Do you have cool or olive undertones? Perhaps you have medium to high contrasting features? You may be a Winter type!
Winter makeup palettes are known for their bold, cool-toned shades that create stunning high-contrast looks. Many people assume that pale colours are difficult to wear with winter palettes, but with the right techniques, they can enhance your icy, dramatic aesthetic beautifully. In this guide, we’ll explore how to match pale shades to your winter colour palette and create striking, frost-kissed looks with ease.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- ⚡ Winter palettes celebrate cool, high-contrast tones: Shades with icy, jewel-like intensity—such as sapphire, emerald, and berry—enhance cool undertones and bring out the natural vibrance of winter complexions.
- ⚡ Identify your winter type for best results:
- True Winter: Cool, bright, and frosty features—best suited to pure, vivid tones like icy blues and crisp pinks.
- Bright Winter: Striking contrast and saturated colour—ideal for lively, clear hues like ruby or electric violet.
- Dark Winter: Deep, moody cool tones—perfect for plum, navy, espresso, and charcoal shades that exude sophistication.
- ⚡ Balance pale shades with contrast: Pair soft colours like pastel lilac, powder blue, or frosty silver with bold eyeliner, lashes, or blush to avoid a washed-out appearance.
- ⚡ Cool undertones are key: Choose icy pinks, silvers, and frosty lavenders to harmonise with winter palettes while maintaining depth and vibrance.
- ⚡ Lashes enhance contrast and structure: MODELROCK’s lash styles bring definition to pale tones—opt for wispy lashes for True Winter, voluminous styles for Deep Winter, and bold cat-eye designs for Dark Winter.
- ⚡ Winter-inspired looks to try:
- True Winter: Frosty blue or silver lids with berry lips for icy elegance.
- Dark Winter: Smoky plums or navy tones paired with nude frosted lips for sultry balance.
- Deep Winter: Jewel-toned eyeliner and deep red lips for a bold, luxurious finish.
- ⚡ Keep intensity consistent: Your lips and eyes should share similar depth and saturation to maintain harmony—avoid muted or overly nude shades that can flatten your look.
- ⚡ Pro tips for flawless winter looks: Prime eyelids for stronger colour payoff, double-layer lashes for added drama, and highlight the lower lash line with frosty tones for a radiant, snow-lit effect.
- ⚡ Contrast is your secret weapon: Combining soft pale shades with dark, dramatic accents and statement lashes achieves a polished, frost-kissed winter aesthetic that truly stands out.
WHAT MAKES A WINTER PALETTE UNIQUE & WHAT WINTER PALETTE AM I?
Winter palettes stand out due to their cool undertones, high contrast, and vibrant intensity. These palettes are often associated with crisp, jewel-toned shades that bring out the natural beauty of cool-toned skin. Understanding your specific winter category will help you select the best shades and makeup techniques for your complexion, ensuring that your look remains polished and striking.
True Winter Colour Palette
- High contrast between hair, eyes, and skin, creating a striking, vivid appearance.
- Pure, cool tones with icy or jewel-like depth that enhance the features.
- Think sapphire blues, emerald greens, crisp berry shades, and cool, bright pinks.
You are a True Winter if the main colour aspect of your overall look is cool, and the secondary aspect is bright. Typically, your colouring is frosty and there is no warmth in any of your features. You may notice blue undertones dominate your skin, hair, and eyes.
Deep Winter Makeup Palette
- Rich, intense tones with a cool edge that provide depth and dimension.
- Deeper jewel shades like ruby, deep teal, and wine, which create a sophisticated yet bold look.
- A striking balance between dark and bright pigments, ensuring a vibrant but structured makeup style.
You are a Bright Winter if the main colour aspect of your overall look is bright, and the secondary aspect is cool. Typically, there is a very high contrast between your hair, skin and eyes. Your features are saturated and bright which gives you a sharp and clear appearance.
Dark Winter Colour Palette
- A mix of cool and slightly neutral-warm undertones, offering a softer but still intense colour range.
- Dramatic, moody colours like deep plum, navy, espresso, and charcoal, perfect for creating smouldering eye looks.
- Works well with smoky eyes and bold lips, offering a timeless and refined appearance.
You are a Dark Winter if the main colour aspect of your overall look is dark, and the secondary aspect is cool. Typically, your hair and eyes are dark in colour. Your skin may be dark or very light, but overall cool in undertone. Dark Winter types always have a high contrast between their features regardless of complexion.
WHAT KINDS OF PALETTES MATCH?
Now that you have discovered what Winter category you are, its time to find out what colours and palettes best suit you. Below we have put together some suggestions on shades you can use for eyeshadows, blush, lipstick and gloss. But for complexion, head over to our previous blog HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR YOUR SKIN TONE.
True Winter
True Winter colours are sharp, cold, bright, and powerful. These shades range from very light to very dark, creating a bold, icy aesthetic. True Winter makeup looks best when it's crisp and cool, with high contrast between shades.
