It’s officially 2026, my friends. I hope each of you rang in the New Year however you wanted! My hubby and I attended a casual house party with friends, and our teenagers and everyone stayed up until midnight! We drank champagne, ate fajitas, and enjoyed some driveway fireworks – perfect and low-key.
I’d like my first post of the year here to mimic mine from last year. Each year, Pantone gives us a shade to focus on. Remember last year, the color was “Mocha Mousse” that I shared how to wear in your makeup routine. It’s honestly still one of my favorite looks and colors I have worked with! This post and shade are still very relevant and easy to implement today into your beauty routine if you missed it
Why Does Pantone Choose a Color to Represent Each Year?
The emotional aspect of color is a large part of their decision-making. They want to ensure that the color they select reflects what is taking place in our global culture at a specific moment in time. This year’s choice has been a controversial one – it is “Cloud Dancer,” a lofty white shade
So today I’d like to use this shade in a way that feels modern, flattering, and wearable. For 2026, that translation is all about light, clarity, and intention. With white and soft luminous tones acting as the perfect supporting players.
White in makeup doesn’t have to be literal, harsh, or theatrical. A clown base makeup comes to mind – ha ha! When used strategically, it can brighten, lift, and instantly modernize our mature features.
Why White Works Well on Aging Skin
As we age, contrast in the face naturally softens. I’ll be turning 48 at the end of January and can definitely already see this happening. White and light-reflecting shades can bring freshness back without heaviness. Think illumination, not opacity, with subtle placement as being key.
Pantone 2026 Cloud Dancer Makeup
Here’s a quick tutorial on adding WHITE the right way in your makeup routine.
1. Milky White Skincare
I want to talk about a skincare product instead of makeup today. The L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power serum costs $19 & has this nice milky white texture that I really like. It works as a 3-in-1 age-defying serum and has nearly a 5-star rating from customers.
It’s an affordable drugstore advanced serum that features Tri-Peptides to improve the feel of skin’s elasticity, help smooth the look of wrinkles, and provide antioxidant properties. It’s enriched with Hyaluronic Acid serum to deeply hydrate and plump, and Vitamin C serum to boost radiance and even tone, making it an effective brightening and hydrating serum in one! And it smells delightful. I apply this before moisturizing.
2. White in Eye Makeup (Brighten, Don’t Chalk)
First, let’s take a white eyeliner, like this Makeup Revolution streamline eyeliner pencil, $6, and draw right under the brow and smudge in with a concealer brush or the included rubber tip to soften. Focus a good bit right under the arch of your brow with the most white. This will immediately give you a lifted brow look!
I also use it to tightline my lower lashline to balance out any natural pink or redness while making the whites of my eyes look whiter. I extend it slightly to the outer corners of my eye for a lifting effect and leave a small gap between the upper and lower lashes to create brightness that makes the eye look wider. This is an old makeup trick that Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe often used.
And I know I’m going to get this from people, “Isn’t that dangerous to put eyeliner in your water line?” And to that, I say if anything makes you uncomfortable, just don’t do it. However, I’ve been coloring in my waterline since my dancing days as a pointe ballet dancer in my teen years, and my eyes are just fine.
Apply a small amount of white eyeshadow to the inner corner of your eye to make your face look more awake and bright. Avoid using pure matte white shades and choose a soft ivory or pearl formula instead since a subtle shine works well in this area. For this makeup look I combined several white & ivory shades from my favorite neutral eyeshadow palette called the Colourpop Stone Cold Fox which costs $35.
Next, lightly sweep that same sheer white/pearl shade across the center of the lid and towards that tear duct area by pressing it in with your finger or small brush for a lived-in glow.
White-based highlighters with a pearl or champagne shift are your best friend. Of course, I’ll be using my iconic classic highlighting quad, the Dior Backstage Glow palette, $54, in the 001 Universal. I like it because you can use the white by itself, but can also add/mix in the warmer champagne with it, OR the rosy pink OR bronze to create your perfect shade of white.
Start by applying highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones in a spot that sits slightly higher than where you normally put blush. I recommend using the Anastasia Beverly Hills tapered powder brush which costs twenty-three dollars for this step.
You can take an extra step to make your nose stand out more by applying a thin line of highlighter down the center of your nose bridge. Add a small amount to the tip as well to create a button nose effect using the same highlighter. However if you are not happy with your nose then you should probably skip this step altogether. This technique works best when you want to draw attention to your nose & make it appear more defined. The highlighter catches the light and creates the illusion of a more prominent nose shape. Just remember that highlighting brings features forward while contouring pushes them back. Some people prefer to highlight their nose while others would rather minimize its appearance. There is no right or wrong choice here since it depends entirely on your personal preferences & the look you want to achieve. You know your face best so trust your instincts about whether this step will work for you.
4. White on the Lips (Modern Fullness Hack)
Since lips can lose their natural color with age I start by using a pinky nude lip liner such as the Morphe signature lip pencil in Honey which costs seven dollars. I draw a more precise lip shape and then fill it in with a few lines while leaving some gaps of skin visible through the color.
Now you’re not going to use white lipstick, but you will use a milky white shimmer gloss with a soft white base, such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Tinted gloss in “Honey Diamond,” $23. This has just enough shimmer without being glittery! It’s the perfect gloss topper.
If you want an affordable option you can try Frost Queen from Revlon which costs nine dollars. This kind of gloss reflects light in a way that makes your lips look fuller without needing any filler. It creates a youthful and polished appearance that feels modern.
The Rest of My Look Details
The rest of my outfit details: Everyone needs a beautiful white sweater or top this winter! This Amazon oversized contrast stitching sweater, $39, in white, is so classy looking and comfy! I’m also obsessed with this chic Tuckernuck pointelle turtleneck, $98, or their Henry button-up sweater, $225. // My friendship love ring, $10, and this friendship bracelet duo, $22 from Amazon, were both Christmas gifts to myself, and I’ve worn them constantly since the 25th! They’re close Cartier dupes for a mere fraction of the cost! // My blue and black with silver stars press-on nails I put on for New Year’s Eve are style: Lovesome from Impress, $8. // Lashes are looking good thanks to Maybelline Sky High mascara, $10, and my Nulastin Lash Growth serum, $85 (going on 5 weeks now!).
The Bigger Beauty Goal for 2026
Incorporating the Pantone Color of the Year isn’t about dramatic change—it’s about editing smarter. Lighter touches, intentional glow, and confidence in simplicity. White represents clarity, ease, and modern femininity, which is exactly where mature beauty should be headed.
