2024 WINTER MAKEUP TRENDS: FROM FROSTY EYES TO BLURRED LIPS

Now that the holiday festivities have faded, it’s easy to feel a bit lost. But don’t let the cold weather dampen your spirits (or your makeup game)! Winter is the perfect time to unleash your inner artist and experiment with bold, beautiful looks.

As J. Brandon Correa, national makeup artist for YSL Beauté, puts it, “Winter beauty is all about playing with textures and making a statement.” So, let’s dive into the hottest winter makeup trends and discover how to create stunning looks that will brighten even the darkest days.

BOLD LIPS

If your winter wardrobe leans heavily on black and gray (guilty as charged), elevate your look with a pop of color on your lips. “A bold lip is a fantastic way to stand out during the winter, when fashion and weather often feel more subdued,” says Lobell. “Bright lips are perfect for the season, as they create a striking contrast against the pale or dull skin tones many experience in colder months. This contrast can enhance the complexion and bring a fresh, lively energy to your appearance.” Think crimson, deep berry, or vibrant Barbie fuchsia, paired with subtle, minimal makeup. “It’s a bold yet refined look, perfect for making a strong style statement during winter.”

SNOWLIT SHINE

Minimal makeup doesn’t have to be dull; it can dazzle just as much as a full face of blush, contour, and liner. “This trend allows your skin to ‘rest’ from heavy makeup routines,” says Correa. “It’s perfect for this season because it combines a snowy, luminous vibe with a radiant glow.” Inspired by the way sunlight reflects off snow, Correa brings that same shimmering brightness to the face. “Think clean, minimalist skin, translucent sparkles on the eyes, full lashes, and glowing lips.”

Since this look emphasizes glowing skin, Correa suggests using the YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen to conceal and brighten. Skip the contour and bronzer, focusing instead on your eyes by adding a shimmery topper to the center of the lids. “You can either do a light eye contour or let the shimmer stand on its own,” he says. Complete the look with mascara and a sheer, plumping lip balm like Candy Glaze.

STATEMENT EYELINER

Jillian Dempsey, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jillian Dempsey, was recently inspired by the UK’s colder weather and bold color palettes. One standout trend she noticed was statement eyeliner. “Eyes are big this winter. Expect eyeliners to make a major statement,” she shares. “The power of this look comes from lining both the upper and lower lids and creating a shape that suits your eyes.” Dempsey favors shades like blackberry, muted black, and deep mahogany for a fresh twist on classic browns and blacks. Think thick wings, waterlining, and exaggerated cat eyes—anything goes. “My Flyk Trick Mascara doubles as a 2-in-1 mascara and liquid liner, perfect for crafting your bold, personalized eyeliner look to match your winter plans,” says Dempsey.

JEWEL TONED EYES

If frosty finishes aren’t your style, opt for rich, vibrant jewel tones instead. Shades like sapphire, emerald, and ruby complement the icy whites and grays of your winter wardrobe beautifully. “I’m seeing a lot of brands pairing their burgundy collections with emerald and midnight blue mascaras and eyeliners,” says Spickard. “It’s a fun and easy way to add some variety to your makeup during these dark, cold months.” He recommends Lancôme’s colored mascaras, especially the emerald green Noir Malachite, for a subtle pop of unexpected color. For the lids, try the Pat McGrath Dark Star Eye Duo, which Spickard describes as “an opulent blue sapphire shimmer.” Add a gloss topper over the shadow to really enhance the sparkle and make the look shine.

DEWY GOLD

Feeling the winter chill? Warm up your look with glowing shades of gold. “Gold tones bring much-needed warmth to the skin, which can often appear dull in winter due to the lack of sunlight,” says Lobell. “The dewy finish of this trend helps counter the dryness that comes with cold weather, giving your skin a hydrated, healthy glow.” Even if you’re not escaping to a tropical paradise, your makeup can make you feel like you are.

“Think warm, golden hues that create a radiant, sun-kissed glow,” Lobell explains. “This look focuses on dewy skin, using gold-toned highlighters and eyeshadows to enhance your natural luminosity. Be the glowing goddess you’re meant to be.” Her recommendations include Neen’s Pretty Shiny Cream Highlighter in Metta for the cheekbones, and Pretty Shady Pressed Pigments in Flash, Fade, and Faint—gold and rose gold shades that shimmer beautifully on the eyes. Complete the look with a brown or nude lip for a perfect finish.

