I Just Re-Created Stunning Autumnal Makeup Looks in a Matter of Minutes

Autumn has always carried a particular kind of magic. It’s the season that lingers between the golden warmth of summer and the moody coolness of winter, where beauty trends take on a richer palette, from our hair down to our nails. It’s a time when makeup, too, undergoes a transformation, shedding the dewiness of summer in favour of depth, drama and a little more experimentation. And this year, the makeup trends showing up on my feeds feel like chapters in a book, each look capturing a different mood or character of the season. Much like how we express ourselves via our wardrobes with the turn of the season, the same can be done through our makeup bags.

Take the "fine art flush", with its painterly approach to blusher that’s as expressive as it is wearable. Think rosy cheeks that evidence the crisp bite of October air, a romantic wash that nods to watercolour techniques and brings colour to even the greyest of autumn days. Then there’s "book club brown". Rooted in the comfort of Gilmore Girls nostalgia yet undeniably modern, this mood embraces the leather-bound brown tones of academia. It’s the makeup equivalent of curling up with a well-thumbed book and a cup of tea.

On nights when the air feels charged with possibility? That’s where the "night sirens" step in, with their sooty lids and smudged eyeliner that channels autumn’s after-dark energy. Its sister trend, "polished vamps", builds on that allure, but with a smouldering, cinematic glamour of lips painted in alluring shades of crimson, with suede-like skin that we saw all over the autumn/winter 2025 runways. And finally, "'90s minimalism" changes the gear with a natural-looking mood, with barely-there foundation and neutral tones that any '90s supermodel would approve of. It's a reminder that sometimes, less is more.

Together, these makeup moods sketch out autumn’s many personalities. Whether you’re drawn to a whisper of blush or a nod to the ‘90s, the beauty of this season’s trends lies in their versatility. Much like the ever-changing moments of autumn itself, they invite us to play and embrace the fleeting moods of the season.

Scroll on for the inspiration behind each and how to get the look with tips from makeup artist Zoe Kim Kenealy and to see how I re-created them in a flash. Which will you try?

5 Makeup Moods to Try This Autumn

1. Fine Art Flush

Blusher remains a core feature of autumn’s makeup trends, both on and off the runways. But this time around, it has taken an artistic turn with a painterly flush across the cheeks. The joy is in the medium, and the method is entirely your artistic licence. And as for the canvas, it doesn’t just pertain to your cheeks, but your lips and eyes, too.

"Compared to the bold blush we see on TikTok today, which tends to be very 'full glam', the fine-art blush aesthetic always appears to be worn by the 'cool girl' who applied some blush onto her cheeks with [nothing but] her fingers," says Kenealy. The beauty of these products is that you can paint outside the lines and also use them on your lips and eyes for a cohesive flush. Take Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Colour Wash (£44), which offers a watercolour stain to lips and cheeks for a fluid, sheer veil of colour that blooms on your cheeks with a natural glow.

Meanwhile, French makeup artist Violette Serrat took cues from neoclassical and Italian Renaissance masterpieces for her Violette_Fr Bisou Blush (£37), each pairing two marbled tones—one sheer, one rich—that blend seamlessly when stippled onto the cheeks for a painterly flush. And any blush lover will no doubt have a couple of tubes of Glossier’s Cloud Paints (£24) in their kit, which bestow a colourful haze that’s best applied with your fingertips, or even with two shades mixed together for your own custom colour.

Get the Look:

Makeup Notes: Choose a dewy base before applying a sheer, watery blush to your cheeks and lips. Keep everything else pared-back and minimal—a sweep of natural-looking mascara and brow gel will do the trick.

2. '90s Minimalism

There's something eternally timeless about the stripped-back beauty of the '90s. And with the effortless polish of supermodels like Cindy Crawford and fashion icons such as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, it’s no wonder that we return to the beauty of this era time and time again. "For '90s minimalism, you want to focus on mattes and cool to neutral tones," advises Kenealy. "It’s reminiscent of some of the iconic 'corporate glam' looks from the runways. For as trendy as this is today, the look itself is the opposite. It’s simple, mature and not too playful."

Skin is velvety but never flat, with just enough coverage to allow freckles and natural skin texture to peek through. Today, Merit's The Complexion Stick (£34) is a modern take on natural-matte foundation. Powder is used sparingly to set and soften, creating that almost airbrushed quality that now feels fresh in comparison to the glow-heavy finishes we’ve come to associate with modern makeup in the past decade. On the eyes, it’s all about quiet definition, with muted taupe or camel eye shadows dusted over the lids and a sweep of natural mascara that subtly enhances the eyes, whilst the brows are natural yet groomed with the effortless polish of a Calvin Klein campaign.

And with Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (£25) (plus two new iterations: Beige Honey and Pink Honey) surging in popularity again alongside the recent reboot of MAC's iconic Lip Pencils (£20), these two '90s icons are further proof that the makeup of the decade is firmly back. Lips are muted and wearable, with soft rosewoods and beige-toned neutrals like MAC's beloved Spice lip pencil blurred at the edges for an understated finish that would gain the approval of any off-duty model. Coupled with natural skin and eyes, it's proof that sometimes less really is more.

