Okay, can we talk about what just walked down the runways at

New York Fashion Week? Because I have been scrolling the

spring 2027 shows and the beauty looks are giving me major

fall inspiration — and you do not even have to wait for fall

to be over to steal them.

The theme is "new retro." At DVF, where Henry Zankov debuted

his first collection for the brand, it was all Studio 54

glamour: bronze goddess skin, glossy red lips, peacock blue

eyes, graphic cat eyes. Over at Conner Ives, models wore deep

reddish burgundy lips that makeup artists described with the

most perfect two words: "bad bitch." Seventies and eighties

icons — Annie Lennox energy — filtered through fresh, alive,

modern skin.

And here is something fascinating from the industry side: new

research out of the CEW Beauty Awards found that "glow" is

the most consumer-validated beauty claim of the year. Real

shoppers, unprompted, keep reaching for products that promise

radiance. The market wants color that looks alive, not flat.

So here is the fall lip trend in one sentence: bold, glossy,

retro color on skin and lips that look fresh and feel

comfortable. Which brings me to the part nobody talks about.

The problem with dark fall lipstick.

If you have ever worn a deep burgundy or a rich red in October,

you know the truth. Fall air is dry. Heaters kick on. Lips get

chapped. And a bold dark shade does not hide flaky lips — it

spotlights them. Every crack, every flake, every dry patch

shows up in high definition. That is why so many of us buy a

gorgeous fall shade, wear it once, and quietly go back to

chapstick.

The trend beneath the trend this season is hydration. Look at

what is launching right now: makeup brands are racing to put

out lip balms with real color — hydrating, buildable, plumping

formulas that feel like skincare. The industry has figured

out what we already knew: women want color that looks rich

but feels comfortable.

That is exactly where Mary Kay Supreme Hydrating Lipstick

lives. It gives you the saturated, runway-style color — the

berries, the reds, the burgundies — with a formula designed

to feel hydrating on the lips. You get to wear the trend

without the trade-off. Bold lips that look smooth and feel

soft. No cracking by noon. No reaching for your lip balm every

twenty minutes.

HOW TO WEAR THE FALL LIP TREND (EASY STEPS):

Step one: prep. Gently exfoliate your lips — a damp washcloth

or a gentle lip scrub works — then blot. This is the secret

weapon for dark shades, because smooth lips make bold color

look expensive.

Step two: a light layer of lip balm first if your lips are

very dry. Blot off the excess so the color still grips.

Step three: apply the lipstick straight from the bullet for

full runway color. Want a softer stained look? Apply, blot

with a tissue, and apply once more lightly. This layered

method helps the color look even and last longer.

Step four (optional): press a tiny bit of gloss just in the

center of your lower lip. That is what creates the juicy,

glossy runway finish from the DVF shows.

Step five for dark shades: define with a lip liner in a

matching tone first. Burgundy and deep red bleed less and

look sharper with liner — it makes the whole look read

intentional instead of messy.

SHADE GUIDANCE — FIND YOUR FALL LIP:

Classic reds: A blue-based red is the retro glam staple and

looks stunning on almost everyone — it is the Studio 54

shade. If your skin has warm undertones, lean toward reds

with a little orange or brick in them.

Berry and burgundy: These are the shades of fall 2026. Deeper

berries flatter deeper skin tones beautifully; lighter

berries and wine shades are gorgeous on fair to medium skin.

When in doubt, hold the shade near your face in natural

light — if your skin looks brighter, that is your winner.

Everyday nudes: Not ready for full glam? A warm rose or

soft terracotta nude gives you the hydrating formula with a

low-key finish. Perfect for beginners or for workdays.

(Shade names and availability change with the catalog, so

please check my Mary Kay site or message me and I will help

you find the exact shade — that is literally what I am here

for!)

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Honestly? Almost everyone this fall. If you are a beginner

who has been intimidated by bold lipstick, a hydrating

formula is the friendliest place to start because it feels

comfortable while you wear it. If you are a matte lipstick

lover, this is your chance to try the glossy retro look

without giving up comfort. And if your lips get dry and

cracked every autumn like clockwork, this is your sign to

stop fighting your lipstick and start working with it.

The bottom line: the fall 2026 lip trend is big, bold, retro

color — and the women pulling it off best are the ones whose

lips look as good as their color. Hydration is not the boring

part of the routine. It is the whole trick.

Ready to find your fall lip shade? Come shop with me at

BeautyWithErica.com — and if you are torn between team berry

and team red, message me and I will help you choose based on

your skin tone and what you already own. I love this part!

— Erica, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant |

BeautyWithErica.com