From Denim-Blue Eyes to Dark Matte Lips: The Most Elegant-Looking Makeup Trends to Wear This Fall
I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Nothing gets me more jazzed than the onset of fall makeup looks. Dewy, sun-kissed flushes are fun and all, but my complexion truly comes alive with a palette that mimics blushing leaves and cozy spiced drinks. (I'm a warm autumn and Scorpio rising, if you're curious.) Not to mention, a blurred berry lip is practically my trademark; I can't think of anything more elegant than a velvety-matte situation, and, luckily for me, celebrity makeup artists Kelli Anne Sewell and Renny Vasquez say dark matte lips (read: mulled wine and oxblood) are very en vogue at the moment—in addition to a few other head-turning trends. Discover all the autumnal eye candy below, along with staple products you'll need to nail each look.
Full-Beat Fall
Great news for full-glam fans: Both Vasquez and Sewell predict pulling out all the stops—intricate eye shadow, razor-sharp eyeliner, immaculate coverage, et al. "Everyone will be playing in makeup a little more," Vasquez declares. "More is more this fall!"
In fact, Sewell plans to commit to what she's coined a "full-beat fall," during which she'll amp up her usual fresh, minimal looks. "I am trying to lean into airbrushed matte skin and having fun with smoky shadow looks and liner," she notes. "I forgot how much I love it all."
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HUNG VANNGO BEAUTY
Color Story Eyeshadow Palette
Prada Beauty
Pradalines Gliding Waterproof Smudge Proof Eye Pencil
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Fall Romance Eyeshadow Palette
Smoky, Sultry Eye Shadow
"I think everyone is ready for smoky eyes to make their official comeback and fall/winter is the perfect time," notes Vasquez. "Complemented with fresh, blurred skin and a vampy lip … there is nothing better." Sewell agrees, who particularly loves a smoky eyeliner look with satin metallic lids. If you prefer a modern grunge moment, pair your smoky eye with a nude lip (just like Jenna Ortega above!) for more of that '90s flair. "The modern take looks almost like soft grunge, but done with a bit of a glam twist with no hard lines and edges softly blended," Vasquez adds. Eye shadow sticks are your friends here, as they're extra user-friendly and effortlessly blend with just a press of your fingertip.
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Laura Mercier
Caviar Stick Eyeshadow Trio
Tower 28
Gogo Cooling Shimmer 8H Eyeshadow Stick
Bobbi Brown
Long-Wear Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick
Soft Blurs
'Tis the season where dewy, glowy skint tints make way for matte, soft-blurred finishes in all categories. "I'm finding that matte blushes are back to give that effect, as well as soft, kind of luminous powders," Sewell shares. "They're matte but don't dry out your skin, giving you this smooth look."
See, there's a fine line between a soft-focus look and one that veers too cloud-like, and both Sewell and Vasquez recommend sticking to the happy medium. "There's life to the skin, yet [it's] matte and soft-blurred," Vasquez notes. "Highlighter is strategically placed on high points of the face, but very delicately. Think more sheen than highlight. This adds to giving the matte skin a bit of life in a very controlled way."
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MAC
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Face Powder
Pat McGrath Labs
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under Eye Powder
Glossier
Cloud Paint Plush Blush
Less Concealer
Yep, you read that right. According to Sewell, makeup lovers will be (gasp!) skipping concealer this fall—or, well, at least using way less of it. "People are concealing less, letting natural eye discoloration be a part of the look," she explains. Consider it hollow-eyed grunge (very Wednesday Addams, if you ask me).
