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.
“PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation. A whisper of tranquility and peace in a noisy world.”
Pantone
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.
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Pantone 2026 Cloud Dancer Makeup
Here’s a quick tutorial on adding WHITE the right way in your makeup routine.
1. Milky White Skincare
Not makeup, but I have been into this milky white skincare product from the L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power serum, $19. This is a 3-in-1 age-defying serum with almost a 5-star rating!
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 the lower lashline to balance out any natural pink or redness while also making the whites of my eyes look even whiter. I also extended it ever so slightly to the outer corners of my eye for a lift in between the upper and lower lashes to create a bright gap that widens the look of the eye. This is an old makeup trick often used by Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe.
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.
Then, take a tiny amount of white shadow onto the inner corner of the eye to instantly open and wake up the face. Skip stark matte white shadows though, and instead, reach for a soft ivory or pearl formula (a little sheen here is great). I mixed a couple of whites + ivories from my trusted neutrals palette, the Colourpop Stone Cold Fox, $35, for this look.
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.
These tricks lift tired eyes without emphasizing texture.
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3. White as Highlighter (Soft Focus Skin)
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 simply applying to the tops of the cheekbones, slightly higher than where you once placed blush. I like using the Anastasia Beverly Hills tapered powder brush, $23, for this.
Then, if you’d like to go a step further and make your nose more pronounced, swipe a short and skinny line down just the center bridge of the nose and then at the very tip to create a button nose with the same highlighter choice. If your nose isn’t your favorite part of your face, then I’d skip this step.
4. White on the Lips (Modern Fullness Hack)
Since our lips can sometimes lose natural color as we age, I like to first grab a pinky nude lip liner, like this Morphe signature lip pencil in “Honey,” $7, to draw on a more precise lip shape, then fill in with a few lines, leaving some gaps of skin to show through.
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 a budget-friendly version, try “frost queen” from Revlon, $9. This type of gloss will reflect light forward and create fullness without filler vibes. It gives a youthful, polished, and very modern lip look.
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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.
Happy New Year Jennifer. The white on the bottom eye line is stunning. Do you have a tutorial on ‘tight lining’?
Also, I’ve been loving the tips on making my aging lips look fuller.
Hi Jen,
This makeup look looks stunning on you. I’m no where near as adept at makeup application as you and I’m pretty basic when it comes to wearing cosmetics. I’m intrigued however, and wondering if I could just get away with the white eye shadow and blush mixed with rosy pink and skipping the waterline application? Should work? What are your thoughts?
Hi Jennifer!
Your makeup tips are great!
Is it possible to find out where you got the beautiful sweater? Love the white with black stitching!
Thanks!
Lisa
Hey Lisa! Glad you enjoyed this post! And yes, you can find the link to this Amazon sweater if you scroll down to the end of this post to where it says “the rest of my look details” and it’s the first bold link there. It comes in other color combos and stitching as well!