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Although we love the natural glow and bronzed looks that come with summer makeup looks, there’s something about the winter months that makes us feel like we can really experiment with our makeup. We don’t have to worry about things melting off in the heat, or how water-resistant our mascara is when we’re in and out of the pool, we can have a bit more fun with the makeup we’re putting on our faces.
Whether you’re trying to come up with memorable looks during the holiday season, or just want to embrace your natural beauty while leaning into the season’s biggest beauty trends, we’re rounding up some of the best winter makeup looks that have been sported by plenty of makeup enthusiasts.
Here is a comprehensive guide to some of the most dazzling winter makeup trends, and all of the essential makeup products you’ll need to recreate the easiest looks.
Bold Lips
The winter season calls for drama, and what better way to make a statement than with bold lips? Deep, rich hues take center stage, and we’d encourage you to explore a range of shades from sultry reds and luxurious berries to dark brown vampy lips that will always be iconic in the colder months. This isn’t one of the new trends we’ll be discussing, it’s been a popular choice on red carpets for years, but it always seems to come back into fashion around the winter months.
Dark lipstick and bold red lips may seem like a bit of adventurous lipstick look if you’re not used to wearing darker colors, but you shouldn’t let these shades scare you off. If you’re choosing deep berries, plum tones, or red lipstick, you can create a beautiful winter makeup look without trying too hard with the rest of your face. To ensure your bold lip steals the spotlight, keep the rest of your makeup understated with a light layer of liquid foundation, minimal makeup around the eye area, and a subtle blush — don’t forget the lip liner either to make sure that your lipstick stays in place all day long.Â
Our favorite products for bold lips:
Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick
MAC Lipstick Matte
Glitter and Metallic Accents
It wouldn’t be party season without a bit of glitter but don’t think glitter and metallic hues are just for Christmas and New Year’s. Whether you prefer a subtle shimmer or a dazzling, disco-inspired glow, incorporating some glitter or metallic eyeshadow could really elevate your makeup routine.
For the perfect winter look, try using graphic eyeliner for a dramatic look or a pop of color for memorable eye makeup looks that let you start the new season in style. You could also experiment with metallic eyeshadows in shades like silver, gold, and bronze or a bold color like red, blue, or yellow. We love to look up graphic liner looks and other winter makeup ideas on Pinterest for inspiration which should make it easier for you to come up with incredible looks. Our favorite ways to wear glitter are byÂ
If you’re worried about glitter makeup application and how easy it will be to remove after longer nights out spent partying, you need to remember to pay a bit more attention to your makeup removal to make sure there’s none left on your face. The best way to remove glitter is to start by using some micellar water and a cotton pad to remove the bulk of the glitter (pay close attention to the upper and lower lash line where glitter can be harder to remove), and then follow up with a cleansing balm and your typical skincare routine.
Our favorite products for glitter and metallic looks:
Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Flakes
MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Crystal Reflector
ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow
Dewy Skin
You don’t leave your glowing makeup products just for the summer look, this season is all about embracing dewy skin. Skip the face powder and recreate a fresh-from-the-cold glow with hydrating foundations, liquid highlighter, lip gloss, and cream blushes that give a natural flush.
To achieve the dewy look, start with a moisturizing skin care routine to create a smooth canvas — especially if you have dry skin. Opt for a foundation with a dewy finish, focusing on areas where light naturally hits your face. Highlight the high points of your face, such as the cheekbones and bridge of the nose, with a liquid or cream highlighter. Finish the look with a cream blush in a soft, rosy hue for a radiant and youthful appearance.
For an extra healthy glow, try out some bronzing drops, dab some highlight in the inner corner of the eye, and use facial mist as the perfect way to keep your skin hydrated throughout the day. Dewy skin is great for a clean girl vibe where you embrace the natural look and minimal makeup. It’s a look that works well for all skin types but, if you do have oilier skin, you may want to powder your t-zone so you still get a radiant glow without looking greasy.
Our favorite products for the dewy skin look:
e.l.f Halo Glow
Indeed Labs Nanobronze Bronzing Drops
CoverGirl Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss
Monochromatic Makeup
Coordinated makeup looks are a timeless trend, which is why a monochromatic look is super on-trend at the moment. This winter, explore the beauty of a single color palette across your eyes shadow, lips, and cheeks — whether you want to keep it simple with neutral, brown hues, or take a step out of your comfort zone by incorporating bright colors, following a theme is the best way to approach makeup this season.
Choose a color scheme that complements your skin tone, makes your eyes pop, and embraces the true winter season. For a warm and inviting look, opt for shades of terracotta, peach, or rusty red that can be used to create a smoky eye look with some brown liquid liner or eye shadow smudged along the upper lash line. If you tend to gravitate more toward cooler tones like mauve, lavender, or icy pink, look for similar shades that can be used on the lips, cheeks, and eyes.
Our favorite products for the monochromatic look:
Tower 28 OneLiner Lip Liner + Eyeliner + Cheek Pencil
Merit Solo Shadow
Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick
“I’m Cold” Makeup
You’ve probably heard of the ‘I’m cold’ or ‘cold girl’ makeup trend going around on Tiktok at the moment and, as the temperatures drop, let your cheeks reflect the chilly weather with some berry or rosy blush shades that will make you look like you’ve just stepped in from colder weather. The idea is to mimic the flush color your cheeks would naturally go to when you’re outside having a great time enjoying your snow days this colder season. There are always flushed cheek trends during the winter, but this year the cold girl look has been extremely popular so make sure you’ve got your rosy blushes at the ready.
Berry blush shades, ranging from rich cranberries to deep plum tones with a purple hue, add warmth and dimension to your complexion. Apply the cream or powder blush to the apples of your cheeks, blending it gently towards your temples for a natural yet impactful effect. For the rest of your makeup, we’d recommend sticking with clean skin with minimal bronzer, a classic cat eye, with some lip balm or glossy lips to complete the look.
Our favorite products for the ‘I’m Cold’ look:
Pixi On-the-Glow Blush
RMS Beauty ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush
Saie Dew Blush
Latte Makeup
Another popular trend on social media is the ‘latte’ makeup trend, inspired by the hues of your favorite winter beverages, this trend embraces soft, earthy tones like warm browns, muted taupes, and creamy neutrals that offer a new take on the traditional monochromatic looks. We’re seeing celebrity makeup artists recreating this trend at NYC and Paris Fashion Week, but it’s also a great way to play around with the neutral shades we all have in our makeup kits already.
For latte makeup, we’re thinking about those warm coffee browns and creamy shades that are blended together to achieve a seamless transition between shades. We’d normally go for matte eye shadows rather than shimmers, using a light brown across the lids, a darker shade in the crease, and then a light cream all across the inner corner and brow bone. You can then pair this with a nude lip, like the new lip colors from Naturium that we can’t get enough of. Although this look is perfect for everyday looks, you can also amp it up and use darker brown shades to create smokey eyes or a bold eyes look depending on the occasion.
Our favorite products for the latte makeup look:
MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette
Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick
Jones Road The Bronzer
Conclusion
Winter is a great time to experiment with your makeup looks, so take full advantage of these colder months and try some of the makeup trends that we’ve discussed. From the drama of bold lips to dazzling glitter eyeshadows, this season’s makeup trends have something for everyone.
