How to Master the Viral Cool-toned Makeup Trend for Fall

Cool-toned makeup — like a beauty harbinger of autumn — is rising.

The trend, which follows a seeming yearslong era of warm-tone dominance in makeup, has been gaining steam as beauty lovers increasingly seek gray, blue and purple tones over the bronzy shades of trends past. (See: latte, strawberry makeup.)

“Cool tones were rampant in the ’90s, and now you see that makeup nostalgia and that grunge era coming back around, but in a more sophisticated and wearable way,” says Danessa Myricks, celebrity makeup artist and founder of her eponymous color cosmetics brand, Danessa Myricks Beauty.

For people with fair skin and cool undertones, Myricks suggests soft grays, pastel pinks and cool browns for a “softer, more harmonious look.” Those with darker skin tones, on the other hand, may want to reach for jewel tones. “They work beautifully — especially metallics,” she says. “But the opacity of the product matters; a silver that has a very white base to it will look ashy and dull on a deeper skin tone. I love hyper-metallic, pearly products because they allow the skin to shine through, and that translates beautifully on deep skin tones.”

For makeup artist Hannah Khymych, who is one of TikTok’s most ardent champions of cool-toned makeup, the trend’s recent momentum feels rooted in people’s desire for newness. “With how warm-toned everything is on the market, I think people want something different,” she says, adding, “if you look at all the ‘It’ girls right now — Jenna Ortega, Doechii, Alex Consani, Alexa Demie — they’re all wearing cool tones.”

Here, WWD Weekend rounds up nine products to get the decidedly “cool girl” — no pun intended — makeup look for fall.

1. Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Stix, $38

Duos: 1, 8, 9, 10

For a wet look that transitions seamlessly from day to night, Danessa Myricks Beauty’s Colorfix Stix offers just the trick. “The sticks are designed for you to play however you want — you can even pair warm and cool shades together to get something very dynamic,” says Danessa Myricks, founder and celebrity makeup artist, adding that her M.O. is tapping on the Mystic Taupe shade in duo 1 as a daytime base, then layering a foil shade to amp up the pearliness for night. “It adds a bit of drama,” she says.

2. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix High-shimmer Gloss Stick, $26

Shade: How Many Carats?!

For when clear gloss isn’t quite enough: Fenty’s High-shimmer Gloss Stick shade adds an iridescent sheen meant to flatter all skin tones. One swipe can cool down a base color, or be worn on its own for a your-lips-but-frostier look.

3. M.Ph by Mary Phillips The Overliner, $25

Shade: Tease

No more brow pencils as lip liner: celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips has come to the rescue with a range of neutral, matte lip liners, with shade Tease being the coolest of the bunch.

4. Fwee Blurry Pudding Pot, $20

Shade: BS01 Cool

Fwee’s fan-favorite Pudding Pots come in 35 shades, including five cool pinks. For those seeking a lavender-leaning flush, BS01 is the one.

5. Live Tinted Huestick Complexion Stick, $38

Shade: 8

Live Tinted’s newest complexion stick, developed with an emphasis on skin undertones, offers medium to full coverage in 20 shades. For those with medium skin who find most complexion offerings to skew too warm, Huestick’s shade 8 may be just the match.

6. Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Precision Sculpt Shaping Balm, $36

Shade: Chisel

Haus Labs’ new Shaping Balms are already a go-to for makeup artist Hannah Khymych, who opts for shade Chisel to add a layer of dimension to her beat. “It’s a true cool-toned contour stick,” she says.

7. Kylie Cosmetics Cosmic 2.0 Wet Shimmer Quad, $24

Cosmic, indeed: with shades ranging from Metagalactic to Pinky Gleam, Kylie Jenner’s Wet Shimmer Quad offers a range of icy pigments that can be used to highlight both lids and cheekbones.

8. Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Long-wear Cream Eyeshadow, $25

Shade: Slate

Mario Dedivanovic’s Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette: The Neutrals is already a cult-favorite among cool-toned makeup devotees, and his latest cream eye shadows add a range of complementary blue-gray, muted mauve and nude pinks to the mix.

9. NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Highlighter, $12

Shade: Bright and Butta

With its pearlescent finish, NYX’s Buttermelt Highlighter’s Bright and Butta shade brings a light, champagne-y glow to a look.