Now that true fall weather has finally made an appearance (in Toronto, at least) it’s time to transition your fall wardrobe and makeup drawer into something a little more, shall we say, appropriate for the season.
Fall weather brings with it wind and wetness, though the wetness of October/November is actually a drying dampness compared to that of Spring, and your skin knows the difference. As our skin dries out and our tans fade, it’s crucial that we make changes to our products –subtle or drastic — to fit. The first tips I have are to change your sunscreen and moisturizer to something that helps keep your hydration and natural shine. If you are using a sheer lotion or serum, you might be setting your skin up for failure before you even begin to apply your makeup! If your moisture game is under control, here are my favorite ways to transition your fall makeup routine.
Opt for Seamless Creamy Coverage
I use a powder foundation in the summer to help combat oil and shine. That does me NO favours now. So I swapped the powder for a medium coverage tint. The Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer is a nice way to start your base (overtop of sunscreen and moisturizer, of course!) as the cooler temps start to dry out your skin. It gives less coverage than the Amazonian Clay Foundation but is more moisturizer.
I like to apply this with a buffing brush, specifically I use one from Real Techniques because it gets the job done for half the price of a high-end brush. Squeeze some BB Cream onto your hand and use your fingers to dab a little on your forehead, cheeks, and chin. Use the buffing brush in gentle upward circular strokes to blend in. The brush allows me more control over where I put the product and cuts down on how much I use. I find a little goes a long way when using a buffing brush.
Touch of Warmth
Just because it’s Fall doesn’t mean you can’t hold onto that summer glow you had for all of one month. (Just, me?) This is all about using, quite literally, a product called “warmth” from Bare Esentuals. It’s not a bronzer (though they do have one of those called A Touch of Sun that’s more bronzer-esque, and awesome) but it adds a level of natural, well, warmth to your face. I apply very sparingly in a W pattern using the Real Techniques Blush Brush downwards from my left cheekbone, up to my nose, down to right cheek, and up the cheekbone. A dusting across the hairline and chin/jaw line doesn’t hurt either.
Warm Neutral Eyes that Stay All Day
As I get *cough* older, I notice how quickly my eyeshadow creases. And how gross it looks when it does. Now, I use an eyeshadow primer pretty much anytime I’m going to put eyeshadow on or not. I swear by the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I start with that and then go straight into the only palette I own at the moment: Tartlette In Bloom.
I have written an entire post just about this palette, but man, I can’t stress how much I love it. The consistency of the formula, the ease of application, the pigmentation, and oh yeah, the vanilla scent. Swoon. And these shades are PERFECT for fall, winter… and pretty much all year round.
Start with a packing brush to set the base and then use a crease/blending brush to add your depth. Real Techniques is another great bet here for an economical price. I finish off my eyes with a few swipes of Tarte’s Gifted Mascara. It’s also from the Amazonian Clay Line, and, it’s Vegan — if that’s important to you 😉
Feisty Fall Bold Lips
There are sooo many options when it comes to fall lips: colours, finishes, formulas… the selection is endless. And likely why my bank account hates me so much in October/November. Pairing a neutral eye with a bold wine coloured lip is a simple way to feel that fall makeup vibe. I go back and forth between matte liquid lipsticks like the Tarteist Quick Dry Lip Paint in TBT or Fly, satiny lipsticks like the ultra vampy Mac Media, or lightweight glosses like Bare Minerals Gen Nude in earthy colours like Tantalize. I used to be ride or die for the liquid mattes, but they too can get be verrrry drying. And unless you have injectables in there to create a smooth surface, they can be downright unattractive. Be sure to use a lip liner before using a matte, or even certain glosses, to keep the product in its place.
