The ‘clean girl’ aesthetic’s reign is officially over. This year, we’re saying goodbye to barely-there makeup looks, ‘strawberry girl’ or ‘tomato girl’ aesthetics and plain makeup as we move into a more expressive era. In 2026, beauty trends are going to make makeup fun again.
According to makeup artist, Mecca colour specialist and content creator Jordyn Dackers, beauty will be heading in a more creative direction this year. There’s a running theme of people preaching that 2026 is the new 2016, which applies to makeup trends, too.
“We know 2016 was a time for bold makeup; it was fun and we didn’t care what people thought about us wearing a gold cut crease at 9am,” Dackers told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“Not saying that we will all rocking up to work with a cut crease, but there will be little pops of colour here and there: think a red lip, coloured eyeliner or a shimmery eye.”
While the last few years’ makeup trends have been defined by it girls like Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid and Dua Lipa wearing minimal makeup and focussing on a glowing complexion instead, the (re) rise of Swedish singer Zara Larsson and her distinctive makeup looks on her Midnight Sun tour have proven that people are looking to pivot away from minimalism.
And hey, Larsson’s first hit, Lush Life, was released in 2015, and was the soundtrack of our 2015/16 summer. So if her resurgence isn’t another sign that 2026 is the new 2016, IDK what is.
Thanks to makeup artist Sophia Sinot, Larsson’s makeup is defined by creative, bold eyeshadow, heavy blush, and LOTS of gems. It’s reminiscent of the glitzy, glittery looks we saw in the first two seasons of Euphoria — and with another season coming out in April, the trend cycle has really come full circle.
Content creators have also taken to TikTok to recreate Larsson’s looks, with many clocking the return of unapologetically bold, maximalist makeup.
And honestly? We’re so here for it.
“I think this was the push we needed to say goodbye to the clean girl era,” Dackers said.
Want to know what’s in store for beauty in 2026? Keep on reading, friends.
The 5 Beauty Trends You Can Expect To See Everywhere In 2026
Colourful And Bold Eyeshadow
As mentioned earlier, fun eyeshadow looks are making a comeback. According to Dackers, it’ll be a combination of “2016 eyes with 2025 skin”. Fresh, glowy and vibrant is the goal.
“I think it’s time to say goodbye to subtle makeup looks and get out the colourful eyeshadow palettes again,” Dackers said.
Still have that huge Morphe eyeshadow palette in your bathroom cupboard from 2016? Now’s the time to pull it out again… or buy a new one, because odds are it’s probably expired.
While people may not be whipping out blue and green eyeshadow for their daily makeup looks, Dackers pointed out that it’ll be popular during festival season, “especially with Chappell Roan headlining Laneway”.
“She loves a fun makeup look so I think people will be channeling that energy,” Dackers said.
The Best Colourful Eyeshadows To Shop:
Cool-Toned Makeup
The warm, sun-kissed blush and bronzed glow that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing is taking a back seat as more cool-toned shades take its place. Deckers said that while we saw it creeping in more last year, “this year it will thrive”.
Think pastel blue or white shimmer eyeshadow, cool-toned pink and purple blushes, and cool brown lip liners.
“This is a fun way to add a bit more of a pop to your makeup that is wearable for the average makeup wearer,” Deckers said.
The Best Cool-Toned Makeup To Shop:
Messy Girl Aesthetic
Goodbye ‘tomato girl’ aesthetic, hello (again) to ’90s grunge slash K$sha peak 2010.
Deckers said to expect imperfect smokey eyes that are “almost a little messy” as well as “imperfect brows, just fluffed up and lightly filled in”.
Natural hair is also going to be making a comeback. While we may not be getting rid of heat styling just yet, people will feel more inclined to embrace their waves, curls and frizz.
“Less heat styling, more hair accessories and braids,” Dackers said.
As a curly girl myself, I am so excited for this!!! It’s about time the curly community stopped hating their natural ‘do and embracing the volume.
The Best Messy Girl Aesthetic Products To Shop:
Nina Park Makeup
“Now to go in the complete opposite direction, Nina Park’s celebrity makeup style is really having its moment right now,” Dackers said.
Park is a celebrity makeup artist in New York known for her signature light, diffused soft glams. In recent looks for celebs like Addison Rae, Laufey, Emma Stone, Mia Goth and Zoë Kravitz, she focusses on a barely-there complexion, soft and diffused eye makeup and a blurred cupid’s bow.
Dackers said that she thinks “we we will see a lot of this on red carpets this year”, while others are experimenting with bolder, more colourful looks mentioned earlier.
“It’s all very soft and diffused, super elegant and chic.”
Another important element of Nina Park’s celebrity makeup routines is skin prep. She often uses Biodance for skin prep, and used the brand’s sheet masks and cooling gel eye masks on her recent looks for Emma Stone and Addison Rae. Good to know *immediately adds to cart*.
The Best Nina Park Makeup Products To Shop:
Minimalist Skincare
Wave goodbye to elaborate 10-step skincare routines, because we don’t need that shit anymore. Obviously, if it works for you, keep on doing you. But if you don’t know the difference between your acids, retinols and niacinimides, don’t be afraid to strip it back to the basics.
Dackers said simplicity will be key in 2026.
“Realistically you don’t need a 10 step routine,” she said.
“A good double cleanse (at night), serum, moisturiser and SPF (during the day) will work just as well — if not better — than adding all these extra essences and serums.”
She also pointed out that the Korean skincare trend will continue to thrive, not only because of its effectiveness, but its affordability.
The Best Skincare Essentials To Shop:
While these are the beauty trends that we’re going to be seeing everywhere in 2026, make sure that you do what’s best for your skin and what makes you feel most confident. Beauty is supposed to be fun!
Image credit: Zara Larsson / Sophia Sinot / Addison Rae / Nina Park
The post Clean Girls Are Out: The 5 Beauty Trends You’re Going To See Everywhere In 2026 appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
