Falling for Fall 2015 makeup trends

The weather’s turning before our eyes. If you’re looking for a silver lining, consider it this: with the fall chill in the air comes sophistication—in fashion as in beauty. Pack away your summer beauty looks and embrace the turning of the leaves by switching to a moodier palette, and diving into Vv Magazine‘s roundup of Fall 2015 beauty and makeup trends.

Strobing/Lit-from-within skin
We know—strobing sounds like something you’d do at a rave. Think of it as the plumping, lit-from-within answer to contouring. That’s right, just when you’d finally mastered your paint-by-numbers contouring palette, there’s a new kid on the block. The very things you love about contouring—suddenly magical cheekbones, the slimming effect—are what can give your visage a drawn, aged appearance.

Thus, strobing. Meant to use light rather than shadow to draw the eye, strobing is a slightly more advanced version of highlighting. As for products, we love Guerlain’s limited edition Meteorites Flocons Enchantes which marry beige, champagne and gold tones to illuminate the skin (launching November 1), and the Ambient Lighting Edit from Hourglass ($95, now available through Sephora Canada).

Apply your product of choice wherever the light would naturally hit—the inside corners of your eyes, just beneath your brows, atop your cheekbones, above your Cupid’s bow, and along the bridge of your nose. For an all-over infusion of light, try Charlotte Tilbury’s Wonderglow flash primer, featuring a light diffuser and collagen boosting peptides.

Peachy blush
If you need a splash of colour on your cheeks, try to resist reaching for those deep brown tones (remember, put down the contouring palette), and opt for light, pretty pink and peachy tones to give you a fresh, “I’ve just returned from my autumn stroll in a Burberry ad” glow.

Dark berry lips
This might be a bit of a hard sell for those of us who get by with a swipe of lip balm and call it a day, but it’s a surprisingly flattering look that was seen all over the F/W runways, and it’s Queen Bey-approved. Take some time to find your ideal hue, whether full-on plum or closer to bordeaux, much as you would with a crisp red (psst, fall’s other big lip colour trend is brick red).

It’s easy to go vamp with a ripe violet hue (and hey, if you’ve got it, flaunt it), but if you’re looking for a daytime-appropriate way to rock it, tone down the eyes, go easy on the cheeks, and skip the whole lipliner shebang. Just put on a light coat of lipstick for a more natural look, or try Quo‘s Lip Crayon in Flirt ($10) for greater precision and a silky finish. Go matte, or add a bit of shine with balm or Soap & Glory’s (editor-approved) Pillow Plump XXL lip gloss. This way, you can start out soft and build on the look into the evening.

Brows
Let’s face it—beauty looks recycle. Every season when it comes to brows, they can either go thick, or (say it ain’t so) thin. Fortunately, thick, natural brows are still on point, and why not? They’re a sign of youth (your brows thin out as you age), and we’ve all heard that they frame the face. Another favourite quote: Don’t let anyone with bad eyebrows tell you shit about life. That said, don’t go nuts with your eyebrow pencil—draw small, feather-like strokes that blend in with your natural brows then set them with clear or coloured gloss. Multi-taskers should take a closer look at Too-Faced’s Bulletproof Brows ($38) which combines powder, gel, pencil and setting wax in one portable pot. For a “I woke up on fleek” look, leave the shape a bit unstructured and respect your arch.

Metallic Lids
We’re headed for space (or the ’80s, or, hey, last fall) with this Fall 2015 makeup trend, and you can own it with just a hint of shimmer or full-on shine. For a subtle sheen, try Lise Watier’s 24 Hrs Glam Eyeshadow ($23), which can be used as a primer, eyeshadow, or eyeliner—although the champagne colour also works nicely as a spot highlighter. For a bolder look that’s portable and easy to apply on-the-go, opt for YSL Beauty’s Full Metal Shadow ($30 US). If you’re in the market for a full palette, check out Marc Jacobs Beauty’s limited edition Style Eye-Con No. 20 ($119)—20 shades, both glittery and matte, in a sleek mirrored compact.

Lashes
The bigger the better. Want to amp up top and bottom? Go for it. Want to give them a lived-in, slept-in quality? Do it. It’s hard to get trendy with lashes, but what was clear on the runway was we’re heading for noticeable lashes. It’s hard to go wrong with Diorshow’s Iconic Overcurl Mascara ($36), and for extra drama, add a bold swipe of liquid liner drawn tight to your lash line. We had the opportunity to speak with celebrity beauty expert Darrell Redleaf, and he cited lashes as a major trend. “False lashes,” he says, “Strips, not extensions—takes too long, too expensive—strips.”

Septum piercings/cuffs
When this extreme beauty look swept the F/W 2015 runways (Givenchy, we’re looking at you), it seemed like high editorial—you know, unlikely to hit the streets—but definitely intriguing. Now, celebrities from Jessica Biel, to Rihanna, to Zoe Kravitz, to FKA Twigs have been rocking septum piercings and the statement accessory is trickling into the mainstream. If you don’t want to commit to the full piercing, opt for a septum cuff—go for dainty with this diamond stunner from Jennie Kwon or the Single Pearl Septum Cuff from Chris Habana or make a strong, feminine statement with the Petra Septum Ring from Free People.

Related Link: How to transition your beauty routine into fall

Which of these Fall 2015 beauty trends will you be trying? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below, or tweet us @ViewtheVibe.