Fall will officially be here on September 22nd, even though I don’t think we here in Georgia got the weather memo! But when you think of fall makeup colors, it doesn’t mean you have to suddenly become a pumpkin-spice-colored version of yourself. However, there is something about those richer, deeper shades that just feels right when the temperatures and leaves start dropping, football season begins, and we trade our bright summer tanks for sweaters and boots.
So let’s get into these three fall colors I think you’ll love: burgundy, berry, and brown. And yes, I absolutely know that women over 50 can wear all three.
Before I get into which must-have shades you should try, you can still wear this Easy Fall Transition Eyeshadow Look I taught you a couple of weeks ago, whether you’re in New Mexico or Maine! It will look fabulous right here and now.
| Key Takeaways: The three fall makeup colors to wear now are burgundy, berry, and brown — and women over 50 can wear all three. Give each color one job: burgundy on the eyes (softly diffused, deepest at the outer corner), berry on the cheeks and lips, and brown for mascara, bronzer, and lip liner. Rich doesn’t mean heavy. A color-correcting lid primer, sheer cream formulas, and brown mascara instead of black keep deeper shades soft on mature skin. |
What Are the Best Fall Makeup Colors for Women Over 50?
The best fall makeup colors for women over 50 are burgundy, berry, and brown. Wear burgundy as a softly blended eyeshadow, berry as a sheer cream blush and a velvet lip tint, and brown in place of black for mascara, plus a warm bronzer and a neutral lip liner. Together they give you that rich autumn look without piling on more makeup.
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Burgundy: Put It on Your Eyes
Burgundy is basically fall, in a makeup shade. Burgundy has lots of depth and has usually more brown, plum, or blue-red undertones to it – think red wine, merlot, dark cranberry, oxblood. It instantly feels more autumnal than the lighter peaches and corals we tend to gravitate toward in summer.
My favorite way to wear it? On the eyes.
Before you apply any dark shadows to the lid, make sure the eyelid is prepped with a lid primer that includes a color corrector.
You want your overall lid to appear as even colored and bright as possible before adding dark shadows. Do that with a cream shadow/primer like the MAC Paint Pots in shade “Painterly” ($28), and swipe it completely over the lid with a finger or a concealer brush.
Now get yourself a burgundy shadow palette like the MAC Future Flame Palette ($57) and a dual eyeshadow brush like this handy Merit Double Sided Brush ($20).
First, sweep a soft warm tan shadow from the lash line to your crease. Then grab a burgundy or wine-colored shadow, and create a small sideways V shape from the outer lash line, then up and through just to the middle of the lid. Add a pop of matte ivory just under the brow bone to clean things up and lift the eye bed.
Lastly, smudge a deeper burgundy-brown shadow along the upper lash line with your same Merit brush (just flip to the other end for the liner side), or if you want more drama, take a wine eyeliner like Urban Decay Glide On 24/7 Eyeliner, in shade “Alkaline,” $23, and apply it along the top lash line but smudge in as well. I used the Alkaline only as a tightline on my upper lash line here.
Pro tip: If your eyes are hooded or you have more texture on your lids, keep the deepest color toward the outer corner instead of packing it heavily all over the lid.
You don’t need a super-dark, dramatic smoky eye. Keeping the color softly diffused with a hint of burgundy actually looks gorgeous on mature eyes. I also added a nude eyeliner to the inner bottom waterline with the Revolution Streamline Waterline Liner in “Nude” ($7), which brightens nicely.
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Berry: Put It on Your Cheeks + Lips
Berry is my “I suddenly look alive” color.
Try a cooler berry blush high on the cheeks, blending it slightly back toward the temples. This shade’s pink, red, or purple undertones mimic the natural flush we want from blush without looking overly summery. But they look fresh and bright against the skin. Think raspberries and blackberries.
I own 5 shades of this Pixi Beauty On The Glow Blush Stick ($19), and my newest shade is “Cassis,” a deep berry that’s perfect for achieving that wearable, sheer berry cheek! The ease of these hydrating, sheer stick cheek balms is the best. Either apply directly to the cheeks and rub it in with your fingers, or use a cream blush brush to tap it onto the stick, then transfer it to your cheeks.
Then take that same color family onto your lips as well.
A soft velvet berry lipstick, like the Maybelline Super Stay Teddy Tints in shade “Wild At Heart” ($13), is especially pretty for fall because it gives you color without the heaviness of an ultra-matte lipstick or a garish, shiny lip. This is so genius for a drugstore formula because you can wear it every day, and the lip tint can give you a sheer, blurred, or bold matte finish depending on how you layer it!
Brown: Put It EVERYWHERE (Strategically!)
Brown is the unsung hero of fall makeup.
