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You’ve probably noticed—on your socials, at your favorite retailers, or even just walking down the street—that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to predict what will happen next week, let alone next year. According to Pinterest’s Predict Report for 2026, trends evolve 4.4 times faster than they did seven years ago, and the constant turnover has a lot of us feeling exhausted after constantly being told what is “cool.” “People are fighting trend fatigue by curating, not copying… embracing looks that feel true to who they are or they aspire to be,” the report states.
The makeup artists, trend forecasters, and retail buyers we spoke with echo similar sentiments, while the rainbow-colored eye shadow and pastel lips on the spring 2026 runways seem to indicate a desire for more color, texture, individuality, and fun in makeup.
Kaitlin Rinehart, Ulta’s vice president of merchandising, says the retailer expects to “see more experimental looks and a shift from neutral products to those that deliver more color payoff and personal expression.” Makeup artist Lauren Andersen sees a growing appreciation for artistry and makeup among her clients that is expressive and emotional, not corrective. And makeup artist Alex Levy feels he’s seeing less of a homogenous look online. “There’s definitely a push towards individuality,” he says, “and within that we’re finding pockets of folks who gravitate towards similar, perhaps more niche, aesthetic interests.”
The latter half of 2025 saw goth and grunge makeup return to the mainstream. In 2026, gaming's presence in the beauty industry will grow, with new brands and launches pushing texture and pigment into otherworldly, multidimensional realms. K-beauty will continue to have an impact on social media and beauty shelves, especially for lip stains and complexion products.
South Korea might be inspiring brands to look to the future, but nostalgia is the driving influence for millennials and Gen Z’ers. Rinehart predicts customers will use artistry brands to “bring back bold and colorful looks from the 2000s and 2010s,” while makeup artist Alexandra French thinks we’re about to see “the 10-year beauty cycle go into effect—a lot of 2016-style full glam but done much better.” Going even further back, there’s a growing fascination with the pastel lips and draped blush of the 1980s for members of generations that missed the era of excess.
Multiple makeup artists use the word “intentional” when speaking about makeup in 2026. “There’s a strong desire for authenticity; people still want to look polished, but not ‘done,’” Andersen explains. As you scroll your feeds, you’ll see that you can play up your lashes with faux clusters, adding a slash of bright blue shadow across lids, or by picking a new foundation that toes the line between makeup and skin care. If we can predict anything about makeup in 2026, it’s that it’s time to make it all about you.
ROGYBV Lids Are Making Their Comeback
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A rainbow of eye shadow shades came down the spring runways at shows like Tom Ford, Schiaparelli, Courreges, and Toga, and this has us wanting to bring a bit of color back to our lids in 2026. “I think we are seeing the pendulum swing in the opposite direction from the clean girl [aesthetic],” says French. “The tired, messy girl and lo-fi aesthetic is all the rage right now, but I’m already seeing trends leaning into sculpted skin with sharp liner and colorful eye shadow.”
For IRL inspiration, Andersen’s Instagram is full of colorful shadow looks that feel super translatable for real life (head to her Reels, where she creates colorful looks on herself). She has two guiding rules for rocking rainbow-bright eye makeup: shapes (choose one that’s tried and true for you, whether that’s a veil of pigment, a sharp cat eye, or a block of color on the lids) and balance (pare back the rest of your makeup).
On the more glamorous end of the spectrum, French recommends checking out Sophia Sinot on Instagram, Zara Larsson’s makeup artist, who incorporates glitter and rhinestones into her colorful shadow looks. “Based on the likes and re-creations of the looks, I think we are all hungry for colorful makeup to have a comeback,” French says.
When it comes to products, Andersen starts with creamy, blendable formulas as a base, followed by a powder on top. "Danessa Myricks Colorfix or MAC Pro Paint Sticks layered thinly under powder shadow are perfect because they set without dulling the color on top,” she says. For powders, she loves artistry-driven brands with boldly pigmented formulas, including Pat McGrath Labs, Hung Vanngo, and Jo Baker’s Bakeup Beauty.
Sci-Fi Shimmer Will Be a Thing
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There are elements of escapism in this trend, characterized by futuristic, holographic makeup looks that take cues from gaming and science fiction and tap into the makeup industry’s current obsession with texture. “We’re seeing much more interest in how to manipulate color in a way that puts beauty into the third dimension,” says Levy. “I also think it's interesting for people to dream about beauty and social standards in the future and what that would look like, because the current climate is… yeah…”
There are no rules when it comes to this type of makeup (which, by the way, also makes an appearance on Pinterest’s top beauty predictions for 2026), but there are emerging brands that are entirely dedicated to the sci-fi-inspired aesthetic. Godmode Beauty, for instance, explores the intersection of makeup and gaming, promising customers that its products will unlock “new worlds, characters, and modes of expression” with shimmer-shadow quads and holographic highlighter.
