When it comes to executing a knockout look from head to toe, the most important place to start should always be your moneymaker: your face. People’s first impressions of you are garnered from your facial appearance, thus making it the most noticeable and significant part of any ensemble.
Although you may want to focus all of your time (and finances) into perfecting your outfit, your face will inevitably remain the center of attention. A perfect look can be completely demolished by the wrong type of makeup application and because of that, you should always be aware of the way that your cosmetics complement the rest of your get up.
For all of you makeup junkies out there–much like myself–this fall is bringing us many color oriented trends veering away from the usual autumnal earth tones.
Dewy and flawless skin will always be the essential point of origin (so wear your sunscreen ladies!), but this season is certainly bringing in the wow factor when it comes to facial appearances.
Purple Haze
The color of royalty is making a comeback this season, popping up in both eye shadow and lipsticks. Purple shades complement any eye color and provide a feminine and pretty effect that’s not so boring.
When utilizing this color, make sure to select a hue that complements your skin tone. For lighter more fair skin, opt for a plum shadow or lipstick. For darker skin types, try a bright shade of purple with richer, redder undertones.
Once you find the perfect color for you, the fun can really start.
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Generously apply the shadow and blend the color outward from the center of the lid by buffing out with a wide brush. Define with brown or gold eyeliner to add some dimension, followed by a volumizing mascara.
Use a similar lipstick or wear the colors separately for a more casual appearance. Soften your look by applying a pinkish blush with light bronzer to the apples of your cheeks and edge of the temples as the purple tones may cause your skin to appear drained or washed out.
Check out this video, by make up artist to the stars Lisa Eldrige, on how to apply the perfect plum make up look for the fall season.
Graphic Liner
Bold and dark liner is currently all the rage from runway, to editorial, to local gal. A dark cat-eye provides a dose of sultriness and definition to any face shape and eye color.
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Channel a little bit of Cleopatra by applying a liquid or gel liner to the upper eyelid right on the lash line, starting with a thin line in the inner lid and thickening it out as you go along.
Follow the shape of your eye and bring the wing out just under your socket bone. If you’re looking for a more dramatic flair, try drawing on a thicker line or wing tip and even smudging some liner to the outer corners of the bottom lash lines.
Whatever your style may be, experiment with different shapes and widths of liner application until you find what works best for you – remember, Q-tips are your friends when working with liquid or gel based liners as they help to precisely fix up any errors.
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Heavy Metal
Instantly open up your eyes with some metallic shimmer. Add brightness or vamp up any ordinary smokey eye by dabbing hints of metallic copper, silver, gold, or purple tones over the matte shades.
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For a subtle hint of metallic-a, rub a dab of silver eye shadow in the inner corner of your eyes and under the brow bone for a shiny wide-awake effect. To make things a little edgier, try blending a base of dark brown shadow and top it off with a dark and shiny metallic hue.
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When doing a look with layered shimmery shadows, concentrate on brightening your eyes and keep skin sleek and flawless. Avoid too much (or any) highlighter or blush and seldom apply any lip color.
Lip Lock
Just because the summer is over doesn’t mean that you have to avoid using bright lipsticks altogether this season. Fashion Week proved to us that lip wear is still dominating the runways from bold berry hues to feminine neutrals.
Brick reds seem to be the go-to tone for girls looking to add a pop of color during colder weather. When donning this fierce color, be sure to minimally play up the eyes by adding only a bold cat eye or darker dose of liner and mascara.
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Berry burgundies and plum colors also provide a just-kissed appearance that can easily be paired with brown, pink, or gold eye shadows. Chocolate brown lips provide drama and pair well with light metallics and smokey eyes.
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When using your lids as the make-up center point, elect a peachy pink or nude lip to add some shine and dimension to your mouth without seeming overdone.
Bardot Beauty
One of my favorite makeup looks of the season has to be homage to 1960’s fashion icon and super babe Brigitte Bardot. Brigitte’s aesthetic is the embodiment of “sex kitten,” with her voluminous hair and smokey cat eyes, which has been popular with celebrities and designers this season and can easily be recreated for everyday wear.
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Start off with a flawless matte complexion and frame the face by brushing eyebrows with brown powder to create a naturally thick brow appearance (unless you like to skimp on the tweezers to begin with).
Curl lashes and use a liquid liner to create a thick cat eye with a bold wing tip. Start the wing right at the lower lash line and draw up, filling it in as you go along for an exaggerated look.
Add a thick layer of bottom liner with a black pencil. Highlight the brow bone and center of the lid with neutral eye shadows to create definition on the lids and under the brows.
Add a darker smokey eye for a more smoldering effect for a party or night out. Don’t forget tons of mascara for a very flirty Bardot eye!
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Finish off your Brigitte by contouring the cheekbone with a gold bronzer and light pink highlighter. Define lips with a nude liner and add shine with a light pink-beige lipstick and gloss.
Learn how to perfect the Bardot Babe look by watching makeup guru Charlotte Tilbury’s Bardot tutorial video.