Deep Winter makeup

Dark Winter: one season, two names

Dark Winter is just another name for Deep Winter, so both names point to the same shades here. Depth comes first in this season, and cool comes second. The colors are bright rather than soft as well, so rich, clear shades will serve you better than anything dusty or muddy.

There are a few telltale signs. Hold black under your chin and your skin should look smooth and clear. Light pastels will drain the color from your face, while warm orange or golden brown can leave your skin looking yellow or muddy. Yellow gold won't look as good on you as silver or dark gunmetal jewelry.

Deep winter lipstick

Your lips can take more color than most. A dark berry shade brightens your whole face without looking like too much makeup, so it's the easiest first pick.

• Deep rosewood: the gentlest of the 5 and an effortless daytime choice.
• Dark berry: cool and rich, and it wakes your face right up.
• Cool plum: a deeper purple for extra depth.
• Crimson red: a classic red built on a cool base.
• Deep burgundy: the darkest one here, and the closest to this season's signature Deep Burgundy.

Skip pale nude lipstick. It flattens the natural contrast your lips have, and your whole face can end up looking washed out.

Finish and intensity

Finish describes how a product sits on your skin, from flat to glossy. Matte has no shine at all, and satin gives a soft glow like silk. Either one works with dark lipstick as long as the color stays rich and deep.

Blush works well sheer, so your own skin shows through the color. Sheer plum was practically invented for this. On your lids, shimmer should be cool and silver, icy silver for example, rather than warm gold.

Choosing blush

Every blush that suits you leans pink, berry or plum. Peach is not in your palette.

• Icy pink and dusty rose are your lighter choices.
• Cool berry and sheer plum are your deeper ones.

Blush in warm peach or coral usually goes orangey on your skin, so the cool shades give you a much cleaner flush.

Eyeshadow and eyeliner

The eyeshadows that suit you run dark and cool: think charcoal grey, deep espresso, dark plum, pine green. Icy silver, your single light shade, works as a highlight beside those deeper colors.

Your liner options: jet black, deep charcoal, or dark navy. Dark liner matters for you, because light pastel shadow alone looks flimsy against your coloring. Leave copper and golden bronze shadows alone, since they can make your eyes look weary.

Nail colors

• Black cherry polish
• Emerald green
• Midnight blue
• Icy mauve

Those first three mirror this season's deep jewel tones, such as Deep Cherry, Deep Emerald, Sapphire. Icy mauve offers a lighter touch while staying cool.

Everyday and evening looks

For daytime, a touch of color goes far, since your features already carry plenty of definition.

1. Trace deep charcoal along your upper lashes for gentle shape.
2. Cover your lids with charcoal grey or deep espresso.
3. Put dusty rose or cool berry on your cheeks.
4. End with lips in deep rosewood or dark berry.

At night, go bolder and deeper.

1. Sweep dark plum or pine green across your lids.
2. Press a touch of icy silver at each lid's center for brightness.
3. Rim your eyes in jet black.
4. Finish with crimson red or deep burgundy lips.

Shades to leave out

• Pale nude lipstick: it wipes out your lips' natural contrast.
• Warm peach and coral blush: they turn orangey there.
• Copper and golden bronze eyeshadow: it leaves your eyes looking weary.
• Light pastel eyeshadow worn without dark liner: it washes your eyes out.

The rule holds for clothes as well. Bright Copper, Pale Coral, Soft Coral and Dusty Apple Green, along with Mahogany, are shades this season passes by. Warm colors clash with your cool coloring, and pale ones are too light for how deep your coloring is.