Winter colour analysis: makeup shades that suit you

The winter season groups people with a cool undertone and high contrast: the difference between skin, hair and eyes is striking. Picture a snowy landscape at night — white, black and jewel-bright colours. If you're a winter, intense, clean colours look wonderful on you, while muted or earthy tones can make you look tired.

How to recognise a winter

• Skin: very fair porcelain, cool olive or very deep, almost always with a cool or neutral cast.
• Hair: black, very dark brown or, in some cases, silver grey.
• Eyes: very dark brown, black, intense blue or cool green, often with very bright whites.
• Contrast: high. It's the defining trait of a winter.

The colour analysis test estimates contrast by comparing the lightness of your skin with your hair and eyes. For winters the difference is usually very large.

The three winters

• Cool winter: the coolest. Fuchsia, royal blue, silver.
• Deep winter: the darkest. Burgundy, emerald, black.
• Bright winter: the most intense. True red, magenta, electric blue.

Makeup that flatters a winter

Lipsticks

Cool, intense shades:

• Blue-reds, like Ruby Woo.
• Fuchsia and raspberry.
• Burgundy and plum.
• Deep berries.

A bold lip is "your" look: it balances your natural contrast. Avoid very light beige or peach nudes, which can look ashy.

Blush

Raspberry, bright cool pink and plum. Apply sparingly — a touch is enough.

Eyeshadow

Charcoal, black, silver, plum, navy and cool taupe. A black or grey smoky eye is one of the few that looks natural on a winter.

Liner and brows

Black liner without fear. Brows in very dark cool brown or ebony.

Colours that dull you

Orange, mustard, beige, camel and warm browns. If you love them, wear them away from your face or balance them with an intense cool lip.

Clothes, accessories and hair

Winters look great in black, pure white, charcoal, royal blue, true red, fuchsia, emerald and purple. Strong contrasts (black and white, for example) echo your natural contrast and flatter you. In jewellery, silver, white gold, platinum and vividly coloured stones are your allies.

If you colour your hair, cool very dark browns, black and blue-black keep your contrast. Golden blondes or copper highlights tend to reduce your intensity.

If the test is torn between winter and another season

Torn between winter and summer? Contrast is the key: if soft, powdery colours make you look washed out, you're a winter. Torn between winter and autumn? Compare a blue-red and a brick red in the mirror. In the test result you can pick your season manually and see which catalogue shades suit you.

Common winter mistakes

• Very light beige or peach nudes — look for full-bodied pink nudes or cool browns.
• Makeup that's too soft — your contrast asks for some intensity, even if only on the lips or the liner.
• Orange bronzers — if you want warmth, use a soft raspberry blush.
• Heavy gold shadows over the whole lid — silver, grey or plum tones are more flattering.

A winter look in three steps

1. A sharp black wing.
2. Very well-blended raspberry blush.
3. A matte blue-red or burgundy lipstick.

See it on your own face in the event look, which pairs a wing with a statement lip.

Frequently asked questions

Is winter only for fair skin?

No. Many deep skins with a cool undertone and very dark eyes are deep winters.

Winter or summer?

Both are cool. Winter has high contrast and pure colours; summer has low contrast and soft colours.

What's the perfect red for a winter?

An intense blue-red. There are several to compare in the 10 reds challenge.