Bold blush is out. This fall, the eyes—and a single dark lipstick—carry the face, according to Marie Claire Beauty Editor Siena Gagliano's trend report published on the first day of fall.

The season's biggest shifts come from the runway and the red carpet. At Tibi's spring 2027 show, models wore brown-toned cheek color, signaling what makeup artist Kelly Zhang predicts for the season: "I think we're going to see blush become a little more muted and sophisticated for fall."

Skin stays light

Base makeup moves in the opposite direction of the season's darker lips and eyes. "Even in fall and winter, people still want skin to look fresh and alive rather than overly matte," says Zhang, a makeup artist and founder and CEO of Kelly Zhang Agency.

Foundation should read as invisible. "People still want glow, but they want it to look natural—healthy, fresh, and almost like you can't tell where the foundation starts and the skin ends," Zhang says. She recommends applying foundation in very thin layers with a brush, then adding coverage only where needed.

Her product pick: Tower 28 Swipe Serum Foundation, which she favors for its natural-looking finish and lightweight feel. The m.ph by Mary Phillips Le Skin Weightless Serum Foundation also makes the list.

The reference point for glowing skin this season is Casillas's makeup on Zendaya during The Odyssey press tour.

Muted blush, smudged eyes

A dusty rose or soft brown blush replaces summer's bright flush. Zhang notes that "muted" is relative to complexion—a shade that warms one face might disappear on another, so choose enough depth for the color to register. Blending with a fluffy brush keeps the flush diffused.

Recommended: Saie Supersuede Radiant Baked Powder Blush in Ma Donna and Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge Velvet Matte Cream Blush for Cheeks & Lips in Warm Mocha.

The smokey eye gets softened, too. At Tory Burch's S/S 2027 show, dark liner appeared blurred rather than sharp. Gagliano suggests a creamy eyeshadow stick and a small blending brush, working close to the lashes and keeping the deepest color at the roots. Brown works for daytime; charcoal suits a night out.

Products: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Cream Eyeshadow in Dark Cacao and Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner in Black.

Blurred lips and frost

Berry and plum lip colors get easier to wear with softened edges. "The blurred lip is a romantic, almost cinematic take on a lip stain," makeup artist Sir John previously told Marie Claire. "It feels like the aftermath of something—like you've been sipping tea, eating berries, or kissing someone you shouldn't."

The technique: keep color strongest at the center of the lips, tap outward with a fingertip, and let pigment fade toward the border. REFY's Lip Blur Lip Liner is called the easiest shortcut; Kulfi's Lassi Lips Moisturizing Matte Blur Lip Stain is another option.

Frost arrives early. An r.e.m. beauty look pairs pale, pearly pink lips with silver-toned lids, while a Di Petsa S/S '26 image shows a pink-lilac highlighter across the upper cheeks and along the nose. Gagliano advises starting with a sheer layer of reflective lip color or a subtle shimmer—saving the full combination for party season. Kosas Shiny Objects Wet Glisten Highlighter Powder in Haloed covers face and eyes.

One lipstick, blue shadows

Models at the Marc Jacobs S/S '27 show wore dark lips with bare eyes, letting the pout dominate. An oxblood shade against glowing skin is the easiest way to borrow the look, either blurred or fully sculpted. VIOLETTE_FR Bisou Balm Sheer Matte Lipstick in Chocolat and Westman Atelier Hydrobalm Sheer Tinted Lipstick in Onyx fit the brief.

Blue eye makeup, meanwhile, spans the spectrum this season, thanks to Casillas's work on Zendaya: pale blue shadow with long lashes on one end, a deeper smokey eye with brighter blue shimmer underneath on the other. A blue pencil along the upper lashes is the simplest entry point; blending shadow over the lid and beneath the eye delivers more drama. Keep the lip understated. MERIT Beauty Solo Shadow in Midnight and Victoria Beckham Eyewear in Cornflower round out the picks.

With muted cheeks, blurred berry lips and blue lids all validated by makeup artists and the S/S 2027 runways, fall 2026 gives beauty counters a clear direction: soften everything except the one statement feature.

Source: Marie Claire Beauty (https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/makeup/best-fall-2026-makeup-trends/)