Clean girl make-up move over: these are the hottest beauty trends for 2026
I must confess: if there is anyone who enjoys the clean girl movement, it is me. I don't like a full-coverage foundation or actually... I never wear foundation. I really play too little with eyeshadow, and if I have time, I do contour. Yes, I can relate to this makeup style, but just like most trends in beauty land, one makes way for the other. Next year, we will ditch light eyeshadow and a minimalist look, because the latest trends? They are anything but clean.
1. Striking color placements
View this post on Instagram
You probably saw these eyeshadow looks pass by with Zara Larsson. We didn't know Zara at all as this ‘colored pop princess’, but after her rebrand of the century, we see her in all the colors of the rainbow. And not in a subtle glitter, but her whole face is almost covered in a bright color. This goes from her inner corner to her ear. It is the ideal placement to go color blocking or to use different colors in the same family. For example, by using yellow in the inner corner and ending with orange. What colors are we going to see? Everything. Think cobalt, chartreuse, cherry, red, and all kinds of neon pastels. I'm curious which celebs we will see with this makeup.
2. Messy grunge
@maddytooth_ Matching my makeup to my top from Maria Popescu 🖤🪶 who wants a tutorial? #fyp #avantgarde #avantgardemakeup #makeupinspo #editorialmakeup
Those rock-chic eyes have been increasingly seen since the colder days, but this is really not going to stop after December 31. That messy, smudged look is totally in. This is completely the opposite of a clean-girl face. The mascara doesn't have to be perfect, you have a super big smokey eye that can also go under your eye. That also saves some concealer you have to use, because those eye bags can be seen. Of course, you can tackle this trend big or just small: go for a softer smokey look or rather go all out for the glitters.
3. Statement lips
That barely-there lip liner and light gloss can go straight into the trash, because in 2026 your lips are there to make statements. For example, Korean blurred lips, because just like in skincare, k-beauty is also conquering the western world. Not a fan of those gradient lips? Then you go for another statement. Bright red, eggplant, matte, light pink with lots of gloss, or cool gray as we saw at the spring/summer 26 show of LAPOINTE.
4. Blush as the structure of your face
@rachelocool I KEEP TELLING YALL #roundface #blushcontour
The year is not over yet and I have already seen several tutorials on how to use blush as contour. Instead of applying blush on the apple of your cheek or higher, we are going to use blush multifunctionally in 2026. This sculpts your face as if you just came out of the freezing cold. And yes: even if you don't have a round face, blush can look very natural as contour. Use a slightly redder or brown blush and see how harmonious your base looks now.
5. Thick almost 60s eyeliner
Whether you're talking about Dolce & Gabbana or another brand: almost everyone sent their models down the runway with thick eyeliner. The old classic is back. We are no longer going to draw a simple line with such brown eyeshadow, but really go for the hard black liner. The bigger, the better. And now that those 60s bottom lashes are also starting to become trendy, this is the moment for the revival of the 60s makeup look.
6. Monochromatic makeup
@nazliayunus kalis music forever bc nothing else is hitting like this #purplemakeup #purpleeyeshadow #glittermakeup #glittereyeshadow #shimmereyeshadow
Just like many trends on this list, we are going to play with eyeshadow again. It feels like we are getting closer to 2016 makeup, doesn't it? Okay, anyway – in 2026 we will see a style that is working overtime with makeup artists and in the fashion world: the monochromatic look. So we are going for the same kind of shade for everything. For your eyeshadow, your lips, your blush, the contour. Everything gets a pink tone, or a brown or blue. Whatever you want: it can be. As long as it's the same color.
7. A pop of white or blue
@lanabirthme it’s so cvnt 🩵🤍 #makeup #viral #trending #viral #eyeshadow #sabrinacarpenter #eyes #viral #mua #artist
What you often see is the intensely white or light blue eyeshadow looks. The late 90s and 2000s called: they want their trend back. Because yes, this is yet another recurring phenomenon: eyeshadow with ‘a pop of’ white or light blue eyeshadow. These are largely cool tones, which gives a bit of that icy feeling. This also fits perfectly with that 60s vibe, right? Although I find it ‘exciting’ to play with so much color, I still think this trend is really very cool.
View this post on Instagram
Well, phew. These are a lot of trends to try out. I think I really need to slowly get over my eyeshadow fear, because these looks are really cool. The skin remains quite even and skin-like, so in that regard, I can comfortably stay in my comfort zone. So you really don't need to buy all sorts of new things. A few eyeshadows and you're all set. Trust me.
Image: Instagram | sophiasinot
