It almost seems too soon to talk about the dreaded a-word at the beginning of August, but autumn is most definitely knocking on our door! With most of the big seasonal make-up looks already launched and the Christmas fragrance launch rush picking up momentum (not to mention the Great British Bake Off back on our screens – nothing says autumn like Mary Berry), those cooler months will be upon us before you know it.
Though autumn is a bit dreary in other aspects, it’s one of the most exciting times in the beauty world. It’s a season of big change, with shifting colours and textures, and everything becoming just that little bit deeper, layered and more indulgent. What’s not to love?
If you’re still in summer mode and you’ve not yet looked ahead to the coming months, let us be your guide. Read on for Emma, Chelsey and Ceryn’s insight into A/W15, helping you to shift seamlessly from one season into the next with all of the Next Big Things in fragrance, beauty and skincare…
The Beauty Briefing
The grooming guideline this season is pretty and preened. Think back to basics – the no makeup look is here to stay! Embrace your freckles, grow out your brows and go grunge with your liner. The generic rules of beauty are banned, and it’s okay, says Chelsey…
Healthy Skin
Just like sweet morning dew, A/W15 is all about natural radiance. It’s time to ditch your matte game because a new player is in town. As spotted on Michael Kors, Balmain and Gucci catwalks, less is more and healthy skin is in! Think angelic, glowing and lustrous with Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion as a primer, and Dior Star Foundation as your luminous base. Blush is big, and a gorgeous wind-swept flush is key (try Michael Kors Glam Bronze In Flush, it’s perfect for this). Strobe to your heart’s content, but remember a glittery Edward Cullen look may be a touch too far in this case. As spotted on the Michael Kors, Balmain and Gucci catwalks, less is more and healthy skin is in!
Groomed brows
Marc Jacobs, Gucci and Balmain… they’re all doing it. The masculine brow is a statement that is going to be made all throughout autumn, so we’re going to grab our mini combs and go with it. It’s time to embrace the growing out session from now until then, as big and beautiful brows will be all the rage! Grow them out with a little help from the Shiseido Full Lash Serum, keep them tamed with the Daniel Sandler Brow Groomer Brush spoolie, and add a touch of natural-looking colour with the Dior Brow Styler Gel.
Graphic liner
Just like a trusty pair of denim jeans, a sassy black eyeliner will never depart from our beauty wardrobes. Most major fashion brands are choosing liner as a focal feature this season – we’ve seen heavy under eye focus from Pat McGrath and Victoria Beckham whilst Dior are getting graphic, with a huge push on geometric styles. Smudged or sharpened, all you need is your handy black liner this autumn to be in on this sultry trend. For true versatility, look no further than the Laura Geller Calligraphy Trio, which features three different eyeliners (classic, ultra fine or angular) to allow you to create all sorts of liner looks. Another firm favourite – and brand new for autumn – is the Givenchy Vinyl Liner, which transforms eyes with ultra luxurious, deep black pigment and a glossy sheen.
Fragrance Update
We’re approaching the biggest season of the year for fragrance, so you can expect perfume houses to bring out the big guns in the next few weeks. And with so many exciting launches to choose from, you’ll be feeling spoilt for choice when it comes to drafting up those wishlists for gift giving season! Emma‘s on hand with the key trends to look out for…
Tasty Treats
Last year the coffee-and-cream vibes of Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium topped Christmas lists all over the country, signalling that we’re not quite through with the gourmand trend just yet. And it looks as though the tasty treats are here to stay, as most of this season’s hotly-tipped scents showcase a mouthwatering array of almost-edible notes. Paco Rabanne Olympea‘s salted vanilla, Lolita Lempicka Sweet‘s cherry-cocoa accord, Calvin Klein Euphoria Essence‘s white chocolate, Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Forever‘s coconut water… there are so many indulgent fragrances to choose from. And if you’re a fan of Black Opium, keep an eye out for the Eau de Toilette version – it’s launching very soon!
Modern Classics
The fragrance market is caught between a love of classics, and a constant demand for innovation. Many of the mainstream houses find it too risky to bring out a completely new franchise, so they’re doing the next best thing – revisiting the codes of tried and tested favourites and incorporating them into new juices with a more modern feel. This is particularly rife in the men’s fragrance category, where just this year we’ve seen Jean Paul Gaultier’s iconic Le Male reimagined as Ultra Male, Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme given the seductive treatment for Intenso, and Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio jumping aboard the parfum trend with Acqua di Gio Profumo.
The Showstoppers
Showstopping bottles are high on the agenda this autumn. The most glamorous offerings are from fashion houses, who are borrowing well-loved design codes from their accessories lines. Marc Jacobs Decadence (September), in particular, is a launch that will make luxury aesthetes weak at the knees. Presented in an emerald green bottle shaped like a shoulder bag (complete with chain strap – I know!), it signals a move towards a more mature look and feel for the brand. Other notable launches include Valentino Donna (September) with its rockstud finish borrowed from the immensely popular shoe collection, and Jimmy Choo Illicit (September), with a bottle inspired by the art deco chandelier that hangs in their flagship store.
What’s Hot in Skincare
Soon the time will come when we have to make the big skincare swap of the year. We’ll be waving goodbye to the light lotions of summer and wrapping up in the comforting, rich cream textures of autumn skincare. But, if you’re keen to take your skincare game up a notch, you may want to dabble in the latest skincare trends that are set to be big this autumn. Here, Ceryn talks us through some of the emerging skincare trends that we all need to try out this autumn…
Natural Flawlessness
Surely flawless skin is on the agenda all-year round, right? But the A/W15 catwalk trends saw flawless skin taken to the next level. Before you start with the dewy foundations, you need to give your skin the best possible start with the right skincare. As I’m always one to find a sneaky short-cut, the Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Creme will have you on your way down the flawless-skin footpath in no time. The retexturising Night Crème works while you sleep to lightly exfoliate the skin’s surface, so you awake to youthful, radiant-looking skin. We won’t tell if you don’t!
Multi Masking
It’s no secret that everyone’s skin is different, and each area of our face is widely different, too. For combination skin types like me, it’s a wonder how we didn’t think of multi-masking sooner! This booming trend is all about using different face masks for the varying needs of each area of our skin. Whether you need a boost of hydration in drier areas with the Caudalie Moisturising Mask, or your oily T-zone needs some attention with the Darphin Skin Mat Purifying Aromatic Clay Mask, multi-masking is the answer to tailor-made skincare. Take a look at Chelsey’s guide here.
Pollution Protection
The skincare world has seen a huge influx in the number of pollution-fighting products as of late, and quite rightly so. Prolonged exposure to pollution can have a terrible effect on the skin, so the fact that there’s such a surge in these sorts of treatments is music to my ears. One of the products sure to take centre stage in the pollution protecting line-up this autumn is the Givenchy Vax’In City Skin Solution Youth Protecting D-Tox Serum. It’s name may make you short of breath, but its restorative and anti-ageing formula will leave your skin glowing.
