Fall into Autumn in 5 Easy Steps
By Maggie Blehar
There’s something about the crisp air, changing colors, and leaves crunching underfoot that gets me excited to switch out my spring and summer clothes for flannels, boots, and oversized sweaters. The shift from summer to fall brings feelings of nostalgia for me (cue apple cider on tap, Hocus Pocus on repeat, and pumpkin spice everything) and along with it, changes in my skincare routine.
Now that we are well into October, it’s time to trade bright eyeliner and pink lips for more earthy tones that celebrate the season. But don’t stop there! Consider the following transitions that will make those pumpkin patch and apple orchard pictures pop:
1. Make sure you Moisturize
With the dropping leaves comes a drop in humidity, and we all know what that means: dry skin. Moisturizing daily is key for the fall and winter months, and your skin will thank you for it! If you have sensitive skin (or are just looking for a more ethical product) finding something you love can be difficult. Try Everyone’s plant-based, environmentally conscious unscented moisturizer that you can use from head to toe. Conveniently, Everyone products can be found at Whole Foods, Sprouts, or your local pharmacy.
Want a moisturizer specifically for your face? Tarte cosmetic products are both kind to the planet and to your skin. This moisturizer is thick and creamy for all-over face coverage, and this tinted moisturizer both hydrates and provides a solid foundation.
If you’re looking for a primer that hydrates and lays a smooth base for your makeup routine, try Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer. Use this primer before your foundation or wear it alone for a fresh-looking glow.
2. Be Bold
Bring back the 90’s this fall with a bold, dark lip that gives off that mysterious and sexy vibe. Don’t be afraid to apply a brown or rust colored lipstick that will make a statement at a socially-distanced backyard BBQ or over spiked cider at Thanksgiving. Go for a lip color that complements Mother Nature’s many shades, like The Body Shop’s Mauritius Dahlia for only $10.
Not sure you’re digging a lipstick? Try our Tiger Lip Gloss that reflects the auburn colors of fall.
3. Warm up your hair
As soon as the seasons change, so does my hair color. I love adding low-lights or an all-over rich, warm tone to my hair to call in the coziness of fall. Getting your hair professionally colored can be expensive, but salon-quality hair color companies are cropping up all over the internet so you can DIY and feel satisfied with the outcome! Madison Reed hooks you up with a color consultant to help find your perfect fall shade and provides step-by-step directions on how to color your own hair confidently.
Not sold on DIY hair dye? The female-owned, vegan and cruelty-free company Overtone creates pigmented conditioners designed to both add and maintain color to your hair over time, all from the comfort of your home!
4. Bye Bye Bright
Gone are the days of laying poolside with a pina colada in hand and bubblegum pink polish on your nails. Unless you’re on vacation right now, in which case I’m very jealous. Swap the bright nail polish colors you wore this summer for more neutral, earth tones. Wearing a red flannel? Complement it with a nutmeg brown polish. Breaking out the knee-high boots? Brush burnt orange on your fingers to enhance that autumn feel. Olive and June is a vegan, cruelty-free nail polish company that sells polish, nail kits, and stickers (if you’re feeling feisty). Check out their fall 2020 collection here: https://oliveandjune.com/collections/nail-polish/products/the-nailfie-ready-set.
5. Black Cats
Black cats aren’t just a Halloween decoration anymore. When transitioning your look to fall, you can’t go wrong with a dark cat eye. Don’t shy away from black eyeliner; embrace it. Tattoo artist Kat Von D’s cosmetics line, KVD Vegan Beauty, offers ethical and affordable eyeliners like this one which has a fine tip for precise lines and lasts all day long. Channeling your inner vampire? Try it in Vampira, a deep reddish burgundy color that will go perfectly with The Body Shop’s lipstick above. With these small changes, you’ll be the cat’s meow. Sorry… I just couldn't help myself.
Maggie Blehar is a Philadelphia based writer/educator with a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s in education. She has been plant-based since 2011 and is always in search of ethical companies to support. She loves traveling, walking her dog, painting, meditation, working for social justice, digging deeper into her zodiac sign, and exploring the Philly vegan scene with friends. Some of her favorite organizations are: Don’t Eat the Homies, Farm Sanctuary, CHNGE, Gentle Barn, and the Equal Justice Initiative.