SOFT OMBRÉ LIPS

The ombré lip look has been making waves on TikTok this season, and Carolina Gonzalez, celebrity makeup artist and Armani Beauty Collective member, is a fan of a soft, diffused version that’s easy to achieve with a bit of practice. “Start with the deepest color in the inner part of the lip, then blend it out toward the edges,” she explains. “I love this look because it’s dreamy and gives the lips a full appearance.”

Gonzalez suggests beginning with Armani Beauty’s Lip Power Long-Lasting Matte Lipstick in shade 407. “Pucker your lips and apply the lipstick generously to the center of both the top and bottom lips using the bullet-tip. Then, use a small brush to blend the outer edges slightly beyond the lip line.” For extra drama, add Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Glow Blush in shade 61—a raspberry pink—to the outer lips up to the lip line with a full crease brush. “Avoid touching the inner part where the color is dense,” Gonzalez advises. “This silk powder blush adds a velvet-like finish and makes the lips appear fuller and fluffier.”

PINK FROST

If you embraced the TikTok “I’m cold” blush trend last year, you’ll love this 2024 update. “This trend takes the ‘cold girl’ look to the next level by adding black to define shape and structure,” explains Correa. Start by prepping your skin with foundation, concealer, and contour. Next, apply YSL’s Nu Lip and Cheek Balmy Tint in NuChills to your cheeks for a translucent, balmy finish. Dab any leftover product on the tip of your nose for that frostbitten “just came in from the cold” effect.

For your eyes, Correa suggests using YSL’s Couture Mini Clutch palette in Babylone Roses. “Blend the midtone shade to contour your eye shape, apply the midtone shimmer on the lid, and add depth with the deepest shade along the upper and lower lash lines,” he advises. “Finish with a touch of the topper shade from the top left in the inner corners for an icy pop.” Complete the look with mascara and liner, and finish with a combination of the Balmy Tint and Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick in Sweet Pink.

MOOD MAKEUP

Donni Davy, co-founder of Half Magic and head makeup artist for Euphoria, uses makeup to create her own winter mood despite living in California’s year-round sun. “A dark lip instantly transforms me into a sort of witchier version of myself, and adding sparkle to my eyes brings a joyful balance to the look,” she says. “It’s fun to embrace a darker, more introspective vibe during the winter.”

Her “joyfully moody” look features dewy skin, glittery eyes with plenty of mascara, and a vampy dark lip. To achieve this, Davy recommends using Half-Magic’s Glitterpill Eye Paint + Liner in Holy Goldie or Microcosm for the “perfect winter sparkles.” Apply these on bare lids for a snowy effect, then layer on the Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara to highlight the sparkle. For the lips, Davy favors the Mouth Cloud Soft Matte Lip Cream in Edward’s Fantasy, enhancing the shade with Sculptitude 2-in-1 Longwear Lip Liner in Sugar Plum B*itch.

LADY IN RED

Whether it’s in your wardrobe, accessories, or makeup bag, red remains the top accent color for 2024, especially leading up to Valentine’s Day. Swap out your usual lip gloss for a bold, vibrant red lipstick. “Now is the perfect time to opt for a kissable red,” says celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard. He highlights Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl in Red Hot as a standout choice, known for its high shine and warm tone. “It has a vibrant hue and stays put once it dries, giving you long-lasting shine,” he explains. Another favorite of Spickard’s is the Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Chili Pepper, a matte red-orange that provides all-day wear.

FROSTY FACE

For makeup inspiration this season, look outside your window and get creative with textures and colors reminiscent of frosty winter mornings. “It’s cold and frosty outside, so embracing themes like snow, ice, and sparkles is perfect,” says Jeanine Lobell, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Neen. “This trend is all about capturing the cool, crisp tones of winter, with icy colors like silvers, pale blues, and frosty pinks.”

