Fall is perhaps the most important season for fashion and beauty. It starts with New York Fashion Week, which is then followed closely by London, Milan, and Paris. Just as important as the clothes, the beauty looks give us insight into what trends and products will dominate the coming year. Beyond that, fall is a season of reflection and renewal; it seems that some of the most influential and far-reaching beauty moments happen during these months. It's only natural as we take stock of our routines, make seasonal swaps, and incubate new aesthetics.
While we like to think we have a pretty good grasp on the next big thing in beauty (you know, being beauty editors and all), it never hurts to go straight to the source. By source, we mean the industry-leading authorities and beauty directors of major platforms like Sephora, Violet Grey, Moda Operandi, and Thirteen Lune. So without further ado, scroll on to see the 10 biggest beauty trends that will dominate this season and beyond.
1. Storytelling Fragrances
Sarah Brown is the executive director of Violet Lab at Violet Grey. She says fragrances that evoke specific memories, emotions, and, most importantly, stories will be the center of focus throughout the coming fall and winter. "Increasingly, the fragrances that we see and are most moved by are the ones that are not only beautifully crafted, layered, and complex, but they are the ones that tell a real story, conjure a world, and take us somewhere," she says.
Brown recommends this fragrance from the small-batch perfumery Perfumehead. With notes of Italian bergamot, Turkish rose, Indian jasmine, cardamom, oud, balsam, vanilla bean, and Italian suede, it's rich and sumptuous. Inspired by Golden Hour, it transports you into a shimmering and serene state.
D.S. & Durga is a perfume brand that's known for creating intricate and transformative scents. This one, called Radio Bombay, is a warm, almost heady, mix of copper and cedar combined with notes of musk, cream, peach, ambrette, and coco. To us, it's a scent that instantly transports us to a tropical climate.
If you want a single spritz of a fragrance to make you feel like you're wandering in the French Riviera, allow us to introduce to you this demure scent that's composed of lemon, jasmine, honey, peach, bergamot, mandarin, and white musk. We can almost feel the warm sun and smell the salt air.
Another seaside scent, this one intermingles ylang-ylang with Tahitian tiare and ambergris. As one of our beauty editors puts it, "It always makes me feel like I'm on a vacation in Tahiti." Enough said.
Quite the opposite, this fragrance has notes of juniper berries, bourbon, and cedarwood that take us to a mid-winter ski lodge. It's fresh and crisp like evergreen without being overwhelming or kitschy.
2. Makeup-Skincare Hybrids
Makeup-skincare hybrids have been propagating for a while now, but this isn't your overhyped, fleeting trend. Brown says these dual-action products will stick around through fall and winter. "We are skin-obsessed, and as follows, we want both our skincare and our makeup to do more," she says. "We’re picky, we’re impatient; we’re looking for hybrids—makeup with skincare properties that become part of our complexion, instead of sitting on top of it, and multitasking skincare that can moonlight as makeup."
Nyakio Grieco, co-founder of Thirteen Lune and founder of Relevant: Your Skin Seen, agrees, saying that a "trend that I have seen is cosmetics products being developed with skincare benefits. It’s skincare within your makeup for a glow from within."
With vitamin C, antioxidants, and nourishing plant oils, this dual-purpose product benefits the skin while boosting radiance. Apply it on bare skin, layer it under foundation, or tap it onto the high points of your face as a traditional highlighter.
This isn't your traditional lip balm. It's packed with plumping peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, strengthening ceramides, and even exfoliating AHAs. Plus, it offers a wash of color.
One-part lip gloss and one-part lip treatment, this oil is packed with baobab, camellia, and passion fruit seed oils to moisturize, protect, and smooth the lips.
Another of Brown's recommendations, this sunscreen has a pearlescent finish to add natural-looking luminosity to the skin. All the while, it protects it with SPF 40, hydrates with vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid, and even evens tone with niacinamide.
We like these new tinted lip balms from Hailey Bieber's brand, Rhode. They give the lips a glossy sheen, a sheer wash of color, and lots of peptides and hydrators.
3. Biomimetic Skincare
Biomimetic skincare is a burgeoning category of products that uses synthetic ingredients to mimic molecules found naturally in the body. The idea is that if the body recognizes it, the delivery of impactful ingredients becomes easier and more efficient. In other words, biomimetic skincare is effective. Take it from Brown, who says, "The latest conversations around regenerative, reparative skincare centers around stem cells, growth factors and exosomes that the body can recognize as its own, and thus truly use. Enter the cutting-edge professionals!"
