The ‘I’m Cold’ Makeup Trend Is Taking TikTok By Storm

It seems like every day there’s a new makeup trend on TikTok, and it’s a little overwhelming. Just when you thought you knew how to contour and highlight, a creator comes on the app to tell you how you’re doing it all wrong. Eek! But what’s fun is when there’s a makeup trend that feels really do-able, like you can make it your own and tackle it in one try. Enter: “I’m Cold” makeup.

Usually, beauty trends are a bit more descriptive in name, so the trend may seem complicated at first mention, but it’s actually a lot easier than it sounds. Plus, to really get to the bottom of it, we enlisted makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff for some tips and tricks on the look. So, let’s fire up the app and get started.

What Is the “I’m Cold” Makeup Trend?

It doesn’t really matter if you live in a cold climate or a tropical one, or if you work from home or walk to school in the snow. Chances are, you know what you look like in cold weather. Typically, our faces get flush, giving us rosy cheeks and noses. The natural flush looks pretty on everyone.

The point of the “I’m Cold” makeup trend is to fake this natural flush with blush (you can add a little white shimmer eyeliner for some icicle-looking drama, too)—like you stayed out in the cold weather too long, but make it cute. TikTokers and makeup artists alike are loving the look. “I love this trend because it’s very similar to the dolphin skin trend, which creates warmth on the cheeks and nose,” Sheriff says. “I’m a huge fan of blush, and being a New Yorker, I love cold weather, so it’s easy to get this look by simply walking a few blocks in the cold weather. It makes skin look healthy as if blood rushed to the cheeks.”

Where Did the Trend Come From?

It’s no surprise that it was a makeup artist who started the “I’m Cold” makeup trend. Zoe Kim Kenealy took to TikTok to explain one of her favorite makeup looks. “There are ways you can do your makeup to make people feel things,” she said. Read on to find out how makeup artists achieve the TikTok trend.

How to Create an “I’m Cold” Makeup Look

1. Prep the Skin

This isn’t a glowy makeup look, so you want to keep your skincare minimal and as matte as possible. All you need is a moisturizer and SPF. For oily skin, prep the look with a mattifying primer.

2. Create a Matte Base

You can skip base makeup all together, but if you want to wear it, go with a matte foundation and concealer. Skip anything labeled “glowy” or “dewy”—cold girl makeup isn’t an illuminating look. TARTE Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15 is a long-wearing, oil-free formula that works to control your skin’s oil production for up to 12 hours and is perfect for this trend.

3. Fake the Natural Flush

The star of this tutorial is the blush. It doesn’t matter what blush formula you use, the most important part is the placement. “I place it on the cheeks and also on the tip of the nose and lips,” Sheriff says. Whether you grab your fave liquid blush, powder blush, or cream blush, you want to ensure there’s a good amount of pigment across the center of your face where you would naturally flush.

RARE BEAUTY’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is especially popular for this look because it’s incredibly pigmented, but can also be sheered for a more natural flush. Then, Kenealy likes to add finishing powder on top of the blush to set and mattify the color.

4. Make Your Eyes Sparkle

For eyeshadow and eyeliner, think icy. We love a white eyeshadow base and a shimmer eyeshadow or highlighter in the inner corners of the eyes for this trend. MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Crystal Reflector is a great choice because it shines in the light. To finish it off, add a little mascara (but not too much—we aren’t doing full glam here).

5. Perfect Your Pout

If you were out in the cold weather, your lipstick wouldn’t be perfect, right? So, fake a bit of fading with the K-beauty blurred lip. Apply a lip stain, such as FENTY BEAUTY Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain, to the inside of the lips and blot it with your finger towards the lip line. Prefer a glossy lip? FENTY BEAUTY Gloss Bomb Heat Universal Lip Luminizer + Plumper in Hot Cherry plumps to a very pretty (and cold looking) red.

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