There is a critical chill within the air, and I am already counting down the times till spring. As a magnificence director who spends her days analysing magnificence tendencies, you higher imagine I have been placing numerous thought into the upcoming spring/summer time 2026 magnificence tendencies. Final season, I predicted that we’d see the wonder development carousel decelerate because of shopper fatigue—and I used to be proper. After years of lapping up each make-up development, hair development and skincare development that social media threw our means, in 2026, everyone seems to be determined to sluggish issues down.
I can formally verify that the wonder microtrend bubble has burst, and going into spring, we’ll be adopting a slow-beauty mindset. What does this imply? Nicely, for starters, the spring/summer time magnificence tendencies are, as soon as once more, being dictated by the runways. It additionally implies that the S/S 26 magnificence appears to have in your radar are actually wearable. Neglect high-maintenance aesthetics that show flash-in-the-pan, S/S 26 tendencies have longevity—the upcoming season will probably be all a couple of polished strategy to effortlessness.
I’ve spent the previous six months dissecting the S/S 26 runways and talking with each make-up artist, hair stylist and wonder insider I do know, so belief me—these are the 7 magnificence tendencies you are going to be itching to get forward of this spring/summer time.
1. Lipstick Solely
(Picture credit score: Launchmetrics Highlight: Roksanda, Sportmax, Edeline Lee, Chloé)
Little doubt one of the iconic magnificence moments of the S/S 26 trend month season was Chloé’s pink assertion lip. And whereas there was a notable pink haze that descended upon the spring/summer time runways, we’re specializing in wearability, bear in mind? The best way to put on lipstick as we enterprise into spring is not depending on color, shade or end, however as a substitute hangs on what you are pairing it with—nothing.
Popping pink matte finishes led the best way at Chloé, blurred browns dominated at Sportmax, razor-sharp plums had been showcased at Edeline Lee and deep ombré reds had been the principle occasion at Roksanda. The factor that ties these lip appears collectively? A quiet, clear face, in order that the lips do all the speaking. “It is magnificence that by no means shouts, however all the time speaks,” says Sharryn Hinchliffe, govt world director of artistry at Mac Cosmetics. “The Roksanda look this season was a sculptural ode to Barbara Hepworth—clear, skin-forward and quietly lovely. It is a celebration of restraint and refinement, the place pores and skin glows with polished luminosity, and lips whisper magnificence.”
Mac
Macximal Lipstick in Snob
Advantage
Signature Lip Blush in September
Nars
Express Lipstick in Unrestrained
2. Pulled-Again Types
(Picture credit score: Launchmetrics Highlight: Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Tove, Carven)
Maybe the S/S 26 magnificence development I’m most enamoured with is the rise of low-fuss, thrown-together up-dos. Neglect the hair extremes we’ve got been used to in current seasons (overtly messy ponytails or super-slicked buns), S/S 26 redefines what a cool up-do appears like for the primary time in years.
From scraped-back buns at Saint Laurent and loosely tied ponytails at Bottega to the extra intricate twists seen at Tove and Carven, the defining pulled-back types for the upcoming season all have a standard denominator: they’re nonchalantly thrown up and tied loosely. The result’s a low-hanging ponytail or bun that oozes stylish minimalism with out feeling even remotely try-hard. It is messy-girl vibes, however polished.
Colour Wow
Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
Dwelling Proof
Type Lab Flex Hair Spray
3. New Bronze
(Picture credit score: Launchmetrics Highlight: Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Elie Saab, Giorgio Armani)
It merely wouldn’t be a spring/summer time magnificence report with out at the least some point out bronzer, particularly when the creator of mentioned report is London-based and hasn’t seen the solar for what seems like months. Nevertheless, the bronzer utility we’re set to see in spring/summer time has shifted dramatically from the norm.
