Second-day hair and eyeliner: Low-effort fall beauty trends
Is it just me, or does autumn feel like the official season of pre-hibernation? While I adore a bold beauty look, fall calls for a certain level of laziness, and frankly, I’m embracing the low-effort aesthetic. I love dreaming up artistic looks on Pinterest, but the real question is: do I actually want to execute them myself?
Fortunately, the beauty world is on board with the ‘lazy’ movement. Makeup artists and hairstylists are noticing a major shift toward low-maintenance routines, and they are championing the idea that great beauty doesn’t have to be complicated. Celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg echoes this sentiment, noting that the focus has rightly shifted to skincare and real skin. “Real skin is in, and that means less makeup,” she explains. “We’ve realized that multitasking products have come a long way, so we can pick up the pace and still achieve gorgeous results.”
This season is all about effortless impact. If you’re looking for a beauty cheat sheet that requires minimal effort, here is the low-effort guide from experts on embracing fall trends.
For a stunning eye look that requires zero time investment, ditch the sharp eyeliner. The trend is embracing a smudged, lived-in aesthetic. Instead of spending hours on precise blending, we are shifting toward softer, smudgier lids. This technique offers nostalgic, effortless ’90s vibes that are incredibly forgiving. As one expert put it, it’s about swiping, smudging, and going.
Another major trend is the commitment to rich, solid hair colors. Forget complicated highlights; fall is the season for deep, saturated tones like auburn, deep brown, and cooler hues. Hairstylist Angelica Datuin is seeing a move away from delicate highlights toward monolithic color. Think of rich shades like glacé chocolate and inky espresso. For those wanting professional results, using collections like Schwarzkopf’s Igora Vibrance is a brilliant move.
When it comes to face color, the perfect multitasker is emerging: terra-cotta blush. This warm shade is proving to be a beauty hero for fall. It doesn’t just add a gorgeous flush; it acts as a bronzer, a subtle eye shadow, or a lip color, making the transition into autumn’s natural warmth seamless and easy.
On the hair front, soft-girl hairstyling is dominating. Clients are craving lengths that are healthy and cut blunt, framed by softer layers or curtain bangs. To achieve these soft, glamorous looks without a massive time commitment, tools are key. Styling with rollers, or using brushes like Mason Pearson, allows for easy, polished results. Even if you skip the expensive tools, brushes like Tangle Teezer’s Complete Carebrush are an amazing, budget-friendly alternative for creating soft, glamorous curls.
For those who love the sparkle, the game has changed with cosmic eye shadow. You don’t need sixteen brushes for a complex blend. The new low-effort approach involves using iridescent chrome shades—a single color all over the lid—to catch the light beautifully. This is paired perfectly with liquid shadow sticks, like Danessa Myricks’s Colorfix, which offer incredible wear time with just a simple swipe.
Finally, don’t overlook the power of skin tints. Despite the ongoing buzz about full-coverage foundation, experts suggest that a quality skin tint is the way to go this season. Many of these tints even come with SPF, meaning you are killing two birds with one stone. Whether you opt for IT Cosmetics or Glo Skin Beauty, finding that perfect tinted moisturizer is the ultimate low-maintenance beauty hack. Fall is officially the season for effortless, radiant beauty.