Wearable maximalism, elevated essentials and new-age skin care for ‘Ozempic face’ are some of the beauty trends the Cosmetics Business editorial team is forecasting will be big in 2026.
Spicules – a derivative of marine sponges hailed for their microneedling-like effects – are predicted to rise to the top of beauty brand’s ingredient lists; while ‘metabolic beauty’ – a deeper, more personalised merging of technology and wellness – will also come to the fore.
The dawn of these trends signals a bolder, more considered consumer who wants beauty offerings that are tailored to their specific needs, and which include the best ingredients and technology to do the job.
These are the beauty trends to keep an eye on next year…
Trend one: wearable maximalism
Wearable maximalism will shake-up make-up in 2026 (Image credit: Stila Cosmetics)
Amanda May, Editor, CosmeticsBusiness.com and Pure Beauty
Finally, the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic is on the way out, which means make-up is going to get brighter, bolder and more experimental again – hallelujah.
It is not just consumer sentiment showing that more playful make-up is coming back to the fore either, as analyst data backs up this larger cosmetic shift too.
Social media giant Pinterest has forecasted that the ‘Glitchy Glam’ aesthetic – “a cultural break from the symmetry-and-flawlessness era” – will be big next year, with searches for ‘eccentric make-up’ and ‘weird make-up looks’ both up on the platform.
This means finger-blended edges, deliberate irregularity, two-tone lips and asymmetrical cuts – and I am secretly hoping for the graphic eyeliner to make a return too.
Colour will also be key in this aesthetic, with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered answer engine Perplexity reporting that searches for ‘blue eyeshadow aesthetic’ are up 65%.
This year’s fashion catwalks also signalled that messy punk-grunge-inspired make-up is set to return, encouraging us to all start smudging our pigments again for that slept-in look.
Big-time MUA Dominic Skinner also shared his thoughts on this upcoming change at
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