Frosted Finishes & Moody Hues: Winter Beauty Palette

In winter, we’re drawn to darker, richer tones. Melbourne’s iconic love of monochromes, layered textures, and understated drama finds a natural extension in winter’s beauty trends. In Melbourne, winter beauty is an aesthetic statement as we embrace creative energy looks that are expressive but refined: smoky eyes, wine-stained lips and frosted nails that catch the glint of winter light.

This season’s beauty palette takes its cues from winter’s striking contrasts: smoky eyes, a deep coloured lip, matte skin, and icy chrome nails. It’s a rich blend of frosted finishes and moody hues. 

So, let’s dive into the key winter beauty trends and how to bring them to life.

Smoky Eyes: Depth, and a Hint of Frost

The smoky eye evolves every winter, shedding heavy blacks in favour of cool-toned charcoals, graphite grays, and icy taupes. This year, we’re going smokier, softer, and dreamier, leaning away from harsh eyeshadows. 

Pro tip: Blend a steel-grey shadow across the lid and buff it into a whisper at the edges. Add a pop of silver shimmer at the inner corners. 

For extra drama, line your waterline with a deep navy or espresso brown for subtle depth.

Products we recommend to achieve a cool toned smoky eye: 

Wine-Stained Lips: A Winter Statement

Forget candy reds, this winter we’re going for deeper, richer tones.

Wine, plum, mulberry, blackberry: these shades stain the lips with a velvety finish that feels both sexy and feminine.

Pro tip: Apply your lip colour with a fingertip instead of a brush. Blur the edges slightly for softness, like you’ve just taken a sip of wine.

For extra staying power in the cold, layer a tiny bit of balm over the top to prevent dryness without losing that pigment.

Products that give you perfectly stained lips:

Velvet Skin: The Return of The Matte

Winter isn’t the season for harsh, flat mattes or dewy finishes. Instead, it calls for velvet skin – soft-focus, airbrushed, and touchable. Understated but luxurious.

Pro tip: Start with a hydrating primer or moisturiser to prep skin against winter dryness.

Choose a foundation or skin tint with a satin-matte finish. One that is not too shiny, not too powdery.

Finish with a whisper of setting powder down the T-zone only, leaving the cheeks and temples fresh and real.

Bonus: Dab a bit of cream blush in a berry tone onto the apples of your cheeks for a naturally flushed, winter-kissed glow.

Products we use to achieve velvet skin:

Nail Inspo: Frost and Chrome

Nails are the perfect place to experiment with winter’s atmospheric tones. This season’s nail trends are full of frosted metallics and deep, moody colours that mirror the dark elegance of the season.

Try these winter shades at your next nail appointment:

  • burgundy
  • light pink chrome
  • deep pine green
  • dark brown

Pro tip: For a modern twist, layer a sheer, opalescent topcoat over a dark base. Or, try a matte topcoat over jewel-toned nails for that soft, crushed-velvet effect.

Read more of our Beauty articles here.

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Meet Chelsea, The Modern Muse's beauty writer. Chelsea is Brisbane-based and loves to explore the things that make us human in her work. A lover of pop culture, makeup and a devoted foodie, she finds inspiration in shared and personal experiences. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her at a local wine bar with friends or curled up on the couch with a book. 

You may also like

There are a million reasons to fall in love with Melbourne’s art scene, and there’s something in the city streets that will capture your heart, as long as you’re willing to look.