Winter can be both magical and challenging when it comes to beauty routines. As the temperature drops, our skin faces new challenges dryness, redness, and flaky patches, which can make applying makeup tricky.
But with the right products and techniques, you can maintain a glowing, flawless makeup look all winter long. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best winter makeup tips to ensure your skin stays hydrated, smooth, and radiant, no matter how cold it gets outside.
Skincare First: The Foundation for Winter Makeup
Before diving into makeup, let’s start with skin care it’s the key to making your makeup last longer and look better. Winter air tends to strip the skin of moisture, making it feel drier and more sensitive.
So, your skincare routine should focus on hydration and nourishment.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
During winter, you need products that lock in moisture. Start by using a rich moisturizer that provides deep hydration.
Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin. These ingredients help your skin retain moisture and form a barrier against the cold.
Best Ingredients for Hydrated Skin:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Draws moisture into the skin and keeps it there.
- Ceramides: Help repair the skin barrier, keeping it soft and hydrated.
- Glycerin: Attracts moisture from the air to keep skin plump.
Here are some of the best moisturizers to use in winter:
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
- La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer
Prep Your Skin with a Nourishing Primer
A good primer isn’t just for making your makeup last longer. In winter, it’s essential for creating a smooth base. Opt for a hydrating primer to help lock in moisture and create an even texture for makeup application.
Primers with vitamin E or grapeseed oil provide an extra layer of nourishment, helping your makeup sit comfortably on your skin without highlighting dryness.
Best Hydrating Primers:
- Too Faced Hangover Primer (contains coconut water and probiotics)
- Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer (hydrates and preps skin)
- e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer (affordable and effective)
Avoid Heavy Exfoliation
While exfoliating is key to removing dead skin cells, don’t overdo it in winter. Harsh scrubs can irritate and dry out the skin further.
Instead, opt for gentle exfoliants that help shed dead skin without disrupting your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Choose exfoliators with lactic acid or fruit enzymes, as they are typically gentler than physical scrubs.
Switching Your Foundation: Finding Winter Friendly Coverage
When it comes to foundation, winter calls for a more hydrating and lightweight approach. With colder weather, your skin may be drier and more sensitive, so you want to use a formula that won’t exacerbate those issues.
Opt for a Hydrating Foundation
In winter, choose a foundation with a hydrating formula. These foundations are designed to deliver moisture while providing coverage.
Dewy foundations are a great option because they offer a luminous finish, making your skin look fresh and plump. Look for foundations with shea butter, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid for a dewy, radiant finish.
Top Hydrating Foundations for Winter:
- Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation
- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
- Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation
Stick with Lighter Coverage
Winter makeup is about looking natural and glowing, not heavy and cakey. Consider switching to a light to medium coverage foundation, or even a BB cream or tinted moisturizer.
These alternatives are more breathable and provide just the right amount of coverage for a flawless yet natural look. Plus, they won’t settle into dry patches.
Great Alternatives to Heavy Foundation:
- IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
- Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator
- Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream
Consider Tinted Moisturizers or BB Creams
If you prefer a more lightweight option, BB creams and tinted moisturizers are fantastic for winter. They provide hydration, sun protection, and light coverage in one step.
These formulas are generally thinner, allowing your skin to breathe while still covering imperfections.
Recommended Tinted Moisturizers:
- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
- Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
- NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
Managing Dry Lips and Winter Makeup
Winter tends to dry out your lips, leaving them chapped and flaky. But don’t worry, you can keep your lips soft and smooth with the right care and makeup products.
Exfoliate Your Lips
Just like your skin, your lips need a little extra TLC in the winter months. To prevent flakes, exfoliate your lips gently once or twice a week.
You can either use a lip scrub or make your own using sugar and honey. This will remove dead skin, leaving your lips soft and smooth.
Invest in a Good Lip Balm
A good lip balm is a must have in winter. Look for balms that contain shea butter, coconut oil, or beeswax to lock in moisture and protect your lips from the elements.
Don’t forget about SPF even in winter, your lips are still vulnerable to UV rays, especially if you’re in snowy areas where the sun reflects off the ground.
