Fall 2018 Makeup Trends From the Runways to Try Right Now

Images: Imaxtree

After a long month of jetting between New York, London, Milan and Paris, the Fall 2018 fashion shows have come to a close. Some may be sad to hang up their street style looks until next season but now is actually when the real fun begins. We can take a breather and dissect the hits (and misses) from fashion month and figure out which fashion trends are worth the investment. As for makeup trends, there were plenty of pretty, inspiring and wearable looks worth trying.

Makeup artists backstage at the shows dreamed up a variety of looks that had us swooning as much as the clothes. One big surprise was the amount of color used, especially on the eyes. It was easy to mistake some of the bright looks for spring makeup, rather than fall. We saw colors from the entire spectrum used to accent eyes in the form of colored mascara, eyeliner and eyeshadow. Sometimes several hues were mixed together to create beautiful multicolored looks.

Out of all the colors used, the one that reigned supreme was baby blue. (Remember what we said about these being the fall shows?) If you still think of blue eyeshadow as dated, the runways proved how thoroughly modern it can be with the right application.

On the lip front, there were a few clear camps. Some shows kept things classic with true red lipstick. Others looked to the 90s and were inspired by the burgundy and brown lipsticks of the decade of grunge. Those of us who can’t get enough of glitter will be pleased to know that makeup artists share the same passion for it as there was a heavy sprinkling of sparkle throughout the shows. Sometimes the sparkle came in surprising forms (hello, diamantés).

Forget about waiting until fall to try these gorgeous looks. Grab your makeup bag and click through the gallery above to see the biggest Fall 2018 makeup trends fresh from the runways.

6 Makeup Trends from the Fall 2018 Runways to Try Right Now

True Red Lips

The Sally LaPointe Fall 2018 show demonstrated how fresh a cherry red lipstick looks with dewy, lit-from-within skin.
True Red Lips

Matte red lipstick still proved popular, but Huishan Zhang capitalized on the lip gloss trend by sending models down the runway with red lips coated in a wet-look gloss.
True Red Lips

The application of red lipstick can completely change the effect. Take the stained look at Erdem. The red lip color was strongest on the bottom lip and gradually blended out for a pretty blurred finish.
True Red Lips

The subdued red lipstick at Zadig & Voltaire took the stained effect further. Recreate the look by dabbing on red lipstick with fingers for a pretty just-had-a-cherry-ice-pop finish. Just make sure none of the color ends up on your teeth.
True Red Lips

As per usual, Dolce & Gabbana brought the glamour with matte red lipstick, flicked eyeliner, ornate headpieces and some major jewelry.
True Red Lips

N°21's retro waves and matte true red lipstick oozed vintage glamour. The look was given a modern twist with the rest of the face left bare.
Baby Blue Eyes

It's time to embrace blue shadow. Take a cue from the Jour/Né fashion show and try a soft blue eyeshadow applied up to the brow bone. Keep the rest of the face au naturel.
Baby Blue Eyes

The Nicopanda Fall 2018 show had one of the sweetest looks of fashion month with blue eyeshadow paired with red blush that was worn high on the cheeks. Because that wasn't cute enough, the look was finished with gold glitter lips.
Baby Blue Eyes

Marni normally showcases soft no-makeup makeup looks, but for Fall 2018, makeup artists couldn't resist blue eyeshadow. Baby blue eyes complemented natural faces for a lo-fi take on the pastel shade.
Baby Blue Eyes

The memo about soft blue eyeshadow was loud and clear at a variety of shows, including Boss. If you're going to wear blue eyeshadow, swipe it all over the eyes. Keep it fresh by leaving color off the rest of the face.
Baby Blue Eyes

Models at the Au Jour Le Jour show wore swipes of different pastel eyeshadows, including pastel blue (of course) and pale green, on their creases for a soft take on mod makeup.
Baby Blue Eyes

Elisabetta Franchi offered a subtler take on blue eyeshadow with the color focused solely on the lids. The pastel shadow was paired with multiple coats of black mascara on the top lashes and a soft pink gloss for a flirty finish.
Multicolored Eyes

Makeup artist Polly Osmond proved what a glamorous combination black, blue and hot pink can be at the Christian Siriano show. Best of all, the designer launched a collaboration with E.L.F. Cosmetics to coincide with the Fall 2018 show so we can create the exact look.
Multicolored Eyes

