Just because the weather of late can be a bit drab and dreary, doesn’t mean your makeup has to follow suit…
I think winter is the perfect time to embrace new shades by adding depth to your look, creating new structure, bringing out another side of your personality.
Fashion tones have traditionally been darker compared to the brightness of summer, but now we are seeing them cross over and mix through the seasons, this goes with makeup also – remember, there really are no rules, it is what you are comfortable with and what looks best with your skin tone.
We just had Gatsby fever hit Australia and I have been loving the influence it has had in our makeup and hair ever since!
Even the now ‘EX’ Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week bought out her inner Gatsby at a Parliamentary Ball in Canberra showing a deep lip, winged eyes and pin curls – love old school glamour, it works on anyone!
Summer is all about fresh, nude skin, illuminated and carefree looks with a lot of bronze and summery shades and last summer we saw pastels mixed with neon pops of colour…
Winter brings out deeper, matte shades with a strong sense of defined eyes, but can still have these bright summer pops added to modernize a generally flat colour palette– it, as always, is about balance and bringing out the richer colours in my opinion.
If you generally do not change tones throughout the seasons, there is nothing wrong with that either, as long as they are totally correct for your tones and if they are not the loud fashion colours that are normally a hit on a trend basis.
Neon shades, bright orange, pastels, coral lips, can all be seasonal or on trend basis, so best to put them in drawer for next season and bring out everything rich for winter!
Firstly with makeup application in winter, as any season, your skin needs to look seamless, no join marks, no colour catching and looking like a second skin.
In winter though, our skin can become slightly dry with not only the cold weather outside hitting our skin first thing in the morning or late at night, but our heating can dry out the skin as well as our hot showers – if your skin feels tight after the shower, you really need to relax it by using a little extra in the serum department, or a richer moisturizer during these months.
If you are looking for a new moisturizer, a little more nourishing for the colder months, my recommendation is the DR LeWinns Reversaderm range, Anti-Oxidant Regenerative Cream (RRP $69.95)
It contains Shea Butter, an ingredient I always look for when searching for nourishment, encourages cell regeneration and locks in moisture creating a veil on the skin to protect from moisture loss – great element to make sure your foundation is not slipping away half way through the day!
MB Pro Tip – Mix a little serum or moisturiser/primer into your foundation upon first application!
Seeing as our skin can get dryer in winter this avoids colour catching, and general ease with application for a smoother finish and intense moisture locked in. If coverage is diluted, you can build over the top of this now perfect base – works every time for long wear!
Also ladies, just because you are feeling pale, don’t then overload the face with a hundred and one bronzer strokes of application. Often woman over-use this product in winter, so make sure you still use a few sweeps from centre out if need so there is no build up in the wrong areas.
To be honest, I love mixing it up and showing off that clean lighter skin in winter, but as long as the other tones on the face are giving some warmth and depth.
Just as the gorgeous makeup above shows off very well, rich tones and glamour – this screams winter to me.
Winter doesn’t just mean instead of using your brown shades, swap to greys and granites – boring!
Think rich tones and tones that can still give warmth.
It is already cool enough outside, so silvers and greys can create a cooler look on the face and if you are already slightly more pale than usual, this will do nothing for you.
In winter I love the deep plums, burgundy, navy, rusty shades and even some emerald greens! These are all great base colours, or pop shades and you can add in some deep coppers to really warm up the look, but all of these shades have depth but also warmth – much better than mauves, silvers and grey!
Whether they are matte or metallic, these shades will contrast from all eye colours being deeper for the light eyes and contrasting for the brown eyes – win!
I prefer using matte shades for my base colour choice and then layering it up, finishing with the most metallic (if needed) in the centre or across mobile eyelid to open the lid further.
If it is more puffiness you have, in the socket area especially, keep the shades matte to recede the problem away!
My new FAVE winter eye palette is from Erin Bigg Cosmetics, Vacation Eye Shadow Quad in Parisian Chic (RRP$55) (www.erinbiggcosmetics.com.au)
I love the all matte textures so you can sculpt and shape the eye, plus the tones are fab to layer from dark to light for any skin tone and eye colour – think Gatsby!
I love supporting home grown talent and Erin Bigg launched her Cosmetics brand at this years Mercedes Benz Fashion Week – congrats!
In winter our cheeks can sometimes become a little pink and blotchy with the cold air attacking our skin.
Because of this, I try to avoid bright blushes in winter and go for more neutral choices and deeper tones to avoid the cheeks looking too bright if they are getting a little frosty from the cold – better to have balance all day!
One area that I do play with in winter area the lips!
Try something different, go deep and show off that dark side….
Dark doesn’t mean dull, dark can be very sexy – obviously if everything around the lip is working too!
The bold bright pops of Fuchsia, Orange and Red are fab, but for winter lets try a vampy, 1920’s style of shade this winter… Go for a plum, a rich red wine or even a deep brown with a slight gold sheen. If you are looking for a brighter option and have an olive tone skin, go purple, it actually is hot!
I would say red is the more common choice for winter and who doesn’t love a sexy red lip, but try a wine red lip and see how it makes you feel, not to mention how white your teeth look!
MB PRO TIP – If lips are on the smaller side, add a little face highlighter to the centre of the mouth, by dabbing over applied lip to give some more pout!
We all know the deeper the lip, the smaller the mouth becomes, so this solves the problem.
Even mix a lighter lip shade in the middle and the darker tone around the edges to create a fuller mouth – problem solved!
Now, this is my kind of winter lip a nice red wine/plum!
Try the new Sisley Winter lips 2013 range.
They have 3 new shades, Burgundy, Plum and Geisha Red to try – all stunning!
See my fave Sisley Phyto Lip Shine in Plum (RRP$50)
So ladies, try some deep, yet lively and rich shades this winter to still look warm and not cool or shimmery! Matte textures create more shape and a deep lip whitens teeth – time to embrace the inner winter in you!
