Four makeup trends to try this winter

It’s that time of the year where beauty houses tend to mimic makeup hues with shades of the season’s greys, browns and reds – all of which can be visually translated in various ways.

The colour trend this winter leans more towards the monochromatic theme of wearing one colour on the face.

Here are some of the styles you can try:

1. Take a brow

Picture: iStock

Shaping brows is such a huge trend that brow bars have sprung up all over South Africa, offering options of waxing, threading and tweezing to perfectly frame the face and keep a lady in vogue.

Gone are the days of the skinny brow that was popular in the early 2000s. Today’s brow is thicker with a natural arch that follows the brow bone with a natural colour that closely matches a person’s hair.

Tools to get the perfect brow include a kit that consists of tweezers and brow gel. A brow brush keeps flyaway hairs at bay and gel or brow mascara allows brows to set once brushed into place. The trick is to keep it simple and clean.

2. Eyes on the prize

Picture: iStock

Graphic eyes are for the unashamedly experimental. Take a black-lined wing eye and create graphic shapes and dots to create a slightly artsy eye. This look is not for the office but if you’re a student or nocturnal, it’s great on campus or at the club.

For those seeking a subdued every-day look, neutral eye shadow palettes are recommended. Earthy tones such as dark reds and browns can all be worn during the day on upper and lower eyelids without eyeliner. This creates a sophisticated yet understated look and is not heavy.

This look is similar to the monochrome application and works best with one shade. A thin black liquid liner can be added to the top eyelid for a night out.

3. Cheeky cheeks

Picture: iStock

Forget about the glittery and shiny cheeks of seasons gone by and prepare for fresher and cleaner with just a slight blush to the cheeks and with little effort.

The method of applying the blusher involves working the colour from the apples of the cheeks to the area just below the brow bone. The face should look fresh and not overly made-up. This new blusher look can be worn without makeup on the rest of the face.

4. Lip service

Picture: iStock

From Marilyn Monroe to Audrey Hepburn and Isabella Rossellini, the bright red lip remains an iconic makeup trend. Take your inspiration from these silver screen divas.

The current lip colour to wear is red matte, and can be found in a variety of titillating textures such as lip stains, liquid lipsticks and glosses that dry to a matte finish.

Lip stains leave a softer red lip even after lipstick is removed – great for those who do not care for the hard look that lipstick sometimes gives. Many brands now offer lip stains that last up to six hours.

Remember: Because red is very subjective to skin tone, matching becomes very important. Opt for seasonal shades of burgundy, bright red and mauve.

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