Top Lip Balms for Winter:
- Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
- Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
- Aquaphor Lip Repair
Matte Lipstick Alternatives
While matte lipsticks are popular, they can dry out your lips in winter. If you love a bold lip, choose a creamy or satin finish lipstick instead. These formulas provide rich color without the dryness of mattes.
Best Lipsticks for Winter:
- MAC Satin Lipstick
- Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick
- Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick (with added hydration)
Eyes: Fighting Dryness Without Sacrificing Style
Cold weather can also affect your eyes, making them feel dry or causing makeup to crease. Here’s how to keep your eye makeup looking fresh all day long.
Avoid Powder Based Eyeshadows
In the dry winter air, powder eyeshadows can emphasize dryness on your eyelids. Instead, opt for cream eyeshadows that hydrate and stay smooth. They blend easily and tend to stay put longer without creasing or flaking.
Top Cream Eyeshadows for Winter:
- Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow
- Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour
- Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow
Use a Hydrating Eye Primer
Before applying eyeshadow, use a hydrating eye primer to smooth and hydrate the delicate skin around your eyes.
This will also prevent your eyeshadow from creasing or fading throughout the day. Look for primers with light reflecting particles that will make your eyes pop.
Best Eye Primers for Winter:
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
- NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Mascara Tips for Winter
When choosing mascara for winter, go for a waterproof formula to prevent smudging. However, be cautious some waterproof mascaras can be drying. Look for mascaras that hydrate and add volume while staying in place all day.
Best Winter Mascaras:
- L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara
- Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara
- Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara
Maintaining Your Glow: Winter Friendly Blush and Highlighter
Winter doesn’t mean you have to skip the glow. With the right products, you can still achieve a radiant, fresh look.
Cream Blush for a Natural Flush
In winter, cream blushes work better than powders. They blend seamlessly into the skin, providing a natural flush without emphasizing dryness or texture. Plus, they tend to stay put longer in cold weather.
Best Cream Blushes:
- Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Stick
- NARS The Multiple
- Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Avoid Powder Highlighter
Just like powder blush, powder highlighters can make your skin look dry and cakey. Instead, use liquid or cream highlighters for a dewy, lit from within glow.
Recommended Highlighters:
- Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter
- Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
- Benefit Cosmetics High Beam
Don’t Skip the Setting Spray
Winter air can dry out your makeup, so make sure to set it in place with a hydrating setting spray. It will lock everything in, keeping your makeup fresh without adding extra moisture that can cause makeup to slip or slide.
Best Hydrating Setting Sprays:
- Urban Decay All Nighter Ultra Glow Setting Spray
- MAC Prep + Prime Fix+
- Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist
Winter Makeup Colors to Embrace
The winter season brings out the best in rich tones. Here are some color tips for your makeup routine this season.
Warm Tones Over Cool
While cool tones are great, warm shades can make your skin look healthier and more vibrant in winter. Opt for golden, peach, and bronze tones for a cozy, winter makeup look.
Smokey Eyes and Bold Lips
Winter is the perfect time for dramatic makeup. A smoky eye paired with a bold lip can be a statement look for evening events, while a soft smoky eye with a nude lip is perfect for daytime.
Conclusion
Winter makeup isn’t about sacrificing beauty for comfort. With the right skincare and makeup products, you can keep your skin hydrated, your makeup in place, and your look fresh throughout the season.
From hydrating foundations to cream blushes and dewy highlighters, there are countless ways to make sure your makeup looks flawless even in the coldest months. So, embrace these winter makeup tips and enjoy a radiant, glowing complexion all season long!
1. How do I prevent my makeup from looking cakey in winter?
Use a hydrating primer and dewy foundation. Opt for cream blushes and highlighters and finish with a hydrating setting spray.
2. What is the best foundation for dry skin in winter?
Choose hydrating foundations with hyaluronic acid or ceramides, like NARS Sheer Glow or Fenty Beauty Hydrating Foundation.
3. How can I prevent my lips from getting dry and cracked in winter?
Exfoliate gently and use a moisturizing lip balm with shea butter and SPF for protection.
4. Can I wear matte lipstick in winter?
Yes, but prep your lips with hydrating balm first. Alternatively, use satin or creamy lipsticks.