Trends » 18 Fall and Winter 2022 Makeup Trends: Complexion, Eyes, Lips and More

18 Fall and Winter 2022 Makeup Trends: Complexion, Eyes, Lips and More

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With the fashion weeks around the globe now fully wrapped and plenty of street style trends emerging, there is plenty to explore in the fall and winter 2022 makeup trends. Fashion week might be about clothes, but there is truly something magical about the makeup that models wear as they walk down the runways – virtual or otherwise. The fun eyeshadow, extravagant lipsticks, and bold eyeliners seemingly lift the outfits, taking everyone further into the fairyland of fashion.

This time around, it seems that we’ll all be inspired by retro looks. Think of the cat eyes of the ‘60s, heavy blushes of the ‘80s, and thin brows of the ‘90s and 2000s when getting ready in the morning. Along with this, some looks have become more experimental over time. This can be seen with the facial gemstones and bright colors that have become more and more popular throughout the fashion weeks – something starting to be known as the Euphoria effect, based upon the crazy makeup that the hit drama is known for.

So, if you’re questioning if the makeup that you want to wear out come fall is too elaborate, the odds are that it probably isn’t elaborate enough. And if you need any ideas, then simply check out our list below for a bit of added inspiration!

Complex Complexions

#1. Heavy Blush

If the makeup of ‘80s newscasters scared you, you’re in for a hellish winter when it comes to blush. Used as the main focal point throughout many runway shows when it came to makeup, highly pigmented blush became completely and utterly crucial. The makeup artist for Christian Cowan, Lori Taylor Davis, even admitted to using lipstick instead of regular blush to get the creamy effect. Considering that Brandon Maxwell also heavily leaned into this trend, I’d say that next season is the time to liberally apply blush and not worry about any cakey appearances.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Heavy Blush

#2. Face Gems

With sparkling gems added to hair, it was only a little while until the stones migrated to the face. Thus, adding a bit of sparkle to your brow bone, along the corners of your eyes, or sweeping down across the cheeks has become a huge trend. Other sticker trends that were incorporated into the winter 2022-2023 makeup looks were faux freckles. Whatever additive look you plan on trying, stalking Gucci, Simone Rocha, Conner Ives, and Burberry for a bit of inspiration is the perfect move. 

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Face Gems
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Face Gems

#3. Girl, You’re Glowing!

Glowing skin is something that no one can ever complain about. However, this year, there is a heavy importance placed on dewy skin. As explained by celebrity makeup artist Dominique Lerma, “a makeup trend that is timeless and already sweeping social platforms and the runway is youthful, radiant-looking skin.” This can be seen from the pearlescent and smooth complexions highlighted by Simone Rocha, Versace, and Elisabetta Franchi.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Dewy Skin

All Eyes on Us

#4. Smoking out

The perfect touch to winter outfits, the smokey eye adds a sultry and seductive detail to any outfit. With designers heavily leaning towards this look come fall, you should be prepared for all types of this eye makeup to take over. For instance, Jason Wu went for a modern look on a more ‘60s version of the eye makeup, with a pinpoint of yellow added to the corner of the eye.

LaQuan Smith, on the other hand, went for a heavily futuristic take on the look, with models (including Julia Fox) sporting a heavily drawn-out and darkened version of this eye makeup trend. Still, if you stick to the classic smokey eye, don’t worry about being alone because this was the look adored by the makeup artist for Michael Kors.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Smokey Eyes
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Smokey Eyes
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Smokey Eyes

#5. Smudges of Shadow

Smudged eyeshadow was one of the go-to avant-garde creations from the fall 2022 makeup trends, with artists using both creams and shadows to create unblended, messy looks that would work well with grunge looks. The look at the Gucci show was a “no-makeup” one for the most part, but a few models sported shockingly bright metallic eyeshadow, applied in a messy rectangular shape.

