Trust Us—These Are the Best Lipstick Shades for Autumn

As summer comes to what feels like a sharp end, things need not look bleak for the colder seasons. The start of the autumn/winter season signifies change, and one particular change I am ready for is to rework my makeup routine. After a summer of the 'clean girl' aesthetic, I think we’re all ready to inject a new lease of life into our beauty routines. 

I am what you call basic when it comes to my makeup. I have my go-to base routine, my uber-simple eyeshadow and never-changing brow routine, all of which have served me well. That has also left room for experimentation in one area, lips. Lip colour is one part of my routine, I am constantly changing up, it’s become a sort of accessory to finish up my makeup look.

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(Image credit: @_jessicaskye)

''Autumn colours that will trend will be super gorgeous berries, mauves and brown nudes, think deep and dark bold colours'' says makeup artist, Mira Parmar. She goes onto say that ''soft matte finishes will be huge.''

Maybe it’s that back to school energy—granted I haven’t been back to school in a long minut—but old habits never die. I’ve already got together my autumn/winter lipsticks on rotation. If you’re on the hunt for some autumn lipstick colour inspo or you’re in the mood to spice your lipstick collection up, look no further than some trends I’ll be wearing this season over and over.

The Best Lip Colours For This Season 

1. Vampy Purples 

While lip trends come and go, a good vampy purple shade will never disappoint and let’s be honest nothing screams autumn/ winter more like a deep purple shade. With a limitless array of shades, there is something for everyone, from purple toned burgundies to plum shades, hues from the purple spectrum creates a sense of mystery and adds an chic vibe to your look. Opt for a plum gloss for an easy-to-wear everyday purple shade, or if you’re looking to make a statement, then reach for a bolder and darker matte-finish purple lipstick. 

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(Image credit: @mariaalia)

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2. The Brown Glazed Lip 

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(Image credit: @JERRLYNMAE)

Now this is not a new trend, but it's definitely having a moment on social media thanks to Hailey Bieber. It's simple and effective, and leaves you with the most glossy and plump finish. And it is so simple to create.

"I’m a creature of comfort, so a brown glazed lip is my go-to combo year round,' says Who What Wear UK Affiliate Manager, Jerrylyn Saguiped. "I find using a slightly darker brown lip liner is perfect to sharpen the edges slightly, but the look is definitely tied together with a clear gloss for a finish that can work day or night."

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3. Classic Red 

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(Image credit: @REMYFARRELL)

The classic red is a year-long staple but I always find myself gravitating towards it during the colder months. It's great for the party season, giving that instant 'put together' finish with a pop of fresh colour. It's also something a little different from all the darker shades that we tend to wear around this time of year. 

Who What Wear UK Shopping Editor, Remy Farrell is also a big fan of a red lip for autumn. "As much as I love to experiment with different colours and finishes, I always come back to a true, classic red," she says. "Where the rest of my wardrobe changes daily, a bold, bright red lip is the constant that pulls everything together."

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4. Barbie Pink

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(Image credit: @aysha.sow)

Think of this as our wild card. Pink, and especially barbie pink, isn't your typical autumnal/winter shade but with the barbiecore trend taking over, this trend is still going strong. I love a pink moment and a gorgeous pop of bright pink will certainly cheer anyone up on even on the gloomiest day. 

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5. Brown Toned Nude

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(Image credit: @ELEANORVOUSDEN)

A nude lipstick will always work—it's truly a staple in all makeup wardrobes. For this season, I am opting for brown toned nudes to give my nude lipsticks an autumnal twist. The Y2K and '90s nostalgia is still dominating all trends and the '90s brown nude never disappoints. 

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Up Next: TikTok Has Spoken—These Beauty Microtrends Will Be Everywhere This Autumn

Freelance Beauty Journalist

Zeynab Mohamed is a London-based freelance beauty journalist, covering beauty, wellness, lifestyle and identity-related content. Her background in psychology and her identity as a Black woman has influenced a lot of her writing and has become a driving force to create engaging content that touches on a perspective that is often neglected and speaks to other Black women who love beauty as much as she does. She is inspired by how individuals engage with beauty and how beauty can make you feel but also how beauty holds the power to connect individuals across the globe to form communities. She began her career in beauty journalism with the British Vogue team, where she discovered that beauty isn’t just frivolous but can be a tool to empower individuals and give them a voice which they were not afforded.


Zeynab is currently a beauty contributor to Who What Wear. She has also written for Stylist, Elle, Refinery29 and Byrdie, building on her freelance portfolio and expanding on the type of content she creates in the hope of reaching diverse communities. When Zeynab is not writing and hunting down her next story, you can find her travelling the globe and tucked away with a good book.