Fashion is political, but so is makeup. At New York Fashion Week, the Spring/Summer 2026 collections leaned heavily on wearability: neutral hues, monochromatic palettes, and pragmatic fabrics. True to New York fashion’s legacy of experimentation and innovation, however, minimalism didn’t mean boring. While the colors and materials themselves stayed classic, designers pushed things forward with […]
8 min.
Fashion is political, but so is makeup. At New York Fashion Week, the Spring/Summer 2026 collections leaned heavily on wearability: neutral hues, monochromatic palettes, and pragmatic fabrics. True to New York fashion’s legacy of experimentation and innovation, however, minimalism didn’t mean boring. While the colors and materials themselves stayed classic, designers pushed things forward with sculptural silhouettes, nods to past sartorial eras, and techno-inspired accessories. Even legacy names strayed from their usual signatures, dabbling in flounce, fringe, and unexpected details. The same sentiment carried through the runways in London, Milan, and Paris. Of course, some brands like Elena Velez, Collina Strada, and Who Decides War stayed true to their bold, disruptive identities. But for the most part, the latest collections doubled down on what feels more approachable and sensible for everyday life—especially resonant in a time of shifting tariff policies and production challenges.
Yet makeup completely juxtaposed that idea. While a handful of shows kept the face fresh to spotlight the intricate garments, beauty overall staged a rebellion against the reigning “clean girl” aesthetic. Increasingly, brands are leaning into playful, maximalist looks—saturated color, shimmer, gothic darkness, and avant-garde nails (think Luar’s feathered talons or Grace Ling’s lynx-shaped claws)—all set against otherwise pared-back collections. If wearability is fashion’s answer to economically turbulent times, makeup is the industry’s counterpunch: a way to rebel through color and artistry. It is far less expensive to do so, after all.
Surprising? Not really. For months, fashion and beauty insiders have been begging for the demise of quiet luxury. Clothing may take longer to shift, tethered as it is to economics and consumer practicality. But beauty has always been quicker to experiment, and this season proves it.
Consider the Spring/Summer 2026 runways as the beauty world’s official plea: make makeup fun again.
Ahead, see the L’OFFICIEL’s roundup of the standout beauty trends fresh off the Spring/Summer 2026 runways.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Blue Dream
While blue eyeshadow is hardly new, it hasn’t exactly been in heavy rotation lately—not even for nighttime looks. After a heyday in the ’90s and early aughts, immortalized by icons like Princess Diana, Kate Moss, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton, the shade faded from mainstream popularity. But luxury brands have been quietly pushing for its revival, and this season it finally stuck: blue shadow (and even lips) was everywhere at Private Policy, Anna Sui, Luar, Jane Wade, and Schiaparelli.
At Private Policy, soft pastels defined the makeup, but blue and green stood out as clear favorites—echoing the collection’s exploration of bohemian freedom, classic Americana, and the futuristic possibilities of AI. At Anna Sui, legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath crafted a range of blue eye looks, from sky to denim to cobalt, shimmering across models’ lids in step with the collection’s whimsical spirit. McGrath also brought the blue dream to Schiaparelli, infusing a wash of sky blue on the lids, adding black eyeliner on the waterline for definition.
Luar leaned moodier: while blue wasn’t the primary makeup theme in all looks, there was a slew of blue eyeshadow, blue lips, or both. The choice echoed the collection’s cobalt-infused designs, from sharp pantsuits to sheer separates and even the sculptural masks. Jane Wade, on the other hand, used blue in a more unexpected way: as a pop of color placed on the cheekbones up to the temples in lieu of blush.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Alien Eyes
Perhaps the most hauntingly intense interpretation of bold beauty this season came from the alien eyes at Rick Owens and Matières Fécales—achieved with pitch-black contact lenses. At Rick Owens, makeup artist Daniel S. Allstrom fused the brand’s signature brutality with the eerie, extraterrestrial gaze, accenting it with sharply angled liner for an even more otherworldly effect. At Matières Fécales, the look served as a striking juxtaposition to the collection’s otherwise tender expressions of love, beauty, and feminine vulnerability.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Statement Lips
While many designers kept pops of color confined to the eyes and cheeks, Chloé and Florentina Leitner made sure not to neglect the lips. At Chloé, makeup artist Yadim Carranza paired natural, dewy skin with a nostalgic lilac baby-pink lip using Saie Beauty products—an airy nod to the brand’s bohemian DNA. For Florentina Leitner, Anna J. Payne opted for something bolder: blue lips—the unofficial makeup color of the season—finished with a hint of metallic shimmer for extra dimension. It was a fitting complement to a collection steeped in Y2K-inspired dreams of rebellion, love, and chaos.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Goth Glam
Perhaps the most obvious yet natural expression of rebellion came in the form of goth glam at Grace Ling, LaPointe, and Elena Velez.
