January Mood Boosters
We get it: January can be dry in more ways than one. With the darker days clinging on and freezing temps refusing to rise, it’s easy to feel a little - well - ‘meh’.
Despite this, the first month of the year is also a fresh opportunity to switch up your style. Call us cliche, but sometimes you just need to dip your toes (or makeup brush) into a new trend that has you glowing from the outside in. Who needs golden hour anyway?
From berry lips and 00’s inspired frosty eyes to cold-girl blusher, read ahead as we share our go-to mood-boosting looks for the winter months ahead.
Winter berry lips
Nothing says glamour like deep winter makeup. Whether it’s a rich plum, a sophisticated burgundy or a wash of wine, there’s a lip shade to suit every skin tone and every mood.
The key here is to let your lips do the talking. Focusing on understated makeup elsewhere (think barely there mascara and natural blush) will give you that effortless cool-girl look; best served with a messy bun and an XL oat milk latte.
As for the products? We love using a matte lipstick for a vampy vibe that works just as well in the office as it does for after-work cocktails.
Glowing blush
Good news, besties! You don’t need to be a pro MUA to recreate Sabrina Carpenter’s signature dewy cheeks.
While winter makeup is often associated with matte complexions, we don’t see any reason in waiting till summer to channel a more glowy vibe.
For a fresh-faced makeup look that fights dehydrated winter skin, prime your skin with a rich moisturiser (use a flatter makeup brush) and apply your fave blush (use a powder brush) to the apples of your cheeks. Blend out with your fingers (this helps to warm the product into your skin for a more natural finish) and then pat a cream highlighter on the top. The result? Gleaming skin that has smiling from cheek to cheek.
Bitten lips
Started by the K-beauty scene, the viral ‘bitten lips’ makeup trend is a subtle yet super cute way of making a statement. The goal is to create a gradient sheer effect - perfect if you don’t love using intense, bold shades.
Even better, your lips will love you for it. This look calls for plenty of nourishing lip balm to keep chapping at bay, while locking the colour in to last you all day.
Once you’ve prepped your lips, grab your lipstick of choice (we recommend a fun pop of red) and work it into the centre of your lips. Use your fingers to gently smudge it out and create a ‘feathered’ effect. Then, apply a generous layer gloss on top. Simple but effective.
Frosty shades
If you ever wish you could jump in a time-machine and travel to the noughties, you’re not the only one. It’s no secret that Y2k fashion has made a huge comeback - and nostalgic makeup looks are bigger than ever before. Specifically speaking: the frosty shades.
From ice blue eyeshadow to sugar plum pink highlighters, frosty makeup is perfect for creating an ‘ice princess’ vibe through the colder months.
Choose your colour and roll with it. Swipe a lilac over your lids, work a silver on top of your cheekbones, or pat a little blue onto your pout.
The only question is, how much glitter is *too* much glitter? (Answer: the limit does not exist).
Bright winter makeup
Just like putting on a colourful ‘fit works wonders for the mind, bright winter makeup is all about boosting the dopamine. From jewel-toned eyes to neon liner, experimenting with colour is a sure-fire way to beat the grey days.
There’s no rules here. Ask yourself, ‘What colours are bringing me happiness today?’ and get creative by applying it to your makeup look. Whether you find joy in metallic golds or Euphoria-esque sparkly lids, colour is back in a big way this winter.
Which look will you try first?
