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9 autumn beauty trends that are about to be everywhere — here’s how to get the look for less
Give your makeup, skin and hair a glow-up
There’s something about autumn — maybe it’s the return to the office — that inspires a routine refresh, and beauty is no exception. So, each year, the GHI Beauty Lab’s editors sorts through the countless trends on runways, celebrities, social media and more to find those that work for real life (read: are flattering, easy to do and don’t require spending a ton of money). We don't do TikTok fads. Instead, these simple makeup, skin, hair, and scent updates will leave you feeling fresh and chic, all season and beyond.
Milks for silky skin & lips
Bye-bye, basic lotions. Milks are the formulas of the moment in skincare products. These creamy liquids with lightweight textures offer skin-softening benefits.
TRY IT: Seek out products like lip treatments, toners, face mists and moisturisers labeled 'milk' or 'milky' to give skin an immediate dewy effect.
GHI Beauty Lab picks: Bubble Skincare Cosmic Silk Hydrating Milky Toner, No7 Good Intent Skin Sip Moisture Milk
A golden glow
This season is bringing a transition from the bold blushes that recently dominated into something more mellow: burnished bronze shades that subtly highlight cheekbones.
TRY IT: Blend a warm-toned powder or cream bronzer with a hint of shimmer over the high points of your face (cheekbones, nose).
GHI Beauty Lab picks: Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher, L'Oréal Paris Lumi Bronze Le Soleil Bronzing Stick
Velvety Lips
High-impact colour makeup is back, as evidenced by the rich, satiny textured lips featured on fall runways.
TRY IT: Choose a berry, crimson or rose shade of one of the new blur-finish matte lipsticks, then use a finger to dab the colour on lips for wearable soft-focus effect.
GHI Beauty Lab pick: L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Blurred Matte Lipstick
Soft hairstyles
The harsh, slicked-back looks of the past few years are giving way to more laidback, lived-in styles, from flowing texture to wispy updos.
TRY IT: Instead of a smooth blowout, opt to air-dry hair or finish your style with a dry texturising spray to add movement. For an updo, pull out a few strands to give it a relaxed vibe.
GH beauty editors recommend: mdlondon THE 5 Voluminous Texture Spray
Matcha to calm skin & senses
Matcha, the traditional Japanese green tea powder that makes the drink du jour, is now the hot ingredient in skincare and fragrance products thanks to its skin-soothing and antioxidant effects as well as its earthy scent.
TRY IT: Look for matcha in leave-on formulas such as toners, serums, moisturisers and lip treatments for skincare benefits — or, for scent, in perfumes and body products.
GHI Beauty Lab picks: Phlur Matcha Milk Hair & Body Fragrance Mist, Tatcha The Matcha Foam Cleanse
The no-mani mani
As seen on social media and fall runways, elaborate nail art and bold polish shades are being replaced by minimal manicures featuring barely-there hues.
TRY IT: Swipe on one of the new nail 'glosses' which have sheer tints, to instantly make tips look healthy and polished without full colour.
GHI Beauty Lab picks: Essie Glass Nails Collection Nail Polish in Crystal Ball, Sally Hansen Colour Therapy Beautifiers Nail Corrector
Understated liner
Skip dramatic winged eyes or heavy shadow in favour of more delicate definition with thin 'micro' eyeliner, seen on runways and celebs.
TRY IT: Glide a fine-point black eyeliner along the upper waterline or closely hugging lashes starting at the inner corner of the eye and stopping at or just past the outer corner.
GHI Beauty Lab pick: Maybelline New York Sculpting Stix Double-Ended Eyeliner Pencil
All-over fragrance
The fresh way to wear scent: in luxe body moisturisers and washes that won’t overwhelm with aroma and can be layered with perfume if desired.
TRY IT: Suds up with a perfumed body wash or apply a perfumed body lotion or oil in the morning; wear it alone for softly scented skin or top with a matching fragrance for more impact.
GHI Beauty Lab picks: Lake & Skye 11 11 Body Oil, By Rosie Jane Rosie Body Wash
Handy hair sticks
Hairstyling products such as pomades, waxes, creams and gels are being packaged in easy-to-use portable sticks and wands for taming hair anytime, anywhere, with no mess.
TRY IT: Run a hair stick or wand over errant strands to smooth them down, or rub a dab between your fingers, then work it through your hair to help shape and polish it.
GH beauty editors recommend: Clara Hair Styling Wax Stick
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