Use a deep brown mascara, instead of black, on your upper and lower lashes to complement the burgundy shades. A brown mascara will keep the eye from feeling overwhelmed but also gives those lashes some much-needed soft definition. Try the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise, $13, in “Latte Brown.”
Then add a warm brown or caramel-toned bronzer around the perimeter of your face—forehead, high on the cheekbones and just under the jawline—to bring back some warmth you might need once you’ve quit worshipping the summer sun! I can’t get enough of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Smooth Blur Matte Bronzer, $38, in shade “Warm Sand Vibes.”
Lastly, if you really want to lean into the fall vibe? Try a neutral brown lip liner to complement your berry or brown lipstick underneath. By using a subtle liner like this, you can easily define lips that are starting to lose their definition without it being too dramatic or obvious. I will never be without the shade “Nude Truffle” in the NYX Slim Lip Pencil ($6) in my kit because it’s always the perfect base for almost any new lip color!
The fall face formula:
- Eyes: color-correcting primer + soft tan base + burgundy at the outer corner + matte ivory under the brow
- Cheeks: sheer berry cream blush, high and blended back toward the temples
- Lips: neutral brown liner + velvet berry tint
- Finish: brown mascara + warm bronzer around the perimeter of the face
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The rest of my look details: I’m so into this wine + blue striped Free Assembly Polo Sweater with jewel-detailed buttons, $28, from Walmart! Wearing a size small here. It also comes in a short-sleeved version if you prefer and are hot-natured, $26. Or this Gap Casual Pullover for $80 is a great option. // My winning skin combo underneath all of this berry + burgundy + brown is CoverGirl Simply Ageless Skin Perfector Essence, $13, and NYX Bare With Me Serum Concealer, $12, in “Vanilla,” which just gives me the most beautiful, healthy-looking skin!! // Amazon Faux Diamond Studs, $23, when I’m scared to wear the real things.
Why These Fall Makeup Colors Work
Burgundy, berry, and brown mirror the colors we naturally associate with autumn: wine, cranberries, fallen leaves, leather, cinnamon, and warm coffee.
But more importantly, they’re rich without requiring you to wear more makeup.
Closing Thoughts
And that’s exactly how I’m approaching fall makeup at 48: choosing beautiful colors that make me feel alive! And if you’re craving some additional new items to jump-start your excitement for fall, check out one of my previous articles on my 10 Fall Beauty MVP’s here for a little inspiration.
Because getting older doesn’t mean we need less fun with makeup. It means we finally know how to use it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The trick is to keep it softly diffused rather than going for a dark, dramatic smoky eye. Prime the lid first with a color-correcting primer so it looks even and bright, then keep the burgundy to a small sideways V at the outer corner.
A cooler berry blush is my pick for fall. Its pink, red, or purple undertones mimic a natural flush without looking summery. A sheer cream stick applied high on the cheeks and blended back toward the temples keeps it fresh and wearable.
With deeper shadow shades like burgundy, I reach for brown. A deep brown mascara gives lashes soft definition without overwhelming the eye, and it complements wine and berry tones beautifully. Wear it on both upper and lower lashes.
Keep the deepest color toward the outer corner instead of packing it all over the lid. Add a matte ivory just under the brow bone to lift the eye, and a nude liner on the lower waterline to brighten. Those three moves keep dark shades from closing the eye in.
A neutral brown lip liner works under both berry and brown lipsticks. It defines lips that are starting to lose definition without looking dramatic or obvious. Line first, then layer your berry tint on top for a sheer, blurred, or bolder finish.
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Eyes
- MAC Paint Pots in “Painterly,” $28
- MAC Future Flame Palette, $57
- Merit Double Sided Brush, $20
- Urban Decay Glide On 24/7 Eyeliner in “Alkaline,” $23
- Revolution Streamline Waterline Liner in “Nude,” $7
- L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise in “Latte Brown,” $13
Cheeks & Face
- Pixi Beauty On The Glow Blush Stick in “Cassis,” $19
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Smooth Blur Matte Bronzer in “Warm Sand Vibes,” $38
- Covergirl Simply Ageless Skin Perfector Essence, $13
- NYX Bare With Me Serum Concealer in “Vanilla,” $12
Lips
- Maybelline Super Stay Teddy Tints in “Wild At Heart,” $13
- NYX Slim Lip Pencil in “Nude Truffle,” $6
What I’m Wearing
- Free Assembly Polo Long Sleeved Sweater, $28
- Free Assembly Short Sleeved Polo Sweater, $26
- Gap Casual Pullover, $80
- Amazon Faux Diamond Studs, $23
Before You Go
Which one are you trying first this fall — burgundy, berry, or brown? Tell me in the comments!
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