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Summer haters rejoice, winter is finally here. And as the temps drop, we transition to winter clothes—but should our makeup transition too? Other than the obvious change to hydrating formulas, there’s no clear answer. With all of the makeup trends that come and go, it can be hard to keep track of them all. But rest assured, those age-old red holiday lips don’t have to be the only winter trend you follow. I tracked down the hottest winter makeup trends of 2024, so you can look your best as the snow begins to fall.
Luckily for us, winter is a great time to experiment with makeup. Since we spend the warmer months wearing as little makeup as possible so it doesn’t melt off—we grow excited to try out new makeup looks once the cold comes around. And if you’re bummed about switching out your favorite blouse for a winter coat, makeup is a great way to feel like yourself again.
This winter, there are tons of makeup trends to try out for yourself. Although there are some iterations of typical winter trends, new favorites like faux freckles and pink highlighter are sure to make waves. No matter what you’re doing this season, get a head start by following the trends that’ll be everywhere soon.
Faux freckles are no longer just for the summer. If you weren’t naturally blessed with freckles, rest assured there’s no shame in using makeup to get the look. Not only have faux freckles been seen everywhere on the runway, they’re also a super easy way to give your skin that sun-kissed look during the colder months. Simply use your favorite freckle pen to dot your cheeks and nose, the messier the better.
Blush is key to any winter makeup look. And if you’re always on the go, why not skip a step and combine highlighter and blush? TikTokers have been obsessed with using pink highlighter as a two-in-one for pink cheeks and dewy skin. Mostly because there’s nothing better than looking glowy in the harsh winter temps.
Want to spice up your usual holiday makeup look? Go for retro-inspired dolly bottom lashes. As seen on everyone from ’60s icon Twiggy to reality TV star Serena Page, you can’t go wrong with emphasizing your bottom lashes this winter. Get the look by wearing individual lashes on your lower lash line, or simply apply your favorite tubing mascara and pinch your lashes together with a tweezer.
If your natural brows just aren’t hitting, travel back to the ’90s and go thin. Whether you’re willing to fully commit and tweeze them to oblivion (just like the it girls before us did), or you have a hack in mind to get the look without sacrificing your precious hairs—just know thin brows are here to stay. They’re an ultra-feminine way to soften up your winter looks and they’re sure to make you the coolest girl at the company holiday party.
The cool-toned Gabbriette smokey eye will be everywhere this winter. Gabbriette has become synonymous with her iconic makeup look, and it girls everywhere will soon be wearing cool brown eyeshadow and grey lip liner with pink lipstick, just like her. Not only is this a more subdued version of the bold smokey eye we all know and love, it’s a fresh take on winter makeup.
Thanks to Rose-Marie Swift, the original makeup artist for the Victoria’s Secret Angels, everyone will be wearing red blush this winter. In a viral TikTok, Swift said she put red blush on the Angels for that natural look. She said unlike pink blush, red makes you look naturally flushed. So, if you’re looking to pick up a new blush this season, consider red.
Lived-in eyeliner is the messy sister of winged liner. Indie rock princess Beabadoobee is known for her smudged liner, and in a video from Vogue, she admitted to keeping her liner on for as long as possible—in true indie sleaze fashion. If sleeping in your makeup is a little too much for you, rest assured you can still get that grungy look by smudging your pencil liner or setting it with a black eyeshadow.
If you’re a low-maintenance girly, blurred lips are the trend for you. Blurred lips are inspired by the soft romantic nature of K-beauty. The runways have been filled with blurred matte lips, and not only are they gorgeous—it’s pretty easy to recreate the look at home. It’s done by applying a matte lipstick to the center of the lips and gently blotting it out with your fingers or an eyeshadow brush.
Spiky lashes, sometimes referred to as manga lashes, have solidified our love for dramatic lashes. You might’ve seen the cartoon-inspired lashes pop up on TikTok, and they’re about to be everywhere IRL this winter. Unlike natural wispy lashes, spiky lashes are meant to be exaggerated and out-there. If you’re looking to spice up your lash game, try out a pair of spiky lashes with a subtle smokey eye or smudged liner.
Even though it can be tempting to give in to every brow trend, this season everyone will be sporting untouched brows. So put the tweezers down and embrace your natural brow shape. After all, nothing is more flattering than the features you were born with.
Alexa Demie is known to rock a ’90s-inspired lip. Of course brown lips are in—but brown lip liner will soon be flying off the shelves. To channel your inner Alexa Demie, top your favorite brown liner with a gloss.
Glossy lids are not just for runways. Editorial-esque dewy eyes have become huge on TikTok. Although it seems like an impractical choice for everyday, products like the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream will help you achieve the look without getting too sticky. Winter is the perfect time to experiment, and what’s more experimental than glossy lids.
