Autumn/winter 2025 makeup trends are all about creative colour play. From deep berry tones and jewel-toned hues to blurred, skin-first finishes, here’s your complete guide to the makeup shades, textures and techniques defining the season.
Dark tones remained prominent in the autumn/winter 2025 fashion circuit, with trend forecaster WGSN reporting that these shades accounted for 33% of the colour mix on the catwalks.
Deep reds and rich berry tones were among the leading hues, with Coloro’s Cherry Lacquer named as the forecaster’s stand-out shade of the season. It’s subversive yet classic, edgy yet luxurious, all wrapped up into one.
Pantone made similar observations at New York Fashion Week, with colours such as Winterberry, Damson and Chilli Oil featuring in their top 10. Discussing this palette in Pantone’s NYFW Trend Report, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said, “Imbued with a feeling of effortless glamour, colours for AW 25/26 are approachable and accessible.”
Berry-tones for autumn and winter makeup
It’s not surprising, then, that this season we’re set to see these tones appear in makeup. Discussing how to capitalise on the trend, Min Sandhu, a celebrity makeup artist who’s worked with Bulgari and Lancôme, explains, “We’re living in an era full of information overload, fuelled by fast-paced digital consumption.
"As a result, less is often more – simplicity is luxury. Using the same deep berry shade on the eyes, lips and cheeks for a soft, blurry finish can create an intentional look that seizes focus.”
The rise of mocha makeup: Pantone’s 2025 Colour of the Year
Another shade that lends itself well to monotone makeup is Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025. “It’s very reminiscent of the late ’80s and early ’90s,” explains editorial makeup artist Dani Guinsberg.
“Mocha Mousse has just enough warmth in the tone to suit almost all skin tones, adding to its popularity.”
Unexpected colour: bold lashes and brows take centre stage
However, the makeup trends for the upcoming season aren’t just defined by the colours themselves – but how they’re used.
At Harris Reed, models took to the runway with vibrant lashes, while at Simone Rocha vivid eyebrows featured heavily. As we head into the new season, how can we expect these looks to translate into consumer-centric salon trends?
“It’s about playing and experimenting,” says Guinsberg. “I think younger clients will jump at the opportunity to showcase their individuality, but for your more conservative clients, I would advise to pick one element to mix-up, while keeping the rest of the look pared back.”
Coloured mascara is a great example. “I think jewel tones like sapphire, amethyst and emerald will be a great way to add personality to a client’s look without it feeling overdone,” explains Marla Santos, Andreia Professional makeup artist.
The blur effect: soft-focus skin and minimal matte finishes
However, beauty is cyclical and driven by contrast. When one aesthetic becomes dominant, such as maximalist colour, there’s always a desire for something more minimal.
Looking beyond the catwalk trends, Sandhu forecasts a shift towards simplicity, with soft-focus matte blushes making a comeback. “This will allow makeup artists to move beyond colour and lean into textures,” she says.
Guinsberg makes a similar prediction, establishing “blur” as a key theme for the latter half of 2025: “Think ‘your skin but better’ – softer and more like you’ve had a great night’s sleep.”
As for specific products that will be in demand, Santos is turning her attention towards BB creams. “Healthy-looking skin remains a major focus, and those with active ingredients are likely to gain further traction,” she says.
Feature image: Yuhan Wang, Lead hair: Danilo Giangreco, Credit: Sasha List
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