So you have your fabulous pair of winter boots, your amazingly warm and stylish pea coat, accompanied by the best jeans, skirts and tops your wallet will allow. Now what? There seems to be something missing, indeed. Of course! Your face. Many a time when women finally have the perfect attire, they fail to finish the job. As women, you are lucky to have the social acceptability to wear makeup in public to heighten certain aspects of yourself: your eyes, lips, lashes, cheeks and so forth. Makeup can equally do the opposite effect as well: hide blemishes, cover dark circles and heavy bags under the eyes and shrink pores. However, between the awkward transition between teenagers and womanhood, some girls are lost and need guidance.

Eyes

Like attire, makeup is seasonal. Trends come and go, shades fade and reappear years later, so it’s important if you want to stay fashionable to also check up on your latest cosmetic style. For eyes this winter, it’s all about bold contrasts and shadowy façades. It’s important to mix and match as well.

On the lid, start with a dark deep purple shade and blend that with a softer brown tone up toward the eyebrow. This contrast creates a perfect shadowy look that is essential to boost any look. If you don’t want to go for such a bold statement, it is possible to achieve a fashionable yet simpler, toned down look. Iridescent and luminous shadows that are just a shade away from your natural skin tone provide a noticeable yet calmer effect. If you want go to all out, metallic shadows like silver-blue, bronze and gold are strong and unique — just make sure your outfit matches the boldness of your face.

Lips

Like eyes, lips should not go unnoticed this season. Bold and brilliant, yet simple, lipstick shades are all the rage this winter. Strong and sturdy red shades like merlots, plums and deep brick are some of the few tones to search for to create an effective look. However, light soft pinks and muted skin shades give a tranquil great look for any girl on the go. Extreme glosses should be avoided this season. Soft, unmagnified lips are welcoming and don’t distract from the rest of your look (or the outfit you’re wearing, for that matter).

Nails

This is an area of cosmetics where you can explore your possibilities with different and eclectic shades and colors. Like eyes and lips, experiment with bold nail polishes such as deep reds, purples and maroons. You can even go darker and more dangerous with shades of black. To keep it from looking emo, choose a polish that has a hint of extra shine or sparkle. Metallic, glossy colors such as silver, granite and bronze also make a strong and distinct gesture. Shiny deep blue shades can offer an interesting and unique style for your nails without becoming too bright or flashy.