Swipes of red were applied in a similar rectangular shape at Dion Lee, making this one of the most common eyeshadow shapes from this season. Most models at Fashion East had their lids covered in messy swipes of red eyeshadow. Smudges of creamy shadow at Cormio had a dark, grungy effect.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Smudged Eyeshadow
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Smudged Eyeshadow

#6. Pretty in Pink

Soft and bright shades of pink were some of the most common eyeshadow colors in the beauty trends. For the most part, the runways this season avoided extreme femininity, so this was one of the few ways in which artists got to play around with soft, girlish makeup styles.

The bright pink eyeshadow at Valentino was the perfect match to the totally pink collection. The look actually had quite a bit of dimension, with a bold cat eye applied to the lid and the lower bottom. There were a few different makeup looks at the Lanvin show, but a shimmery light pink eye matched with a dark lip was the most memorable. The lovely makeup look at Poster Girl consisted of bright pink eyeshadow applied all over the lid in a graphic manner, paired with a nude lip and a bit of highlighter.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Pink Eyeshadow
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Pink Eyeshadow

#7. Creative Graphic Liner

A few well-placed lines over a simple or natural makeup look are, quite possibly, the most “fashion” way of doing makeup. It’s a quick look that is editorial rather than wearable, which is why, season after season, makeup artists keep designing it. This season, most lines were applied along or above the socket of the eye, i.e. just on or above the crease.

Black pencil was used to craft the line work at Maitrepierre. Two lines were drawn over each eye in a curved shape so as to follow the crease. Eyeliner lines were also applied over the crease at the Paul & Joe show, albeit quite differently. The line work of the makeup at Anna Sui led to a type of negative space exaggerated winged eyeliner look, with a black line tracing out a wing that started at the outer corner and then went over the crease down into the inner corner of the eye. More creative graphic eyeliner looks were spotted at Roksanda and Molly Goddard.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Graphic Liner
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Graphic Liner

#8. Glossy Lids

There is something about glossy eyelids that strikes me as cool and summery, and yet, here it is as one of the fall 2022 beauty trends. It’s hard (i.e. impossible) to achieve glossy lids that won’t crease, which is why it’s hard to imagine that this look will reach far beyond the runways.

The glossy lids at Claudia Li were fairly straightforward: the makeup artist applied gloss from the lid to just above the crease, while the rest of the makeup was kept looking natural. The glossy eye makeup look at Peter Do was extremely sultry, as dark brown shadow in the waterline and above the lid was made to look shiny and melty thanks to the swipe of gloss over it and the rest of the lid. Lastly, at Marrisa Wilson, glossy brown shadow made for a bright, cheerful look combined with some glitter.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Glossy Eyeshadow

#9. Winged Eyeliner

Perhaps part of the growing love for the return of the 2014 Tumblr girl, many designers, from Victor Glemaud to Carolina Herrera, gravitated heavily towards this look, with elaborate and strung-out winged eyeliner enhancing the models’ eyes. Adding a darker hint to the lighter makeup trends, this is certainly a must if you plan to embrace any other of the eccentric and heady fairytale looks.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Winged Eyeliner
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Winged Eyeliner
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Winged Eyeliner

#10. Blue, Blue World

For years I’ve always associated blue eyeshadow as something worn by women attempting to stay youthful, however, as the trend of blue eye makeup rages on, I might just have to acquiesce that it is about to become stylish. Used dramatically in the ‘60s and popping out through runways since, this look launched itself onto the runways at Supriya Lele, Bibhu Mohapatra, and Maryam Nassir Zadeh.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Blue Eyeshadow
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Blue Eyeshadow

#11. Glowing Eyes

Adding a bit of metallic to the inner eye is something that is almost inherently crucial to any gen Z makeup. Adding a bit of a brighter eyeshadow to the corner of the inner eye has been a makeup trick used for decades to make the wearer appear more awake. Now, however, this look has had an added little twist! From sweeping silver by Peter Philips for Dior to dashes of amber and purple at Ambush, this striking and metallic eyeshadow look is about to be everywhere.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Inner Corner Silver Shadow

#12. Bleached Brows

Is 2022 the year that makeup artists finally make bleached eyebrows happen? On the runways, definitely, although we’re not so sure about real life. We couldn’t stop talking about the eyebrows Pat McGrath was bleaching around ten years ago, and since fashion comes in cycles, bleached brows might be big again.

