As Fashion Month concluded in Paris, attention turned not only to the clothes set to shape next season’s trends, but also to the beauty looks that accompanied them.
From nostalgic Nineties-inspired make-up to glossy glass hair, the autumn/winter 2026 runways across New York, London, Milan and Paris offered a glimpse at the beauty trends set to dominate the months ahead.
Here are the five standout beauty trends you should invest in now.
1. Nineties eyes and lips
From pastel eyeshadows to grunge eyeliner – when it came to eye make-up the runways looked to the Nineties for inspiration.
At the London show for Conner Ives, MAC’s director of make-up artistry Dominic Skinner described the look as inspired by a “vintage femme fatale”.
Dusty grey-blue and pink shadows on the lids were accented by pencil-thin brows and dusty pink matte lips, evoking classic Nineties beauty.
Meanwhile, Gucci looked more to the grunge aesthetic of the decade, showcasing an intense smoky eye and nude-lined lips.
It was reminiscent of the supermodel-era of beauty, so much so that the runway featured Nineties supermodel Kate Moss, cementing a nod to the decade.
Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner Longwear Waterproof Eyeliner, £33
Dior Diorshow Mono Couleur Eyeshadow, £33
MAC MACximal Silky Matte Viva Glam Lipstick, £25
2. Smooth and shiny straight hair
The prevailing hair trend this season was undoubtedly sleek, straight hair – often styled to appear almost glass-like in its shine.
At Saint Laurent, models wore hair parted to the side and slicked into low buns, paired with smoky eyes and sculpted cheekbones reminiscent of Nineties minimalism.
London-based designer Chet Lo, meanwhile, showcased pin-straight glass hair at London Fashion Week.
Lead stylist Anna Cofone said the look felt like a natural shift after several seasons dominated by volume and texture.
“I think we’ll see [straight hair] quite a lot this coming season as we’ve had a lot of big hair and a lot of movement and texture, so I love the idea of glass straight coming back in,” she said.
At Victoria Beckham, hair was similarly sleek, styled into neat side parts and loosely tied into low ponytails.
Beckham explained backstage that “We wanted the hair to feel effortless, feminine and slightly undone – reflecting the collection’s balance of strength and softness.”
To create smooth and shiny hair, lead hair stylist Anthony Turner said leave-in anti-frizz creams are the key product, as they nourish hair as well as making it appear smooth and straight.
Authentic Beauty Concept Glow Spray Serum, £35, North Laine Hair Co
Schwarzkopf Fibre Clinix Fibre Sealer, £26.95, Eds Hair
3. Peach and coral blush
Heavy blush became a big trend in 2024, thanks in part to the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Hailey Bieber popularising flushed cheeks.
While mauve and pink tones dominated in recent years, this season saw a shift toward peach, apricot and coral hues with warmer, more orange undertones.
At Simone Rocha, make-up artist Thomas de Kluyver created an undone, almost ruddy flushed effect using lipstick instead of traditional blush.
“The skin is a little bit rawer than it normally is […] we’ve actually taken the Stromboli lipstick from Byredo and dragged it down to the cheeks,” he told Vogue backstage.
At Erdem, make-up artist Fara Homidi opted for a softer interpretation, applying a light cranberry flush inspired by the “pink satins and red ribbons” in the collection.
Blush was also a focal point at Annie’s Ibiza, where make-up artist Becky Moore blended two Nars blush shades to create a deep berry-toned glow while keeping the rest of the complexion minimal.
Nars Powder Blush in Matte Papaya Coral, £35.50
4. The classic red lip
While many designers balanced bold smoky eyes with softly lined nude lips, others leaned into the classic red lip.
At Saint Laurent, smoky and nude eyes were paired with a glossy, deep-red lip created by make-up artist Pat McGrath.
The dramatic look referenced the glamorous beauty seen in Helmut Newton’s iconic Saint Laurent campaigns of the Seventies and Eighties.
At Jean Paul Gaultier, makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver took a similar approach by pairing a heavy lined eye with an opaque, wet-look lip to create a striking contrast.
The difference between red lips of previous seasons and A/W 2026 is that they cropped up in a glossy finish as opposed to matte.
Red lips also appeared on the runways at Tom Ford, Lanvin and Dolce & Gabbana, proving that the timeless lip shade continues to hold its place as one of fashion’s most powerful beauty statements.
Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLUST Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in Elson 4, £32, Cult Beauty
Elf Cosmetics Lip Lacquer in Clear, £5
5. Doll make-up
Another, perhaps unexpected, trend this season was the return of doll-inspired beauty.
Porcelain skin and softly exaggerated features appeared on several runways, giving models an almost porcelain-like finish.
At Dreaming Eli, skin was made white or kept pale and flawless, while Vivienne Westwood’s show featured doll-like lips paired with theatrical looks.
Meanwhile, designers such as Chopova Lowena and Bora Aksu also leaned into pale complexions and softly defined features that enhanced the delicate, doll-like aesthetic.
The beauty looks felt both romantic but surreal – echoing the fashion on the runway and the designer’s fascinations with fantasy and theatricality.
Laura Mercier Pressed Setting Powder, £38.50, Look Fantastic
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