Hyrular aims to infuse luxury makeup with an element of the surreal. Also inspired by gaming and the avant-garde, its first launch is the Nebubalm, which comes in two futuristic, multichromatic hues: Halcyon, a mauve tone with turquoise shimmer, and Nymphaea, a magenta flecked with pink and lilac glitter.
Heritage brands also seem to be getting the hint that there’s a demand for the surreal and shade-shifting: In 2025, Stila introduced its Chromatic Liners; Refy released the Chrome Collection, with a silvery highlighter and glitter-flecked lip gloss; MAC expanded its Dazzle franchise across eyes and lips; and Violette_FR debuted its multichrome Lune Liners.
We’re Going Back to the '80s
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With the growing appetite for louder looks in 2026, makeup from the 1980s seems to be coming back into the zeitgeist. And one doesn’t have to look far to see the signs: With the release of the final season of Stranger Things and spring runways full of nods to the era of shoulder pads and Aqua Net, there’s plenty of inspiration to pull from.
Bright blush was all the rage in the ’80s, and it was draped along the temples and cheekbones at spring 2026 shows, like Leonard Paris and Apujan and Aadnevik in London. Makeup artist Pat McGrath made a striking case for blue eye makeup—another ’80s staple—first at Anna Sui, where she paired shimmering blue shadows on lids with blue mascara on lashes; and then at Schiaparelli, where she dipped into her Gilded Nirvana Mega Palette to create sky blue smoky eyes straight out of a Culture Club music video.
If your makeup bag needs a colorful update, there will be no shortage of options in the new year. Brands and retailers have been anticipating the shift, with Ulta adding viral and artist-focused brands like Half Magic and Made by Mitchell to its shelves to help people create more experimental looks, says Rinehart. “We expect a shift from more neutral products to those that deliver more color payoff and personal expression,” she adds.
Some brands are pulling shade ideas directly from superstars of the ’80s: Highr Collective’s latest lipstick is inspired by one of the decade’s music and beauty icons, Debbie Harry, a response to customer requests for more colorful options from the existing range. The medium, poppy-pink color, called Dollface, is similar to what Harry wore as a symbol of rebellion at the time. “Her signature pink makeup look was like a caricature of traditional ‘pretty’ norms,” says Molly Hart, Highr Collective founder. “She used makeup in a rebellious, exaggerated way, and showed women that they could use color to have fun rather than conform.”
At-Home Lashes Level Up
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Next year, prepare to up your lash game, whether that means breaking out a tube of colored mascara or finally learning to apply false lashes on your own. The spring 2026 runways were full of exaggerated lash looks, many of which may be a bit too exaggerated for the office or a first date; but, according to Spate Data, interest in how to enhance your lashes at home is at an all-time high. Searches for “cluster lashes” and “magnetic lashes” across both Google and TikTok are up over 50% since this time last year. Meanwhile, the brand Eylure has been generating tons of buzz on TikTok for its magnetic lashes as a way to achieve the effect of lash extensions at home.
“People are moving back to strip and cluster lashes for at-home convenience, cost savings, and something that really fits their lifestyle,” says Tisha Thompson, makeup artist and LYS founder, of the growing trend. Lash clusters are especially nice because they’re less hassle than strips.
“Right now I love enhanced corner lashes—anything that will make the eyes appear lifted and dramatic but still have that natural look to it,” says makeup artist Erika La’Pearl, who recommends the i-Envy Cluster Palette. Andersen is a fan of individual Ardell lashes and Lashify clusters, while Levy likes Kiss lashes for their ease and price point. We’re also fans of LYS’s Uplifted Pre-Glued Lash Clusters, which are some of the easiest fake lashes we’ve ever used.
Enhancing your lashes, whether that’s with a few small clusters or a colorful mascara, “doesn’t require a ton of extra products to get the look done, like brushes or sponges,” says Levy, who gives a shout-out to Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky-High Mascara for having a great shade range, if you prefer to go that route. “It’s an easy and effective way to transform your look in a subtle, less high-stakes way.”
Lip Stains Will Continue to Reign Supreme
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Lip stains will remain the lip product of choice in 2026, according to just about everyone we spoke to. “They have become a staple ‘lazy' beauty hack for consumers who want long-lasting performance and convenience,” says Megan Bang, beauty strategist at WGSN, a trend-forecasting agency in London.
In the new year, Bang predicts, formulas will continue to improve in terms of comfort and good-for-your-lips ingredients, and take inspiration from the innovative textures and nuanced tones seen in K-beauty brands. “Blurry-matte textures will dominate the category, with ‘cloud lips’ that emphasize comfort and a soft, blurry finish leading lip conversations,” Bang adds.
At Ulta Beauty, customers are already loving “softer, more blurred-out looks that they can achieve with products like Fwee Lip and Cheek Blurry Pudding,” says Rinehart. Regarding K-beauty’s influence on the category, she explains, “we are seeing a number of established brands like NYX Professional Makeup innovate with new product launches that are inspired by some of the global trends and products we are seeing in the beauty category overseas.”