Get the Look:

Makeup Notes: Use a radiant matte base to create your canvas before setting with a dusting of powder. Play up the eyes with muted, cool-toned shadows and finish the lips with your favourite '90s lip classic.

3. Book Club Brown

It's impossible to ignore brown’s reign this year, with the hue dominating runways and Pantone declaring Mocha Mousse the colour of 2025. So naturally, for autumn, we’re seeing a rich, literary-leaning palette in makeup, too. "Book club brown" is an ode to coffee-stained pages, leather-bound journals and the warm, late-afternoon light of a cosy café in a Nancy Meyers film.

"This type of look is what we think of when we think of '90s and early-2000s classic romantic films and TV shows. Think Julia Roberts and her soft, warm, girl-next-door makeup looks," says Kenealy. "Like the name, the makeup should look lived-in, like you have been in the library all day and [are] walking to grab a cup of coffee down the street in the chilly air." The key characteristics of this look are matte, suede-finish eye shadows smudged softly at the lash line, balmy coffee lip tints and tawny cream blushes and bronzers that create a monochromatic moment. The trick to this look is the commitment to the tone—the eyes, lips and cheeks are all on the same page here.

Byredo's new Bibliophilia Eyeshadow Palette (£90) took inspiration from libraries and features a whole breadth of academia-leaning hues to discover. Rhode's Pocket Blush in Toasted Teddy (£25) is a toasty terracotta blush that helps to transition your blusher from summer into autumn to lend a healthy-looking flush to the cheeks. And to carry the tone through to the mouth, you can't go wrong with tracing your lips with Makeup For Ever Lip Pencil in Anywhere Caffeine (£19) before a swipe of Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Iced Coffee (£23), which offers a glossy tint that smells delightfully of coffee.

Get the Look:

Makeup Notes: Keep the look cohesive by sweeping coffee tones across the eyes, lips and cheeks for a monochromatic, tonal effect. Play with textures and finishes, from matte suede eye shadow to glossy toffee lips.

4. Polished Vamps

As night falls, "polished vamps" is the darkly romantic makeup mood for autumnal candlelit evenings. It's a look that blends the allure of smudged, inky eyes and rich crimson lips; the makeup equivalent of a velvet blazer over a silk slip and ideal when you want to feel powerfully alluring and cinematic. "For a clean, vampy, high-fashion makeup look, typically, you’re going to have one statement [on] your face; either your eyes or your lips—everything else will be kept natural and clean," says Kenealy.

The lips set the tone, lacquered in deep wine, blood-red or black cherry with a satin finish. The colour is rich but precise in its application, making the whole look feel elegant as opposed to costume-like. Chanel's iconic Rouge Noir Lipstick (£42) is the perfect shade, whilst Hourglass Phantom Glossy Balm in Lure (£36) bestows a plump, glossy hue. As for the eyes, pair it with smudged liner or eye shadow in shades of charcoal, plum or deep espresso, smoked out to create a soft haze rather than harsh lines to inspire the mood without feeling overly "done". Victoria Beckham Beauty's Satin Kajal Liners (£32) are perfect for this.

For this makeup mood, the skin remains fresh and balanced, steering away from both hyper-matte and glass-like shine. A whisper of contour or bronzer sculpts the face, whilst blush is minimal, letting the lips and eyes take centre stage.

Get the Look:

Makeup Notes: Keep the base satin-y for a subtle glow and coat your lips with glossy plum and crimson tones. Add a touch of inky black mascara to frame the eyes and let the lips do the talking.

5. Night Sirens

"Night sirens" is autumn’s answer to the post-midnight beauty look; the kind of makeup that looks like it’s lived a night already. Think "Brat" autumn attitude, like Gabbriette’s sultry, slept-in glam and the art of appearing both effortlessly undone and impossibly cool. It's the grungy sister of the polished vamp, where smudges are a style choice, glitter is imperfectly placed and skin has a lived-in sheen. "For this look, you’re going to need to be bold with the products you’re choosing. That’s the only way you can achieve the experimental nature of this aesthetic," says Kenealy.

The eyes are the main event: dark, kohl-rimmed and unapologetically messy. In fact, the more careless the application, the better. The eye shadow is smudged beyond the lid, liner is imperfectly winged and mascara clumps are all part of the vibe. A hint of shimmer pressed onto the centre of the lid or inner corner feels almost accidental, like remnants from last night’s party. The skin is raw and real, with a glow that looks more like it's from dancing on a dimly-lit dancefloor rather than intentional highlighter. The lips fall into two extremes: blurred berry lip stains as though the colour’s partly worn off through the night, or a full, glossy pout that’s destined to leave its print on a martini glass.

Makeup By Mario's Master Mattes Palette in The Neutrals (£55) features all the cool-toned shadows you'll want for this look, whilst Isamaya's Eyeliner Ink (£33) further defines sultry eyes. The pièce de résistance? A dab of Victoria Beckham Beauty's Lid Lustre (£36), which adds a moonlit twinkle to your lids.

Get the Look:

Makeup Notes: For this look, the more careless the application, the better. Smudge your eyeliner and use your fingertip to apply your shadow to create a lived-in look. A hint of lip liner finishes it off.