Brown recommends this next-level serum that uses (get ready) peptides, growth factors, and immunostimulants that mimic the molecules found in human skin cells. It was developed by a dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon, so you know it's legit. It targets everything from fine lines and wrinkles to dehydration, redness, dullness, loss of firmness and elasticity, and more."
This cream uses biomimicry to imitate the natural composition of the skin, thereby supporting and moisturizing it without the potential for irritation.
This biomimetic serum uses a blend of five peptides to firm and plump the skin, correcting loss of elasticity and fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Next-Level Lips
Helen Dagdag is Sephora's beauty director. She says bitten or stained lips are what we're going to see through fall and winter (and maybe even beyond). She references traditional autumnal shades like burnt orange, berries, and deep reds, albeit in untraditional formulas. "New formulations like stains and soft mattes are making it easier than ever to achieve the look."
Grieco and Brown agree. "'Vampy' style lips is another trend and makes for the perfect fall lip," Grieco says. "Deep-red lipstick adds a sophisticated statement."
As for Brown, she says her team is obsessed with anything "lip" this season. "For fall, we stocked up on the best creamy yet long-wearing liners, treatment glosses that offer more than just hydration, next-level plumpers that do the job without stinging, and an FDA-approved LED contraption for Dr. Gross that stimulates collagen and helps to diminish lip lines," she says.
Dagdag says this easy-to-use lip color "gives the best color payoff that is very flexible—apply a little for a soft wash lip stain or a second layer for more opacity."
Grieco recommends this creamy matte lipstick that uses vegan pigments and natural peptides to encourage fuller, healthier lips.
This lipstick has a modern matte formula, meaning it's moisturizing and won't dry your lips out. It comes with a matching lip liner.
Brown's pick is this next-gen lip plumper that is completely free from harsh, irritating ingredients that cause stinging and burning. Instead, it uses hyaluronic acid, barrier-repairing ingredients, and peptides to visibly boost lip volume. It even enhances the natural lip color. The best part (at least to us) is that it works immediately and cumulatively to increase volume.
Yes, lip scrubs can be luxurious. For proof, look to this La Mer one, which uses sugar crystals to gently slough off dry, flaky skin, leaving lips feeling soft and smooth. It's also spiked with the brand's iconic Miracle Broth, which is a fermented blend of nourishing sea kelp, plant extracts, vitamins, and minerals.
5. Slicked-Back Hair
Since we're just now coming down from "clean girl" fever—the problematic term for the minimalist aesthetic that took hold on Instagram and TikTok—it only makes sense that minimalist hairstyles are here to stay. According to Dagdag, the most popular one is also the simplest; it's the slicked-back bun or ponytail. "A slicked ponytail or bun is a big trend we are going to see this fall," Dagdag says. "It is a timeless look and easy for most people with medium-to-long hair to achieve. It screams sophistication and translates easily to different situations—the perfect day-to-night look."
"Many of us deal with a dry scalp during the colder months, and you do not want flakes in order to keep this look absolutely flawless," Dagdag says. She recommends this dandruff-relieving shampoo, which "gives major scalp relief."
"Hair usually takes a toll after tons of fun in the sun, salt water, and chlorine, so if your hair needs hydration that will also help to repair, I highly recommend the JVN Nurture Intense Hydration Hair Mask," Dagdag says. "You could even use the mask as a protective style by using a mask to create the slicked effect!"
This oil-stick moisturizes and strengthens the hair with plant oils while slicking back flyaways and boosting shine. It's a slicked-back bun's best friend.
6. Y2K-Inspired Luminosity
Jessica Matlin is the director of beauty at Moda Operandi. She says luminosity is in for fall and winter, even if it feels a little bit like a return to Y2K. "Wearing eye gloss, cheek shine, or lipgloss feels like Y2K beauty throwbacks, but at the end of the day, anything luminous is going to add light to your complexion, which is only a good thing during fall and winter," she says. "Picture your skin catching the light in the bright winter sun or reflecting candlelight in a hygge little restaurant. Also, these products are really easy to pull off because they require almost zero precision. Big fan of that. (Quick warning: I wouldn't recommend eye, cheek, and lip shine at once. Pick two.)"
Celebs have been cosigning the Y2K beauty resurgence. Here, Camila Morrone wears what we consider to be a modern take on frosted eyeliner. And yes, we love it.
"One of our top-selling products is Surratt Lid Lacquer in Hadaka, a gorgeous neutral," Matlin says. "I'm also partial to the shade Kira Kira."
