BB: What are the Top 5 trends for fall and how can we get these looks at home? 

SK: 1. My favorite trend for Fall 2012 is a strong mouth, made wearable with rich reds and deep bordeauxs. This color is perfect for the season because it looks stunning with grays, purples, bordeauxs, cognacs and mauves – the complete color palette that the upcoming fall season is bringing. The key to this look is playing with depth and softening the edges. For more control, apply a bold plum shade using a lip brush, adding color slowly until you reach an intensity you are comfortable with. Finish by using the tip of your finger to blur the line around the lip for a delicate aesthetic. As a makeup artist, I used to work with tones like this every fall. It’s a personal favorite and I find it’s one of the most stunning colors because it has that dark sexiness to it. Celebrities like Kate Bosworth and Lana Del Ray have embodied the true beauty of this trend with their looks at the Met Gala and the shade is certainly reminiscent of most of the recent runway shows, such as Bottega Veneta, Rochas, and Gucci.

2. Color blocked lids will be huge, specifically peacock-inspired hues. My new Instructional Eye Shadow Palette in Eye on Dazzling Color has 12 stunning shades in the colors of the season complete with step-by-step instructions for 3 show-stopping looks. Sweep the deep emerald across the eye and add depth in the crease with the rich brown for a sultry, smokey eye similar to the look at Jason Wu. Or if you’re feeling really daring, create a colorful pattern with complimentary colors like aquamarine and amethyst straight from the runways at Roberto Cavalli.

3. Full and pretty, yet not too powerful brows are always important for fall, as seen on Alexander Wang and Tibi’s runways. To achieve this look you will need my Spoolie and my Brow Definer or Arch Alert Brow Kit. Start by brushing the hairs upward and laying them down in your desired shape. Next, fill in any sparse areas with subtle color in small, soft strokes that mimic hair to shape the eyebrow, keeping the look angular and bold. Go back over the brows with the spoolie to soften the line of the brow. Since both the pencil and kit are cream formulas, the spoolie will grab and blur the color. Even when working with a strong brow, you never want to look like your brows are drawn on. Finish with my Brow Gel to hold hairs in place. Camilla Belle is the perfect example of how to pull off a strong eyebrow while maintaining a certain feminine beauty.

4. Geometric eyeliner, like the looks at Ana Sui and Lanvin, is the most dramatic of the trends you will see this season but don’t let that intimidate you. Modifying to an exaggerated cat eye using a liquid liner, like my Jet Set Liquid Liner, makes this trend super wearable and easy to achieve. Start by holding the lid taut and laying the applicator tip on the inner corner of the eye, dragging out and slightly up at the temple. Connect the outer point down to the outer edge of the eye in a triangular shape and fill in with a black pencil inside the water line. Finish with a few coats of mascara and even pair with a red lip for a retro look similar to Adele at the Grammys.

5. Another big trend we’ll see this season is a the split-color nail design. As seen on the runways of L.A.M.B, Dans La Vie, and Nomia, this geometric update to last season’s ever-popular half moon is just as fun and twice as flattering. To re-create this stylish look at home, once nails are fully painted in a base shade, use painter’s tape to cover half the nail and paint over top with a second color. Be sure to wait an ample amount of time before peeling off the tape and use a small paint brush with remover to clean up around the nail. My favorite color combination this season? A rich plum and a gorgeous green.

BB: What is the difference from fall 2011 and fall 2012?

SK: The trends for Fall 2012 are a little more bold and dramatic than 2011. Last fall we saw a ton of metallic smokey eyes and bright mouths, where as this season the look has changed to color blocked lids and deep, dark lips. However there are a few trends that we will see carry through from 2011 to 2012 such as bold brows, a fresh, radiant face, and an updated version of the retro cat eye.

BB: What is the one product every woman should own as we get ready to enter fall 2012?

SK: Classic red lipstick is a secret weapon that every woman should have in her makeup bag. The color and tone will brighten the face and completely transform your look. That shock of color will become the focus to make a powerful statement, while still looking super feminine, sophisticated, and strong. Keep the rest of the face fresh and allow lips to take center stage, it is all about the power of one!

What fall trend are you excited to wear come September? Leave your answers in the comment section below.