How to Play up Pale Skin in the Winter

Winter makeup for pale skin

Fair-skinned ladies, winter is your time to shine. With spring and summer bronzers a thing of the past, you can bring your luminous skin into focus. Don't worry about looking like the undead. It is possible to bring out a radiance especially suited to a pale complexion. Now all you need before you walk out the door is a scarf or pashmina in a shade that further shows off your lovely skin.

Things You'll Need

• Rich moisturizer
• SPF sunblock for daytime
• Medium- to full-coverage foundation
• Makeup sponge
• Under-eye concealer and spot camouflage
• Eye, cheek and lip colors in vibrant shades
• Creme or gel blush
• Highlighter with subtle silver or gold shimmer
• Shimmering body powder

Instructions

1. Use the appropriate moisturizer for your skin type. During the cooler months, skin gets drier and may flake off. Don't allow your beautiful skin to be marred by unsightly peeling and redness due to irritation. Increase the intensity of your moisturizer, and remember to slather on sunblock when you step out in the daytime.

2. Showcase the alabaster-like qualities of your skin. Apply a fuller-coverage foundation than you normally use for a more evidently flawless finish. If your skin is close to perfect except for minor unevenness and discoloration, apply your base with a damp makeup sponge to lay down a thinner but even layer of the product. Make sure that any redness is expertly concealed. You may not have to use a concealer or cover-up after applying your foundation, but have one in your makeup kit just in case.

3. Contrast vivid colors against the backdrop that is your face. By turning your face into a blank canvas with foundation, winter-perfect vibrant shades such as raspberry, electric blue and deep purple will really pop. Use the colors of choice on eyes, cheeks and lips. Don't be afraid of strong pigmentation. You can effortlessly blend anything that looks too harsh with the use of a handy makeup sponge. If you are still uncertain, use shades from the same color family all over your face so you don't go wrong.

4. Give yourself a rosy complexion. Even if you don't have naturally pink cheeks, you can apply more blush than usual on just the apples to bring the focus to luminescent skin. You don't have to use vivid winter shades. Use a creme blush that matches your natural flush and layer it on to look as though you just got in from a walk in the cold. Try a gel for more of a stained look. Clean away obvious lines in your application with the sponge.

5. Enhance the high points on your face with shimmer highlighter. For the holidays, more evident silver or gold is acceptable. Simply lay down one thin even layer after another to get your desired effect. Not only will your skin have more of a glow, your bone structure will appear more defined, as well. Dab onto the tops of cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose and on other areas you wish to bring more light to. Blend with your sponge for a glow that does not seem to be sitting on top of your skin but looks as though it emanates from within. Along the same lines, you can call attention to your decolletage as well with a finely milled shimmer powder.

6. Wear a scaarf

Tips & Warnings

• With your delicate coloring, it's easy to look overdone with makeup, so try only one or two of these suggestions at a time.

Resources

• More winter skin tips
• Shimmery winter eye makeup tutorial