If you are a makeup junkie like I am, then you know that winter is the time to switch out your typical summer beauty staples for products adapted for the cold weather and holiday cheer. So here are my winter makeup essentials with eight suggested products that are well-loved in my beauty bag. I tend to buy a lot of expensive makeup, so I apologize that most of the products I mention are quite pricey...BUT there is nothing wrong with investing in a quality makeup product, and throwing one (or all of them) on your Christmas wish list!
Moisturizing Foundation
Okay, so I know that usually during the colder months a lot of people break out the full coverage foundation, but lately I have been opting for something lighter, and with less coverage. My skin is more on the dry side, so I love using a moisturizing foundation or a tinted moisturizer as my base during the seasons that my skin isn't as hydrated as it usually is. Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer is one of my favorite foundations. I've recently been enjoying the MAC Face and Body foundation as well. Both are luminous and moisturizing without being greasy, and provide a light, but buildable, coverage. I love applying them with my BeautyBlender and almost always set them with a pressed powder.
Warm Eyeshadow
I think that the holidays are a great time to use the warmer eye shades that I don't normally reach for. Cranberries and rusty reds are two of my favorite shades that I usually save for the wintertime. The MAC Burgundy Times Nine Palette, although not the best value for money, has a great variety of shimmer, satin, and matte shadows that are all warm and beautiful. "Star Violet", a shimmery bright cranberry red, is one of my favorite shadows in the palette. I like to pair it with "Poppyseed" in the crease and "Haux" in the outer corner. The palette itself is super small and compact, which allows you to easily take lots of shadows with you on the go. It is perfect for traveling to your next family holiday party.
Brown/Nude Lips
Personally, I am not the type of girl to rock a red lip...ever. Recently I have jumped on the Kylie Jenner-esque brown-nude lipstick trend, and I think that it functions much better during the holidays than a bold statement lip does. Imagine trying to eat cookies and sip eggnog without getting red lipstick everywhere! It's so hard not to! My favorite lipstick right now is MAC's "Velvet Teddy", and I make sure to pair it with a moisturizing chapstick because it is very matte. If you want a more affordable option, try the Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in "Seduction." It is a liquid lipstick that is more pink than "Velvet Teddy," and is much more hydrating on the lips.
Shimmery Highlighter
All of the love I have discovered for highlighter in the past few months I owe to YouTube beauty guru, Jaclyn Hill. "Champagne Pop," her collaboration with Becca Cosmetics, is my all-time favorite cheek highlighter. It is ideal for creating perfectly accentuated cheekbones that shimmer and glow just as much as the lights on your Christmas tree. In the process of writing this article I dropped mine on the floor and it completely shattered. Without a doubt I plan on purchasing another one. "Champagne Pop" is that great.
Mauve Blush
On a daily basis I am not one to wear a lot of blush. My cheeks are naturally rosy so when I do use blush it is usually a light pink or nude shade. During the winter, though, I like to experiment with my blush a bit. Purple-toned blushes have been my current obsession. I love using them to create a flush on my cheeks that looks like I was just outside in the winter wind. For every day wear I love Hourglass' "Mood Exposure" Ambient Lighting Blush. It gives my cheeks a natural hint of mauve with a slight sheen. When I go out, though, I love using a bold purple-y blush. My favorite is The Balm's Instain Blush in the shade "Houndstooth." It has a matte finish, and does not look too over-the-top when applied with a duo-fiber brush.
Products Mentioned:
-Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer $44
-MAC Face and Body Foundation $27
-MAC Burgundy Times Nine Palette $40
-MAC "Velvet Teddy" Matte Lipstick $17
-Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor "Seduction" $9.99
-Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfecter Pressed "Champagne Pop" $38
-Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush "Mood Exposure" $35
-The Balm Instain Blush "Houndstooth" $22
