The 9 Best Winter Makeup Products for Glowing Skin

Now that you’ve traded your summer frocks for cashmere sweaters and other cold-weather staples, making sure your makeup looks also get the winter wonderland treatment is a must. While months of working from home may have given you fewer reasons to reach for your eye shadows and lip glosses, it’s finally time to end the year on a high note with winter makeup looks that will up your glam factor during this festive season.  

What is Winter Makeup? 

Deep red lips, smokey eyes and berry tones are the classic go-to looks for the season’s festivities, but winter makeup can also be that “fresh from the slopes/aprés ski look that includes clear skin, pink cheeks and bright eyes with not much shadow,” says Chicago-based celebrity makeup artist Jenny Patinkin. But whether you’re going for a look that’s chic and dramatic or bright and snow-kissed, there’s one winter makeup must-have that’s always on trend: plump and glowy skin.  

“Winter makeup sometimes means you are combating the cold and dry climate by ensuring that the skin is hydrated and that you are not using products that will dry out your skin,” explains Lindsay Kastuk, a commercial makeup artist in New York. 

Cold temperatures and biting winds can do a number on your skin, so making sure you have a soft, smooth and well-hydrated canvas is just as important as choosing the perfect winter palette that complements your skin tone. 

In fact, prepping your skin and keeping it moisturized are the most important steps when creating a winter makeup look, says New York- and California-based celebrity makeup artist Christina Flach. “Getting the skin ready for winter is just as important as being on a sunny beach in the summer. Harsh weather can be incredibly damaging to the skin, so wearing sunscreen during the day and a heavy moisturizer at night is vital for skin to look fabulous when we want to do a wintery makeup,” she adds. 

How to Create a Winter Makeup Look 

The perfect winter makeup isn’t complete without a glowy, healthy-looking complexion underneath. However, the daily onslaught of indoor heating and harsh weather conditions can easily suck the life out of your skin. To keep “winter face” at bay, give your skin some extra TLC with makeup products that add a much-needed dose of hydration and pampering. We’ve compiled our absolute faves, below. 

1. jane iredale Smooth Affair Brightening Face Primer (1.7 fl. oz.)

jane iredale Smooth Affair Brightening Face Primer (1.7 fl. oz.)

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123 reviews

$55.00

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Matte primers are total life-savers in the summer, especially when you have oily skin. But during cold weather, your skin will need all the moisture it can get. This hydrating primer not only smoothens your complexion and conceals blemishes and fine lines, but it also leaves your skin with a luminous, glowing-from-within look. The best part? It’s infused with algae and olive leaf extracts that help firm and renew skin. 

2. Illamasqua Beyond Foundation 1 fl. oz.

Illamasqua Beyond Foundation 1 fl. oz.

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$37.00

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Things can quickly go south when you’re using the wrong foundation, even more so when you’re dealing with winter weather. Think dry patches, uneven coverage  and cake-y layers. Luckily, this silky, ultra-lightweight foundation glides and blends seamlessly on the skin, leaving it with a dewy, glass-like finish. It also features powerful hydrators (vitamin E and hyaluronic acid), so your skin is getting sheer, natural-looking coverage while staying hydrated and conditioned all day. 

3. Dermablend Loose Setting Powder

Dermablend Loose Setting Powder

166 reviews

$32.00

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This setting powder is nothing short of a holiday miracle. Translucent and waterproof, it preserves makeup and stays on for up to 16 hours without fading—even as you go about a full day of outdoor activities. Its silky formula blends for a full coverage to keep blemishes and flaws out of sight, leaving your skin with a smooth and natural finish. 

4. Glo Skin Beauty Oil-Free Camouflage Concealer (0.11 oz.)

Glo Skin Beauty Oil-Free Camouflage Concealer (0.11 oz.)

93 reviews

$35.00

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Long nights of merrymaking can take a toll on your eye area, especially when you consider the fact that it also tends to be the driest and most sensitive part of your face. So make sure to keep this oil-free concealer handy if you want to keep the sparkle in your eyes. Its highly pigmented formula conceals scars, dark circles, hyperpigmentation and other blemishes while preventing breakouts and protecting your skin from free radical damage. 

7. Kjaer Weis The Cheek Collective 0.3 fl. oz.

Kjaer Weis The Cheek Collective 0.3 fl. oz.

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With its universally flattering shades, this blush and highlighter trio is poised to become one of your top winter essentials. It gives just the right amount of subtle glow to enhance your complexion and the perfect pop of color to add contrast and brighten wintery days.  

8. By Terry Baume de Rose Lip Care (10 g.)

By Terry Baume de Rose Lip Care (10 g.)

138 reviews

$60.00

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Thanks to icy cold winds, dry and chapped lips have also become winter staples—but not for long. This ultra-moisturizing lip balm lets you pucker up confidently with its intensely hydrating and regenerative formula that boasts of sun protection and features essential rose wax, floral oils, vitamin E and bio-ceramides.