7 Makeup Swaps That’ll Keep Your Skin Glowing (Not Drying Out) This Fall
Main image – Katarinaradovic/Stocksy
The start of autumn heralds all sorts of exciting changes; earthy wardrobe palettes, cosy evenings in, the first feelings of Christmas and, arguably the most thrilling of all, new makeup to play with.
Because as much as we would all love to prolong our summer glow and wear minimal makeup all year round, for many of us, transitioning from summer to autumn requires a bit of a makeup switch up.
Cue: The Live That Glow autumn makeup swap-in guide, packed full of skincare friendly products that’ll help your skin thrive, even during the colder months. Here, you’ll find juicy, skin tone adapting CC creams, brightening blushers and hydrating lip liners, to name a few.
Image – Colourlaboratory/Stocksy
What with all of that and some essential expert tips from skincare founder Namrata Kamdar, international makeup artist and brand manager for Paul & Joe Beaute, Jo Martin, and legendary MUA Ruby Hammer, here’s how to nail your autumn/winter glow up.
1. Consider changing your primer
When it comes to adjusting your makeup as we move into autumn, Martin says the first thing to think about is hydration. “People are often good at changing their skincare seasonally by adding in a more intense moisturiser or serum, but it is also good to change your primer or foundation to something more moisturising,” she explains.
We love using Plenaire’s Skin Frosting Deeply Hydrating Mask (£18/$25) as a makeup primer in cooler months. It’s both perfect for sensitive skin and gives an *amazing* glow (think glazed donut skin all day).
Kamdar says, in the morning, “apply Skin Frosting Deeply Hydrating Mask to clean, dry skin to create the perfect flawless base. Wipe away excess, then add some concealer and cream blush to create a simple, everyday dewy makeup look.”
Image – Plenaire
And Hammer agrees with upping hydration in the cooler months, “Your skin needs a bit more care and nourishment as the weather cools, and your makeup will thank you for it.”
For those with oily or combination skin hydration can be a tricky subject as adding too much can cause makeup to feel heavy and greasy. However, everyone needs hydration whatever their skin type and according to Martin, it is actually possible to be oily and dehydrated at the same time.
She suggests, “using skincare that is more hydrating at nighttime rather than during the day, under your makeup.”
As well as this, she recommends using a product like Paul & Joe Moisture Lotion (£32/$45). “Using this as a toner with your usual moisturiser adds a little extra hydration into the skin during the day without being a heavy layer that disrupts your base makeup,” she explains.
Image – Paul & Joe Beaute
“You can also use a mattifying primer on any areas you are oilier and then a moisturising one everywhere else to keep the skin from drying out.”
2. Shield lips from the cold
And speaking of hydration, protecting your lips at all costs is paramount during the colder months as the skin in that area is so thin. We love Ole Henrisken Pout Preserve Lip Peptide Treatment (£17/$23), winner of Best Lip Product at the 2025 Live That Glow Beauty Awards no less.
It’s ridiculously moisturising (but never sticky), whilst giving just the right amount of gloss and tint, and comes in five shades/scents, including the most recent, ‘Peach Glaze’.
For lip hydration combined with an on-trend shade, try The Inkey List Tripeptide Lip Balm in Mocha (£11/$14) has been shown to plump lips in two weeks while adding a seasonal splash of colour.
Even lip liners are hydrating these days, including one of our favourites from By Terry. Their Hyaluronic Lip Liner (£25/$30) comes in six shades and contains hyaluronic acid, shea butter and macadamia butter to moisturise to the max.
Image – Refy
Finally, if you’re topping with a gloss, choose one with additional skincare benefits. Refy’s Lip Gloss (£16/$20) is a pigmented lip gloss with all the benefits of a lip balm thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, jojoba seed oil and shea butter. Shades ‘Rosewood’, ‘Plum’, and ‘Fawn’ are our favourites for a perfect fall makeup look this year.
3. Avoid these common makeup mistakes
“The biggest mistake is not adapting,” says Hammer. “Skin tends to be drier and paler, so lighter, sheer textures can look a little flat or washed out. Choose bases with a touch more coverage and radiance, and creamier formulas that bring back glow and lift.”
Martin agrees. “People often tend to wear a heavier makeup in colder weather and over [apply] powder,” she says.
“We like to keep everything glowy and light in the summer but that doesn’t have to change in winter. If you need a little more coverage, then lightly layer and build your base so it still has a natural finish and use setting powder sparingly mostly in on the T-zones.”
Image – Tropic
For a foundation that offers both dewy coverage and skincare benefits, we’re enjoying Tropic’s Satin Skin Tint CC Cream (£32). It’s lightweight and contains brightening amla berry for vitamin C as well as niacinamide. Meanwhile, the shade cleverly adapts to your skin tone- making it forgiving if you find your shade changes over autumn/winter- and it also contains SPF 50.
You’ll also want to make sure you’re picking the right shades for the season too. “Remember to change your bronzer to a cooler shade as your skin becomes paler,” Martin explains.
And for eyes and lips, consider richer tones, says Hammer. “Soft berries, warm terracottas, chocolate browns all give warmth and depth that suit the soft light beautifully.”
