Despite the fact that it’s not technically winter yet, I feel this article is warranted because it’s already so ridiculously cold! As the cooler weather comes along, it is essential that you change up your makeup to suit the temperature. By all means, keep your bronzer in the loop and don’t throw out those pretty pinks and corals, but start to incorporate more makeup tones that complement your Winter outfits and give you the “I’m not tanned anymore but I’m not a complete ghost and doesn’t this plum lip make me look all warm and cosy like someone you’d want to hug” look.
To show you how to achieve an on trend Winter makeup look, I’ve taken reference from the just-been, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia in Sydney, where MAC artist James Molloy designed the perfect Winter makeup look for the Aurelio Costarella runway show. Here’s how to get it.
This makeup look starts on the premise of beautiful skin. It’s all about skin. A dewy, moist and fresh look is key with skincare being the first step.
To achieve this look, the first step is to use MAC Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion ($65) all over the face. You want to be feeding your skin products that are going to make it look plump and hydrated before makeup application, so skin will shine through. Follow these steps and no one from your office will know that you’ve been at home with the heater on all night and you woke up looking like a dried out prune. Next you want to use MAC Face and Body Foundation (120ml $60) which is a favourite of mine. This foundation is flawless and gives a beautiful skin finish. It’s light to apply but can be built up if need be. Best to do a light application and conceal wherever necessary with MAC Studio Finish Concealer ($32) another hero product from MAC because of its non-cakey, opaque coverage, that is buildable also. Conceal under eyes, if need be, corners of the nose, and chin. Or anywhere the foundation hasn’t covered.
Next we want to set makeup lightly with MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder ($42). For those of us heading off to work or about our daily errands, you would powder more liberally for staying power.
Next is the eye. MAC artist, James Molloy, has used Tailor Grey and Groundwork Paint Pots ($35) as a colour wash over the eye. Start with the lighter shade over the lid and up to the crease and then use the darker in the outer of the eye and crease and blend blend blend. Take the darker shade under the outer lower lid and blend. You can use a brush if you want, however try using your finger as these pots are a creme consistency, so it works better with the warmth of skin. These velvety mattes are perfect warm neutrals for winter weather and such a hot shade for the season. They also work perfectly with metallics for a more glamourous look.
Next Molloy has mixed MAC Metallic Pigments in Blue Brown and Platinum ($39) into a gloss for a creamy consistency and applied them under the eye. The application is light but enough as to enhance the eye and give depth. The artist uses MAC Zoom Mascara ($33) to finish giving lashes a super slick look.
Finally we add a little colour back into the face now our base and eyes are done. Cheeks are Burgundy and Crimson Lipmix ($25 each) which is a high-shine pigmented lip gloss. Perhaps for your day to day you might like to stick to a powder in a similar shade, but definitely finish lips of with a coating of the Lipmix in the same shades. The deep wine colours give you a warmth and glow, with the colour of the Lipmix representing a flush of blood to the face, which is great when you feel like your fingers are about to fall off.
This makeup look is relatively simple and easy to achieve at home, you can drop the pigment from under the eye and just use the paint pot, and replace the gloss and the cheeks with powder, or even swap the gloss for your favourite deep red lipstick. Regardless, follow the main steps and take inspiration from the colour palette and the outcome will be beautiful, soft winter makeup that makes an impact.
Leave a Reply