring is with color that ranges from the coral pink of "Lured to Love" to the violet pearl of "Lavish Living."

If people can add only three products to their makeup cache, he recommends a touch of coral on the cheeks, then something that shimmers, such as the Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Powder or Strobe Cream.

Finally, bring a little focus to the eyes with M.A.C Pro Longwear’s 12-hour smudge-free and water-resistant eye liner. He said that for women past 40, it’s best to bring focus directly to the eye with liner instead of using a lot of eye shadow or trying to create a crease that may call more attention to wrinkles and imperfections.

The liner look inspired by Amy Winehouse reflects a rock ‘n’ roll, slept-in nonchalance.

"It’s a broken-up, deconstructed look," Stapleton said. "It’s a runway look, but people want their makeup to look more perfect and clean. You can get the effect by making it a little more smudgy."