The Frosty Face look centers around highlighter, with Lobell recommending her Neen Pretty Shiny Cream Highlighter in the aptly named Frosty shade. For cheeks, aim for a “post-blizzard glow” reminiscent of the TikTok “I’m cold” trend—Lobell favors her Get it All Done Cream Cheek & Lip for this effect. “A vibrant pink will give you that ‘caught in a storm’ look,” she says. Add a frosty touch to your eyes with the Side Eye Liner in Minty and finish with Neen’s Glisten Up Lip Gloss in Bye, a shimmering pink, for a perfect winter finish.

Fool-Proof Makeup with 16 Best Eyeshadow Sticks in 2023

Isn’t doing eye makeups fun? You get to choose the colors, style, design for your eye areas with no restriction. The only thing that stops you from the perfect eyes look is obviously your skill. Even with makeup experts, eyeshadow in pressed powder form is still hard to use, that’s why eyeshadow sticks are created. With our list of the 16 best eyeshadow sticks, we can assist you if you’re a newbie or just lack the time to consider color options for makeup.

Best Versatile Eyeshadow Stick – Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour

Contour Clair, a gorgeous matte-brown eye makeup stick from Chanel, is marketed as “a fabulous, go-to shade for day-to-day looks.” It’s the type of neutral, casually stylish shadow we see on a model on vacation. Even though the formula is long-lasting, use an eyeshadow primer in conjunction with it for further assurance that your color won’t fade.

Best Neutral Eyeshadow Stick – Bobbi Brown Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick

With carefully selected color duos for double the enjoyment, Bobbi Brown’s Best of Beauty-winning Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick is now offered in a dual-ended style. Be prepared to use it every day if you want effortless looks that just require a few seconds to apply and mix. For no-makeup makeup looks, use Golden Pink/Taupe to give your eyes a hint of depth. Remember to work fast with it as this item dries pretty fast, making it hard to get your desired looks.

Most Drugstore Eyeshadow Stick – Nyx Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil

You’re in luck if you’re looking for a significant bargain. You may choose from 16 exquisite colors in the Nyx Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil line for a very reasonable price. It couldn’t be simpler to use these ultra-creamy crayons as a basis for priming (neutrals), an all-over shadow (brights), or a liner (deeps). With Milk, an opaque white that is surprising but timeless, you may channel your inner “Rain on Me” diva look, and you can use it as a highlighter. However, the packaging is a pretty huge con of this product. You will have to purchase a pencil sharpener in order to utilize the item.

Best Smudge-Proof Eyeshadow – Revlon ColorStay Creme Eyeshadow

These Revlon eye shadows provide 24-hour wear so you can transition from one occasion to the next with your look intact, whether you want something matte or a little bit of sparkle. You may apply them using the included “pro-inspired” built-in brush in the cap or with your fingertips if you prefer. Flaking off is quite inevitable after applying it because when it dires, it gets flaky.

Best Glitter Eyeshadow Stick – Jason Wu Beauty Celestial Lust Glitter Cream Shadow

This glitter cream shadow, which the brand promises to give a highly-pigmented color that is rapid drying and lasts all day, will elevate your appearance. The application of this cream eye makeup is quite simple, making it the ideal finishing touch for your night-out look. Work fast if you don’t want you eye look to be clumpy and unblended.

Best 2 in 1 Eyeshadow Stick – Smashbox Always On Cream Shadow

Play around with your appearance by using hues like guava, sienna, and ultramarine. With this choice, there is no need for a separate eye makeup primer because it is already included in the recipe, eliminating a step and simplifying your beauty routine while also saving you some money. Those who have used it complained that the colors don’t really show up but these items can work very well as eye primer.

Best Budget Eyeshadow Stick – e.l.f. Cosmetics No Budge Shadow Stick

This affordable eye makeup stick is well worth a try because it has a highly pigmented color, a buildable consistency, and all-day wear. You won’t ever have to worry about working with a dull tip thanks to its twist-up construction, and its pointed form makes it simple to use as eyeliner. However, applying multiple time is essential to get the swatched colors that you see on their pictures but compared to the price, it’s still a good stick eyeshadow.

Best Quick-Application Eyeshadow Stick – Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes

This Clinique Chubby Stick is a safe place to start if you’re a newbie. You won’t have to worry about using anything overly pigmented for your first attempt at eye makeup because it emits a sheer, lightweight hue. Simply dab some color on your lids, mix it out with your finger till you have the look you want, and then go! You don’t even need to be very delicate with it.

