Fall 2013 Runway Report: Hair, Makeup & Nails

Fine Bordeaux

The catwalks were flooded with plummy lips. At Derek Lam, makeup artist Tom Pecheux dabbed on a mix of brown, maroon, and burgundy cream lipsticks with his fingers to create a "saturated stain."

Tip: Tinted balms and glosses are an easy way to wear wine hues. Try Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Grandest Grape, $16.

Catwoman

Backstage at Anna Sui, makeup artist Pat McGrath drew on '60s sex kittens like Brigitte Bardot for inspiration. To modernize the classic cat-eye, McGrath painted winged black liner on upper lids, then lined the inner rims with white and dotted black liquid liner along lower lashlines.

Tip: This style is meant to be precise, so use a waterproof liquid liner with a fine-tip point, such as Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black, $20.

Aprés-SoulCycle

Fake a killed-it-at-Spin-class glow, like makeup artist Mel Arter did at Felder Felder.

Tip: Apply MAC Powder Blush in Peaches, $21, low on the apples using a tapered blush brush, which offers more color-placement control than a large, fluffy one.

Smoky 2.0

At Donna Karan, makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury blended gray shadow outward to create a bat-wing shape on lids. "It has classic smoky-eye roots with a modern twist," she says of the update.

Tip: For a more flattering gray, choose a shadow with a touch of shimmer, such as Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color in Caviar, $25, or Estée Lauder Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint in Sinister, $24.

Natural-Born Lips

Barely-there lipstick appears effortlessly cool yet totally professional. By patting a flesh-tone balm onto models' lips, makeup artist Lucia Pieroni conveyed an "angelic but strong" look at Missoni.

Tip: For a more natural effect, try dabbing on Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Angelic, $26, or Rimmel London Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 113 (left, bottom), $5, with fingers.

Power Arches

Ditch the tweezers: The new tomboy-style brows are "effortless but controlled—full with volume, almost masculine," says Pecheux of the look he created at Isabel Marant.

Tip: To pump up sparse brows, apply a pencil like Clé de Peau Beauté Eyebrow Pencil in Light Brown, $60, using short, feathery strokes.

Nearly Naked

Fresh-faced complexions were everywhere. "Think porcelain dolls before they get painted," says James Kaliardos, who did the makeup at Theyskens' Theory.

Tip: The dewy finish of MAC Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel, $39, keeps skin from looking too mannequin-like.

Inky hair made a dramatic statement at Louis Vuitton, among others.

Tip: To prevent a harsh look, Sally Hershberger colorist Aura Friedman recommends keeping hair around the hairline one shade lighter.

1. L'oréal Paris Excellence Crème in Natural Blue Black, $9.
2. John Frieda Precision Foam Colour in Luminous Blue Black,$13.

Bold Accents

Ornaments, simple ribbons, and cool hair accessories were small touches that had a big impact at shows like PPQ.

Tip: For a subtler look, wind a ribbon around the base of your ponytail for added polish.

Bright Idea

At Libertine, Butter London Global Colour Ambassador Katie Hughes painted nails gold and applied multicolored crystals in varying sizes for an eye-popping effect.

Tip: Strategically glue Cina Crystal Assorted Rhinestones, $5, on already-polished nails.