Fall Makeup Trends 2026: 9 Looks to Try in Five Minutes

1. Witchy makeup, made wearable

Makeup artist Valeria Ferreira describes Glamour's witchy look with dark lips, a tiny liner flick and defined lashes. It can be dramatic without covering your whole face.

Five-minute version: Smudge dark pencil along the lash line, add mascara and tap on a cool berry-brown lip. Keep your usual base. For a color twist, see our red-eyeliner guide. For a softer brown lift, try our ghost-wing tutorial.

2. Blurred lips

The outline is soft rather than sharply drawn. Glamour's Leah Darcy and Melissa Hurkman expect this look to stay; Hurkman points to warm cinnamon tones for fall.

Five-minute version: Apply a little lip color at the center, blur it outward with a fingertip and soften the border. Add balm if you want comfort. Our matte-lip guide shows another way to wear stronger color.

3. Berry stains

Allure's fall report suggests a deeper stain for people who want color without maintaining an opaque dark lipstick. Makeup artist Christian Briceno recommends building the tint from the center of the lips.

Five-minute version: Smooth on balm, blot, then dab berry tint at the center and blend. Let one thin layer settle before adding more. The finish is lived-in, not perfectly edged.

4. Sheer brown and burgundy eyes

Makeup artist Leah Darcy tells Glamour that brown and burgundy remain fall favorites. The 2026 update is a light wash rather than a heavy block of pigment.

Five-minute version: Blend one warm brown or burgundy shadow over the lid with a soft brush. Keep the edge diffused. Go deeper with our latte-makeup tutorial or suede-eyes guide.

5. Eyemaxxing by eye color

Makeup artist Micol Melani describes eyemaxxing in Glamour as choosing colors that contrast with your iris. Bronze and copper can bring out blue eyes; plum and burgundy can flatter green; olive and purple can play up hazel; blue and cool purple can make brown eyes stand out. These are options, not rules.

Five-minute version: Use one contrasting shade as a thin liner or small outer-corner accent. Keep the rest neutral. Explore more eye-color makeup ideas.

6. A mineral wash or soft smoky eye

Briceno tells Allure that a single slate, pewter or greige shadow can make the whole eye look. It feels quieter than a layered smoky eye. Nikki DeRoest also describes a gentle smoky effect made with pencil close to the lashes.

Five-minute version: Sweep one cool neutral over the lid and smudge pencil at the lash roots. Blend outward until there is no hard border. Our suede-eye how-to offers a warmer variation.

7. Frosted touches

Glamour sees shimmer returning in small doses: a sheer sheen on the lid or sparkle on the lip. It is a hint of light, not an all-over metallic mask.

Five-minute version: Tap a little shimmer onto the center of the lid or inner corner, then leave the rest of the eye simple. If your lip is glossy, you may not need any more shine.

8. Blush worn high, with a soft transition

Hurkman places cream blush high on the cheekbones and blends it toward the temples. Melani's “transition blush” uses a second, lighter blush to soften the edge. Allure's Joseph Carrillo also favors more blush and less heavy contour. For a quieter option, makeup artist Vanessa Nicole Stern predicts barely-there anti-blush.

Five-minute version: Apply your main blush high on the cheeks, then blend the edge with a clean brush or a little lighter blush. Stop when the color looks like part of your skin, not a stripe.

9. Soft-matte skin that still looks like skin

Darcy favors soft-matte, pillowy finishes over an all-over glow. Hurkman suggests setting only where needed so the center of the face stays fresh; Allure also makes room for a small balmy sheen on high points.

Five-minute version: Use your usual base and powder only the areas that get too shiny for your taste. Leave some natural texture and a little light on the cheeks.

What's fading this fall?

The artists in Glamour and Allure are moving away from uniformly glossy bases and heavy contour. That does not mean you must abandon your favorite look. Try one diffused lip, high blush or soft shadow before changing everything.

Pick a look for the time you have

FAQ

What makeup is trending for fall 2026?

Richer color with softer finishes: witchy liner, blurred and berry lips, brown or burgundy eyes, high blush, small frosted accents and skin-like soft matte bases.

What is witchy makeup?

A moody look built from dark lip color, fine liner and defined lashes. For daytime, keep the eye softly smudged and the rest of the face simple.

What is transition blush?

A lighter blush blended around the edge of your main blush to create a softer transition into the skin.