2026 Beauty Predictions
Beauty has always been cyclical, but rarely has a shift felt as tectonic as the one we're standing on now. A decade ago, Hollywood was deep in the reign of King Kylie, an era that defined an entire generation's aesthetic vocabulary: over lined matte lips, carved eyeliner, and an almost spiritual reliance on Laura Mercier setting powder.
Fast-forward to the mid-2020's, and the pendulum has swung sharply. The rise of the 'Clean Girl' led by Hailey Bieber and her glazed-skin empire ushered in a new visual language: luminous and effortless in its own (highly curated) way.
But as we are stepping into 2026, the beauty world is done with both extremes. The next wave isn't matte maximalism or dewy minimalism - it's something born from friction between the two.
Welcome to beauty's Brat Era.
The Brat Phenomenon: Imperfection as Aesthetic Power
Charli XCX's Brat album may have dropped in 2024, but its impact is still being felt and has yet to fade. After a decade ruled by hyper-curated perfection, Brat hit the internet like a cultural earthquake. It wasn't just the music or the simple virality of it all that had people enthralled – it was the attitude.
Charli's smudged eyeliner, bare skin, and the "I woke up like this" energy felt like a permission slip to be imperfect. And in a social landscape where even authenticity is often polished or pre-meditated, Brat reminded us of something we forgot: imperfection is bad a**.
Alex Consani, Pamela Anderson, Addison Rae: Icons of the Unfiltered
Parallel to Charli, another kind of influence was shaking the fashion world at the same time. Alex Consani, Model of the Year who is capable of selling anything on the runway, refuses to sell the myth of curated perfection. Through her playful online persona and her boundary pushing alien-chic bleached brows; she has delved into something that reminds us all what it means to be unbothered and self assured.
Pairing this with Pamela Anderson and Addison Rae attending high profile events completely makeup-free, it feels like a revolution is on its way. We are craving what these women represent: authentic, unfiltered freedom.
So, What does 2026 Beauty Look Like?
1. Heavy Eyes, Bare Skin: The New 'I Woke Up Like This'
Beauty in 2026 is diving straight into the true party girl's playbook. Lived-in black eyeliner that merges in with the leftover glitter, resting against fresh, natural skin. It's giving grunge, it's giving pop star, it’s giving "I don’t care and I know it." Rather than faking perfection with layers of foundation, it is intentionally relatable and effortless. You’ve been out, seen some things… and still somehow made it to work in the morning. As Charli says: "You're just living that life."
2. Tired, Dreamy Eyes: The 'Tim Burton Effect'
Just as the last few years we became fixated on Emma Chamberlain and Timothée Chalamet’s Tim Burton-esque features, 2026 will take that fascination and turn it up a notch. This year beauty is embracing a new kind of romantic exhaustion. Out with concealer and mascara, we will start seeing looks that feel cinematic and bare. With adaptations like Wuthering Heights projecting to be box office classics and Frankenstein already breaking charts; it is clear that yearning and melodramatic features are officially in.
The eyes will lean into a moody, storybook melancholy while the skin will tell a different tale. Carrying the last glimmer of the Clean Girl era the face will be bright, fresh, and naturally dewy.
3. Blush, Blush, and more Blush
Blush proved to be one of 2025's defining statements. With Addison Rae using it to embellish breakouts to Sabrina Carpenter captivating fans with her signature flush. In 2026, expect the trend to return but, bolder and brighter than ever before. This year will be about over-blushed cheeks, placed high on the face for a lifted, doll-like effect. Shades will range from soft strawberry pinks to warm, innocent flushes. It's playful and a simple reminder that there is never too much of a good thing.
4. Colored, Glittered Eyes
Inspired by 2025’s obsession with Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun album and aesthetic, 2026 is set to unleash a color story reminiscent of the early Y2K era. Eyeshadows pulled from the sun and sea, it will be a surge of neon sunset hues that will be sure to catch the eye. These cinematic colors though will not lean nostalgic, but rather will take on a futuristic twist pushing beauty outside the box and into a space of whimsy.
And the trend wont stop at shadow. Echoing the dreamy, maximalist energy of Euphoria, face and hair jewelry are going to be seen making a not so subtle comeback.
What Do You Think?
The next era of beauty is meant to feel unapologetically you. Therefore, the question is: how will you define it?