The Naeem Khan Fall 2018 fashion show gave us inspiration on how to upgrade a beige eye by mixing gray and emerald green eyeshadows. The makeup was tied in with the holographic nails.
Multicolored Eyes

The fiery eyes at the Ashley Williams show extended out to meet the bright pink blush. Black lipstick was applied to select models' lips for an edgy finish.
Multicolored Eyes

Makeup genius extraordinaire Pat McGrath enlivened 60s mod makeup with bold purple and hot pink tones at the Anna Sui show. The look was topped off with heavy lashes, neutral pink lipstick and a product teaser.
Multicolored Eyes

Count all of the colors because there are a few of them. The eyes at Emporio Armani were played up with dabs of white, gray and shimmering green. The shadows weren't blended for a modern, painterly finish.
Pop of Color

Bright mascara in all shades of the rainbow was applied to the top and bottom lashes at Dries Van Noten. Paired with a nude face, this hot pink look was a winner, but we also loved the yellow, orange and baby blue shades applied by makeup artist Peter Philips.
Pop of Color

The graphic yellow eyeliner at Eudon Choi was taken off the upper lash line and into the crease. The line was drawn around the entire eye for a mask-like effect. Given the intensity of the eyes, the rest of the face was kept natural.
Pop of Color

Salvatore Ferragamo combined the colored mascara trend and the neon liner trend into one head-turning look. Faces were left bare, save for colored mascara and a stroke of coordinating eyeliner.
Pop of Color

Take note because that is not the standard black cat eye. The eyes at Calvin Luo were enhanced with a royal blue flick. It was a subtle change that made a major difference.
Pop of Color

At Christian Dior, Peter Philips demonstrated how a swipe of eyeliner can completely transform the face, especially if it's a stroke of neon liner. Models walked the runway wearing pastel pink, bright yellow and burgundy eyeliners.
Pop of Color

We can always count on Jeremy Scott to deliver a bold beauty look. Eyes were enhanced with futuristic dots and chevrons in pastel colors. The bright eye makeup contrasted with neon bobs, completing the 80s-meets-sci-fi vibe.
Surprise Shimmer

It wasn't just about shimmering eyes. Models' foreheads at the Preen show were sprinkled with a liberal dusting of glitter. It's the kind of shiny forehead we can all get behind.
Surprise Shimmer

Ulla Johnson went for gold by sending models down the runway with chunky gold foil decorating their eyelids. The megawatt eyes were balanced with bold, groomed brows.
Surprise Shimmer

Pat McGrath served up another memorable makeup moment at the Prada Fall 2018 show where she played up eyes with sweeping strokes of jewel-toned eyeshadows. Swarovski crystals were added on top to complete what she described as a sporty-showgirl look.
Surprise Shimmer

Carmen Marc Valvo got in on the multicolored eye makeup trend by playing up eyes with strokes of contrasting liners and shadows. The finishing touch was a dose of glitter on the inner part of the eyes.
Surprise Shimmer

The beauty look at the Genny Fall 2018 show will definitely please glitter fans thanks to the pretty effect the silver sparkle created. The shimmer was applied in a stroke that cascaded from above the brow down the eye to the inner corner.
Surprise Shimmer

Faces looked like they were kept natural at the Milly fashion show. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the shimmering effect on models' eyes was courtesy of a light dusting of silver sparkle.
Surprise Shimmer

Eyeshadow? Who needs eyeshadow? Evidently not the models at the Kate Spade New York show whose eyes were decorated with randomly placed rhinestones.
Grungy Lips

Taking a much darker approach to red lipstick, the Anteprima Fall 2018 fashion show saw models sporting burgundy lipstick and a wash of gray eyeshadow.
Grungy Lips

It's time to get reacquainted with brown lipstick because the Area show demonstrated how luxurious it can look. Select models wore chocolate brown lipstick paired with coordinating eyeshadow. Others contrasted the rich lipstick with bright blue and yellow eyes.
Grungy Lips

At Chalayan, a hint of deep red lipstick was dabbed on lips for a my-lips-but-better finish. Paired with groomed brows and natural eyes, it was a fresh take on a no-makeup makeup look.
Grungy Lips

Not quite brown, but not quite red, models at the Bottega Veneta show donned the perfect reddish brown lipstick. It was rich and very flattering. A dusting of soft brown eyeshadow made it the prefect everyday makeup look.
Grungy Lips

Gareth Pugh's lipstick shadow mustache is a tad too avant-garde for most of us to pull off but the actual matte cocoa brown lip color is something that could work IRL.