“A lip stain is perfect for the blurred-lip trend, because the color looks lived-in and personal,” says Andersen, who loves Dior Addict Lip Tint and Victoria Beckham Bitten Lip Tint for getting that just-bitten effect. One of the soft-focus lip liners from brands like Merit and Refy will also work well for this look, but we foresee a lot of newness in the lip-blur category next year.
Says Erin Lindsay, ColourPop’s director of product development, “I can’t wait to share what ColourPop has been working on for 2026 to reignite our community’s love for our lip products while bringing them something trendy and innovative…. Stay tuned!”
Pastel Lipstick Will Be Your Dopamine Kick
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Makeup artists were feeling sweet—and a little quirky—backstage at the spring 2026 shows. Runway after runway featured statement-making pastel lips, from Pepto pink at Chloé and Connor Ives to a full range of Sweethearts candy-inspired hues at August Barron.
These looks, applied boldly and unapologetically, were shocking in their overt sweetness. Though that might seem out of left field, it does play into a growing desire for all things sugary and delightful, a trend that Spate Data has been tracking over the past few months. “Consumers are seeking more dopamine in their daily lives, and infusing everyday moments with whimsy has become one way to achieve it,” the company wrote in its 2025 Culture Report. “From fashion and hairstyles to makeup… consumers are increasingly looking for—and sharing—playful ways to bring more whimsy into their lives, across Google Search and TikTok.”
This trend is less about finding a shade that perfectly complements your skin tone and more about choosing one that brings a little joy to your life. At August Barron, makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver dipped into the matte Haus Labs Hy-Power Pigment Paints, mixing primary shades with white to pale them out. Makeup artist Lucy Bridge also custom-mixed hues at Connor Ives, blending MAC Painsticks and Chromalines, although the brand does have plenty of pastel options in its Macximal Sleek Satin and Silky Matte Lipstick lines.
Here’s hoping NYX might take notice and bring back its Macaron Lippies from 2014. For now, though, Kylie Cosmetics King Kylie A Decade Matte Lip Kit has the return of a pastel beige-pink favored by the reality star from around that same time.
Base Products Will Do the Most
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Skin will remain the priority in 2026, says Andersen: “People want luminosity that looks like it’s coming from within rather than from a highlighter on top,” she explains. “And I’m seeing more requests for sheer textures, lightweight bases, and products that move with the skin instead of masking it.” This isn’t any different from what people wanted throughout 2025.
What is different is that brands are racing to develop base products that promise to be more moisturizing and offer greater skin-health benefits. “We’ll continue seeing brands play in the hybrid space between skin care and makeup,” says Thompson, “as consumer demand will turn these formulas into more of an expectation than a nicety.”
But can skin-care ingredients in makeup really make a difference for your complexion? “If you use the same makeup every day, you might benefit from even a small amount of active ingredients, such as SPF or minerals to help maintain a good moisture barrier,” says Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist and adjunct professor of cosmetic science at the University of Cincinnati, adds that there are limitations on which additives can be used effectively in makeup. In addition to what Marmur mentions, you'll likely see hyaluronic acid (a moisture retainer), niacinamide (for brightening), and salicylic acid (for treating acne) on product labels, as they're easy to combine with pigments. Still, you shouldn’t expect dramatic results from skin-care-infused makeup alone, as the concentrations tend to not be very high.
The popularity of Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation Stick, LYS’s Bright Start Concealer, TIRTIR's Mask Fit Red Cushion, and Best of Beauty-winning Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation are all examples of foundations that feature skin-care ingredients. We’ll see more serum-like foundations in 2026, starting with The Outside In Silk Serum Foundation, the first product from a new brand by Hourglass’s Carissa James.
“These products are taking off because people want beauty that fits real life,” says Yolonda Frederick, a makeup artist and global artist in residence for Bobbi Brown. “Formulas that blend fast, last long, and feel effortless are winning because they make makeup easier, not heavier. It’s about smart beauty, not more makeup.”
Meet the expertsLargeChevron
- Lauren Andersen is a makeup artist who splits her time between New York, Austin, and Los Angeles.
- Megan Bang is a beauty strategist at WGSN, a trend-forecasting company in London.
- Kelly Dobos is a cosmetic chemist and adjunct professor of cosmetic science at the University of Cincinnati.
- Yolonda Frederick is a makeup artist and global artist in residence for Bobbi Brown.
- Alexandra French is an Emmy Award-winning makeup artist in Los Angeles.
- Molly Hart is the founder of Highr Collective.
- Erika La’Pearl is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and iEnvy spokesperson.
- Alex Levy is a New York City-based makeup artist.
- Erin Lindsay is ColourPop’s director of product development.
- Ellen Marmur, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
- Kaitlin Rinehart is the vice president of merchandising at Ulta Beauty.
- Tisha Thompson is the founder and CEO of LYS Beauty.
