Beauty writer Rosie Green has identified five make-up changes she says will refresh looks for the autumn season, highlighting updated formulations and simple application tweaks that aim to give a more polished finish.
Green, writing for the Daily Mail, recommended gilded brown eyeshadows, ‘modern gourmand’ fragrances, short squared dark nails, a switch from black to brown mascara and creamy, blendable blush formulas as the easiest ways to update a beauty routine for cooler months. The Daily Mail notes that its journalists select and curate the products that appear on the site and that purchases made through links may generate commission.
For eyes, Green said a range of warm browns — from caramel to pecan and truffle — is the season’s palette, but recommended choosing shades with a light-reflecting shimmer. She cited Hildun x Hannah Martin Soul Shimmer Shadow in Champagne Truffle and Sugared Almond (£17 each at hildunbeauty.co.uk) as crease-resistant, long-wearing options that can be pressed on with a finger and blended quickly. She also highlighted Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks, which have new shades such as Peach Flame and Downtown Brown (£29.50, bobbibrown.co.uk), and Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow in Tiramisu (£7.99, sephora.co.uk) for a finely milled shimmer that "glisters rather than glitters."
On fragrance, Green described a move toward creamy, dessert-inspired scents — often called modern gourmands — that balance sweet notes with musk and woody bases. Price-accessible and designer options cited include H&M Posh Pistachio (£9.99 for 30ml EDP, hm.com), Le Monde Gourmand Pumpkin Crème (£24 for 30ml EDP, lookfantastic.com) and Rare Beauty Rare Eau de Parfum (£71 for 50ml, sephora.co.uk). She singled out Tocca Laila (£85 for 50ml, johnlewis.com) as a new launch with a blend of vanilla, jasmine, lily of the valley and bergamot; the bottle was due to be released on Sept. 15.
Nails are trending toward richer, moodier tones and shorter shapes, Green reported, citing Daisy Kalnina, CEO of nail brand The GelBottle. Kalnina advised embracing deep berry reds, warm terracottas and moss greens, and said short, softly squared nails are returning because they are "timeless, flattering and so wearable for everyday life." Product examples included new shades from The GelBottle’s Heist collection — Rouge, Getaway and Classified (£15.95 each, thegelbottle.com) — Mavala Nail Color in 240 Jasper (£9.99, Amazon) and Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Espresso (£4.49, boots.com).
A simple colour swap for mascara — from black to brown — was recommended as a way to achieve a classier, cooler finish, particularly on mature skin. Green wrote that brown mascaras can make eyes appear larger and less severe than traditional black. Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara in Espresso (£32, spacenk.com) was named as a richer brown option; Refy’s Lash Sculpt now comes in Brown (£20, refybeauty.com); Max Factor introduced a tubing version of its 2000 Calorie Long Lash Era Mascara in Black/Brown (£10.99, boots.com); and a budget entry, PS... Pro Extreme Lash Mascara (£3.50, primark.com), was suggested for those experimenting with brown.
Finally, Green recommended trading powder blushes for creamy textures that she said deliver a natural, youthful flush and blend easily on different skin types. New or reformulated products she mentioned include Glossier’s Plush Blush (£26, glossier.com), Summer Fridays Blush Butter Balm (£27, cultbeauty.co.uk) and the Soft Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Cosmopolitan Blush from MCoBeauty (£12, superdrug.com).
Green framed the suggestions as evolutionary rather than revolutionary, noting that brown, gold and berry shades are perennial autumn choices but that improved formulations and small technique changes can make familiar colours feel new. The selections reflect a mix of price points and product types, from drugstore to prestige, and aim to offer accessible ways for consumers to update their seasonal beauty routines.