Beautiful Basics: The Autumn 2025 Makeup Look Everyone Is Talking About
There are seasons when makeup turns bold, dramatic, and unapologetically experimental… and then there are seasons like Autumn 2025, where beauty whispers instead of shouts. This year’s most captivating trend is called Beautiful Basics — a luxurious return to elegance, minimal glamour, and timeless colour theory.
The idea is simple: enhance what you naturally have, rather than masking it. Think softly-sculpted cheeks, velvety satin skin, diffused eyeshadow washes, and colours that harmonise with your undertone rather than compete with it.
Whether you are a professional makeup artist or a beauty lover looking to refine your seasonal look, this guide will show you exactly which shades and placements elevate your autumn glam — based on your undertone and complexion.
Let’s Talk Undertones — the Foundation of Beautiful Basics
Your undertone never changes. It determines which colours make you look lit from within, and which make your complexion look tired or washed out.
Use the colour wheel images below as reference when choosing shades (insert colour wheel 1, 2, or 3).
There are three main undertone families:
• Cool undertones — bluish or rosy hue
• Warm undertones — golden or olive hue
• Neutral undertones — balanced between cool and warm
But the magic of this season lies in how each undertone can wear Autumn shades differently.
Let’s break it down.
🍁 Autumn 2025 Makeup Colours — for Every Undertone & Skin Tone
Cool Undertones
Ideal for: European skin with rosy undertones, many East Asian complexions, and anyone whose veins appear blue/purple.
Autumn shades that flatter:
• Frosted mauve
• Dusty rose
• Cranberry
• Charcoal plum
• Icy taupe
Eye makeup inspiration:
A satin wash of cool taupe on the lid, framed with charcoal liner and a soft frosted pink inner corner. Blend rather than sculpt — cool undertones radiate elegance with diffusion.
Clothing colours for harmony:
• Soft greys
• Navy
• Icy lavender
• Burgundy
• Cool emerald
Warm Undertones
Common in: Indian, Middle-Eastern, Mediterranean, Latina, and warmer European skin.
Autumn shades that flatter:
• Burnt copper
• Caramel brown
• Terracotta
• Olive green
• Antique gold
Eye makeup inspiration:
A sweep of soft caramel in the crease with burnished copper shimmer across the lid gives instant glow. Add antique-gold cheek highlight for an understated autumn sparkle — never glittery, always elevated.
Clothing colours for harmony:
• Rust
• Mustard
• Olive
• Cinnamon
• Warm cream
Neutral Undertones
Includes: many Asian skin tones, mixed-heritage complexions, golden-beige Europeans, and some deep skin tones.
Autumn shades that flatter:
• Rose-bronze
• Muted cocoa
• Soft mocha
• Neutral fig
• Brushed gold
Eye makeup inspiration:
A cocoa haze effect suits neutrals beautifully. Smudge soft mocha across the lid and under the eye, paired with a brown-black liner for depth without harshness. It’s the definition of quiet luxury.
Clothing colours for harmony:
• Taupe
• Beige-brown
• Mulberry
• Deep teal
• Soft black
Deep Skin Tones (all undertones)
Think stunning richness — African, Afro-Caribbean, South-Asian, and Middle-Eastern deep complexions.
Deep skin can carry Autumn 2025 shades with breathtaking dimension when matched to undertones:
For deep cool undertones:
• Blackcurrant
• Berry plum
• Silver peony
For deep warm undertones:
• Molten copper
• Burnt sienna
• Mahogany bronze
For deep neutral undertones:
• Mocha rose
• Smoky chestnut
• Gold-brown
Eye makeup inspiration:
Use reflex shimmer rather than stark metallics — deep skin glows with dimension rather than sparkle. Gold-bronze or plum reflex on the centre of the lid creates the signature “soft spotlight” for the Beautiful Basics look.