As a Chicagoan living in New York City, it’s an understatement to say that I’m used to the cold. Windchills of around -15ºF and black ice are no strangers to me, and after so many arduous winters swaddled in down coats and scarves, I’ve come to find the beauty in my arctic surroundings.
I’m not just talking about pretty clouds of breath or how sunlight filters through falling snow—though those moments are the source of so much quiet beauty—but the artistic inspiration that blooms when ice adorns the earth. Though it may feel second nature to splash shimmer onto your eyes around the holidays (sequinned dresses, glittery wrapping paper, twinkling lights…), the frigid stretch between January and February offers a bounty of makeup inspiration that sparks joy in the non-merry months. Whether it’s a shifting duochrome shadow emulating fresh powder or cool pink cheeks likened to wind-flushed skin, there are endless ways to inject a bit of frosted beauty into your everyday routine.
Keep reading to discover my icy glam must-haves that celebrate the coldest months in cool-girl style.
Icy Glam Makeup Must-HavesEthereal Eyes
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Satin Kajal Liner in Sea Grey
Ask anyone—Victoria Beckham’s Satin Kajal Liners are some of the best eyeliners on the market. While I have yet to try the brand’s classic shades (black, brown, you get the gist), I’ve had a ball layering this graphite silver shade over black liner for a touch of icy sparkle. If I’m really going for a look, I’ll keep my eyelids bare and messily smudge the eyeliner above my lash line for a grungy-chic, smoky evening look.
MAC Cosmetics
Dazzleshadow Liquid Eyeshadow in Crumbled Diamonds
I thought I knew glitter eye shadow. Then I met MAC Cosmetics’ Dazzleshadow in Crushed Diamonds. MAC global senior artist Deney Adam recently used a sheer wash of this beguiling shade on my lids, and the glistening result was unlike any other liquid shadow I’d ever tried. Wet-looking and glossy without the usual glitter chunks, this finely milled shimmer created an optical illusion on the eyes—turning my orbs into crystalline chandeliers. Basically, no icy glam is complete without it.
YSL Beauty
Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara in Electric Blue
Now, this mascara isn’t an everyday pick (it’s blue, after all), but I’ve been loving a flash of cobalt fringe as a simple way to spice up winter makeup. Cool tones have been le mode since the beginning of 2025, and this trend doesn’t seem to be slowing anytime soon—making a spunky mascara like this blue pick a fabulous choice for icy winter glam.
Urban Decay Cosmetics
24/7 Liquid Stick Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Denim Wash
I’m a big fan of fun eye makeup (if you couldn’t already tell), which puts these new colorful eyeliners at the top of my list for winter glam. Depending on how you flick the liner—whether on an angle for a sleek wing or on its side for a thick swipe of color—you’ll get a glorious wash of metallic goodness that can be smudged out into a feathery sheen or worn bold and pigmented.
Sisley Paris
Phyto-Eye Twist in Marine
There’s something about navy eye makeup that feels so right for the frigid months of January and February. A fashionable alternative to neutral black and brown, this unsuspecting hue is my secret weapon for eye-catching winter eyes. Most recently used backstage at Anna Sui by celebrity makeup artist Romy Soleimani, this multiuse stick is both an eyeliner and cream shadow in one—making it great for quick looks with maximum punch. (If you’re intimidated by this navy hue, don’t be. It wears near-black, like a starry night sky.)
Urban Decay Cosmetics
Tube Job Lash Augmenting Tubing Mascara in Platinum
I’ve waxed poetic about the bleached brow, and this tubing mascara is my go-to temporary solution for faking this permanent look. An icy brow is a sure way to channel cold-girl makeup in a cool-girl way, and it looks exceptionally great when paired with a light wash of shimmery shadow.
Trinny London
Miracle Halo
Achieving glowy skin year-round is a feat for those with dry skin (I speak from experience), but this highlighting serum has done wonders for my dehydrated complexion. Suitable to be worn alone, under makeup, or applied on top for a touch of radiance, this liquid illuminator is the product-friendliest and most natural-looking highlighter I’ve ever used. I’ve yet to find a formula it doesn’t blend well with, and it layers surprisingly well over powder. It’s safe to say that this is an everyday essential on dull-skin days.
Charlotte Tilbury
Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick
While foundation is often too heavy for my dry winter skin, this skin tint stick is the perfect allover tone-evener and glow-booster. A few swipes of this lustrous formula leave my skin looking dewy and hydrated—like I’ve just left a facial or been drinking copious amounts of water. When it comes to “icy” glam, glistening skin is a must.