Best Color Eyeshadow Stick – about-face Shadowstick

This eye makeup stick from about-face has a lasting power of 10 hours or more and may give you all the color you require in a single application. blend easily if you smudge them out right away but if you’re going for more of a precise look they will definitely stay where you put them.

Best Metalic Eyeshadow Stick – ColourPop Colour Stix Eyeshadow

This eye makeup stick has whatever color you need, whether you’re planning on going to the office or the runway, with dazzling metallics and traditional mattes. The product boasts an all-day wearable, water-resistant composition, according to the company.

Best Shimmer Eyeshadow Stick – Charlotte Tilbury Color Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil

Although Charlotte Tilbury is most known for her Flawless Filter and Contour Wand, she also creates an eyeshadow stick that is deserving of internet fame. Some of the most beautiful colors I’ve ever seen may be found in Her Colour Chameleon eyeshadow pencils. Each hue was created with a particular eye color in mind; for instance, Amethyst Aphrodisiac makes green eyes stand out from a distance. These pencils have a creamy texture and are also easily blended, just be sure to move fast because they dry down to a durable finish. 

Best Matte Eyeshadow Stick – Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color 

Without the original, also known as Nudestix’s Magnetic Eye Color, no list of the finest eyeshadow sticks would be complete. We couldn’t be happier that the company that essentially invented portable stick cosmetics has expanded its portfolio to include eyeshadow. If neutral colors suit you more, you may choose from more than 30 hues in both matte and satin finishes. Additionally, they are very long-lasting, staying in for up to 24 hours, making them perfect for oily lids.  Those with sensitive eyes should be careful with this because there are complaints about eyes’ irritation after using it.

Best Pigmented Eyeshadow Stick – Iconic London Glaze Dual-Ended Eyeshadow Crayon

This dual-purpose makeup stick must be tried by everyone who likes shimmer. A creamy, pearlescent hue on one side glides on effortlessly and provides high-impact color. The liquid glitter glaze on the opposite side matches the crayon color. Both may be worn separately; choose the crayon side for a strong metallic hue or the glaze side for a delicate glitter wash. However, when used in tandem, these two solutions work to provide a glamorous, long-lasting “wet” look.

Best Water-Proof Eyeshadow Stick – Sephora Collection Waterproof Eyeshadow & Eyeliner Multi-Stick

Because of their great hue selection, Sephora’s in-house cosmetics line should not be overlooked. This Sephora stick is available in most hues you could imagine, from terracotta red to khaki green. Although they may be used as eyeliner, their enormous size makes them particularly useful for eyeshadow. You just need one sweep for vibrant color, but you may overlay your own tones to enhance depth. Just mix quickly since these pencils can dry out rapidly. You might find it too expensive compared to the amount of product in this stick. There is even a customer said that the product was just enough for a week.

Best Formulated Eyeshadow Stick – Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick Eye Color Eyeshadow Stick

These creamy eyeshadow sticks, which come in 39 colors and five distinct formula categories, are really simple to use. The eyeshadow sticks may be built up and blended easily at first, but after they are set, even without an eyeshadow primer, you don’t have to worry about them moving. These sticks are simple to use to create a defined liner or a smokey eyeshadow appearance. However, the packaging is not the best for the product because they get broker pretty easily.

Best Gentle Eyeshadow Stick – Superhero No-Tug Longwear Eyeshadow Stick

IT Cosmetics, which was founded by plastic surgeons, has always excelled in creating cosmetics that give our skin a little more tender loving care and gradually enhance each region with usage. You won’t find a smoother, easier-to-glide eyeshadow stick than the Superhero No-Tug Waterproof Eyeshadow Stick. The It Cosmetics Super Blendable Stick has No-Tug Technology, which guarantees that the stick won’t pull too hard and won’t irritate your eyes while still offering even pigmentation throughout your eyelid.

Sticks for applying eyeshadow are helpful for everyone, but novices especially. It’s a straightforward tool that enables you to apply eye makeup quickly and easily while producing the most breathtaking results. An eyeshadow stick is always a must-have, even if you are a makeup pro.