How to Pull Off Fall’s 4 Biggest Makeup Trends
by Faith Xue
While the temps might still be sweltering, our thoughts are slowly shifting from bronzer and sea salt waves to matte skin and moody hues. Since it’s never too early to start planning ahead, we thought we’d ask Burberry’s lead global makeup artist, Wendy Rowe, for a preview of fall’s biggest makeup trends, plus her advice on how to pull them off. Turns out, you should be applying your favorite contour… on your eyelids. We’ll explain ahead—keep scrolling to find out how to pull off four of fall’s biggest makeup trends!
The Updated Black Eyeliner/Nude Lip Combo
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
Where fall goes, the requisite black eyeliner/nude lip combo follows—but Rowe says this year’s version is a bit different. Instead of defined flicks or thick lines, she says to press an inky black gel liner right into the base your lash line, then smudge it out with an eye shadow brush for a softer, subtler smoky eye effect. “It’s not as noticeable as a harsh black line, but it’s more natural,” she says. As for nude lips, she says to follow the cardinal rule: When picking a nude hue, you should go one shade lighter than your natural lip color for the most flattering finish. (We suggest Burberry’s Kisses in Nude or Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in Very Victoria).
Related: Your Ultimate Guide to Fall’s Top Beauty Trends
Candlelit Skin
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
We’re all a little tired of hearing about no-makeup makeup at this point, but—news flash—it isn’t going away anytime soon. Fall’s version of bare skin is less dewy and more on the softly candlelit side of the spectrum. If you don’t have naturally glowing bare skin, Rowe says, you don’t need to smother your entire face with foundation. Instead, apply a high-pigment product, like Burberry’s new Cashmere Concealer, only where you really need it—she suggests starting at the outside of your cheeks, where breakouts are most visible, and going super light in the T-zone. “I use a sponge to apply and blend when I need the most coverage, a brush for medium coverage, and my hands if I want the lightest coverage,” she shares. “With any foundation, you have all of these options—the coverage can always change, depending on the application.”
Related: Ask a Hairstylist: What Are Fall’s Top Hair Trends?
A Big, “Healthy” Brow
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
Bold brows are still trending for fall, and Rowe—who has groomed the brow-endowed Cara Delevingne for many a Burberry campaign—shared her sculpting philosophy. “I get a soft brow pencil then draw the hairs in to create a sort of shadow, not a solid,” she explains. “When they’re solid and flat and matte, that’s not reality—you need to draw in the hairs, then brush them into precision.” She draw in short strokes using Burberry’s Effortless Brow Definer (Hourglass’s Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil is another good option).
Related: The Weirdest Trick EVER for a Perfect Cat Eye
The Rocker-Chic Smoky Eye
Photo: Imaxtree
A/W 15’s reiteration of the classic smoky eye is more brown than black, and smudged to perfection. Rowe let us in on a little secret to creating the runway-inspired look: Use your contour stick as eye shadow. She swears by Burberry’s new Face Contour, a creamy formula that comes in two shades. “You take a soft, blendable contour pencil and use that around the lash line, then just smudge it out with your finger,” she says. “It looks like a modern-day smoky eye—a cool smoky eye.”
Related: This Is the #1 Long-Wear Eyeliner, According to the Internet
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