Hottest Celebrity Makeup Looks of 2014

By Mandi Pimental

When women are seeking to find their look for the new season, they look to the Hollywood trendsetters and what is hot on the runway.  Though it may feel that in doing so you are just following the latest “fad”,  it’s actually quite the opposite from the truth.  The top industry make-up artists and “in the know” stylists work hard to research what compliments the seasons changing wardrobe styles and color palette, giving us looks that are effortless, beautiful, and easily adaptable to any skin tone.  And that is not an easy feat.  By presenting their research on the prettiest A-List faces, we get to see a broader range of hairstyles, skin tones and looks to help us navigate through the endless options when creating our own makeup arsenal for the chillier months.

In make-up, trends for winter 2014 are seeing a drastic shift from the dewy finishes and rich hues of summer and pre-fall.  Muted lips are popular now.  Where we saw deep berry hues last year, we are seeing soft nudes.  To avoid the look of the undead, choose a nude lipstick two to three shades darker than your natural skin tone and brush a light gloss over top to reflect light.  Although the trend is to downplay the lip, you don’t want them disappearing entirely.  Star favorites include Lea Michele’s top pick in Clarins Rouge Prodige Lipstick in Nude, while JLO’s always-perfect pout prefers Clinique’s Long Last Glosswear in Knockout Nude.  Another popular hue that we saw plenty of during Fashion Week was ballerina pink.  If you aren’t a fan of the nude lip, or have a smaller pout that you would like to accentuate, try a light pink that best compliments your skin tone.  A couple of favorites include Dolce & Gabbana’s Cool Classic Pink or Dior Addict Lipstick in Sheer Bubblegum Pink.

The downplay of the lip brings us to winter’s highlighted feature, the eyes.  Played up eyes are making this seasons make-up looks fun and extremely versatile.  From thick, rich mascaras (try Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara) to metallic creamy lids that pop with color, the look is smoky, bold and sexy.  This season when smoking the eyes, line the bottom lid and finish with eye shadow below as well.  The look is more dramatic and opens up the eye.  Make-up artists this season aren’t just using black this year either, the trend of smoking eyes with rich browns and greys are becoming increasingly popular.  Try Bobbi Brown’s Dark Ash Brown or Dark Grey to play with different color options.

Ballerina pink isn’t just for the lips; the confectionary color is also showing up on eyelids.  Balance is always key when using bright colors on the eyes.  Keep the lips simple, this is where a light nude gloss would work to compliment and balance the more festive eye.  Light brows are also a big trend, and though this look doesn’t work for every occasion, or everyone, it is a fun look to experiment with.  To do so you will want to find a brow pencil that is a couple of shades lighter than your natural hair color, shape your brows and then fill in completely.  For a more subtle look, opt for a light eye shadow.

Remember in winter to keep the face matte with just a hint of highlight.  Winter weather tends to dry our skin, so opt for a good moisturizer in favor of your dewy foundations, save those for spring.  A complimentary blush is always a welcomed addition, unless the winter chill naturally gives you the coveted rosy pink cheeks, the skip the blush and go natural.  

For hair, this season is all about ease of style and no-fuss cuts.  With all of our holiday shopping, work parties and social engagements, we women like to look and feel great without having to take hours, or paying a professional, to do so.   It is more about how to simply style your chosen cut.  If you opt for the newly revived bob trend, like the adorable Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting or the always-trendy Jennifer Lawrence, a little styling product goes a long way to give it personality.  Opting for a side part can make the cut feel modern and sophisticated.  Side parts are popular for all lengths, as are sweeping fringe bangs.  Wearing your bangs long and swept to one side is an elegant look, as are the more voluminous bun styles that are a red carpet favorite now. 

To change up your look, opt for an occasional fishtail braid, a favorite of Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland.  Not your average kiddie braid, the fishtail style is refined and grown-up.  A glossy ponytail, high or low, is a look that can be worn casually or for cocktail hour.  Jennifer Lopez is the queen of making this look effortless and chic.

The beauty of the season lies in the simplicity of this years trends.   A little goes a long way if you utilize the right products and respect what styles will and won’t work for you.  Natural beauty is a foundation in which artists build upon, and this winter, the foundation is getting a chance to shine.