- Last updated on May 25, 2024
Whether on Pinterest, Instagram, or TikTok, you have likely seen the “cold girl” makeup look trending this winter. As you can tell by the name, the whole point of the look is to appear as if you’ve been out in the cold winter air for a while. Think of how your skin looks after skiing, snow tubing, or ice skating- all rosy and chilled. Let’s make that happen with makeup instead of the elements! Here are the key parts of the “cold girl” makeup look:
1. Blush, Blush, & More Blush
Blush is the most important part of a “cold girl” look in my opinion, so if you’re not a fan of looking flushed then this look probably isn’t for you. To look chilly, apply blush across your cheeks and on your nose- and go heavy with it! Also, limit your use of bronzer and/or contour. You want to look flushed from the cold, not sun-kissed.
If you’re not afraid of lots of pigment, then try the Rare Beauty liquid blush. I use the shade Encourage or Truth (I think this one was a special edition for the holidays). The Elf Putty Blushes (shop on Amazon) and Halo Glow Blush Wands (also on Amazon) are nice alternatives to the Rare Beauty blush as well. Elf also recently came out with new Camo Liquid Blushes on Amazon, which I will definitely be trying.
If you’re a fan of powder blush, then shop these Laura Geller baked blushes on Amazon (I like the shade Tropic Hues). I like to add powder blush as a topper after using liquid blush to make sure I don’t lose too much pigment when powdering my face.
2. Frosty highlighter
Another key component to this look- a frosty glow! I like to use a lighter, more cool-toned highlighter for this look so it looks frosty rather than sun-kissed. The shade Marshmallow in this palette on Amazon from Anastasia Beverly Hills is a white, shimmery highlighter that I would use for this kind of frostbitten look. You can add it to your eyes, cheekbones, brow bone, and cupid’s bow to give a bit of a frosty sheen to your face.
3. A Glossy or Frosty Lip
Lastly, you need a lip with some shine! If you want some glittery sparkle, try this gloss in Honey Diamond from Anastasia Beverly Hills (shop on Amazon). If you’d like a glossy look sans glitter, try this Elf lip oil on Amazon. Or, use whatever gloss you have on hand to bring some life back to your lips!
I also like to use this tinted balm from It Cosmetics (shop on Amazon) for some color before applying gloss on top.
And now you look like a "cold girl", without even going out in the cold.
To recap, what do you need for the “cold girl” makeup look? Blush, more blush, a frosty highlighter, and a glossy lip- that’s it! However, do what works for you, and most importantly, have fun with this and any other makeup trend you try out!
