Beauty trends can be a dangerous thing. Especially for fall, especially when you’re excited to go shopping in order to properly kick off the season. (Yes, yes, it’s not even August, and we’re already talking about fall—but that’s how proper trend forecasting goes.) Open a magazine and see something like ‘70s hair (we’re riffing here), and it’s easy to be inspired…but it’s also easy to be swayed into wholeheartedly accepting a trend that’s not really you. Do you really want ‘70s hair? It’s OK to be honest if the answer is no. You do you, man.
Instead, think of trends as more of a suggestion for what you could do—a way to be a little more directional with your beauty routine. And really, who doesn’t need a bit more focus when they’re getting ready, whether it be to go grab a coffee down the block or to have a fancier-than-usual night out? Get the attitude right and the rest will follow. Because fall should not be about trend decision fatigue. It’s all about options (which, should you feel so inclined, you can showcase with the hashtag #trendingatsephora to get all the likes and Instagram adoration you deserve).
Feathery Brow
If there's ever been a perennially intimidating beauty trend, it is the one that concerns the brows. Fevers run high on how to best groom them for some reason, but perhaps it's time to stop thinking it's so complicated. Let your brows be your brows—with some soft product enhancement. Tarte Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel (but namely the perfect little brush that it comes with) can fill in holes, brush hair up if that's your thing, or just keep your brows in one place. Pick your poison.
Electric Eye
It's time for a simple eye. No more contouring, 3D-shadow jobs, or liner that takes more time than it took you to pull the rest of the look together. Just fill in the lash line with a dramatic-enough black (whatever liner you have lying around will work). Then pick a color—any color—and accent (Isabella is wearing the Buxom Eyeshadow Bar Single Eyeshadow in Schmooze). Could be in the inner corner, or maybe only below the bottom lid—and don't forget to smoke it out a little. It's just attention grabbing enough without being obnoxious about it.
Glowing Skin
In the past, there have always been a lot of secrets to getting that perfect luminescence on the cheekbone. Maybe you start with a luminizer and end with a shiny gloss dotted on top. It gets a little sticky, but suffering for art is real. No longer. First, there's Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, which isn't new, but it never hurts to remind oneself of the simple excellence of this OG product. Easy to blend, good at catching light—really, there are no issues here.
What's really exciting is the Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura Beam. In truth, it's not really a BB Cream. Think of it more as a face gloss, only without you having to worry that your hair's going to get stuck in it. It's not really skincare; it doesn't quite feel like makeup, but it's perfect for getting the glow, and what more could you ask for?
Berry Lip
There's a school of thought that says the most impactful lip is perfectly lined and filled-in, making it a static, kind of inaccessible feature on your face. But why? If previous experiences have taught us anything, it's that a lip color that demands perfect application and constant maintenance will not be used, no matter how ambitious you're feeling. Go for a dark color, sure—maybe something like Black Cherry from Bite Beauty's Frozen Berries Matte Crème Lipstick collection—but know that the stain is the most important part here. And once you've got your color down, build it up to something more velvety. Finesse it with your fingers or maybe a brush, pull the hair back, and leave the eyes minimal.
_If you're here regarding the Instagram giveaway, the contest has closed and the winner has been notified via direct message.
Isabella Peschardt (New York Model Management) photographed by Tom Newton on June 29, 2015.
Makeup by Jen Myles. Hair by Neil Grupp (The Wall Group).
This post is in collaboration with Sephora.
