The Hottest Fall Makeup Trends — From Cloud Blush to Cozy

Few things rival the moment you catch that first hint of crisp, cool fall air. You might start to physically crave candlelight, cozy sweaters, cinnamon-infused coffee creamers, and—maybe best of all—a total seasonal makeup refresh. If you’ve been stuck in a beauty rut or feeling uninspired with your everyday look, the top makeup trends of fall 2025 are full of both subtle and extreme ways to shake things up and embrace a creative new approach.

Maybe that means exchanging a your-lips-but-better liner for a decidedly bolder color, or letting your natural brows take center stage for once. No matter how you embrace the season’s biggest crazes, though, it’s clear that they’re all a significant departure from what ruled spring and summer. “I think in general, most people will lean minimalist but go big and bolder for events,” says celebrity makeup artist Ernesto Casillas. “You start to miss the glam and bust out the sparkles and bold colors for special events.” Really, there’s a little something for every aesthetic this season. 

Above all, this autumn seems to lean heavily into personal expression and straight-up fun. In other words? Say goodbye to the “clean girl” aesthetic and all of its streamlined minimalism. “It was beautiful in its simplicity, but what I’m seeing now is a hunger for more dimension, more excitement, and more personality,” explains Danessa Myricks, makeup artist and founder of Danessa Myricks Beauty. Best of all, there are endless ways to infuse playful spirit into a look, be it through texture, color, or finish. 

Just ahead, gear up for autumn by exploring fall’s top makeup trends, complete with expert insight from the pros.

Ice Ice, Baby

It’s typical to gravitate toward warm, earth-toned eyeshadows the minute September starts, but this year, things might look a little different. Myricks tells Byrdie that she’s noticing a big turn away from those classic bronzes and browns, and into frostier territory: “Think cool-toned liners, icy glosses layered on the eye, and glass-like shimmers that feel futuristic but still wearable,” she lists, easy to achieve with the help of a glossy balm layered over the lids or a cream shadow.

Reverse Wings

One major reason fall makeup tends to be a little heavier is the weather itself—cooler temps allow products to stay longer where they’re applied, which makes it an ideal time to experiment. One big trend already sweeping social media is a reverse eyeliner wing. The liner is concentrated in the inner corner rather than the outer lash line, and possibilities are limitless.

You can incorporate a trending color, a sharp, edgy design, or add some reflective glitter–try the NYX Vegan Loose Face and Body Glitter–for a true main character moment.

’90s Lips

You’ve probably already heard the good news: More-is-more 2016-style makeup is back in a big way, which, in turn, means late ‘90s color palettes are in the spotlight once again. “Rather than a single [trending lip] color, what excites me most is the return to contrast and play,” Myricks explains. She suggests a deep brown or gold lip liner, topped with a frosty gloss for maximum retro authenticity. “Shimmer and sparkly lips are absolutely back!”

Myricks suggests creating dimension by overdrawing just the cupid’s bow and lip outer corners with a deeper liner, then concentrating shimmer or sparkle only in the center. “If you don’t have a frost lipstick, you can use a frosty or metallic eyeshadow to pat over any lipstick with your fingertips,” Casillas adds.

Back-to-Basics Bases

Step away from the luminizer—while glassy, glazed skin may have been the goal this summer, expect a hard pivot into the mattes for autumn. Celebrity makeup artist Yolonda Frederick sees a resurgence of that “smooth, satin-y blurred finish” for complexions. A pressed powder, like the cult-favorite LYS Triple Fix Setting Powder, staves off shine for a smooth, matte look. If you’re after an even more airbrushed effect, though, start your routine with a blurring primer.

Witchy Lips

Would it even be fall without bold, statement-making lip colors? The trending shades are all fan favorites, too, like cocoa browns, dusty roses, and vampy oxbloods, a go-to for Frederick because of how striking it looks on all skin tones. Mattes may be having a moment again, but a deep, sultry color can pack even more punch with a little shine.

Myricks says one of her favorite fall products is the Eadem Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm, which she says “gives you that plush, hydrated lip with a tint that feels effortless but luxe. I love pairing it with a deeper liner for that ‘90s throwback vibe.”

Casual Color

While bolder colors are coming back into play this season, you don’t need to be a master of technical makeup to make it happen. Both Frederick and fellow celebrity makeup artist Jennifer Tioseco agree the imperfect approach to color—especially with cream-based product—is huge for fall. “Blending and layering with a transition shade or cream base keeps the look polished and wearable,” Tioseco tells Byrdie.

Similarly, Frederick describes seeing “both smudged and structured eye looks using cream shadows in more vibrant well-pigmented shades then adding drama with bold eyeliner accents in either the inside or outside corners.” She likes using the double-ended Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Sticks to make it happen.

Cloud Blush

Fall 2025’s biggest blush look is all about a blown-out haze of color rather than the dewier, sunburn-simulating trend that ruled summer. Reach for a powder or cream-to-powder formula to get that airbrushed, satin-y texture, like Tioseco’s favorite KJH Soft Smudge Lip & Cheek stick, or the aptly named Sisley Paris Color Cloud.

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“These are on the more powdery side, they blend perfectly creating this skin-from-within cloudy effect,” she explains. And as far as specific colors go, it’s all about the fall classics. “Doll pink has been trending for blush the past few years but I’m ready to start seeing more berry and orange shades,” says Casillas.

Not-So-Bold-Brows

One 2016 touchstone that won’t be back this year? Carved-out, ultra-defined eyebrows. “I think bold brows are taking a break,” shares Sean Harris, celebrity makeup artist. “We are seeing muted brows paired with bold lips for Fall 2025,” he adds, a coupling that feels more than a little French-girl cool. Put away brow pencils and powders (for now, anyway) and consider a simple coat of volumizing gel, like Merit’s best-selling Brow 1980, instead.

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Luxurious Jewel Tones

You know the “rich girl” beauty trend that affected everything from hair color to nail shape? It’s back this fall, but with an even more opulent spin. Harris says he’s loving luxe jewel tones for lips, pointing out garnet and bold ruby as two favorite shades.

He applies a brown liner before the main color, a technique, he explains, that “allows you to gently feather in your lip color and get a finished look that is polished and precise.” He’s currently into the MAC Cosmetics Nocturna lip collection, which he describes as perfect for fall.