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What’s the one thing you grab when you want to enhance your blah winter complexion? We’ll guess: your go-to summer bronzer. As much as this seems like a no-brainer solution, there’s actually a more natural-looking way to give your dry, dull skin a radiant winter glow. Because let’s face it: having a golden tan during this time of year won’t fool anyone. Scroll through our tutorial to learn our favorite way to get luminous skin that’s right for the season.
Step 1: Moisturize
Dry skin makes makeup application a struggle. Prep your skin with your favorite moisturizer or try using Josie Maran Argan Oil ($44), a lightweight formulas that’s great to use in the winter and summer.
Step 2: Darken Your Foundation
You want to start with a deeper, all-over base face so that your skin looks like it’s naturally radiating verses brushing on layers of bronzer. Hack a darker foundation by mixing your everyday shade with a small amount of any bronzer. I am in love with Too Faced Royal Oil ($30). This is a coconut scented bronzer that adjusts to your skin tone and is lightweight enough that you can wear it on your body as well as on your face. Mix up a little extra to spread on your shoulders and décolletage if you’re putting on a party dress.
Step 3: Apply
Once your foundation is mixed, apply to your face with a foundation brush, blending down onto your neck for seamless coverage.
Step 4: Conceal
Concealer is a must, especially since you went a little darker with your foundation. Brighten up your eyes with your normal concealer using a concealer brush. Krystal is using our in-house go-to, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Concealer Radiant Touch No 1 ($33).
Step 5: Brush on a *Lighter* Bronzer
Ditch your normal summer bronzer and opt for one that’s a shade or two lighter. The idea here is that you still need to contour your face and give a it little color, but this is winter after all, so the contrast should be subtle and natural-looking.
Step 6: Apply a Wintry Blush
Go with a real wintery hue like NARS Blush in Sin ($40). This slightly shimmery color taps into the marsala hue that’s so big right now. And it should be: it literally looks gorgeous on EVERY skin tone.
Step 7: Highlight
If this was summer, we’d be going for a golden highlight. But to be more of-the-moment, go with a pearlescent color that will give your skin a bright, frosty glow — it’s the perfect winter sheen. One of our favorites is High Beam by Benefit ($33). Apply it to your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, your upper lip, the tip of your chin and between your eyebrows using a foundation brush and blend well.
Step 8: Sweep on a Wintry Shadow
Pick up that wintry blush again: you’re going to use it as an eyeshadow (and it makes a ridiculously stunning eyeshadow). Sweep a small amount onto your lids to add instant warmth to your eyes.
Step 9: Highlight Your Brows
To really get the most out of your shadow and make your eyes pop, you want to highlight your brow bone with a vanilla colored shadow like Virgin in Urban Decay’s Naked Palette ($54).
Step 10: Apply a Glossy Lip
Compliment your glowing skin with a pinky-neutral glossy lip. Krystal’s using Wet N Wild Rose Gold Gloss ($4).
Step 11: Shape Your Brows
Finish the look with a really pronounced brow. Sephora makes a good, inexpensive two-shadow-and-gel kit called the Sephora Collection Eyebrow Editor Complete Brow Kit ($19). We’re using the Nutmeg Brown palette and we highly recommend.
Finish the look with mascara and you’re done with this faux winter glow.
What’s your favorite winter makeup look? Tell us in the comments below.
