Not so long ago, backstage beauty went through a dark few seasons where almost every look was... nothing. No mascara, concealer where needed, a dab of lip balm. "It's just minimal and fresh," repeated every makeup artist with a shrug. Editors' faces fell. More like majorly boring, we thought.
But then, the all-important Council Who Decrees The Trends gathered and generously decided to give us back what we'd been missing so much: colour! sparkle! drama! All was right in the makeup universe again. And we have to hand it to Autumn 2017, which is really doing its part to keep the party going. Ahead, our five favourite trends to emerge from the New York catwalks.
Upside Down Eyes
We're sleek and polished when we have to be, but secretly, all we ever want to do is get wild with glitter, lashes, and hell, glue-on pearls — which is why the undereye makeup trend is our favorite of the season.
At Christian Siriano, makeup artist Polly Osmond used MAC Reflects Copper Glitter to create rusted orange tears, which many speculated was a nod to the current political climate.
Photo: Desiree Navarro/WireImage.
A twist on Twiggy eyes, makeup artist Kabuki called the look at Jeremy Scott's show "part flower child, part spooky (but cute) doll." He cut falsies into pieces, placed the longest in the centre, then flanked it with shorter ones for an intense effect.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images.
Tiny pearl droplets in the inner corners played off the embellishments in Jonathan Simkhai's collection.
Courtesy Maybelline.
Use a stiff liner brush to draw on alternating dashes of black liner and silver glitter for a look that's so cool it doesn't even require mascara — as seen at Tadashi Shoji.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images.
Wouldn't it be dreamy if this LRS look was the result of being caught in a snow flurry?
Courtesy Maybelline.
Rush Of Blood
You could be polite and say the prettiest lips of the season looked like a matte, red-and-brown ombré, but let's be real: They looked like dried blood. That sounds unappetising, we know, but just try to conjure up a really hot vampire who has just eaten dinner very carefully and neatly. Pretty sexy, right?
Makeup artist Erin Parsons mixed up a combo of Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick in Midnight Merlot and Color Sensational Matte Metallics in Copper Rose (out July 2017) to get the effect at Alice + Olivia.
Courtesy Maybelline.
For a look with more dimension, paint your lips a deep purplish-red, then dab a more ruby shade in the centre. This look at Jill Stuart nails it.
Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images.
At Anna Sui, makeup artist Pat McGrath one-upped everyone else by pairing the look with starry night eyes.
Photo: Peter White/WireImage.
All you need for this look at La Perla is Maybelline's Color Sensational Loaded Bold Lipstick in Midnight Merlot and a cotton wool bud. Makeup artist Erin Parsons patted the colour on — don't worry about drawing it on expertly — then dipped a cotton swab in makeup remover and swiped off a layer of lipstick from the centre of the lips for a blurred effect.
Courtesy Maybelline.
If you're not a matte girl, freshen up your blood lips with a healthy topping of clear gloss like they did at Philipp Plein...
Courtesy Maybelline.
Primary Colors
Red, blue, yellow — the three hues that serve as the base for all the other colours on the wheel also happen to be the only ones you need in your kit this season if you're feeling particularly adventurous.
At Carmen Marc Valvo, makeup artists combined both red and yellow for a fiery sunset eye.
Photo: Brian Ach/Getty Images.
Pick up some red eye paint and craft a bold rectangle that tapers off past the edge of the brow, like this one at Desigual.
Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images.
The models at Zadig & Voltaire proved that yellow eyeshadow doesn't have to make you look sickly — so long as it's almost artificially bright.
Photo: Albert Urso/Getty Images.
The Prabal Gurung show was "inspired by the climate of what is happening right now," said makeup artist Diane Kendal, who framed the eyes with geometric blocks in bold colours for a look that represented "empowered and strong women who do it all on their own."
Photo: Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan.
Not into the primary colours? Mix 'em to make pink and purple, then create this ultra-girly layered lid seen at Oscar De La Renta.
Photo: Peter White/Getty Images.
Triple Threat Pink
The Tumblr pink trend made its way onto the autumn catwalks; more specifically, onto the eyes, cheeks, and lips of models walking them. The effect, we think, is less millennial and more fairytale princess. And if you need a reason to ditch your self-tanner, this is a damn good one.
At Naeem Khan, makeup artist Gato used the soft pink and shimmery rose shades in the Maybelline Blushed Nudes eye palette to mimic "that pure, L.A. teenager look" and deliver an "absolutely real flush that comes from inside." (Having grown up in L.A., I'm not sure I'd use the word 'pure' to describe the kids there, but nonetheless, it sure is pretty.)
Courtesy Maybelline.
You wouldn't know it from Marchesa's finished look, but makeup artists pressed a rich plum shade — MAC Lipstick in Media — on the lids, high points of the cheekbones, and lips, diffusing it out until it was a sheer pinky-purple.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images.
Backstage at Who What Wear, makeup artists blended pale pink and fuchsia shadows across the lids, then patted clear gloss on top for a gleaming flush.
Photo: JP Yim/Getty Images.
You'll have to wait a few months to get your hands on the MAC Extra Dimension Strobe Blush in Into The Pink that was used all over the face at Altuzarra, but it's so worth it.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images.
Black Shadows
Forget rimming your waterlines, forget flicking out a little wing, forget softly smudging: Stock up on black shadow and get ready to use every last particle. Backstage, makeup artists were basically drawing masks on the eyes and the result was part badass, part alien. (In other words: Awesome.)
At The Blonds, Kabuki gave models black and gunmetal racing stripes for an "art deco-era femme fatale" look.
Photo: Presley Ann Slack/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images.
The diffused black wings were non-negotiable at Brandon Maxwell, but Tom Pecheux switched up the metallic accent in the centre of the lid to match the outfit and the model. Here, bronze shimmer softens and warms up the intense look.
Photo: JP Yim/Getty Images.
Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes called the look at Libertine an "unapologetic cat-eye;" we call it a surefire way to intimidate everyone you meet on Saturday night (especially if you wear it with a bad bitch perfume).
Photo: Peter White/WireImage.
How high can your eyeshadow go? At Jill Stuart, there was no limit.
Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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