A Makeup Artist’s Tips For Updating Your Kit In Autumn

Now that the excitement of summer has died down, and we’re officially settling into the cosiness of autumn, it’s time to re-evaluate our beauty rituals.

For some, that might look like overhauling their skin care routine to address the drier and colder climate, while others will pencil in appointments with their hairdresser to try a new hair colour, cut or style. Or perhaps a makeup kit refresh is on the cards?

If the latter sounds like your weapon of choice then keep reading, here beautyheaven chats with Mia Connor — the makeup artist that taught us how to disguise forehead wrinkles — who shares some simple tips that’ll help you get the most out of your makeup kit in autumn.

1/ Maximise hydration

“Instead of waiting for winter to roll around and realising your skin feels like it’s dried out literally over night, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start adding some hydration and exfoliation into your skin prep — particularly if your skin’s on the drier side,” Mia tells us.

“If you’ve been wondering why your foundation might be grabbing or looking patchy in certain areas, this is usually because those areas are dry and flaky,” she explains.

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2/ Try brightening base products

Your skin might start looking dull or dry in autumn, which is why it’s a great idea to incorporate brightening base products into your routine to boost your natural radiance.

“I cannot get enough of the By Terry CC Brightening Serum in ‘Sunny Flash’ ($129 from MECCA),” Mia shares.

“I use it on it’s own to add a tint to my skin for more makeup free days, or as the perfect base for my foundation,” she explains. “[It] will leave your skin looking luminous, but never greasy.”

Personally, this Beauty Editor rates Revlon’s Illuminance Glow Filter ($34.95 from Priceline) and e.l.f’s Halo Glow Liquid Filter ($29 from Priceline), which provide a similar effect.

3/ Invest in two shades of foundation

“As the weather cools down, your skin may drop a few shades in depth and your summer foundation might start to look too dark and even orange on you,” Mia tells beautyheaven. “I’m a big believer that most people need two foundation shades to alternate throughout the seasons.”

This might look like mixing a lighter shade of foundation that you typically use in winter, with a deeper foundation that you reserve for summer, for the months in between — rather than using one shade year round.

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4/ Don’t throw out your bronzer

“A bronzer is always an all-year staple for me,” says Mia. “[I use it] to add instant health to my face, particularly as my skin lightens.”

Thankfully, we no longer live in a world where the only cream bronzer available is from Chanel.

“I love the Tanielle Jai Bronzour collection ($59 from Tanielle Jai) as they have shades for all skin tones — even the fairest ones — that don’t throw orange,” she explains. But we think Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Cream Bronzer ($62 from Sephora) and Fenty Beauty’s Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer ($54 from Sephora) are worth mentioning too.

5/ Put the powder down

You might want to put the powder down if you feel your skin has become more dry due to the changes in weather and exposure to indoor heating, says Mia.

“Your makeup may require less setting — if any at all as we approach cooler weather — and too much powder can make your skin appear dehydrated and flat,” she explains.

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6/ Prioritise your brows and lashes

Your eyebrows and eyelashes may seem like a minor part of your makeup routine, but if you give them the right kind of attention they can completely change the way you look, or even minimise the number of products in your kit.

In Mia’s professional opinion, brows are getting thinner and less arched, and brown eyeliner and mascara are really having a moment right now — so don’t cancel that brow shape and tint or your lash lift any time soon. But if you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, it could be time to invest in an eyelash curler.

“Shiseido has an amazing lash curler ($19.50 from Lila Beauty) — I recently worked with a model who curled her lashes the night before a photoshoot and her lashes looked like they had had a lash lift — still completely curled the next morning,” she explains.

The makeup artist has also just launched her own natural-looking brown liquid liner after noticing a gap in the market — Mia Connor’s The Liner in ‘Bruna Brown’ ($39 from Mia Connor).

“There were too many brown liners on the market that almost looked black and quite cool toned,” she says.

This Beauty Editor has actually had the luxury of trying the warm bronze shade, and I can attest that it’s almost impossible to mess up, even if you’re a liquid liner novice like me. Topped off with a coat or two of brown mascara, the combination creates the kind of subtle enhancement that somehow completely changes your face. Mia rates Lancôme’s Lash Idole Volumising Mascara in ‘True Brown’ ($66 from Adore Beauty) for the task, but Clinique’s High Impact High-Fi™ Full Volume Mascara in ‘Black Brown’ ($53 from Clinique) is more my speed for everyday wear.

7/ Depth and undertone matter

“Eyeshadow, blush and lip colour selection are always dictated by your skin tone and depth,” Mia explains.

For example, you might have noticed that the bronze tones you love in summer don’t look quite the same once you lose your tan in autumn.

Instead of trying to make your summer colour palette work in autumn, try opting for lighter, neutral tones — especially if your skin tends to cool down when the seasons change. Warmer, deeper skin tones can play around a bit more with warm-toned products, which can typically look orange on cooler skin tones.

“As a general rule of thumb — when it comes to choosing complimentary colours — I always say cool tones with cool skin, warm tones with warm, and neutral with neutral,” Mia advises.

“Makeup by Mario makes amazing eyeshadow palettes in different tones,” she explains. “The Master Mattes Neutral Eyeshadow Palette ($94 from Sephora) and the Ethereal Eyes Moonlight Eyeshadow Palette ($130 from Sephora) are my top picks for Autumn.”

After a more affordable option? This Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow palette dupe might just do the trick.

Main image credit: @hoskelsa

What does your autumn makeup kit look like?