The second the weather gets cooler, my makeup bag starts looking completely different.
Suddenly I want brown liner, berry lips, bronzed cheeks and every copper eyeshadow I can find.
I still love soft makeup though, so fall does not automatically mean you need to walk around with a black cherry lip at 10 in the morning.
Unless you want to, obviously.
There are plenty of subtle fall makeup looks that give autumn without giving full Halloween glam.
And for the days when you DO want drama? Oh, we have options.
15 Fall Makeup Looks From Soft Neutrals to Vampy Glam
1. Buttery Nude Lips With Golden Lids
@aesthetic fashion finds
A buttery nude gloss paired with golden eyeshadow is such an easy way to make neutral makeup look warmer for fall. Keep your skin fresh and let the little bit of shimmer around the eyes bring everything to life.
2. Deep Plum Shadow for Moody Eyes
@the chic chapter
Purple eye makeup can go wrong very quickly, but a deep plum shade is different. It has that dark, moody look without being as harsh as black.
Smoke it around the lids and don’t worry too much about making everything razor sharp. This look is actually prettier when it feels a little undone.
Perfect for nighttime.
3. Terracotta Blush That Warms Everything Up
Terracotta blush just makes sense when the leaves start turning orange.
4. Classic Red Lip on Porcelain Skin
A red lip in fall will forever be THAT girl. Keep the rest of your makeup simple so the lipstick can actually stand out.
I especially love this with clean skin and barely-there eyes. Nothing complicated, yet everybody will think you made an effort.
5. Foxy Brown Liner for Instant Lift
If black eyeliner feels too intense for daytime, switch it for chocolate brown.
Wing the liner slightly upward at the outer corner to give your eyes that lifted look. You don’t need a huge dramatic flick either. A small wing gets the job done.
Add mascara and maybe a nude lip if you want the look to stay soft. This is one I would probably wear over and over because it works with almost everything.
6. Vampy Black Cherry Lip Steals the Show
Black cherry lips are practically begging to be worn once October rolls around. The color is deep, glossy and a little dramatic, which is exactly why I love it.
7. Copper Metallic Lids Meet Bare Skin
Metallic copper eyes with almost-bare skin? Hello, yes!
8. Barely There Makeup With a Satin Flush
Not every fall makeup look needs five layers of eyeshadow. Sometimes a little satin rose on the cheeks is enough.
Keep the brows brushed, lips moisturized and skin as natural as you like. The result has that fresh cold-weather flush without looking like you spent forever getting ready.
I love this one for everyday makeup when you just want to look awake and cute.
9. Mushroom Toned Eyes for Quiet Luxury
@tiffany rios
Mushroom and taupe shadows are extremely understated, which is the whole point. They give the eyes definition without screaming EYEBROW PALETTE from across the room.
Blend the shades softly and keep everything else neutral. It is a very clean, grown-up kind of fall makeup.
10. Brick Red Liner Redefines Your Eye Shape
@elizaveta.berbat
Now if you want something more interesting than brown liner, try brick red. It sounds scary but the warm rusty tone is actually beautiful around the eyes.
You can use it along the lower lash line for something a little editorial. Or take it into a sharp wing if you feel confident.
The rest of the face doesn’t need much. Soft skin and a neutral lip will stop the color from fighting with everything else.
This one definitely gets bonus points for not looking like everybody else’s makeup.
11. Glossy Cognac Lips Straight From Runway
@olivia.parker9
Cognac lips sit somewhere between caramel and brown and I am obsessed with how good the shade looks for fall. Make it glossy for a softer finish instead of going completely matte.
12. Dramatic Winged Liner in Midnight Black
@eyeliner ideas
Sometimes all you need is eyeliner and a steady hand.
A sharp black wing immediately makes simple makeup look much more dramatic. Keep your base clean so the graphic shape remains the focus.
You could add a nude lip for balance or go red if you really want to commit. Either way, this is definitely an evening look I would save.
13. Warm Bronzer Sculpting a Sun-Kissed Glow
@juliana
Who says your summer glow has to disappear just because it is sweater weather?
14. Berry Stained Cheeks and Lips Together
@rachael marianna
Matching your cheeks and lips is one of the easiest ways to make makeup look put together. A berry stain makes it feel even more fall appropriate.
The best part is that it doesn’t need to look perfect. Dab the color in with your fingers for that slightly flushed, just-came-in-from-the-cold look.
Very pretty and very little effort.
15. Smoky Espresso Eye With Dewy Skin
An espresso smoky eye is dark without being quite as severe as black. Pair it with dewy skin and you get the perfect mix of sultry and fresh.
Conclusion
Fall makeup might be my favorite because there really isn’t one way to do it.
You can wear nothing but soft blush and gloss on Monday and turn up in black cherry lipstick by Friday.
Copper, espresso, berry, terracotta and deep plum are all beautiful this season, but don’t feel like you have to use them at once.
Pick the feature you want people to notice and work around that.
Because honestly, sometimes one really good lip color is the entire look.
So which side are you on this fall: barely-there makeup or full vampy glam?
