Can we all just admit something? Fall “makeup trends” seem to basically be the same copy and paste looks, every single year. Deeper lips. Richer blush. More bronzer because suddenly our summer glow has packed its bags. Warmer smokey eyes. Crimson, berry, and chocolate everything.
And honestly? I’m totally fine with it, because I always welcome these little changes in my beauty routine.
Because maybe we don’t need to reinvent makeup every October. Maybe we just need to recognize that our skin, coloring and makeup routines can change with the season—and give our looks a little refresh.
Which reminds me…if you haven’t read my recent post about Ditching Boring Beige Makeup, put that one on your list! I’m making the case for more color, more personality, and a lot less playing it safe. Consider it your permission slip to have a little more fun with your makeup.
So now if you’re ready to embrace autumn with some beauty updates, here are five things I think you could switch up to create a more refreshed fall beauty routine…
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Key Takeaways
The five fall beauty updates to try now are: a milky hydrating toner, a glow booster, a deeper fall fragrance, a colored mascara, and a crimson or berry lip. Each one adds seasonal richness without requiring heavier makeup. Hydration + luminosity keep mature skin fresh, while color updates add personality.
1. A Milky Toner
My recommendations: Thayers Milky Hydrating Face Toner ($15) or the Colleen Rothschild Milky Essence ($36)
Fall can be rough on skin as temperatures and humidity drop, so this is the perfect time to add a MILKY HYDRATING TONER to your routine. I apply both of these with a cotton round, really saturating it with the product, and swipe it all over my face after cleansing—or even after a splash of water in the morning.
Think of it as a little drink of moisture before your serums and/or moisturizer—and a great first step toward a more hydrated makeup application. It’s a true non-negotiable in my skincare routine right now and provides so much comfort to my dry, tight skin.
2. A Glow Booster
My recommendations: L’Oreal Lumi Glotion Skin Enhancer ($18)
When summer’s natural glow starts disappearing, don’t automatically reach for a heavier foundation. Add some glow back in! A GLOW BOOSTER is a sheer, luminous complexion product that can be mixed into your foundation and concealer or tapped onto the high points of the face.
I used the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind 4‑in‑1 Glow Perfector here, before realizing it looks like this product is being phased out—ugh, of course! The makeup industry is always doing away with my faves before I know it!
But no worries, because I know that the popular L’Oreal Lumi Glotion skin enhancer does basically the same thing, just with no sponge applicator. It gives your complexion that fresh, lit‑from‑within look without requiring you to completely change your foundation routine. I’ve long used both of these products. You can wear the lumi glotion alone, under or on top of your foundations, then just add concealer and light powder. Your skin will read subtly luminous instead of flat or overly made‑up.
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3. A New Fall Scent
My recommendations: Nopalera Dulce de Cuerpo perfume ($78) and matching body cream
Fall isn’t just a reason to change your makeup—it’s a reason to change your mood. There is something about pulling out a warmer, deeper FRAGRANCE when the seasons change that makes getting dressed feel a little more special.
I recently restocked one of my favorites, Dulce de Cuerpo by Nopalera, and it is basically fall in a bottle. It starts with sweet earth and develops into incense, amber and violet, then settles into a warm, creamy combination of copal, vanilla and sandalwood. The result is earthy, smoky, slightly sweet and completely cozy WITHOUT smelling like you walked through a pumpkin‑spice candle aisle.
I’m OBSESSED with this scent and I layer up with their body cream and body scrub as well for a scent that lingers longer.
4. A Colored Mascara
My recommendations: L’Oreal Voluminous Original mascara ($12) in “Deep Violet”, or Thrive Cosmetics tubing mascara ($26) in “Iris”
Swapping out your old mascara for a fresh tube can give you fuller, more defined lashes—and suddenly your whole face looks more polished. Truth be told, my lashes get bored with the same mascara week after week. That’s why I switch up formulas every other week which helps to perk them back up!
And the biggest trick for updating those lashes is to try a COLORED mascara. Choose an unexpected shade of forest green, deep violet (like I’m wearing here), burgundy, or blue which are a welcome and fun change for your fall eyeballs!
5. A Crimson and Berry Lip
My recommendations: Clinique Pop Plush gloss ($25) in “Black Honey Pop” and M·A·Cximal Silky Matte 12HR Wear Lipstick ($25) in “Unnatural Redhead”
Groundbreaking? No. Gorgeous? Absolutely. Fall is when I want to reach for those richer crimson, wine, berry and brick‑red shades that instantly make even the simplest makeup look feel pulled together. Mix it up and grab some new shades such as the absolutely iconic deep raisin shade “Black Honey” from Clinique that is universally flattering for all—no seriously. Try it!
And also get yourself a velvety matte bold statement lipstick in a crimson or deep brick red color instead of the traditional bright red. I can’t decide which I like better, so I’ll just switch out both depending on my mood! By the way, this ABH matte lip product I’m showing off here is also sold out at the time, so the MAC one I linked above is a perfect replacement for the look we are going for.
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The rest of my look details :
My layered multi-colored cross necklace ($20) always gets compliments and matches so many things in my closet.
Amazon Hot Air Styler with curling attachments ($129) is the way I get my best curls that stay put better than with a traditional curling iron.
Similar loud floral blouses like mine can be found from Express Portofino shirt ($50), Anthropologie Relaxed Button down ($118), and Bloomingdales Satin shirt ($60).
Similar Ana Luisa Wade gold band ring ($85), which is a jewelry staple for me right now.
Why These Fall Beauty Updates Work
Each update adds richness without heaviness: hydration for comfort, glow for luminosity, fragrance for mood, colored mascara for fun, and deeper lips for polish. They’re seasonal shifts that feel fresh without reinventing your routine.
Closing Thoughts
So yes, fall makeup is slightly predictable. But maybe that’s not a bad thing. Some beauty traditions stick around because they just look really, really good. What are you switching up in your beauty routine this fall??
Frequently Asked Questions
As temperatures and humidity drop, skin often becomes tighter, drier, and more easily irritated. A milky hydrating toner adds a first layer of moisture that helps serums and moisturizers absorb better and keeps makeup from looking patchy or dehydrated.
A glow booster is a sheer, luminous complexion enhancer — not a full‑coverage product. It adds radiance without heaviness and can be worn alone, mixed with foundation, or tapped on top for a subtle lit‑from‑within finish.
Look for deeper, warmer notes like amber, vanilla, sandalwood, incense, or earthy florals. These create a cozy, autumnal mood without leaning into overly sweet “pumpkin spice” scents.
Crimson, berry, wine, raisin, and brick‑red tones instantly make makeup look more polished. Choose sheer glosses for everyday wear or velvety matte formulas for a bolder, statement lip.
Not at all. Small swaps — like hydration, glow, scent, lashes, and lips — create a refreshed seasonal look without requiring new techniques or a full overhaul.
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