For Grace Ling and Elena Velez, the aesthetic felt right at home. Both brands are rooted in avant-garde details: Velez with her signature grunge and darkness, Ling with her inventive sculptural forms. At Grace Ling, the gothic edge took on a futuristic slant—black, smoky eyes left purposefully imperfect, sleek pushed-back hair, and clawlike nails that echoed a collection rich with metallics, silks, and satins. Elena Velez, meanwhile, leaned into chaos: unblended, rain-smeared eyeshadow; damp, disheveled hair; and vampy black lips that looked as if they’d been kissed off in the night.
For LaPointe, the approach was more straightforward: every model walked the runway with stark black lips set against an otherwise fresh, bare base. Still, for a brand that typically balances practicality with statement through fringe, fur, and latex—rather than the darker theatrics of Grace Ling or Elena Velez—it was a striking and welcome surprise.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Laissez-Faire Hair
Lived-in, natural hair was the reigning mood this season. At Moschino, The Attico, and Missoni, it looked effortlessly undone—like it had just rolled out of bed, yet still retained a touch of polish and smoothness. At Versace and Marco Rambaldi, the emphasis shifted toward a deliberately unkempt texture, adding movement and ease. But Dilara Findikoglu took it to the next level with the most unrestrained, witchy interpretation. It was a perfect complement to a collection centered on female emancipation and the power of breaking free.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Wispy Hair
Wispier hairstyles are on the rise, and the Spring/Summer 2026 runways made a strong case for the look. At Marco Rambaldi and Tory Burch, hairstylists embraced a soft, slightly disheveled side swoop, while at Dries Van Noten, hair took on a drier, more textured finish, paired with matching baby bangs for an effortless, lived-in feel.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Hair Accessories
Accessories aren’t just for the body anymore, and the Spring/Summer 2026 runways declared that. Etro, The Attico, Dilara Findikoglu, Florentina Leitner, and Kiko Kostadinov took the concept to new heights, weaving embellishments directly into the hair and makeup. From classic ribbons to beads and chains, adornment became a full-body statement—an evolution of styling that blurs the line between fashion and beauty.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Colorful Lashes
The most surprising shift in makeup this season? We’re officially putting black and brown mascara on pause in favor of colorful lashes—a statement made loud and clear by Luar, Anna Sui, Jane Wade, Eckhaus Latta, and Collina Strada.
Luar and Anna Sui’s take on maximalism didn’t stop with their blue eyeshadow revival: lashes got the same treatment. True to Luar’s flair for theatrical detail (remember last season’s fur nails?), makeup artist Raoul Alejandre crafted dramatic feathered black-and-blue lashes—swanlike, surreal, and impossible to miss. Anna Sui, meanwhile, took a lighter-handed yet still playful approach with sky-blue mascara, perfectly in sync with the collection’s joyful bohemian spirit.
Meanwhile, Jane Wade and Eckhaus Latta opted for frosty white. At Jane Wade, lashes looked dusted with snowfall, while Eckhaus Latta’s interpretation—executed by runway makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench—felt subtler: Lashify’s singular white lash extensions for an ethereal, almost bare effect.
“We spent a long time perfecting this translucent finish for the lashes, and when you see them on the models, they catch the light in a way that feels delicate and dreamlike,” Ffrench said in a release. “It’s almost as if the lashes disappear, leaving behind just a subtle whisper of shape and shimmer that gives the look an otherworldly quality.”
Then there was Collina Strada, also working with Isamaya Ffrench, where feline eyeshadow was paired with flashes of color on the outside corner of the lashline. It was a clever detail that echoed the brand’s playful nods to climate awareness, animal symbolism, and sustainability.
Spring/Summer 2026 Beauty Trends: Metallics, Glitter, and Shimmers
The Spring/Summer 2026 runways had a clear penchant for metallics, glitter, and shimmers, and that was most prominently seen at Luar, Elena Velez, Zankov, Theophilio, and Ulla Johnson.
At Luar and Elena Velez, metallics appeared mostly on the lips, with bold gold hues taking center stage. Meanwhile, Zankov, Theophilio, and Ulla Johnson focused on shimmery eyes: Zankov with full metallic eyeshadow and topped with glittery details; Theophilio with gold sequins elongating the inner and outer corners of the eyes; and Ulla Johnson opting for a subtler touch with gold eyeliner.
