Neither the Grinch nor the state of the economy can stop Christmas from coming, but the latter has taken its toll on the way we choose to celebrate.

Gone are the gala balls and ostentatious see-and-be-seen holiday fetes of years past. The new austerity calls for more low-key and intimate affairs. That leaves fewer reasons to dress up for the holidays.

Even so, the partyers among us are not likely to pass up an opportunity to bring a little of the season’s shine into our lives. Here are a few little ways to sparkle for the holidays:

» Bare Escentuals bareMinerals High Shine Eyecolor. This comes in an array of bold metallic hues ranging from “Ice,” a pretty frosted pink, to “Electric,” a deep teal. The High Shine Eyecolor ($16) delivers a high-intensity sheen with a wand applicator for those who are never sure how much of the brand’s original loose minerals to apply. Rice lipids help it glide on smoothly. You can use Bare Escentuals Prime Time eyelid primer ($18) to help the minerals set, but I find moisturizer and/or a dab of liquid foundation before application works fine. Use a wide eye shader brush to blend and remove excess minerals and finish with gel eye liner.

» Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure. This is the jarred version ($17) of the pink-haired designer’s Sparklicity Shimmer Dust ($39). The sparkle powder is pure reflective pixie dust that adds a lightweight, playful shimmer to eyes, cheeks, lips, even hair. It contains no binders to mute the sparkle, so you’ll need to apply a primer to hold it in place. Even then, some straw particles will turn up in some unexpected places on your face, but take it in stride and vow to stress less over such manini details in 2012. Find it at Sephora in colors ranging from Pure Opal to Pure Bronze.

» House of Harlow 1960. The newly open Milk & Honey, downtown at 1128 Smith St., is one of a handful of boutiques carrying the jewelry line by Nicole Richie, and believe it or not, this Three-Strand Evil Eye Headpiece is one of the best sellers at the shop. It’s 14-karat gold-plated and bound to attract all eyes to you. More conservative types might opt for the equally popular Evil Eye rings in gold or silver plate ($55), tribal wrap rings ($65), three-stack jagged rings ($70) or any number of fashionable designs by Paris Hilton’s former BFF.

» Prada. Prada’s amazing holiday jewelry collection calls for a party in its own right, if not a starring role in a period motion picture. The collection includes opulent Belle Epoque necklaces and dangling Crystal Rose Earrings, as well as this more subtle, narrow resin rosebud and crystal bracelet ($595). It offers just enough sparkle to make you feel like the belle of the ball, even if you’re simply out grocery shopping or stuck at the office.

» Tiffany. The little blue box is as welcome a gift at Christmas as any other time of year, and the holidays brings its own special seasonal charms in familiar Tiffany Blue-enamel and sterling silver. They include a gingerbread man, candy cane, mittens, snowflake, snowman, knit cap, Christmas stocking and, of course, a Tiffany box or shopping bag charm that can be worn year-round. The charms run from about $150 to $250 each. Also available, with a holiday twist, is a sterling silver Twist ring, for $250.

» Coach. All you need to carry for the holidays is cash and red lipstick for those encounters under the mistletoe. Both would fit nicely in a range of small special-occasion purses, including, from left to right, the Poppy Sequins Mini ($128), Poppy Leather Flower Party Bag ($298) or the Occasion Sequin cross-body bag ($198).