Fall fashion shows are both amazing to work on and to watch, but many times the looks are so theatrical it’s hard to decipher what trends will work for mortal women! I have detailed a cheat sheet for the key beauty trends I saw on the runways, plus tips on how to emulate them.
Eyes
Steel and Violet Eyes aka Smoky Metallic Eyes: Every year there’s a new take on the smoky eye, and this is a gorgeous gray and purple combo you’ll want to rock this fall. Think the traditional smoky eye with the addition of a pop of gold or silver. By keeping the rest of the makeup neutral, the darkly hued eyes really pop. I suggest you use a lighter hand in applying these tones for day and go deeper and darker for evening.
Full, Natural Eyebrows: Forget the tweezers and the painful wax this fall. Allow your eyebrows to thicken, but not to “unibrow” status. Fill sparse areas with powder or pencil to frame and define your face.
Spider Lashes: The trend in eyelashes this fall is to lengthen without clumping. Sometimes applying too much primer and mascara can create a look that would better grace a stage than an office. I get this long, unclumped look by using two different mascaras: I start with CoverGirl LashBlast as base, then a “tubing” style mascara from middle lash to tips. I let a coat dry then use the mascara to build up the tips of the lashes again, thus layering and building the lash length.
Faux Lashes: Try a natural-looking set of lashes. My favorites are the drug-store brand Ardell in numbers 116, 130 and 318. You can take a small pair of scissors to trim faux eyelashes to make them appear more natural. You can also try just applying them to the edge of your lashes rather than placing them over your entire eyelid. DUO Lash adhesive is a makeup artist standard.
Liquid Liner: Add to either of the above lash tricks for a sexy yet sophisticated eye. Start at the inner corner and closely trace your upper lash line. At the outside corner of your lid, straighten the line, extending it slightly. If you aren’t perfect at first, don’t worry, a Q-tip with some non-oily makeup remover makes for a great eraser and cleans the line to perfect the shape. Experiment with drawing the line further than your natural eye line or by creating an “eyelift” by “winging” it higher then you normally would.
Face
Perfect Skin: Following a good skin routine is key, and always use sunscreen.
Statement Blush: Focus color on the apples of your cheeks and your cheekbones and stick to pink hues. Pair more exaggerated blush with nude lips as a contrast, while keeping the focus on your skin.
Bright Matte Lips: Red hues range from neon cherry to deep burnt to bright blue-scarlet. Start in the center of your lips and pat it out with your fingers. Tinted lip-balms in deep tones are perfect for fall because they have the moisturizing qualities of lipstick coupled with a sheer look.
Hair
Braids: Hairstyles this fall allow us to have a more laid-back approach to our daily appearance. Long locks tossed in a messy bun or tied in a long braid are perfect for the natural, relaxed look made popular this season. The braids seen during fashion week were big and beautiful. Hair can be teased before it’s braided to create the thickness seen on the runway, or you can add clip-in extensions and braid them for extra volume.
Blow-Outs: For voluminous blow-dried hair use a round brush and set with medium Velcro rollers for extra lift.
Highlights: No, not that old tiger-striped look – if your stylist highlights your hair by pulling it through a cap then, by all means, you and your stylist need to update your techniques. The most up-to-date method is called balayage (French for “sweep”). Balayage is designed to create very natural-looking highlights that grow out without developing a noticeable and obvious root. If you’re a bleached blonde, go for a warmer look this fall by asking your stylist for honey-toned lowlights; if you’re a deep brunette, brighten your face with some honey-colored highlights. This color adds depth and character.
Center Part: A center hair part can change your look and be pulled off as polished and effortless in a flash. (Note: A slightly off-center part can sometimes be a little more flattering to certain face shapes.)
