8 Biggest Makeup Trends for Autumn 2024
Our columnist, Sophie Nicole, is a highly experienced makeup artist and hairstylist based in London, with over 21 years in the industry. Known for her expertise in celebrity and red carpet makeup, Sophie has worked on prestigious events like the Brit Awards and the BAFTAs. Her work has also been featured in leading national magazines, solidifying her reputation as a top professional in her field.
As we say goodbye to summer days, clean girl aesthetic makeup, and ethereal waves, we are welcoming a new season with new trends. As the leaves turn golden and temperatures cool, the makeup world enters a period of transformation with new trends that reflect the changing season. For autumn 2024, beauty enthusiasts are embracing bold, statement looks and natural elegance, with both fashion runways and social media platforms showcasing diverse styles. From deep earthy tones to experimental designs, this season is all about celebrating individuality while drawing inspiration from nature and artistic creativity.
1. Monochromatic Makeup
Monochromatic makeup has been trending for several seasons and continues to dominate the beauty scene in autumn 2024. This style involves using a single colour across the eyes, lips, and cheeks, creating a harmonious and polished look. What makes this trend particularly appealing for fall is the use of warm, autumnal shades like terracotta, cinnamon, and burnt orange.
Designers at fashion shows such as Chloé and Dior incorporated these hues into their makeup looks, with models sporting cohesive palettes that echoed the deep warmth of the season. Monochromatic makeup is versatile, allowing for both a soft, blended appearance or a bold, saturated colour statement. This trend emphasizes balance and unity in a makeup look while being easy to recreate for everyday wear.
A super simple and speedy way to achieve this look is by taking a creamy, blendable kohl pencil along the lash line and using a pencil brush to buff it out, leaving no defined lines. Try Victoria Beckham's satin kajal liner in Cocoa or Bordeaux for a seasonal twist on the classic black. You can take these same tones across cheeks and lips too.
2. Grunge-Inspired Eyes
One of the standout trends for autumn 2024 is the resurgence of 1990s grunge aesthetics. This year, however, grunge is being reimagined in a modern, polished way. Smudged, smoky eyes paired with minimal skin makeup are becoming a popular choice for those seeking an edgier, yet refined look.
Makeup artists are using deep, matte shades of charcoal, brown, and plum to create a lived-in, sultry eye look, while leaving the rest of the face clean and simple. This trend plays with contrasts, allowing the eyes to stand out as the focal point. It is a look that can be both dramatic for nighttime wear or softened for a daytime aesthetic, making it highly adaptable.
Think smudged black shadow: a smoky eye but messier and more undone. Use your shadow all over the lid and take it below the lash line too. Draw your pencil along the waterline to really create depth for that smoky, grungy look.
3. Glazed Skin
Dewy skin is still very much in style, but autumn 2024 introduces a new twist on this glowing look — "glazed" skin. Glazed skin refers to a hyper-luminous, almost glass-like finish achieved through intense hydration and a careful layering of skincare and makeup products.
Popularized by brands like Glossier, glazed skin starts with a strong skincare routine, focusing on hydration, serums, and light-reflecting primers. The foundation used for this look is lightweight, ensuring the skin’s natural texture remains visible, while highlighter and shimmer products are strategically placed on the high points of the face to catch the light. Glazed skin is ideal for autumn, as the cool, crisp air can often make the complexion appear dull or dry. This trend keeps the skin looking fresh and radiant, even in colder weather.
Glazed skin starts with great skin prep. My favourite moisturisers to achieve this are Augustinus Bader Rich Cream and a more budget-friendly Weleda Skin Food. Both leave a perfect glowy, protective barrier against the elements and an intensely hydrated base ready to buff makeup into.
4. Statement Lips
Bold lips are making a major comeback this autumn, and this season is all about experimenting with unconventional shades. While classic red remains a staple, deeper tones like oxblood, burgundy, and even black are becoming popular choices for those who want to make a statement. The key to wearing bold lips this season is pairing them with a minimalistic makeup look on the rest of the face.
The return of dark, vampy lips can be seen on runways like Marc Jacobs and Valentino, where models strutted down with dramatic, glossy pouts that added a sense of sophistication and mystery to their overall appearance. This trend is perfect for the autumn months, as it complements the darker tones of fall fashion, such as leather jackets, trench coats, and knitwear. Matte finishes are popular, but there is also a resurgence of gloss, providing a contemporary twist to classic bold lips.
