Cool Winter: Lipstick

Cool Winter lipsticks are icy and bright. Such vibrance would be overpowering on other seasons but, on these individuals, they look natural.

In this article, we’ve used a variety of red, pink, orange, purple and brown lipsticks to demonstrate which colours we’d advise for Cool Winter as well as those you should avoid. Affiliate links have been used to provide additional visual examples.  These products have been swatched on clients to ensure accuracy - online images may vary. As with the lipstick chart, you are encouraged to sample these products on your wrist prior to making any purchases.

Please note, this advice is generic for all Cool Winter individuals and recommendations will vary based on your unique colouring. Some trial and error may be required in order to find the best shade for yourself. For personalised advice, we suggest purchasing a Colour Analysis package with the makeup option.

Cool Winter lipsticks are taken from the reds, pinks and purples on the colour chart.

This subtype belongs to a season influenced by deep value so colours are both darker and clearer than those we'd see in Cool Summer.

Where those who lean closer to Dark Winter will need to select the deeper products, those who flow towards Bright Winter must prioritise the brighter products due to having a slightly higher contrast level. This means avoiding the deeper selections in favour of the vibrant.

Red Lipstick

Cool Winter is where we begin to see classic, clean reds due to their purity. 

In example one, we see a blue-tinged red, which lights up Bianca’s image and makes her eyes sparkle. This colour balances both her cool hue and her crystal clear chroma. Note that it does not look overdone on her. It is quite vibrant so would be a good option for a Cool Winter leaning towards Bright Winter. You could try Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Ruby Tuesday.

Classic red also works as shown in example two. This would also be effective for a Cool Winter leaning towards Bright Winter due to its vibrancy. Bianca’s eyes sparkle even more paired with this colour. We see them before we see the lipstick, which indicates balance. A good option would be e.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick in No Regrets.  

Example three demonstrates a pinkish variation, which is softer than the previous examples but retains the cool hue required for this subtype. It is less dramatic than the other recommended examples but still refines Bianca’s appearance due to its cool leanings. Products such as Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in #730 Revlon Red are similar to this colour. 

The reds that Cool Winter must avoid include any which are warm and soft as well as those that are deep. Example four shows burgundy, which is cool but has a touch of softening grey. This muddies Bianca’s sparkling features. It is also too dark and overpowers her appearance. The same can be said for the blackened red in example six. 

Example five shows a coral red, which is vibrant but has a touch of warming orange. This makes it unsuitable as it reflects yellow on Bianca’s skin. 

Pink Lipstick

As a traditionally cool colour, pink lipsticks work particularly well for this subtype. These include blue-based and vibrant products. 

The bright pink in example one leans closer to red making it more of a neutral variation. It also has a little depth and would work for a Cool Winter leaning towards Dark Winter. However, the vibrancy of the colour works for Bianca as her skin is flawless and her eyes are sparkling. This is because the vibrancy mirrors her natural glow. A good option would be L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Satin Smooth Lipstick in 110 Made In Paris. 

Examples two and three are much cooler than example one but retain the colour brightness required to balance Cool Winter. 

Where the candy pink lights up Bianca’s appearance, her eyes really sparkle paired with the neon pink. Neither of them reflect onto her skin, which indicates colour balance. These lipsticks would be suitable for a Cool Winter leaning towards Bright Winter. 

You may also compare the candy pink in example two to the warm pink in example six. They look similar at first glance but you can see the yellow in the warm pink, which reflects onto Bianca’s skin and makes her look sickly. 

For the candy pink, you could try Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006 Pink Blush. Similar neon pink products include Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolour in Tropical and L’Oreal Paris Chroma Morphose Lipstick in Chameleon Pink. 

Cool Winter individuals need to be careful with warm pinks as well as those which are muted. 

In example four, we see a salmon pink. The chroma on this colour is suitable for Bianca but the hint of warming orange clashes with her cool tones. It reflects yellow on your skin and makes her looks unwell. 

Compare this to example five where we see a cool soft rose. This colour meets her cool hue but opposes her bright chroma. It muddies her appearance and makes her look flat and lifeless.

purple Lipstick

The Cool Winter palette includes a range of purples including ‘Byzantium - 19-3138 TCX’ and ‘Grape Wine - 18-3533 TCX’. These colours are both cool and bright to echo the subtype’s natural colour qualities. 

In example one, the vibrant purple is blue based and clear. The lipstick lights up Bianca’s appearance and makes her eyes sparkle. A similar product would be L'Oréal Paris Color Riche Satin Smooth Lipstick in 142 Bonjour Bastille.

The violet in example three has a similar effect and may be likened to Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Is Everything in Purple Aura. This colour has less depth and is more vibrant than example one making it perfect for a Cool Winter leaning towards Bright Winter. 

As their dominant characteristic is their cool hue, their focus is cool variations like the cool plum in example two. This colour is also vibrant in comparison to the muted plum in example six. Where example two visibly lifts Bianca’s appearance, example six muddies her. This is because she needs colours which are both bright and cool to mirror her own palette. You could try Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Pure Plum 135.

Purple lipsticks which need to be avoided by Cool Winter individuals are those that are intensely dark. 

The eggplant in example four and the dark plum in example five are cool enough for Bianca but are dominantly dark and overpower her appearance. 

Other Lipsticks

Lipstick colours we don’t recommend to Cool Winter include orange, nudes and browns. Whilst orange products are too warm, neutrals tend to be too dark or too soft. This either overwhelms or underwhelms the individual and the key is to create balance. 

Both the vibrant peach in example one and the tangerine is example two are bright enough for Bianca’s chroma. However, their hue is too warm and reflects yellow on her skin. These would be better suited to a Spring individual.

The brownish red in example three is too warm and too muted. Her image is darkened by this product as it muddies her brightness. 

Looking at the nude examples, we can see these variations are all cool as they each have a hint of blue. However, the deep cool in example four and the stone in example six have a hint of grey, which softens the colour. This does not work with her bright chroma and has a similar effect to the brownish red in example three. 

The caramel looks like her natural lip colour, which works for seasons and subtypes with softer leanings. However, a Cool Winter needs some drama to balance their contrast level. This looks boring and flattens her appearance in comparison to the vibrant colours we have looked at in the red, pink and purple examples. 

Lipstick Finishes

Due to Cool Winter’s secondary characteristic being bright chroma, they require more shine to echo their natural appearances. 

Gloss works incredibly well for them but shimmer can also be effective, as seen in the lustre example. Satin products also work as they have a creamier finish. 

Finishes this subtype need to avoid include matte, powder and velvet. This is because they look cakey and unnatural paired with natural shine. If these products are already in your collection and meet the colour requirements, you can create some shine using a sweep of clear gloss over the top. 

Care should be taken to nourish the lips prior to makeup application if you opt for matte products. You could incorporate lip scrubs and masks into your evening skincare routine in order to prep a smooth base.

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Cool Winter - Lipstick Chart [Digital Download]

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