SS26 beauty trends: The top makeup, hair, and nail looks you’ll see everywhere
Spring/Summer 2026 beauty trends highlight makeup looks, runway hairstyles, and standout nail art from global fashion weeks
The Spring/Summer 2026 beauty trends have arrived, with international shows leading the way for the next wave of makeup and hair innovations. From New York and London to Milan and Paris Fashion Week, the SS26 catwalks have unveiled the runway beauty looks that will shape editorials, street style and viral searches this season. Whether you’re hunting for the next must-try makeup idea or tracking trend forecasts for beauty editors and enthusiasts, this fashion month has made one thing clear: 2026 will strike a balance between subtle refinement and bold reinvention.
From No-Makeup to Gen Z Maximalism
In recent seasons, there has been a resurgence of minimalism and the “no-makeup” look—the quiet-luxury aesthetic that has dominated social media feeds and wardrobes with its clean, effortless glow.
Yet Gen Z beauty trends are rewriting the rules with vibrant colour, diverse texture and fearless experimentation, from emo and gothic references to full-on Barbie-inspired maximalism. Colour and stylistic diversity have become deliberate strategies for standing out, turning niche statements into mainstream inspiration.
What the Fashion Weeks Reveal About SS26 Beauty Trends
But what do the Spring/Summer 2026 runways actually reveal about future makeup and hairstyle trends? Are we witnessing a lasting return of bold looks—vivid eyes, coloured mascaras and embellished lips—or a deeper embrace of super-clean skin and pared-back finishes?
Below are the standout details from SS26: whether you favour fresh, natural complexions or dramatic, statement eye makeup, these must-try looks are redefining what beauty means in 2026. It remains to be seen whether they’ll evolve into full-fledged trends or remain iconic runway moments.
SS26 Hair Trends: Sculptural, Sleek and Story-Driven Runway Hairstyles
A skilled fashion designer knows that makeup and hair are never merely accessories; they are an essential extension of the creative vision. The beauty direction of a show can completely transform a collection—making it darker and more mysterious, floral and romantic, or bold and vividly colourful.
The Spring/Summer 2026 hair trends prove just that: sculptural updos, wet-look finishes and soft, undone textures worked as visual storytelling devices that amplify the mood of each designer’s world. Hairstyles, sometimes deliberately exaggerated, didn’t just complement the garments—they completed the narrative, creating the high-impact drama that defines an unforgettable runway moment.
The Statement Eye Makeup Looks to Try Now
This season, eyes took centre stage. Across the Spring/Summer 2026 runways, they became canvases of expression, enhanced with both neutral, refined makeup and unexpected, eccentric touches.
From barely-there elegance to experimental pigments and shimmering metallics, the statement eye makeup looks demonstrated the versatility of beauty in shaping attitude, emotion and individuality. Whether minimalist or maximalist, the SS26 eye trend confirmed one truth: beauty is a form of storytelling, and every gaze tells its own tale.
Lip and Nail Trends Steal the Show: SS26 Runway Beauty Details
But the Spring/Summer 2026 season wasn’t just about eye makeup and hair; it also showcased a vibrant evolution in lip artistry and nail design, expanding the conversation around beauty. Throughout the SS26 runways, designers played with the impact of small yet striking details. Statement lips, glossy finishes, and intricate nail art became unexpected focal points.
Simone Rocha’s Artistic Lips: A Creative Highlight of London Fashion Week SS26
One of the most surprising presentations at London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 was by Simone Rocha. At first glance, the makeup appeared natural and minimal, but the subtle details made all the difference. The lips of some models became tiny canvases for decoration: some wore gloss adorned with phrases like “sweet dream” or delicate floral motifs, while others sported shiny black lips, echoing the crystal-embellished garments in Rocha’s collection.
Nothing was left to chance, including skincare provided by @drbarbarasturm, which gave the models a radiant and luminous complexion. The show unfolded in three acts, transitioning from floral-inspired lips that resembled tiny bouquets to decals and unexpected visual effects, which resulted in a truly unique and refined approach to beauty.
