Top 8 Winter 2025 Makeup Trends: Moonlight Skin, Ice Queen Eyes, and More

The winter season may be cold and dreary outside, but it’s the perfect time to get creative with your makeup. Without the worry of melting foundation and with plenty of events to attend, why not spice up your beauty routine? Bonus points if your makeup sparkles, of course.

Winter beauty for has always been about embracing a more sultry, moody vibe and making sure your skin is hydrated and glowing. Glowing skin is so not just for summer! We love browns and deep reds on the lips, something super shimmery on the eyes, and I think the ‘cold girl’ blush application style is really lovely when paired with faux freckles, especially with a dewy finish on the skin.

If you’re going to a holiday party, shopping for gifts, attending a kid’s birthday celebration, a NYE gathering, or just having a festive moment at work, it’s a sin to not have just a tiny bit of fun with your makeup. You’ll inspire those around you, and I’ve found that a sparkly eye is the perfect conversation starter at social gatherings!

Here’s a look at the top makeup trends you’ll want to try for Winter 2025:

Instagram/ @alexandraafrench

Transform into an ice queen with frosty eyes. Blue eyeshadow continues to be iconic, and what makes it so fun is that it’s incredibly flattering and can completely change your look. It’s super versatile—you can wear it in a subtle way or go all out.

KJH Brand

Berry tones are the perfect pick for the season. We adore berry hues because there’s a shade for every skin tone and undertone. Celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes also agrees on berry being the color of the season. For a fresh winter vibe, she suggests using KJH.brand Soft Smudge Lip & Cheek in Soft Berry on the lips, paired with a slightly darker lip liner. To complete the look, match your blush to your lips. “I would wear this look to a girls’ night, date night, or even a wedding,” Hughes adds.

Instagram/ @katiejanehughes

For a pop of color without going all-out, try jewel-toned mascara. If you’re experimenting with color but don’t want to commit to a full eyeshadow look, colored mascara is the way to go. It’s an easy, no-fuss way to add color without needing blending skills. We love L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara in Cobalt Blue for a more dramatic look.

Instagram/ @melissa.hernandez

A sophisticated take on the frosty look, these eyes are all about shimmer without the chunky glitter. From a distance, it’s a neutral eye, but up close, it’s a veil of diamonds on your eyelids. For a subtle wet look, use glitter shadows that are more translucent than traditional metallics.

Instagram/ @yasminist

It’s time to achieve that moonlit glow. A glow from within, rather than the bronzed skin of summer. Start with a hydrating face cream and SPF, followed by a glowy primer like Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip + Glow Primer, and finish with a dewy skin tint like MAC’s Strobe Cream. Set the face lightly with powder, apply a balmy highlighter on the high points of the face, and lock everything in with setting spray.

Instagram/ @paintedbyesther

Get that just-come-in-from-the-cold look with flushed, rosy cheeks. In winter, we love a deeper berry shade for blush. It gives you that ‘just out of the snow’ vibe.

Instagram/ @hungvanngo

A sultry burgundy lip is a chic winter trend, according to makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell. “Burgundy lips are one of the hottest accessories for the season, and they come straight from the fashion world,” she says. If you’re not into bold lips, try a plum or wine-colored eyeliner instead.

Instagram/ @ninapark

Red lips will never go out of style. As the holidays approach, how does one resist embracing the red lip. It’s an easy way to elevate any look. For a cool-toned blue red that makes your teeth look whiter, try Pat McGrath’s LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in Elson 4, which is Taylor Swift’s favorite.