Beauty
Your 2025 Winter Makeup Forecast
11 June '25
4 min read
Cold weather? Cute makeup. These are the winter beauty looks we're loving right now – glazed, smudged, flushed, and very 2025.
Winter beauty has always been about embracing a more sultry, moody vibe and making sure your skin is hydrated and glowing. Now that we’re in the thick of winter, the products we tend to lean on in summer sometimes just don’t cut it.
With the changes in weather and the darkening of days, trends like warm brown colour palettes or smoky eye looks are still mainstays in our beauty rotation. But in a surprising twist, lighter hues and shimmery accents, pops of colour and high shine finishes are quickly emerging as winter staples.
Whether you are looking to experiment with your look or after inspiration for a seasonal switch up, these are the coolest (beauty) looks for the coldest months.
Cherry codes
The red lip is getting a seasonal update. Enter 'Cherry Girl Makeup' – a TikTok-fuelled trend that swaps out crisp, classic reds for softer, more diffused finishes. Think deep red lip liner blended with gloss or balm for that just-bitten effect. Red has always been a winter staple, but this year, it’s shifting into moodier territory.
Shades like burgundy, berry and black cherry are taking centre stage – whether it's on lips, lids or even as a blush alternative. Try a dark lip paired with bare skin, or a rich burgundy shadow smoked out along the lash line.
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Chrome and metallics
Shine and glitter are nothing new in the makeup space, but this winter it has evolved. It started recently with Hailey Bieber’s glazed donut nails – this time it’s a look for your eyes, lips and base. Winter is the perfect time to lean into cool tones and high shine finishes.
Chrome and metallic makeup bring instant drama to even the simplest look – think silver lids, icy highlighters, and glimmering glosses that catch the light like frost. Whether you're going full glam or just tapping shimmer onto the centre of your lid, these reflective textures give your winter makeup a fresh, futuristic edge.
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New grunge: browns, greys and cool tones
Quiet grunge is set to be one of the biggest trends heading into 2025. It's moody, minimal, and rooted in nostalgia – but redefined for now. Think soft greys, taupes, and neutral browns across lips and lids, paired with fresh skin and brushed-up brows. It’s less ‘90s party girl and more “effortless but polished”.
Social media has shaped throwback trends for years, but this season, it’s about evolving those looks into something more wearable and modern. Swap high shine gloss for a sheer brown lip and opt for smudged grey liner instead of a sharp black wing. Cool tones for cold weather? Always a yes.
Glazed, dewy skin
That glossy glow isn’t going anywhere – even in winter. Dewy, almost “milky” skin continues to trend, thanks to the rise of skincare-first beauty routines and minimal, light reflective makeup.
Think of it as the cool weather version of summer’s glass skin: still luminous, but with a softer finish. Layer hydrating primers over skincare, then add cream-based highlighters or glow drops for a sheen that looks lit-from-within – not overly shiny.
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Glassy glosses and long-wear tints
Lips will be glossy, shimmery, healthy, and translucent this winter. Matte lips had their moment – but now it’s all about comfort and shine. Lip gloss is back in a big way, and today’s formulas are more hydrating, less sticky, and full of skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Pair them with flushed cheeks and glowy skin for that just-went-on-a-walk-in-the-cold vibe.
If gloss isn’t your thing, lip tints are your winter MVP. Sheer but buildable, they give that effortless, just-bitten flush without drying your lips out and last for hours. Plus, they double as cheek colour when you want a low-effort moment or quick touch up.
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Coloured mascara
Looking to experiment with your eye makeup? It's much easier to swipe on a coloured mascara than to try your hand at graphic liner, is it not? Colourful mascara is one of the easiest and most foolproof ways to add a little bit of fun to an everyday makeup look. Look to trending hues like burgundy, plum and even cobalt blue to really make your eye colour pop! Swipe it on your top lashes for a statement, or just the tips for a softer take. Bonus: it’s surprisingly wearable, especially when paired with brushed-up brows and fresh skin.
Blush blindness
Sometimes you can’t have too much of a good thing! And when it comes to blush, it’s got us asking, is blush the new highlighter? This winter, it’s less about a subtle flush and more about embracing a full-face moment.
Draped across cheeks, brushed over the nose, blended onto eyes – blush is everywhere, and we’re not mad about it. Cream, liquid and gel formulas are your go-to this season: hydrating, easy to blend, and totally winter skin-friendly.
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Smudged-out liners
This season, it’s all about soft definition. Smudged-out eyeliner gives that effortless, slept-in (on purpose) look that works perfectly for winter. Swap sharp wings for smudgy, smoky edges using a creamy pencil or gel liner. Blend with a brush or your fingertip and pair it with balmy skin and brushed brows.
Trending Lip and Eye Liners
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Skin-ification of makeup
Cold weather can be drying, dulling and often unforgiving – which is why winter is the perfect time to embrace makeup that does more. The skin-ification trend is all about hybrid formulas that do more than one job – delivering hydration, soothing ingredients, or barrier support when you wear them.
From hydrating primers to skincare-infused foundations and concealers, it’s makeup that looks good and feels good, especially on winter skin.
A few simple swaps can make all the difference: makeup that feels like skincare, performs like makeup, and keeps your skin looking fresh – even in the middle of winter.
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Cool looks for cold days
Whether you’re into smudged liner, cherry lips or skin that shines like a glazed doughnut, makeup is still a tool for self-expression – especially when the weather’s cold and the days feel a little duller. You’ll find all your winter beauty favourites at Chemist Warehouse in-store or online today.
