As much as I adore a tropical bronzed glow and a killer neon liner in the summer, the season of burgundies and berries awaits. I must admit that I’ve gotten far too comfortable with my summer makeup routine, so it’s time to trade in the baby pinks for terracotta browns, while still maintaining a touch of summer beauty. Here are some ideas to help you get the best of both worlds as you transition from summer into autumn.
1. Knowing Your Autumn Colour Palette
Let’s start with the obvious – incorporating your autumnal colours. You may not be ready to rock a face that screams autumn so soon, but playing with colours is the easiest way to kick off the transition, so figure out the darks and lights that go well together based on your skin tone. During autumn, we tend to gravitate towards rich, warm tones, like striking reds and toasty browns, to add some much-needed colour to our complexions. Colours that juxtapose nicely together are also really flattering, like a shimmery champagne lid with a vampy red matte lip. However, if you can’t let go of pastels and neon pops of colour just yet, then pull in the spirit of autumn by pairing them with a bold shade. For example, a pastel purple liner would contrast fabulously with a plum lip, like MAC’s Rebel, so savour this transition period and combine summery brights with autumnal deeps to create something unexpectedly beautiful and balanced.
2. Ace Your Transition Base
As the air gets drier, so does our skin. Our dehydrated skin requires some extra TLC so we need to adjust our base makeup accordingly. Besides applying moisturizer religiously, foundation is the main area to consider when it comes to transitioning, as you’d want to opt for more hydrating and build-able formulas, like creams and liquids. Some good options include Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk as well as Too Faced’s Born This Way foundations. Normally a matte look is the autumn standard, but a summer glow doesn’t just vanish in an instant! Besides, matte finishes make your face fall flat, so creating a look with a subtle, dewy texture works best in this transition period. My personal method to faux the glow is by applying Kiko Milano’s Radiant Touch Creamy Stick Highlighter onto the highs of my cheekbones, topped with a light dusting of MAC’s Mineralize Skin finish in Soft & Gentle.
3. Blush Over Bronzer
Perfect your fall flush by ditching the bronzer for blush. The aim is to keep up the summer rosiness in a less dramatic way as bronzer can appear too harsh around autumn, especially on those with paler complexions. Blush, on the other hand, is great for instantly lifting the face and giving it some vibrance. However if you can’t let go of bronzer, then make sure it’s matte, not shimmer, and use it sparingly to add some dimension. Some of my favorite blushes include MAC’s Powder Blush in Fever, because it’s a gorgeous raspberry red that’s flattering on all skin tones, as well as Nars’ Blush in Liberté, as it enhances any remaining summer tan with its warm apricot tone.
