Body & beauty

Autumn Glow

Leanna Kew, Spa Manager at The Spa at Bedford Lodge, shares her top make-up tips for a glowing look this autumn

Leanna Kew, Spa Manager at The Spa at Bedford Lodge, shares her top make-up tips for a glowing look this autumn

As the golden leaves start to fall and the mornings begin to feel a little more crisp, we say goodbye to the bright coral colours of summer and hello to the beautiful golden tones of Autumn. With thoughts of warm apple cider, fireside treats and cosying up on chilly autumn nights, it’s time to start revamping, not only our wardrobes but our make-up too.

Go natural

A look that can complement almost all skin tones is the natural look, and autumn is the best season to adopt it. Incorporating natural and earthy shades into your routine gives you that ‘barely there’ beauty look that is trending on the catwalk this season.

Top Tip! Try using a soft golden brown shade across your eyelid. Pick a shade slightly darker than your skin tone and apply to the socket crease of your eyelids, blending as you go to ensure there are no harsh lines.

Hints of summer

Don’t feel like you have to lose your tan! Use a warm bronzer to help define the facial contours, whilst giving the complexion a subtle glow.

Top Tip! Apply your bronzer to your face in a ‘3’ shape. Start from the forehead, looping into the cheekbones and then the jaw line. To complete the look, gently sweep your bronzer along your nose, where the face naturally tans in the sun.

Carefully select your staple shades

Staple colours for the autumn season are warm browns, deep purples, shimmering golds and copper colours. Make sure you include these into your eye shadow collection.

Top Tip! A deep purple best enhances brown eyes and those with hazel flecks – try it this season. Make sure your palette has a few shades of each colour so you can blend as required.

Condition your lips

As the breeze picks up and the colder weather comes in, the transition between warm and cold weather plays havoc with our skin.

Top Tip! Our lips are usually the first to dry out as unlike the skin, they have no sebaceous glands to keep them moist. Ensure you always apply a generous layer of lip balm before you go to sleep and when you wake up in the morning. Once a week, gently exfoliate your lips with a soft toothbrush to eliminate dead skin. Lips are then perfectly conditioned ready to face any weather. I love ESPA’s Mandarin Lip balm. It comes in a neat mirrored compact ideal for hydrating the lips throughout the day and keeping in your handbag through winter. £10

Make the most of the matte lip – With the subtle summer glosses gradually being phased out, it’s time to make room for the highly pigmented matte lipsticks. A matte lip is perfectly suited to the autumn season, making the ultimate bold statement – ideal for a work to evening look.

Top Tip! Many forget, but lining your lips prolongs the wear of any lip colour. Select a liner the same shade as your lipstick and apply to the inner edge of your lips. For a brighter or more enhanced look, try applying concealer over your lips beforehand, as this will ensure a neat result with a dramatic colour pop.