With fall approaching, now is the perfect time to mix up your makeup routine. Whether you favor statement looks or more understated beauty, fall’s top makeup trends are all about ease and versatility. Ahead, three professional makeup artists walk us through four major makeup trends for the season and their favorite products to achieve the looks.
Smudged, smokey eyeliner
“The cat-eye, bold liner had its moment, but this fall we will see more smudged, softer liner on the eyes that are less defined,” says Brittany Lo, makeup artist and founder of Beia. “It can mean a softer overall look, or [you can] create a bold look with a smudged, smokey effect. I suggest using a liner and smudging with a brush or soft brown shadows.”
New York City-based makeup artist Suzy Gerstein also favors warm tones for the trend, and says, “Smudgy eyeliner is an excellent way to counter the washout that many of us get come fall.”
$20 at Kulfi
$20 at Amazon or Credo
$22 at Sephora
$26 at Bluemercury
$52 at Sephora
Metallic eyes
“Similar to the chrome or glazed donut craze we are currently experiencing with nails thanks to Hailey Bieber, we will see the hint of metallic extend into makeup and hair as well,” Lo shares.
The trend is universally flattering and great for adding a glimmer to your eye — literally. “Metallic tones enhance every eye color and add a lovely bit of light-catching embellishment,” Gerstein says.
And you don’t need to go full-on gilded to partake in the trend, either. The look is customizable as you can play with the saturation and placement of the metallic eyeshadow. “I enjoy a pop of color on the inner corner for a more subtle take on this trend, or if you want a slightly more bold look, a full lid of a metallic shadow, like they had in the last Gucci show,” says celebrity makeup artist Hila Karmand.
$25 at Sephora and Danessa Myricks Beauty
$18 at Danessa Myricks Beauty
$25 at Neen
$36 at Victoria Beckham
$49 at Sephora
$38 at Fenty Beauty and Sephora
$7.99 at Spectrum
A polished, fresh face
With the popularity of dolphin skin and natural, skin-forward beauty looks, no-makeup makeup has become an enduring trend. This fall, it will be all about a polished, fresh face. “This trend is simple and minimal, using a few key products to enhance features,” Karmand says, noting that the refreshing take was seen on the most recent runways of Max Mara, Dolce and Gabbana and Fendi.
What sets it apart from other no-makeup makeup looks is the focus on creating a cohesive base. According to Karmand, moisturizing skin care is the first step to nailing the healthy, polished look. It will keep your face looking hydrated and plump, which you can then enhance with multi-use makeup products.
$35 at Bluemercury
$69 at Sephora
$48 at Sephora
$29 at Nordstrom
Soft-focus lips
Like the smudged eyeliner trend, lip color will also see a softer side this fall through a diffused finish around the edges. “I love the trend because the application doesn’t have to be precise — in fact, it’s even better when it’s more hand-drawn-looking,” Gerstein explains. “The look is all about delivering a pop of rich, saturated color through the center of the mouth, then softening the edges to keep it perfectly imperfect.”
Lo adds that the trend is an easy way to “take the typical bold lip a step further this fall.” Because of the soft edges, you don’t have to worry too much about precision, and mistakes are easy to amend. “Another bonus of this trend is that it creates a stain that lingers once the top layer of color fades which is a lovely, low-maintenance look in itself,” Gerstein says. “Top with a tinted gloss like the Kosas Wet Lip Oil and you get the finish of a lipstick without being stuck in the mirror touching up.”