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At Simone Rocha SS26, lips bloomed like whispered bouquets—Byredo makeup turned minimalism into poetry, detail by luminous detail
The Return of Coloured Mascara: SS26’s Bold Eye Look Comeback
Remember the era of coloured mascaras—blue, fuchsia, green? In the 2000s, they were a must-have for anyone looking to stand out. On the Milan Fashion Week SS26 runways, this trend appears to be making a comeback, perhaps ready to brighten the summer ahead. At Vivetta, lashes were vividly coloured, even on the lower lashes, creating a magnetic, almost fairy-tale-like gaze.
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Coloured lashes are back—at Vivetta SS26, turquoise mascara turned every blink into a fairy-tale flashback to the 2000s
Ashish Transforms Beauty into Performance: The Power of Theatrical Makeup
One of the most striking shows of London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 was by Ashish. These shows are true performances, featuring dance, music, sparkling garments, and equally theatrical makeup.
On the latest runway, we saw deliberately smudged eyeliner, long and delicate lashes, and vivid, colourful eyeshadows. Everything reflected the concept of the collection: responding to an uncertain historical moment with freedom and joy. Models danced intentionally, as if it were their last time on the runway, turning the show into a celebration of life.
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At Ashish SS26, glitter met grit—joyful defiance danced down the runway in faux fur, sequins, and unapologetic colour.
Poetic Beauty: Anna Sui’s Retro Revival at New York Fashion Week SS26
Anna Sui’s Desert Blooms collection, presented at New York Fashion Week SS26, combined femininity with a slightly dark mood. The collection drew poetic inspiration from the ‘60s and ‘70s, blending boho with rock ‘n’ roll vibes.
The palette ranged from pinks and reds to earthy tones, culminating in a deep, almost fairy-tale blue—particularly on the eyes. The eyeshadows were softly blended, maintaining the blue tone even as the garments changed colours, creating a magical effect reminiscent of childhood experiments with one mother’s makeup—playful and nostalgic yet sophisticated and grown-up.
Sui also drew from the ‘80s, applying intense eyeshadows in geometric blocks—a far cry from the minimalist aesthetic of recent years. The final effect merged retro charm with creative freedom, perfectly reflecting the poetic, whimsical spirit of the collection.
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Anna Sui’s SS26 “Desert Blooms” is where boho meets fairy tale—vintage hues, dreamy silhouettes, and eyeshadow like poetry
The Most Striking Nail Art Trends of SS26
Beauty isn’t just about makeup; nails deserve attention, too. While numerous runways highlighted short, elegant, neutral manicures, others took a bolder approach by adding pendants and embroidered details.
A highlight of New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 was The Blonds, led by David and Phillipe Blond, known for their theatrical and glamorous style that is adored by celebrities worldwide. They presented spectacular nail art, featuring long nails decorated with eccentric designs, from fluorescent shades to animal prints. The manicures perfectly matched the brand’s extravagant looks and reaffirmed the enduring appeal of animal prints—timeless motifs that continue to make a statement, even on nails.
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At The Blonds SS26, nails roared with animal print and gem drama—proving beauty is bold, sculptural, and runway-ready
The No-Makeup Look Still Reigns: Effortless Beauty at Paris Fashion Week SS26
Paris Fashion Week offered an image of refinement and unmatched chicness. On the SS26 runways, models appeared almost entirely natural, with brows barely defined and complexions maintaining a clean, fresh effect, free from any noticeable makeup. The aim seemed to be to highlight authenticity—as if the models had just woken up and stepped straight onto the catwalk in breathtaking creations.
This super-clean, almost ethereal aesthetic was evident in the collections of Dries Van Noten by Julian Klausner (who recently succeeded the founder himself), Dior by Jonathan Anderson (in his first womenswear ready-to-wear collection for the LVMH maison), Balmain by Olivier Rousteing, and many other presentations during this highly anticipated Paris Fashion Week.
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At Dries Van Noten SS26, purity reigned—bare faces, bold shapes, and a quiet confidence that defined Paris Fashion Week’s new minimalism
Beauty in 2026: Embracing Authenticity and Individual Expression
In the coming months, we may truly witness a shift in beauty trends—towards the triumph of essence and originality, rather than conformity to artificial stereotypes. The future of beauty in 2026 seems to be about embracing individuality: an aesthetic that values expression, authenticity, and self-confidence over perfection.