Bright Winter
Bright Winter colours are clear, vivid, powerful, striking, and fun. The colours are highly saturated but remain cool-toned. Bright Winter makeup looks best when it is contrasted, colourful, and lively, adding an energetic pop to any look.
Dark Winter
Dark Winter colours are rich, deep, lush, striking, and powerful. These shades are dark, neutral-cool, and somewhat bright, allowing for dramatic and sultry makeup looks. Dark Winter makeup looks best when it features depth and intensity, ensuring a bold, sophisticated finish.
HOW TO WEAR PALE COLOURS WITH A WINTER PALETTE
Pale shades can create ethereal, snow-queen-inspired makeup looks when used strategically within a winter palette. The key is to maintain balance and contrast so that lighter shades enhance rather than wash out your features.
- Balance is Key: Pair pale eyeshadows or lip shades with bold eyeliner, lashes, or blush to maintain contrast and avoid looking washed out. A bold lash line or defined brows can ground the look, adding structure and intensity.
- Cool Undertones are Your Friend: Opt for soft icy pinks, frosty silvers, pastel lilacs, and powder blues. These shades enhance deep and dark winter makeup beautifully, ensuring that the overall look remains harmonious and polished.
- Use Lashes for Drama: MODELROCK’s bold lash styles from the deep winter makeup palette add the perfect pop of contrast to pale eyeshadows, keeping your features defined and striking. Longer, fuller lashes can provide the necessary drama to complement softer colours.
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WINTER-INSPIRED MAKEUP LOOKS YOU’LL LOVE
Here are three go-to winter makeup looks that incorporate pale shades in the most flattering way.
True Winter Makeup
- Icy lids using frosty blue or silver eyeshadow for a bright, glacial effect.
- Berry-toned lips that provide a fresh, crisp contrast, preventing the look from appearing too cool or washed out.
- Voluminous MODELROCK lashes to frame the eyes elegantly, ensuring depth and dimension.
Dark Winter Makeup
- A classic smoky eye with deep plum or navy shades, perfect for a sultry and refined look.
- Nude frosted lips that add a touch of softness without diminishing contrast.
- MODELROCK’s dramatic lashes to enhance the intensity, ensuring a bold and captivating finish.
Deep Winter Makeup
- Bold eyeliner in a jewel tone like emerald or sapphire, adding a luxurious and striking touch.
- Deep red lips for a high-contrast statement that elevates the entire look.
- Full, fluttery lashes from MODELROCK’s collection to complete the look, offering balance and drama.
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WHAT ARE THE GO-TO LOOKS?
The Natural Look
To achieve the natural look to suit a winter palette, go for a cool pink or purple lip colour (shade will vary depending on depth of skin tone) and some black mascara on your lashes. Even though the lip shade may seem bold at first, it will compliment your features.
Going for a ‘true’ nude or similar tones that don’t have enough intensity will make you look washed out. To best compliment your features and palette, make sure that both your eyes and lips must have the same intensity. This will create overall balance to your characteristics.
The Pin-up Look
To achieve the classic pin-up look to suit a winter palette, go for a light eyeshadow, winged black liner and a red lip. Try various reds depending on your Winter Colour palette (and depending on depth of skin tone) to see what best suits you.
Smokey Eyes
To achieve a smokey eye look to suit a winter palette, experiment and play with grey tones. Don’t opt for a ‘true’ nude lip as it can wash out your features. Try something with a bit more saturation instead.
MODELROCK MUST-HAVES FOR WINTER PALETTES
Complete your winter-inspired makeup with the perfect lash essentials. No winter look is complete without the right lashes to bring balance and contrast to your makeup.
For True Winter Makeup
- Wispy lashes that enhance an icy, glamorous look without overpowering the delicate contrast of cool-toned makeup.
For Deep Winter Makeup
- Bold, voluminous lashes that create stunning high contrast, perfect for adding structure to rich, deep colour palettes.
For Dark Winter Makeup
- Thick, cat eye lashes that complement sultry smoky eyes, ensuring a polished and dramatic effect.
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WINTER MAKEUP TIPS FROM THE PROS
- Prime for Perfection: Pale colours pop best on a well-primed base. Use an eyeshadow primer to ensure vibrant colour payoff.
- Layer Your Lashes: For extra impact, double up on MODELROCK lashes to add volume and depth.
- Don’t Forget the Lower Lash Line: A touch of frosty silver or white on the lower lash line adds a magical, wintry glow.
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CONCLUSION
Winter palettes thrive on contrast, and pale colours can be your secret weapon for achieving frosty, ethereal looks. By pairing cool-toned pastels with deep, bold accents and dramatic MODELROCK lashes, you can create a flawless winter aesthetic that stands out beautifully. Whether you prefer a classic True Winter icy look, a sultry Dark Winter smoky eye, or a vibrant Deep Winter statement, the right balance of pale and bold shades will elevate your makeup game.
Shop our Lash Collection today and complete your deep winter, true winter, or dark winter makeup look to #GetYourModelRockOn!
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Are you a Winter type? Let us know in the comments below which you are and what your go-to makeup look is!
