1. The Nude Lip That Defines Your Mood

The first trend that caught my attention this season was the nude lip, gently enveloping models’ mouths in understated elegance. In the past, nude lips were about erasure, blurring the line between skin and lip. This season was different. Beige, rose, cappuccino, taupe—each shade read the subtle texture of individual skin tones, revealing rather than concealing.

In Paris, makeup artists added dimension with semi-matte textures that preserved the lips’ natural volume and shadow. In Milan, they defined the lip line with pencil-sharp precision, filling the center with toned-down color to create depth. The execution varied by brand and city, but the message was unified: the nude lip is no longer just a base color—it’s an expression of confidence, a way of showing yourself honestly.

What makes this season’s nude lip special is how it works with the skin. Makeup artists revisited the principle that “skin is the canvas.” Instead of exaggerated highlighting, they built up sheer layers of foundation to preserve texture, then added a skin-matched nude lip on top, creating a no-makeup look with serious polish. These were expert choices that honored each person’s undertones and skin temperature.

If you want to try this trend, I recommend HERA’s Sensual Powder Matte Liquid in #PinkHaze and #DareBare. These nude beige tones, with hints of pink or red, help you achieve a sophisticated, neutral-soft look. Ultimately, this season’s nude lip is about revealing yourself fully through minimal color choices.

2. Red Lips with Depth

Red lips are a runway constant. But this season’s red wasn’t the signature red we often see—it came with added depth, in mid-saturation tones. For the past few years, wearable makeup looks have favored blurred edges and smudged lips. This season, models’ lips sharpened back into focus. Lines were drawn with precision using lip brushes or pencils, color was pressed all the way to the edges, then finished in matte or semi-matte textures.

In New York, the red lip is paired with minimal base makeup to anchor the face. Unnecessary highlighting and decorative blush were stripped away. Only the lips commanded attention. Milan and Paris, meanwhile, played with more color variation. From deep reds reminiscent of Pinot Noir grapes to brick red and classic cherry, crisp lines structured the face according to each garment’s mood.

Red lips always remind me of my first day commuting in downtown LA. Our office sat in the heart of the fashion district, right next to Skid Row, an area dense with homelessness. While everyone else drove to work, I decided to take the bus. A colleague advised me, “When you take the bus, look for people wearing red lipstick.” For a moment, I thought she meant to watch out for them. Then I understood—those were the people going to work, the ones I could trust.

Looking back, this was a defining moment in shaping my perspective on beauty. In Korea, a full red lip can be perceived as bold, even intimidating. But there, people wore deep red lips confidently, thinking it beautiful. Beauty standards vary so dramatically by country. That’s why, as I experience different cultures, I make sure my own standards don’t become absolutes. I believe that’s the mindset you need when working in beauty on a global stage.

3. What Color Do You Want to Express Yourself With?

Beyond makeup, another element that commanded attention in this season’s editorials was colored sunglasses. Instead of standard black-tinted shades, we saw rose brown, orange, and olive lenses creating entirely new moods. What’s interesting is how they functioned not just as accessories to shield the eyes, but as devices bridging fashion and beauty. The detail of matching lens tones to garment colors felt almost like part of the makeup itself. One artist working on the season’s looks described it this way: “The colored sunglasses are an extension of the makeup palette.” And they were—the eye area carried color through tinted lenses instead of shadow. At the same time, lips remained minimal, with just a wash of color, allowing for a subtle expression of personality and sensibility.

In Milan, soft brown and olive green lenses evoked ‘70s disco vibes reinterpreted for today. Here, the skin was deliberately kept matte and powdery—a strategic choice that allowed the bold lens colors and makeup to coexist without competing. This balance allowed the sunglasses’ distinctive mood to come through even more clearly.

What’s compelling is how colored sunglasses went beyond changing “how you’re seen” to suggesting “how you see.” Just as wearing tinted lenses colors your view of the world, this season’s colored eyewear became a statement about perspective—how you choose to look at the world and how you want to be perceived by others. In the end, colored sunglasses expanded beyond simple eyewear to become tools for staging and defining oneself.

4. Glow Skin, More Refined

I remember walking down the street when something caught my attention. A woman approaching from a distance had skin that caught the light so subtly I had to turn my head. That’s the feeling of this season’s glowing skin. Unlike glass-like highlighter techniques, it’s as if moisture is gently emerging from within—a natural vitality.

The skin in the editorials retained its inherent texture thanks to sheer, layered foundation. Rather than a polished shine, it’s a quality where fine light seems to diffuse across the surface. Lips, too, came in nude and rose tones with glossy finishes that evoked a well-rested, healthy face rather than one that had been made up.

At the New York collections, dewy skin met lip gloss, and the line between makeup and skincare blurred. “Effortless but actually meticulously layered” was the hidden strategy, and the foundation was what made or broke the look. Even with the same foundation, results vary entirely depending on skin condition and base products.

In October, HERA is launching two new base products. If you want to create tension by contrasting skin’s moisture against the cool textures of matte wool or leather jackets, these new releases will do precisely that.

5. Baby Pink, Reimagined

Baby pink has traditionally symbolized innocence and girlishness, but this season offered a new interpretation. In New York and Paris, the color landed on skin with a powdery quality, and blush was finished matte, stripping away any shine. With a texture that absorbed rather than reflected light, faces conveyed something beyond sweetness—a composed, quiet strength.

Skin also transitioned from a glow to a silky finish. A foundation with minimal luminosity was applied, followed by a light dusting of powder to reveal the skin texture, and then topped with a matte blush that emphasized the cheek in a restrained way. This felt like a choice for calm depth over excessive glamour.

The styling with fashion was equally enjoyable. Against the monochrome wool coats and structured leather jackets shown in New York and Paris, matte baby pink lips and blush worked like devices that breathed subtle warmth into cold textures. In these looks, baby pink wasn’t simply a color of cuteness—it established itself as a color that brings composure and restraint.

Before I close, there’s one thing that always lifts my spirits when I’m traveling for work abroad.

It’s encountering Korean brands. Cars are immediately visible—I spot Hyundai and Kia. Phones reveal themselves as Samsung in locals’ hands. And when I see our company’s brands prominently displayed, the pride is overwhelming. I even find myself thinking, “This is a great country,” and my fondness for the place grows. Conversely, when I don’t see much presence, I think, “We need to work harder.”

I believe the fact that global customers want to engage with Korean culture is the true power of Korean brands. National strength is directly connected to individuals’ daily lives, freedom, and joy—and that, in turn, fosters pride in working for a Korean company. This is what gives me the strength to face another Monday.