Fall is my favorite time of year for many reasons; the weather, that tiny chill in the air that makes you want to throw on a scarf and boots (but not quite cold enough for mittens and earmuffs), the festive atmosphere of Halloween, and the preparation of Thanksgiving, (and it's also my birthday season!) There is nothing more magical to me than the leaves changing colors, the smell of fireplaces, and hot apple cider. I could go on all day about how much I love fall, but there is one thing that fall can't offer, and that is a glowing tan. Beach days are a thing of the past by now, meaning that your tan is probably (if not completely) faded.
One of the beautiful things about fall is the darker clothing options; it's time to pack up the pastels and brights and trade them in for something a little bit more sophiscated and bold. But naturally, whenever you change your wardrobe in any way (much like a hair color) your makeup wardrobe must change with it. It's time to pull out your under-the-bed storage container and put your bright pink lipsticks, nude lip glosses, dark shimmery bronzers, and poppy colored blushes safely in it. For me, the hardest thing to part with is my bronzer. During the summer months (and in Florida we have a lot of them) it becomes my best friend. On days when I didn't sleep much, it fakes 8, it transforms my skin from dull and lifeless to "hello Cancun!" and it is the perfect accessory to absolutely any summer outfit. But when the weather turns colder and my skin loses its natural tan, bronzer looks nothing short of Anne Hathaway in Bride Wars (you know what I'm taking about.)
The most important lesson this fall in terms of changing your makeup wardrobe is this:
don't fight it! When your skin looses its summer luster, don't overcompensate with bronzer and wear a turtleneck to cover up your super pale neck and chest. Choose a flattering blush for fall that is not candy colored, which only really looks good on tan or darker complexions. Instead choose something a little bit more wine or ruby hued that will work with your skin even if you get a few shades lighter. My favorite for fall is
NARS blush in Dolce Vita because it adds natural looking color to the skin without sparkle or Playboy Bunny artificial-ness:
Another important thing to remember when you're choosing a fall palette is to steer clear from nudes and other light summery colors that will wash you out. This fall season, the right lip color is your best accessory because it will flatter your warmer clothing choices as well as your darker cheek colors. I love how the models at the Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2010 show (above) look sophiscated without seeming to harsh or dramatic. Their skin has a little bit of glow, but no fake orange-y tan, and their dark lip colors flatter their complextions perfectly. Go for one that will add warmth to your skin, such as a dark pink or a sheer berry. I would steer clear of bright, bold reds for now, they can be very hard to pull off during the day, and can wash out lighter skin tones if not chosen correctly. My top fall picks are (from left to right) NARS lip stain gloss in Sayonara (which looks very light in this picture for some reason, but is a deep berry in real life) and Urban Decay Lipstick in Wanted; a sheer berry, frost-bitten color that can be layered for a darker effect.
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