Most prominently, makeup artists bleached models’ eyebrows for Versace, where the look was paired with dark smudged eyeshadow and a bold lip, and at Coperni, where it added to the softness of the no-makeup look. There was a cyber-punk vibe to the Preen look, and we also saw a lot of bleached eyebrows at Annakiki, Alter, and Sacai.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Bleached Brows
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Bleached Brows

#13. String Beans

You read that right; ultra-thin eyebrows are back, and it seems like they are here to stay. Considered somewhat of a controversial style that perhaps would have done better to stay in the 2000s, Barbie Ferreira and Bella Hadid have both plucked away a large part of their eyebrows. Along with these celebrity ambassadors, Versace also appears to be voting in favor of this eyebrow style.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Thin Eyebrows

Kiss Me?

#14. The Darker, the Better

Never one to stray away from bold lipstick tones myself, I’m so happy to announce that strong lip colors are truly making their reappearance (and this time not only in the form of a classic red). From black lipstick at Blumarine to a brilliant dark blue at Gucci and a vampy purple at Versace, you’ll find plenty of exciting options when it comes to painting your lips this fall.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Dark Lipstick Shades
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Dark Lipstick Shades
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Dark Lipstick Shades

#15. Classic Red Lips

A red lip is a classic that will never go out of style, but the way it’s applied and the specifics of the shade can definitely change from season to season. For some models at Sacai, makeup artists created a seductive matte red pout instead of a glossy one.

The shade of red at No. 21 was a light, orange-leaning one that brightened up the face and complemented many outfits. The red lip of choice also leaned towards warm at the Erdem show and was as bright and attention-grabbing as can be. A matte, cool red lip at Tory Burch gave a little bit of old-school elegance, while at Elisabetta Franchi, many of the models wore an equally elegant neutral red lip.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Red Lipstick
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Red Lipstick

#16. All Glossed up

Perhaps not the most functional way to color your lips, given the tendency for our hair to get stuck in the gloss on windy days, this might not become your favorite trend. However, given the extra confidence boost that occurs with the added pop of your lips, you may be able to acquiesce. And if you still want the intense color that Marni went after, adding gloss as an afterthought can be just an excellent idea.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Lip Gloss
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Lip Gloss

#17. K-Beauty Smudged Lip Stain

The smudged or “blooming” lip so popular in Asian beauty looks is like the antidote to the heavily contoured, ombre lip so popular on Instagram. This lipstick application method, which concentrates lipstick in the center of the lip and smudges it outwards, creates a lovely “just kissed” effect that is especially fetching on models who already have lush lips.

A peachy-pink lipstick was applied softly in the center of the lips at Claudia Li, while the eyes were dusted with glossy shadow. Because the color was quite light, the effect was youthful, especially when topped with a hint of ombre. You can look to Mark Fast and Coach for the perfect example of a K-beauty lip in berry tones. The heavily pigmented lipstick was concentrated on the center of the lips and softly blended outwards. A few models sported similar lip stains at GCDS, 16Arlington, and La London.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Smudged Lip Stain
Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Smudged Lip Stain

#18. Puckered and Pierced

From Balmain to Givenchy to Off-White, models sported a bit of extra jewelry on their faces – a lip ring. Thankfully, many of the rings used were deemed to be a faux piercing, so if you’re tempted to try but don’t want to invest in changing up your body, now would be the perfect time.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Makeup Trends: Lip Adornment

Photos via Vogue, Livingly

Other Fall Trends for 2022