'Cold Girl Makeup' Remains A Hot TikTok Trend - Here's How To Pull It Off
As much as we love a sun-kissed glow, we can't deny there's something so ethereal about a pink wintery flush on the cheeks. So it doesn't surprise us one bit that the latest viral trend to take over TikTok aims to mimic exactly that. Enter cold-girl makeup. The look was first created by makeup artist Zoe Kim Kenealy back in October 2022, with plenty of beauty lovers having shared their own take on the trend ever since. But what the heck is it? Well, grab your shimmer, because we're taking a deep dive into the snow (not literally, of course).
First off, you don't actually have to be cold to give the cold girl makeup look a go. You just want to look like you've been out in the cold. It's essentially about looking a little flushed and adding a hint of sparkle. So, think wintery, as if you've been having fun in the snow for a few hours.
One of our favorite parts of this look though is that almost anyone can pull it off. That's because it's easy to replicate and can be somewhat more natural, as you're essentially recreating what your face would look like after a little time outdoors on a chilly day. Just, maybe a little sparklier. However, this one will probably best suit cool-toned beauties. That's because, as the name suggests, it can involve a lot of cooler toned makeup shades. Don't let that put you off, though! Because there's certainly still room for your some warm shades if they're your go-tos.
Grab a cool-toned blush (but ditch bronzer)
When it comes time for the cool girl makeup trend, the idea is to create rosy cheeks that would naturally occur if you'd been in the cold. This means there's no such thing as too much blush. Well, there is, but as TikTok beauty influencer @stephhui put it, "This is basically a no makeup makeup look, except hella blush and hella sparkles."
Because this look is all about the chilly effect, the best shade to rock is a cool-toned pink with blue undertones. This will For a really flushed look, try applying a little over the nose too. You could even apply a little blush to the lids for that cold look on your eyes.
Though blush usually goes well with a little bronzing or contouring — which are different, remember! — it's usually best to skip this step for the cool girl look. That's because bronzers can add too much warmth to the face. We're not going for the tropical beach vibe this time, we're aiming to look like we've been at the ski slopes. Can't resist a little contour though? We understand. Just try to stick to a cool toned brown over something too warm.
Remember you can bring some color to the lips
You'd be forgiven for thinking you need to stick to a super light, frosty pink lipstick for the cold girl look. While it absolutely can work to bring a super cool, light, shimmery addition to the lip area, if you stick too much to exclusively cool tones all the over the face you run the risk of looking washed out, especially if you have a lighter skin tone. Instead, try a berry-toned stain product to bring some life to the look. A glossy, light-reflecting lipgloss in a fuchsia shade if you're not really feeling a full-on lipstick. And that's perfect, because glossy lips are having a major moment in 2024.
Don't forget to add highlight
Another signature part of the cold girl makeup look is highlight. When it comes to adding a little shimmer (or a lot, depending on what you like) highlight can be your best friend for this aesthetic. Just imagine you're adding some shine in the same way snowflakes might land on your nose, or adding extra shimmer to mimic the way snow on the ground glistens when it catches the light.
Again, just like with your blush, it's best to think cool tones here. A silver or light-pink toned highlighter can work exceptionally well, as it creates an iridiscent glow without being too warm and summery. Aim for placement directly on the cupid's bow above your lip, on the brown bone, and on the highest part of your cheekbone to create a snowy, ethereal princess vibe without
You can also add some on the tip of your nose for a darling button nose effect, and adding some shimmer to the inner corner of your eye can also be perfect for this aesthetic.
You could also add a little extra shimmer to your lids for that winter-y, frosty effect to really reflect the light. But try not to go too overboard with the eyes if you're sticking with the traditional version of the cold girl aesthetic. As TikToker @mikaylanogueira explained, "Cold girl makeup is very light on the eyes."
But remember to put your own twist on cold girl makeup when you need to
Don't forget that when it comes to a makeup trend, there's always some leeway to change things up to make sure it suits you. As the look's founder, Zoe Kim Kenealy, told Byrdie, "You never have to follow a makeup routine step-by-step, and the cold girl makeup look is no different." The reason why that's particularly important here is because no trend should feel alienating, and this one may seem a little scarier for those with warmer undertones who may feel like they can't give the look a go. But that's just not true.
If you're not feeling a certain aspect of the traditional cool girl look, change it up! If you prefer more dramatic eyes, you could add a little liner or a false lash to make the look your own. If you don't think the idea of a cool-toned highlighter will suit you, then feel free to swap one or two things to something warmer. It's all about making a few minor changes to ensure you still get the essence of the trend, but in a way that compliments you.