What All the Cool Kids Are Doing: Fall Makeup Trends

School is back in session. Halloween decorations (and Christmas, but that's another rant for another day) are cluttering up store aisles. The temperature even briefly dropped below "potentially deadly" for a moment this morning. Yep, Fall is on its way, and with that, I give you the expected trends for 2011! (By the way, as I write this, I'm wearing practically no makeup and my hair is frizzing beyond belief. Those that can't do, I suppose...)

Flawless, Bare Faces
That's right. One of the biggest trends in makeup is, well, to not wear any. Actually, let me rephrase that: it's to look like you're not wearing any. Minimal foundation, no liners of any kind, and only the teeniest tinge of cream rouge (example: Urban Decay Afterglow--which also works for lips!) are what's rocking the catwalk these days. Instead of crazy colors, play up your brows and keep your skin dewy. Luminizers (such as Benefit High Beam or LORAC Perfectly-Lit) are recommended for cheeks, brow bones, inside corners of eyes, and all over lids. Lips are natural and plush (try CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm).

Bold Lips
If you're already sporting the nude face, or just want to kick it into high gear for a special occasion, keep doing what you're doing and focus all your color effort on the lip. Oranges, Cherries, Burgundies, and Almost Blacks are the name of the game, and the applications are just as varied as the hues. You can smudge it, line it, gloss it, or go for high-impact matte. It's completely up to you. Keep it modern by pairing it with piled-on, spidery mascara. Seriously. The spider legs are in, and look amazing. My picks for lip color: MAC Russian Red for dramatic lipstick, and Buxom Ruby for jewel-toned shine. Buxom Lash or Fresh Magic Wands for mascara.

Liner, Liner, Liner!
Again, keep the makeup minimal, and save the drama for one spot--in this case, the eyeliner. Whether you swipe thin lines for rocker chic, wing it out (or even down--it's new and hot!), or pile on a thick upper line for a decidedly retro look, this is the time to invest in a good liner pen. I'm a fan of Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner Pen. Not great with liquid, but love the look? Try MAC Fluidline.

Flashy Eyes
With so much emphasis on bare skin and minimal color, I guess the fashion world was saving up for this! Technicolor smoky eyes (think: purples, teals, and oranges gradating from the lids) and metallic shimmers are all the rage this season. The high color concentration in Urban Decay shadows, and MAC shadows and pigments should make your smoky looks pop, while Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner has plenty of chrome and metallic shades to make sure you sparkle.  

Got any hot tips for Fall looks? Share them in the comments. Please. I can use all the help I can get.