Desiree Mattsson
Seeking inspiration for your fall beauty look? It’s time to think outside of the box and embrace bold color as the days get shorter.
Much as we swap nude nail varnishes for vampy oxblood during the cooler months, seeking out shades that are richer and warmer in our makeup palettes can help to illuminate the skin and perk up a tired complexion.
“As the weather gets cooler we tend to wear darker clothes, so adding a pop of color into your makeup look can lift your appearance immeasurably,” says makeup artist Nikki Wolff, who is behind the images you see here. “After all, what’s chicer than an all-black outfit and a bright red lip?”
According to Wolff, a bold lip is a look that can work for almost everyone—the key lies in finding the right color and texture for you. “To keep it wearable, try opting for a matte finish, instead of satin or gloss,” she advises. “Matte lips make a real statement and are often more flattering and easier to wear than glossy textures when you’re wearing a bright shade.”
Some of the best brights to try at the moment include Dior’s Rouge Dior lipsticks, which glide onto the lips and are transfer-proof, meaning you can trust that they won’t budge. “They deliver a barely-there feel and dry down to a matte finish so you can create the perfect shape, plus they’re super long-wearing,” adds Wolff.
A raft of new liquid lipsticks—which go on as a liquid and dry matte—also make achieving an impactful pout super easy. One of Wolff’s favourites is Fenty Beauty’s Stunna Lip Paint, and Vogue also loves Byredo’s latest Liquid Lipsticks. “For foolproof results, apply a neutral-toned lip liner before applying lipstick to map out the lip shape,” recommends Wolff. The ultimate finishing touch? A little blush or contour along the cheekbones, and maybe even a few freckles, suggests Wolff, to balance the look.
“Smudgy, smoky eyeliner is also making a comeback this autumn,” says Wolff. “Heavily line your waterline with a black or dark brown kohl pencil, then blend into the root of the lashes with a fingertip or pencil brush—minimal effort for maximum impact.” While graphic lines, as you can see here, are another ongoing make-up trend at the shows, admittedly they are much trickier to wear day to day.
If you do want to try your hand at the look, an easy way to dip your toe in is to channel an expertly-sculpted cat eye. “Try sketching along your lash line using an eyeliner pencil, then again along the crease of the eye, joining the two in the outer corners,” says Wolff. “Finish with a sweep of mascara and keep the rest of your makeup looking natural.”
Photographer: Desiree Mattsson at LMC Worldwide, makeup by Nikki Wolff, hair by Daniel Dyer, model Yada Villaret, and post-production by Ruben Kristiansen.
This article originally appeared on Vogue.co.uk
