Frosted winter makeup is the season’s coolest look, literally. Think icy blue and silver shimmer on the eyes, glowing skin, and glossy lips, like you just stepped out of a snow globe. It is a fresh change from the warm browns and deep berries that usually rule winter, and it photographs beautifully in soft winter light. The trick is balance. Keep the frost where it belongs and let the rest of the face stay soft and fresh.
Good frosted makeup starts with good skin prep, and winter skin needs extra care. Cold air and indoor heating dry skin out, and dry skin makes shimmer look patchy. Start with a gentle cleanser, then a hydrating moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. If your skin is very dry, a hydrating primer under your makeup helps the shimmer sit smoothly. Give your moisturizer a minute to sink in before you add foundation, or the makeup can slide around. A light, dewy foundation or tinted moisturizer works better for this look than a heavy matte one, because frosted makeup is all about glow.
The eyes are the star. Start with an eyeshadow primer so the shimmer lasts. Sweep a pale icy blue or silver shimmer across the whole lid, then deepen the outer corner and crease with a slightly darker cool grey-blue. Keep the darkest color in the outer third and blend well. Press a little glitter or metallic shimmer onto the center of the lid. It catches the light every time you blink. Line the upper lash line with a dark grey or navy liner rather than black, which can look too harsh against icy colors, and smudge it slightly. Finish with two coats of black mascara. A little shimmer on the inner corner and just under the brow bone opens the eyes up even more.
For blush, pick a cool pink or a soft berry with a cool undertone, because warm peachy blush can clash with icy eyes. Cream blush works nicely in winter, since it melts into the skin and will not emphasize dry patches. Apply it to the apples of your cheeks and blend upward. For lips, gloss is the finishing touch. A clear gloss over a pale pink or nude lipstick gives the icy, glassy effect. If you want more color, a cool-toned pink gloss keeps the frosty theme. Skip heavy lip liner here and let the shine do the work.
Put it together in this order. First, moisturize and prime. Second, even out your skin with a light foundation or tinted moisturizer and a little concealer where you need it. Third, do the eyes: primer, icy shimmer, deeper color in the outer corner, liner, and mascara. Fourth, add cream blush and a light dusting of highlighter on the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and the cupid’s bow. Fifth, finish with glossy lips. Set everything with a fine mist of setting spray, which melts the powders together and keeps the look fresh for hours. Going from day to night takes only a deeper outer-corner shadow and an extra layer of gloss.