Beauty Trends for Fall

As a new season approaches, the weather shouldn’t be the only dramatic change. Let your makeup and nail colors reflect the transition as well. It’s time to put away the bright colors of summer and adopt the bold colors of autumn. Whether you opt for a more natural look or want to try every popular eyeshadow and glitter accent, local experts share the trends for skin and nails this fall.

make it up
gloss be gone
According to Jill Nassif, a regional makeup artist for Lancôme, matte is where it’s at in terms of popular makeup looks right now. “The top 2018 beauty trend that says ‘fall for me’ is a dramatic matte lip in a rich color,” she says. Expect to see lots of burgundy and deep red pouts (minus the shine!) for the holidays.

A matte look for skin also is trending, according to Nassif. Beauty lines like Lancôme are offering products that help banish shine and protect makeup against degrading effects like pollutants and harsh weather. “Lancôme setting sprays are 24-hour wear and contain things like hyaluronic acid and kiwi extract,” she says. “The plant extracts really help lock your makeup in place.” To keep your face looking fresh and shine-free, prime and hydrate your skin before applying makeup to minimize pores and fill in imperfections, Nassif says.

eye-catching
Nassif notes that this fall is ushering in “a bold movement for brows.” The trend is to make them more prominent with products ranging from waterproof and smudge-proof pencils to gels and powder-to-cream wands. “You can use these products to create a soft, smoky brow that’s more natural, or use a deep shade for a bolder look,” she says.

Eye shadow that is strong on shimmer will be de rigueur for fall and winter holiday soirees, according to Nassif. “Expect to see plenty of sparkle and color highlights and lots of mascara at parties this season,” she says.

natural skin
get fresh
Going without makeup can be an equally bold strategy, and there may be benefits to a less is-more approach, says Carol Anderson, RN, CANS, owner of Nouveau, A Boutique MedSpa. That can mean trading foundation, powder and blush for products that simply tone, hydrate and refresh. Fall is a great time to think about protecting skin from winter stresses, and moisturizers, sunscreens and other products are good ways to accomplish that—without adding a lot to the skin’s surface.

“There are many women today who want their skin to look good enough to go without makeup,” Anderson notes. “It’s less about an allergy or other sensitivity to products, and more about simply wanting a healthy, pretty look. If women can get their skin to glow naturally with good care, nutrition and exercise, that really can boost confidence.”

the light side
Many women still like makeup but just want to use less, and manufacturers are listening to their needs as well, Anderson notes. “A lot of consumers want to keep using foundation and powder but don’t want their skin to feel weighed down,” she says. “There has been a significant demand for cosmetic lines to offer a more sheer look and feel.”

That goes hand-in-hand with a desire for products that are more ‘nature-based,’ environmentally friendly and free of toxic ingredients, Anderson notes. She says women who prefer a light or makeup-free look have a number of options in plant-based moisturizers and toning agents. “Coconut oil and olive oil are great natural alternatives, too,” she notes. “They help seal in moisture and provide a number of other benefits.”

nail news
Huy Ho, owner of Clayton Nail Spa, says one of his salon’s top trends this fall is the dipping powder manicure. “It’s a powdered form of gel nail polish that doesn’t require light to cure it,” he says. “It has added vitamins to strengthen and promote nail growth. Colors are infused into the powder, and our salons have more than 300 shades to choose from.” The product is used with base and top coats to create long-lasting dimension and shine. The look can be customized to the season with deep yellow- and brown-based shades like gold, orange, copper and rust.

Ho says ombré nails are a popular look this autumn as well, and again, the sky is the limit in terms of color. “It’s usually a combination of two shades, faded together with a sponge to achieve a fresh, unique look,” he says. “It’s very popular with brides who want to modernize the French manicure.” Another technique that lends itself to fall colors is the ‘accent nail’ look. Customers choose a main color and then do a fun, seasonal design or glitter nail that makes the ring finger stand out, Ho says. The ring finger design can be created with a stamping kit that uses stencils, but he says his customers prefer skillfully handpainted images because they’re more original.

shades of autumn
Magazines like Cosmopolitan and InStyle often feature manicure colors and designs that are popular by season. Here are some of their top tips for fall:
» Rich, dark hues inspired by the natural world, like orange, brown, bronze and deep green; deep purple, plum-burgundy and dark gray are great alternative colors for fall
» Shimmery looks that incorporate gilt foil fragments or glitter atop a base color
» Whimsical stamped designs like harvest moons, stars and black cats
» A nod to changing autumn leaves: gradual tone transitions from one nail to the next (for example, a dark orange or deep red on the pinky finger with lighter shades of the same color as you move toward the thumb)
» Stenciled designs in contrasting colors like fiery orange and dark blue
» Fun, handpainted images like a plump pumpkin or ghost, rounded to fit inside the base curve of the nail
» Ombré looks created with glitter polishes, like orange or magenta going from darker at the base of the nail to lighter at the tip
» Stained-glass finishes made with super-shiny, fall gel colors marbled together
» Autumn-toned, matte base colors with sprinkled glitter accents or tiny glue-on gems at the tips