Dior
Forever Natural Velvet Matte Compact Foundation
Whoever said you can’t use powder and still look glowy needs a reality check, because this lightweight option from Dior has been the final touch on all of my glowy looks. Whether you have oily skin or simply prefer to set your makeup with powder, this sheer, natural-finish powder locks in your makeup without drying out your skin—letting your glow shine through like a soft filter.
Patrick Ta
Major Glow Creme & Powder Light Reflecting Translucent Highlighter Duo in My Love
If you looked at this stark-white highlighter and immediately counted yourself out, you’d be sorely mistaken. Though this compact includes both cream and powder components, these translucent formulas offer similarly sheer, icy finishes wherever you want (without looking like chalk on your skin). Use the cream side for a lighter, more buildable wash of shine and the powder pan for a glass-like finish.
Armani Beauty
Luminous Silk Hydrating Concealer
We can’t talk about glowy winter makeup without mentioning this hydrating concealer—the one product that always ensures an even complexion, a subtly dewy finish, and skin-plumping nourishment. Concealers are tricky in the dry winter weather, but this formula, enriched with vitamin E, glycerin, and caffeine, makes all the difference in “icy” makeup. Add a few light swipes for natural coverage, and layer it on a bit more to up the ante.
Clinique
Chubby Stick Cheek Color Balm Cream Blush in Poppin’ Pink
I fawn over cool pink blushes in the winter, especially when trying to achieve that pinched-pink, cold-girl flush. My recent obsession has been Clinique’s new Chubby Stick Cream Blush (in nearly every color, but especially this blue-pink). Whether I blend it in with my fingers, a brush, or a sponge, the result is a consistently gorgeous bubblegum flush with a delicate glow.
Makeup by Mario
Jelly Jar Lip & Cheek Balm in Mauve Latte
Makeup by Mario makes some of my favorite blushes in general, but this multitasking lip and cheek glow-giver takes the cake for juicy, frosted makeup. The jammy berry girl makeup trend may have crescendoed over the summer, but there’s something about plum hues that look so perfect against icy accents—hence I’m reaching for the brand’s color balm in this mauve shade for so many looks this season.
Prada
Light Glowing Highlighter Powder
I can feel your eye roll from here—how dare I recommend a $90 powder? In the sea of highlighter variants available in the beauty-sphere today, illuminating products are a dime a dozen. This is true! However, I don’t suggest them lightly (in fact, I don’t usually like them at all), yet this Prada powder has flipped my makeup game on its head since incorporating it. A single light swathe blesses my skin with a soft, angelic glow that can only be the byproduct of a fine formula. It also plays beautifully with other complexion products, layering seamlessly over any cream or powder formulas.
Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Hydrating Tinted Lip Oil in Radiant Raspberry
Lip oils are one of the best ways to achieve glossy lips with impressive moisture, and this Neutrogena pick is my favorite this winter. Specifically, this raspberry shade—which delivers a plummy dose of color that matches my frosted fig aesthetic. Whether I wear it glossy or blot it on a napkin, this shade always delivers.
Make Up For Ever
Artist Color Pencil Long-Lasting Lip Liner in Limitless Brown Shimmer
No frosted lip is complete without a shimmery lip liner. Well, I say that now that I’ve gotten my hands on Make Up For Ever’s newest addition to the Artist Color Pencil lineup. The shade Limitless Brown in the brand-new shimmer finish offers a gloriously glitzy Y2K look that I can’t stop fawning over, and it looks especially wintry when paired with the Neutrogena lip oil. Swoon!
EMBRYOLISSE
Color Balm 3-in-1 Stick in Mocha
French makeup will always do it for me, and this three-in-one stick from Embryolisse is no exception. The tinted balm is suitable to use as a lip color (the blurring pigments offer that just-kissed look), a cream eye shadow, and a blonzer (blush and bronzer, for the non–chronically online). I’ve been transferring this versatile stick into every purse before I head out, which is how you know it’s the real deal.
Make Up For Ever
Super Boost Moisturizing & Plumping Lip Gloss in Festival Lilac
Do I even need to explain this one? From the shifting duochrome shimmers to the lavender-pink hue of this gloss, this lippie is a feast for the eyes (and a must for the skin thanks to a smart blend of hyaluronic acid and plant oils). No light-toned, icy lip is complete without it.
Sheglam
Bold Booster Plumping Lip Liner in Berry Bold
For a low-priced option, try this budget-friendly (yet editor-loved) lip liner from Sheglam. Blendable, ultra smooth, and highly pigmented, this liner offers the perfect hue to emulate winter berry-stained lips (and looks gorgeous layered under any of the aforementioned toppers).
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