“The new Ruby Hammer Precision Eyeliner Pencil in Brown (£18/$25) is perfect right now, you can then switch over to black as party season approaches,” she adds.
4. Invest in brightening products
Add a little more glow with your makeup finishers too. We’re big fans of Jones Road Miracle Balm (£38/$40) which is an all-purpose, tinted balm that gives a pigmented, hydrating sheen to the skin, eyelids and lips. It comes in a whopping 13 shades, is the perfect pick me up on a cold, dry-skin kind of morning and the huge pot lasts and lasts.
Beyond a brightening finish too, look for products that contain skin-friendly ingredients that will hydrate, even and boost while you beautify.
We love Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush Brightening Serum Blush in ‘Berry Flush’ (£18.70/$20), which adds a seasonal pop of berry. This skincare/makeup hybrid was not only winner of the Readers’ Choice award in our 2025 awards but it also offers a host of brightening and nourishing benefits thanks to the addition of niacinamide and squalene.
Image – Glow Recipe
And if you prefer your blush with a side of sunscreen, the Nudestix Nudescreen Blush Tint SPF 30 (£27.77/$30), comes in six shades and contains mineral SPF 30 to gently protect skin from UVA and UVB. The blusher also contains purple tea extract and green algae extract to moisturise. You can wear it on your eyelids, cheeks and lips.
And finally, two of our favourite products for winter bronzing – the Tropic Sun Glaze Illuminating Bronzing Drops (£18) which is another skin friendly, multi-purpose product and contains kakadu plum extract, hyaluronic acid and probiotics. Plus, the drops can be used as an all over illuminator or a bronzer/highlighter.
And Weleda Sunkissed Bronzing Serum Booster Drops (£12.95) which provides a lightweight, warm glow that you can mix in with your moisturiser and is infused with vitamin C and antioxidants.
5. Switch up your pre-makeup skin prep
As the seasons shift, Martin says it’s important to change how we prep our skin before applying makeup. “In winter we have the horrible combination of cold outside then central heating inside which is skin’s worst nightmare,” she says.
“I would recommend gentle exfoliation once or twice a week, increase moisture in your skincare routine so add in a hydrating serum as well as your moisturiser or add in a facial oil at night to increase moisture and plump the skin and during the day use a hydrating facial mist to keep the skin from drying out oh and don’t forget about your lips!”
Hammer agrees with the exfoliation part but cautions against going too overboard with the actives in the colder weather. “Gentle exfoliation helps, but keep it balanced… you want a smooth, plump canvas, not one that’s stripped or irritated.
“Think of the prep like a wardrobe, as the weather gets colder it’s best to add layers, rather than slap a big coat on with nothing underneath.”
6. Check your current foundation and concealer
According to Martin, there are four questions you should ask yourself about your current base to determine whether you need to invest in a new one for when your skin is drier than usual.
“Does it feel tight or itchy? Are your fine lines and texture accentuated? Does your skin look dull? And is the makeup going patchy? I would say these are the main things to look out for,” she says.
Hammer agrees, “If your foundation suddenly feels tight, looks dull, or settles into fine lines, it’s too dry for your skin now. The finish should look fresh and comfortable, never heavy.”
If you don’t want to pay for a whole new formula though, she recommends trying a drop of facial oil in your base. Or if you find your foundation still settles in fine lines, “You’ve likely applied too much, opt for light layers and set in place with a whisper of gossamer light powder,” she explains.
7. Ensure eye makeup stays put in all weathers
First things first – waterproof mascara. We love Estee Lauder Sumptuous Waterproof Mascara (£32/$35) which doesn’t budge, even when caught in horizontal rain. It’s suitable for sensitive eyes too.
Keep your brows firmly in place with Refy Brow Sculpt (£20/$24) which is a cream/wax formula that appears white at first but then dries down clear as you brush it through. It contains provitamin B5 and glycerin to moisturise, comes with three different types of brushes and keeps brows in place *all* day.
Image – Wonderskin
Or, if you simply can’t be bothered to do your brows everyday (amen sister), Wonderskin Wonder Blading Brow Stain & Glow Masque (£19) promises to tint brows for 2 days (although we actually think it lasts for more like 4 days, depending on how long you leave it on for).
Fully weather proof, this product is great for first time ‘tinters’ and it also contains squalane so doesn’t dry out your brows.
Another Wonderskin hit for the Live That Glow team is their 1440 Longwear Eyeliner (£16.50/$18). It really doesn’t go anywhere and glides on like butter.
The takeaway
Remember, just because there are a few more cold, drab mornings on the horizon doesn’t mean your skin needs to look the same.
And these seven steps have got you covered. From ensuring your skin maintains a gorgeous, hydrated glow, your makeup doesn’t budge (even in the direst of weather forecasts) your base is just right and your lips are both glossy and protected, autumn never looked so good.
Meet the experts
Namrata Kamdar is the founder of skincare brand Plenaire.
Jo Martin is international makeup artist and brand manager for Paul & Joe Beaute
Ruby Hammer MBE is a makeup artist, beauty expert and founder of Ruby Hammer Beauty.
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