I like to prep by brushing a little of my foundation over lips to neutralize them and give a true color payoff of the lipstick. Always use a liner to create that sharp edge; it will also help with wear longevity. Do not be shy to try a new bold shade!
5. Floating Eyeliner and Graphic Eyes
Autumn 2024 is also the season for creativity and artistic expression when it comes to eye makeup. One of the most exciting trends is floating eyeliner, where the liner is drawn above the crease of the eyelid rather than along the lash line. This bold and playful trend allows for endless experimentation, with makeup artists playing with different colours, shapes, and angles.
Additionally, graphic eyes are taking centre stage, with makeup artists using geometric shapes, negative space, and bold colours to create striking looks. This trend was prominent at shows like Valentino, where makeup artists created abstract designs using sharp, defined lines. While these looks might seem avant-garde, they can be toned down for a more wearable, everyday aesthetic by opting for neutral shades or softer lines.
6. Earthy Tones and Natural Makeup
Contrary to the bold and artistic trends mentioned earlier, natural makeup continues to be a strong presence in autumn 2024. This season, however, the emphasis is on earthy tones that complement the changing colours of the landscape. Soft browns, beiges, and muted greens are popular choices for eyeshadow, while peachy and nude shades dominate for lips and cheeks.
Brands like Armani Beauty are championing this minimalist, nature-inspired look. The key to this trend is enhancing one’s natural beauty rather than masking it, using sheer products and lightweight formulas to create a barely-there makeup look. This trend is perfect for those who prefer a more understated and effortless approach to beauty while still embracing the warm, cozy vibe of autumn.
From their luminous silk foundation, which gives silky, lightweight natural-looking skin, to their beautiful cheek tints, Armani has the most stunning range to create a natural face. For lips, the Prisma Glass Gloss comes in lots of autumnal shades, giving you the look of the season without the need to commit to a dark, matte lip. For eyes, try their eye tint liquid eye shadow. Applied with an applicator like a gloss, it goes on cream and dries matte. Simply apply, blend with a brush, and you’re good to go.
7. Velvet Textures
As the season of cozy sweaters and thick fabrics, autumn 2024 has seen the rise of makeup looks that mimic the textures of velvet. This trend is particularly prominent in lip and eye products. Velvet lipsticks, with their rich, plush finish, are highly sought after this season, offering an alternative to the traditional matte or gloss finishes. They provide a soft, cushiony look that feels luxurious and perfectly suited to the colder months.
In the eye makeup department, velvet-textured eyeshadows are gaining popularity. These eyeshadows offer a rich colour payoff with a soft, almost matte finish, creating a velvety effect on the eyelids. Shades of burgundy, deep emerald, and midnight blue are common in this trend, adding depth and richness to autumn makeup looks.
Nars velvet matte lip pencils are simple and easy items to have in your makeup bag for on-the-go application.
8. Blush Draping
Blush draping, a technique that first gained popularity in the 1970s, is making a comeback this autumn. This trend involves applying blush not just to the apples of the cheeks but also extending it upwards along the cheekbones and towards the temples, creating a lifting and sculpting effect.
For autumn 2024, blush draping features rich, autumnal shades like rose, mauve, and terracotta, blending seamlessly with the warm tones of the season. It’s a perfect alternative to traditional contouring, as it softens the face while adding dimension and warmth. This trend is ideal for those who want a fresh, youthful look with a subtle nod to retro beauty trends.
Try YSL liquid blush in “57.” A gorgeous autumnal shade of warm orange/terracotta. A liquid blush that melts seamlessly onto cheeks for an all-day long-lasting healthy flush.
Autumn 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting season for makeup enthusiasts, offering a variety of trends that cater to both minimalist and bold preferences. Whether you are drawn to the natural elegance of earthy tones and glazed skin, or the artistic flair of floating eyeliner and grunge-inspired eyes, this season's makeup trends encourage individuality and creativity. As beauty continues to evolve, autumn’s makeup landscape reflects the balance between nature, art, and personal expression — trends that will likely continue to inspire as we move toward the colder months.
