From Windblown Hair to Watercolor Eyes—Fashion Month Has Established 7 Key Beauty Trends for 2026.

      Fashion month is a fast-paced, yet creatively stimulating and era-defining experience. The four weeks of fashion and beauty excitement kicked off with New York Fashion Week, followed by London, Milan, and Paris in succession. The dedicated team at Who What Wear covered hundreds of shows, explored various designer collections, and bravely engaged amid the hustle and bustle backstage. By the end of the event, we were thoroughly worn out, but, more importantly, we were aware of all the key trends set to emerge in 2026. This year, we seem to be witnessing a blend of both established and emerging trends. Wearable styles, such as windswept hair and winged eyeliner, are returning to the forefront, while new, bold, and editorial aesthetics are also demanding attention — think striking lipstick (quite literally) and enhanced, doll-like lashes. Below, we've highlighted the seven most significant beauty trends from the spring/summer 2026 fashion month.

      The first trend involves moving away from the minimalist, "clean-girl" makeup style that has dominated social media for the past few years and instead embracing bold, attention-grabbing lashes. During Ulla Johnson's NYFW show, models sported gold-dipped lashes made by mixing gold eyeshadow with a mixing medium. At Mossi's PFW presentation, models displayed unbelievably long, doll-like lashes, confirming the return of the baby-doll aesthetic. Similarly, the Harris Reed LFW presentation featured models with feathered, avant-garde falsies that extended beyond their brows. At Collina Strada, bright pink lash clusters adorned the outer corners of the models' eyes. While colorful mascara can easily recreate this trend, colorful or embellished falsies also command attention and highlight the eyes as the centerpiece of your look. Follow the designers' lead and incorporate this whimsical, ethereal aspect into your makeup.

      Watercolor eyeshadow emerged as a prominent trend during NYFW, continuing throughout the remainder of fashion month. Collina Strada showcased models with a vibrant wash of pink eyeshadow across their lids, outer corners, and under-eyes. Ashish presented a bold, messy cobalt blue brushstroke. At Toga's showcase, models sported canary-yellow eyeshadow, and Gabriela Hearst's models featured subtle powder-blue shadow on the inner corners of their eyes. This fleeting makeup element aligns perfectly with the French-girl fashion aesthetic.

      In 2026, those in fashion are seeking more than just basic lip combinations; they are daring to explore exciting new styles. In Chloé’s S/S 26 show, models displayed bright, powdery-pink lipstick. Models at Sportmax wore a bitten berry shade, while those at Roksanda opted for a black-to-red lip topped with a glossy finish. Simone Rocha elevated this trend further by sending models down the runway with statements and phrases painted on their lips, making for a truly attention-grabbing lip look. Take this as a cue to revisit the bolder lip colors in your collection, whether they be deep berry tones, vibrant reds, or eye-catching pinks. Don’t hesitate to experiment either—try a blotted finish for a blurred look, layer a high-shine gloss on top, or create an ombré effect with two shades.

      The focus on skin has evolved over the past few years, with trends like "glazed donut" skin popularized by Hailey Bieber and her Rhode skincare line, "glass skin" that originated from South Korea, and "dewy dumpling" skin crafted by celebrity makeup artist Nam Vo. According to the S/S 26 runways, the current fascination with luminous skin is not waning; instead, it is refining itself. The latest looks suggest a more subdued take on ultra-dewy, highly reflective skin, leaning towards softly radiant complexions. Some models displayed a velvety matte finish, while others had carefully placed, shimmer-free highlighter on the cheekbones, nose, brow bone, and Cupid's bow. The aim is to cultivate a healthy, lit-from-within glow. To achieve this appearance, proper skin prep is crucial—the smoother, softer, and more hydrated your skin is before applying makeup, the better. This includes using glow-enhancing masks, essences, and primers. A touch of meticulously placed highlighter will also add to the effect.

      As makeup becomes more vibrant and adventurous, hairstyles appear to be embracing a more relaxed aesthetic. Throughout fashion month, designers showcased their latest collections with models sporting natural, windswept hair. Brands such as Valentino, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Erdem, and Dior highlighted the models' natural texture, creating an effect reminiscent of walking through a city on a breezy day. Imagine slightly disheveled, tousled hair that looks as if it just emerged from under a scarf or hat. We appreciate that high-fashion is embracing this easy, effortless trend, so set down your heat tools as 2026 is all about natural,