"Another essential is the Merit x Proenza Runway Set, a limited-edition collection of some of their top products, all used at the most recent Proenza show," Matlin says. "I love Merit products because their cream blushes and oils have a luminous finish on the skin that is so flattering."
If you want to go all out and reference the original Christina Aguilera–esque looks of yesteryear, reach for this frosty-blue shadow stick.
7. A Touch of Purple
According to Matlin, now is the time to embrace purple. Bold '80s-inspired hues have been trending for a minute (as demonstrated by Simone Ashley and her makeup artist Hung Vanngo). That won't change now that fall is upon us. "I've found that a lot of people want to wear color, but they still want to look sophisticated and elevated," Matlin says. "Purple is the way."
"I loved the purple shadow Alexa Chung wore at London Fashion Week, and that was super inspiring to me—it was a wash all over her lid. Now is absolutely the time to take the plunge if you're thinking about it because fall has more forgiving lighting (i.e., colors look softer than in spring and summer)."
Matlin recommends this liquid eye shadow from the French brand Violette_FR. She says it can be used as eye shadow or liner. (How gorgeous is that deep-purple shimmer? It's mesmerizing.)
Matlin also likes this lighter, lilac-inspired shade.
This high-shimmer powder eye shadow fits the bill for bold, purple eyelids.
8. Rosy—Not Sun-Kissed—Cheeks
Blush is perhaps the most popular makeup product as of late (if TikTok and Instagram have any say in the matter). "A lot of us are waking up to the fact that we've been sleeping on blush," Matlin says. "Cream blush or powder—it's really a matter of preference—I see it popping up more in winter when we all lose more color. I love the look of wearing a chunky sweater with minimal makeup, using the same color for cheeks and lips."
Grieco agrees, adding that the preferred placement of blush will be different this fall and winter. Instead of the sun-kissed look that has reigned supreme throughout the summer, she says we'll see "a rosy-cheek, blurred effect applied to the apples of the cheeks." Think of the way your cheeks look when you've been outside in the cold rather than when you've been out in the sun. It's a rounder, more youthful-looking application. "This blush placement offers a soft flush to the face during the fall season," Grieco says.
Grieco says she's been loving this product lately.
Matlin says this product feels so luxe to apply.
"The color is buildable, and it's made with all kinds of yummy ingredients," Matlin says.
Don't let the price fool you. This powder blush is surprisingly silky and blendable.
Fans of cream blush will love this highly pigmented formula. Simply apply it to the apples of your cheeks with your fingers. It melts and diffuses across the skin.
9. High-Tech Devices
I know what you're thinking: Devices have been around for a long time. And you're right. But the devices we're talking about here are next-gen. "I think we went through a period of time in the beauty industry where devices were launching left and right, and they were very expensive, and not ultimately always very good," Brown says. "These days, the bar has been significantly raised—whether it’s a humidifier, a hair dryer, or a home laser—and what we have is an entire wardrobe of home devices that really do deliver."
This light-therapy device uses LED to smooth lines and wrinkles, firm the skin, decrease puffiness, and even minimize dark circles and discoloration.
This device comes with three percussive attachments for a rigorous facial massage, a microcurrent ring for lifting and sculpting, an LED therapy ring for firming and clearing the skin, and even a cleansing ring if you want to bring your nightly makeup removal routine up a notch.
This targeted device is meant to be used for only three minutes a day, yet the LED light goes to work, stimulating collagen production and improving circulation for fuller and smoother lips—no injections necessary.
If you can get past the sticker shock, this device can seriously improve your skin. It's a clinical-grade laser. Yep, clinical-grade! That means it can reach the deepest layers of the skin, as well as the fat and muscle tissue underneath to firm, minimize lines and wrinkles, lift discoloration, improve skin texture, and even calm rosacea. It's an investment, but it's effective.
This travel-friendly wand uses heat, light therapy, massage, and microcurrent. Translation? It can improve fine lines, blemishes, puffiness, and dark circles.
10. Latte Makeup
Latte makeup is the name given to the soft-brown monochromatic makeup looks that have been posted all over TikTok and Instagram recently (including by none other than Hailey Bieber). According to Grieco, this trend will continue on through the fall and winter. "Latte makeup has been trending for quite some time and will continue to trend in the fall," she says. "It’s the perfect effortless, neutral makeup look. It’s adaptable for intensity and personal style for a flattering look."
Grieco says this dual-ended shadow stick will make anyone feel like a makeup pro.
This four-shade palette is compatible with any skin tone.
Grieco also recommends this lip duo. Her favorite shade for the look is this rosy-brown one, called Los Angeles.
