The Top 10 Makeup Trends to Try in Autumn 2023

With the heat waves over, autumn finally feels like it's on its way and we couldn’t be more excited. Call us summer scrooges but this is our favourite time of the year. Not only is it socially acceptable to drink buckets of hot chocolate and pumpkin spice lattes, but we also get to pull on our big coats and wear autumnal shades. Best of all, we’re no longer sleepy and lazy from the summer heat and are re-energised and ready to try out new makeup looks!

Taking inspiration from the autumn look-books, catwalks and celebrity social media pages, we've put together the ten best makeup trends you’re going to want to try this autumn. From fun and bold to dark and dramatic to understated and elegant, there's something to suit every aesthetic (and the amount of time you're willing to put into your makeup every morning).

Without further ado, here are our ten best autumn makeup trends for 2023.

1. Face Makeup: Glowing Skin

Glowing skin has been tied to the clean-girl aesthetic in the past, but this autumn it's sticking around, serving as the perfect base for all manner of makeup looks - not just the minimal, slicked-back ones we're used to seeing it paired with.

Create a luminous complexion and healthy, glossy flush to the cheeks with hydrating foundations, cream blushes and hybrid skincare makeup products that are also incredibly in right now.

Foundations, concealers and BB creams will definitely help achieve this look, but it'll work even better with a naturally radiant complexion. Check out our blog on the Best Hybrid Skincare Makeup Beauty Products to create a canvas for all your autumnal looks.

2. Face Makeup: Cloud Skin

If you prefer a matte finish or heavier coverage, don't worry - a runner-up for makeup bases this autumn is soft focus skin - sometimes called cloud skin - created with blurring formulas that hide imperfections for a subtler version of airbrush makeup.

If you want to take the blurred skin autumn makeup trend to the next level, check out the Best Airbrush Makeup Products for Flawless Skin.

3. Smudged, sooty eyeliner

Still staying strong from its popularity last year, smoked out, almost-messy black eyeliner or eyeshadow is a look you’ll want to try this autumn. Purposely imprecise with a worn-in look, this is a great, moody look for those days when you don’t have the time or motivation to create intricate eyeshadow or eyeliner looks. But don’t allow the ease of creating this look make you feel like it isn’t luxe—tons of models and celebrities are sporting this grunge meets glam makeup look.

4. Eye Makeup: Abstract Eyes

Graphic eyeliner has had a glow up! While the super precise, sharp lines of graphic eyeliners were hot this year, now we're seeing more funky, organic shapes like blobs and spirals that are sure to brighten up your mood as the days get darker.

Use coloured eyeliner or eyeshadow to create fun and bold shapes around your eyes that bring out your artsy side. A little concealer won't hurt either, to clean up the edges after you're all done with your design.

5. Eye Makeup: Glitter Eyes

Whether it's our Euphoria-induced glitter obsession that refuses to die or the annual return of metallics the closer we get to Christmas and New Year's, glitter eye makeup is definitely in for autumn 2023. You can go for a classic silvery shadow like Gigi Hadid wore to this year's Met Gala, or try golds or jewel tones to suit your skin tone (and outfit).

6. Lipstick: Blood Red Lip

A statement lip never goes amiss come autumn, when the cooler weather makes us crave the bolder, darker lip choices that felt too heavy for summer. This autumn, vampy lips are back (just like every year; they're that much of a classic). Choose from blood reds to deep berries and wine shades to suit your skin tone and aesthetic, and if full coverage, matte lips feel a tad too dramatic for you, not to worry - try a lip stain, tinted gloss or satin lipstick with buffed out edges to make deeper colours more wearable.

7. Lipstick: '90s Brown Lip

Nostalgia has fuelled so many trends lately, and the 90s brown lipstick trend isn't going anywhere soon. With so many cosy hues of brown to choose from, it's the perfect colour for autumn, whether you want to wear it matte, glossy, sheer or opaque - or as a lipliner with a glossy top for that true 90s look taken from Black and Latino cultures that we've seen in recent years on the likes of Euphoria's Alexa Demie and Megan Thee Stallion.

8. Full Face: Latte Makeup

Transition this TikTok-viral summer makeup trend to autumn—with its layering of brown shades, it’s a perfect fit for the warm, cosy tones of autumn. It's also the perfect trend for those of you that prefer a more minimal or monochrome look and aren't about to try abstract eyes any time soon.

For more tips on recreating this celebrity-approved trend, check out our blog all about how to get the latte makeup look.

9. Full Face: Soft Goth Makeup

For a spookier autumn look, you'll love the soft goth makeup trend, inspired by Jenna Ortega's character in Tim Burton's Wednesday. In real life, you'll see this on the likes of celebrities like Billie Eilish. The soft goth look features clean, minimal face makeup with smoked out eyes or dark eyeliner, nude or glossy lips and, if to pizzazz it up, a wash of sparkle on the eyes.

This look is perfect for getting in the Halloween mood without the harshness of many gothic makeup looks, and we're so here for it.

10. Brows: Faux-Laminated Brows/Fluffy Brows

If you've already got unruly brows, then you're in luck. If you don't, don't worry - there are plenty of ways to mimic the fluffy brow aesthetic with eyebrow products. This autumn make up look is inspired by brow lamination, but without having to sit for the treatment or have such a 'glued-on' look as lamination creates.

More effortless and natural, this brow trend just requires you to brush up your brows with powerful brow gels and fill in gaps with a brow pencil. For sparser brows, you might also like to use a brow powder or pomade to get a thicker, darker result. Check out a couple of our favourite brow gels below and then read up on the Best Eyebrow Pencils for Creating Full Brows.

And there you have it! The ten hottest autumn makeup trends for 2023. To make it easier to get that clean, natural-looking base that'll make all these looks pop, we recommend starting with a great skincare routine. Check out our roundup of our favourite skincare sets, or if you've already got a great routine and want to give it a little boost, check out our blog on the best skincare supplements.

And with Halloween just around the corner, you're probably going to want to prepare by checking out these Top Easy Halloween Makeup Ideas.