I’m a Beauty Editor—These Are the 4 Trends Defining 2026

Is 2026 the year we say goodbye to over-layering? We’re already seeing this shape everywhere, from Florence Pugh’s sharp, jaw-length cuts to Zendaya’s recent blunt bobs styled with minimal feathering. If you want your hair to look thicker, excessive layers can actually work against you. “The trend is shifting toward blunt-ish silhouettes: strong at the perimeter, but softened with movement where it matters,” says Jay Small, celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Arey. To get the box bob, keep the back clean and blunt, and the front face-framing.

Nothing elevates a look like a monochrome moment, using the same shade across eyes, cheeks and lips making everything feel pulled together. NYFW Spring/Summer 2026 leaned heavily into soft, everyday tonal makeup at Collina Strada and Kim Shui, and the trend will be even bigger in months to come. 

“The key is switching up the texture, so the face doesn’t go flat,” says celebrity makeup artist Christian Briceno. “I’ll do a matte eye, cream blush and a glossy lip, all in rose or terracotta. You don’t have to think too hard; it just works. It’s fast, chic, and universally flattering.”

Latte makeup is one of the most flattering looks; it's all about using browns and warm neutral shades to create a tasteful story. This warm-neutral approach has been quietly taking over, with stars like Jennifer Lopez, Sofia Richie Grainge and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley consistently opting for bronzed, tonal looks. 

“For harmony and soft cohesion, look for tones that warm the complexion without looking muddy or orange,” says Briceno. This trend is modern and expensive-looking all at once, especially when you balance matte warmth on the eyes with a creamy, plush cheek and a slightly blurred, bronzy lip. To get the look, Briceno suggests pairing Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow with Mineral Fusion Liquid Foundation for a soft-matte finish that anchors the entire look.

“Draped blush is a technique I keep seeing coming back,” says Briceno. “This time, it rewrites the use of color in a modern way. It's so flattering in person and even better on camera; it doesn't just look naturally flushed; it looks sculpted.” Celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Zendaya have leaned into this lifted flush recently, and the technique was a go-to at the PatBo Spring runway show. 

For this lifted technique, Briceno mixes textures. He starts with a cream base for saturation, followed by a soft powder blush to set everything in place without compromising the skin's natural texture. For multi-taskers, he loves Mineral Fusion 3-in-1 Color Sick and Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Creme & Powder Blush Duo.