Beauty report: makeup for the darker winter months

Winter makeup offers a freedom and wider range of choice than you’ll generally find amid light, dewy summer textures, but it can start to feel dull and brooding after a few weeks. When September hits, I’m relieved I don’t have to explain my paleness to people any longer – “Would you not try a bit of tan? Warm yourself up a bit?” – but the deeper hues and heavier textures can quickly become boring. By October, you may find yourself longing for summer colour again.

While reverting to the bronzed, coral tones of summer might jar against the reality of a cold Irish winter, there are plenty of ways to mix up your makeup and experiment with colour and texture during the darker months.

Opting for deeper tones in sheerer textures will liven up the face, while choosing reflective textures like satin or sparkly eye products will make the most of indoor lighting and add interest. I love to glimpse some eye-catching sparkle between someone’s blinks. It’s fun, but not too much, and it’s a nice way to force some brightness into an October day.

I generally find that apart from some basic colours – reds, for example – I'm not terribly loyal to bright lipsticks. I tend to purchase them based on fits of whimsy, and might wear them a few times before tiring of their albeit jolly flashiness. A guilt-free solution is to opt for affordable products. Essence Sheer and Shine Lipstick (€2.49) is available in 12 shades and is doubly great. It offers colour on a budget for those of us who can't be faithful to a lipstick, and the sheer texture takes the bang out of wearing colour. If you are afraid of wearing brights, or immediately rush to loo on catching sight of yourself to tear an attention-seeking hot pink from your lips, these are for you. No-strings colour that won't scream for less than the cost of your morning bus commute.

If you are the type to invest in a lipstick and love it faithfully forever, Chanel will always reign supreme. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Mysterieuse (€32.50 from October 9th) is a fantastic choice. Velvety matte texture in a not so obvious colour (think Kylie Jenner's famed pink-based brown shade) is a surprise on the lips. Endlessly comfortable and with pigment for days, it makes a statement without hearkening back to garish summer colour.

Clarins The Essentials Eye Makeup Palette (€43) is a thing of perfection. Clarins is supremely reliable for staples, and this palette contains every shade you'll need to create any day or evening look. The finishes are both mattes and satins, and the variation in shades from light to deep makes this versatile enough to take you through winter and the rest of the year besides. The warm neutral tones are contrasted, with the inclusion of a rich purple, so winter makeup need not get boring.

lkennedy@irishtimes.com