By Katie Wright
A new fashion season is upon us, but it’s not just a clothes shopping list you should be compiling.
Make-up artists were in their element at the AW16 shows, on the one hand creating spellbinding looks to match the dramatic fashion collections, on the other letting models’ natural beauty shine through.
Whichever route you take for autumn, these are the beauty trends to take home, and the tools you need to achieve them…
TOW THE LINE
Mastered the cat-eye flick? Good; it’s time to take your eyeliner game to the next level, inspired by the graphic depictions on the autumn catwalks.
Start with Oscar de la Renta’s dense squared flick, then take on Kenzo’s negative space wing, before graduating to Giamba’s heavy punk-inspired liquid look.
Use any colour you like – as long as it’s black.
Too Faced Sketch Marker in Charcoal Black, £17 (www.debenhams.com)
GETTING PERSONAL
When is a trend not a trend? When it’s all about showcasing each girl as an individual.
The ‘be yourself’ mantra was in evidence at Topshop, Victoria Beckham and Gucci, where make-up was customised for each model, and a handful of other Milan shows.
At most, lipstick was eschewed to let the natural lip colour show through, so a nourishing balm becomes your new season essential.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Barrier Repairing Balm is currently reduced to £4.50 from £6 (FeelUnique.com)
STEAL OF THE WEEK
Following the phenomenal success of last year’s Solstice palette, Sleek is back with another highlighting quad that offers serious flash for your cash. The Cleopatra’s Kiss Highlighting Palette features gold and champagne creams, plus rose gold and bronze powders, all for just £9.99, Superdrug (available September 21; www.superdrug.com).
BLACK CURRENT
The classic red lip took a back seat this season, as a dozen designers opted for sombre shades from burgundy to blackcurrant.
At Gareth Pugh and Max Mara, oxblood lips were lacquered with vinyl gloss, at Marni and Mary Katrantzou they were matter than matte, while at Marc Jacobs, models (including Lady Gaga) were painted with jet black lipstick.
So the only question is, how dark do you dare to go?
YSL Beauty Vernis a Levres Vinyl Cream, £26 (available September 7; www.yslbeauty.co.uk)
FIND YOUR BEST BASE
Make-up artists often say they get asked for advice on foundation more than any other product, because it’s so hard to find ‘The One’. But now No7 has harnessed the expertise of its in-store advisers in an app. All you need to do is pick up a Match Made analysis card in store, take a few snaps with the card against your jawline, and then the Match Made app will select your skin-true shade. Available to download now on iPhone and Android (www.boots.com).
RAINBOW ROAD
Against a canvas of porcelain skin, flashes of colour stood out all the more brightly this season, from the aqua eyes at Thom Browne and Marques’Almeida to the ‘explosions’ of red at A.F. Vandevorst, and the matte magenta lip at Alexis Mabille.
This isn’t about a technicoloured palette – choose one hue and apply with care.
MAC Eye Shadow in Atlantic Blue, £13 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk)
CATCH THE GLITTER BUG
The biggest beauty surprise of the AW16 shows had editors gasping: “Glitter?! On the Burberry catwalk?!” But of course, the fashion house found a way to make the dazzling dust look chic and edgy – and they weren’t the only ones.
At Charlotte Olympia, scarlet eyes shone; gold glowed at Emanuel Ungaro; and at Giambattista, a skinny silver brow looked thoroughly modern.
MAC Good Luck Trolls Reflects Glitter in Transparent Teal, £17.50 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk)
BUY IT NOW
If you apply conditioner sparingly because it weighs down your fine hair, Pantene has just answered your prayers with its new Pro-V Volume & Body Foam Conditioner, currently reduced to just £1.98 from £3.99 at Superdrug (www.superdrug.com). In the revolutionary formula, hair-smoothing components are melded with bubble-forming ingredients to create a foam that conditions without compromising on volume. Nourishment without the weight.
CURLS ALLOWED
Last season saw hair stylists put down the straighteners – and by all indications, they haven’t picked them up again, as more models than ever were allowed to let their natural curls loose.
At Celine, Isabel Marant and Alexander Wang, the hair looks were adapted to suit each girl, while at Opening Ceremony and Marc Jacobs, retro finger waves were created. So even if you’ve got poker-straight hair, this season you can show off your curves.
Fudge Curve Maker, £14.95 (available in September; www.fudgehair.co.uk)
NUDE OR NOIR?
Encapsulating the duality of the season, when it comes to nails, your options are either pale and interesting (the putty shades as seen at Jason Wu, Stella McCartney and Dior), or the gloomy off-black hues seen at Rodarte and Vivienne Westwood.
Nailberry L’Oxygene in Blackberry, £13.50 (www.nailberry.co.uk)
TRIED AND TESTED
Want to tap into this season’s graphic eyeliner trend? Try one of these liquid liners…
Soap & Glory Supercat Skinny Easy Precision Eyeliner, £6 (www.boots.com)
“I generally find eyeliners tricky to use, but this slimline pen gave an even distribution of liquid on application, making cat-eye flicks easy, even for a novice. The line stayed put all day and I just needed a quick touch-up for evening.” 4/5
BareMinerals Lash Domination Ink Liner, £17 (www.bareminerals.co.uk)
“If you’re into winged liner, this easy-to-master pen is a great tool to achieve precise lines – thick or thin. From day-to-drama, its pigment-dispersion system allows for easy application, but make sure you let it dry properly, as the thin formula can prove a little tacky while wet.” 4/5
Maybelline Master Precise Curvy Eye Liner, £6.99 (www.boots.com)
“Perfect for a full-on cat-eye look, this wand is more like a felt-tip, which allows for greater precision and the liner is really long-lasting. It’s versatile too: for a subtle daytime look, the teardrop-shaped tip helps you achieve a smaller flick, without too much excess liquid or smudges.” 5/5
