Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am a makeup freak. I live for a blended-eye look. That’s why I’m excited for fall. As the leaves change, so do makeup trends. This year, it’s all about dewy skin, fun colors and bold eyeliner.
A model from DKNY Fall/Winter 2016.
For me, the defining feature of good makeup is the skin. It is, after all, the canvas that you build your look upon, and as the weather gets colder it becomes even more important to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. That’s why a good skincare regimen is key. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Regan, I don’t have the time to sit down and apply seventeen facial products to my face every night!” The good news is, you’re not alone. Hardly anyone who actually lives in our world does. So instead of talking about all the intricacies of a skincare routine, let’s focus on the essentials: a good cleanser and a hydrating moisturizer.
(I’m super passionate about skincare, so brace yourselves.)
Balmain F/W 2016.
Cleansers come in all shapes and sizes, but more importantly price points. Before you decide to splurge, it’s important to know your skin type. An expensive cleanser is worthless if it won’t work for your skin! If you don’t know your skin type, here’s a hack. There are several skincare companies that will send you free mini samples of their products if you answer a skin type survey! Personally, I received samples from Mario Badescu and absolutely loved them! Once you know your skin type, you can easily find drug store brands that will suit your needs. Brands like Neutrogena make cleansers for a wide variety of skin types all around $7-9 in drugstores.
Michael Kors F/W 2016.
A good moisturizer is another simple way to maintain your glowy skin as the weather gets colder. Here skin type matters a little less than with cleansers, but it still matters a little. If you have oily skin, opt for a water-based gel formula. I know we’ve all be told over and over again that putting oils on your face is no bueno, but for our dry skinned comrades it may not be a bad idea. Stick with products containing “good” oils like grapeseed or jojoba and I’m willing to bet it won’t be as much of a catastrophe as your mother promised.
Emanuel Ungaro F/W 2016.
The next defining feature of fall 2016 is COLOR. Peachy tones were everywhere on the runway this year. Peach is a flattering color on nearly everyone, and anyone can wear it. It’s super simple: just swipe a peach colored shadow over your lids, blend upwards, and layer for a more intense look. It’s a color that can easily transition from work to an evening date, and you don’t need any fancy brushes to achieve the look. A finger or two will work just fine. Glitter is also a big trend right now, so if you happen upon a nice peachy glitter you can have the best of both worlds and be doubly trendy.
Prada Fall/Winter 2016.
Another popular runway color that may surprise you is candy apple red. The vibrant color may not feel very autumnal, but it’s the perfect way to liven up your face during the gray days that inevitably come during fall. A swipe of this bold lip color will turn heads. A more traditional vibe for fall lip color is the old burgundy standby. This year, however, consider reaching for more gothic versions of the color; ones tinted more black and purple than red.
Rodarte F/W 2016.
The third and final beauty fad for this autumn is smudgy, graphic eyeliner. It was featured on several runways this season and personally I’m loving the throwback to the mid 2000s. Models stalked the runway with eyes wrapped in blacker-than-black eyeliner, sometimes with that glamorous “I may or may not have just woken up but you will never know” allure. Anyone can do this look, as well.
Moschino F/W 2016.
All it takes is either some gel eyeliner or a simple pencil. Gel eyeliner can be a bit tricky if you’ve never worked with it, so for the inexperienced I would recommend a pencil. Line your inside waterline with eyeliner and blend (or don’t) and then do the same on your upper lid. For a more dramatic look, apply a small amount eyeliner onto the lid itself and blend it out with black eyeshadow. Add a few swipes of mascara and there you have it. Don’t worry too much about technique, it’s all about what you want to do.
I hope this has inspired you to look beyond your cosmetic horizons and maybe try a few new things this fall season!