Over the previous decade, bronzed make-up has lengthy gone hand in hand with glow. As we moved away from contouring routines, we moved in direction of glow-boosting bronzers that might be swept liberally over our faces. However for S/S 26, there is a new strategy. At Michael Kors, baked bronzer was draped downwards over the pads of the cheek, Ralph Lauren introduced a pairing of dusted cheekbones and lids, Elie Saab saved terracotta shades on eyes, whereas bronzed hues had been smudged below the decrease lash line at Giorgio Armani and paired with a glowing cheek. The stand-out attribute of bronzer in spring/summer time 2026, nevertheless, is that the end is all the time buttery and baked. Neglect shimmer, overlook luminous powders and overlook cream textures—this season, matte is again.
Victoria Beckham Magnificence
Satin Kajal Liner Terracotta
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Bronzer
Make-up By Mario
Grasp Mattes Cream Eyeshadow
4. Liquid Waves
(Picture credit score: Launchmetrics Highlight: Blumarine, Etro, Balenciaga, Ralph Lauren)
When hair is not pulled again into free, informal types, it is down and it is wavy. Sure, what I am calling liquid waves completely dominated the runways this season—whether or not it was polished pure textures at Blumarine, ’70s-esque crimps at Etro, gently curved lengths at Balenciaga or light mermaid waves at Ralph Lauren. And whereas we have seen waves teasing a serious resurgence season after season in recent times, this time round, they are surely right here to dominate, they usually’re dominating in polished type. Wave patterns may be irregular, however they’re superbly outlined. Pair that with water-like motion and mirror-like shine, and you have nailed it.
GHD
Wave Triple Barrel Waver
Kérastase
Elixir Ultime Hair Oil
5. Costly Pores and skin
(Picture credit score: Launchmetrics Highlight: Jason Wu, Tove, Christian Dior, Coach)
It is all nicely and good to say that “pores and skin is in,” however you would be ignoring the truth that pores and skin was by no means actually out. Placing your pores and skin first in the case of your make-up routine is now simply frequent observe—all of us know that an amazing make-up look begins with well-cared-for pores and skin. However for S/S 26, we’re shifting away from the drained tropes of glow, glass pores and skin and dolphin-esque complexions. As a substitute, this season it is about what I am calling “costly pores and skin”. What does that entail, precisely, I hear you ask? Look in direction of the likes of Jason Wu, Tove, Christian Dior and Coach, the place fashions showcased buttery complexions that seem high-maintenance. “The intention was to intensify and improve the pure magnificence of every face,” says Peter Philips, artistic and picture director for Dior Make-up. “The make-up performs with the sunshine, reflecting translucent, recent, even pores and skin, elevated by nude shades that mix in to ship glow in a recent spirit.”
The explanation I name this development “costly pores and skin” is that it is much less about making a desired end along with your base and extra about trying as if you’ve got prepped it with time in your fingers. Neglect high-shine, wet-look finishes, the place skincare merchandise have not had time to sink in. As a substitute, you need your base to look as if you steamed at 7 AM, utilized a sheet masks at 8 AM and patted in a velvety serum at 8.30 AM. The cheat sheet? A one-and-done serum, and new-gen foundations and concealers that ship the type of blurring, skin-like finishes which have by no means been seen earlier than.
Estée Lauder
Double Put on Keep-in-Place
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer
6. Aspect-Half Revival
(Picture credit score: Launchmetrics Highlight: Altuzarra, Balmain, Fendi, Stella McCartney)
I would apologise to Gen-Z for the S/S 26 revival of the side-part, however one thing tells me they in all probability already suppose it is cool once more. I imply, how will you not suppose it is cool once you see the runway proof—from the high-volume flips at Altuzarra and Stella McCartney to the smooth, slicked types at Balmain and Fendi.
Essentially the most joyful factor concerning the 2026 side-part, nevertheless, is the shortage of dedication to the trigger. There is no must get your hair lower into this type, simply brush, scrunch, spray flip and set.
Oribe
Dry Texturizing Spray
Colour Wow
Xtra Massive Bombshell Volumizer
La Bonne Brosse
N.02 the Important Do-It-All Brush
7. Brushed Brows
(Picture credit score: Launchmetrics Highlight: Missoni, Loewe, Coach, Chanel)
I am unable to put into phrases simply how a lot pleasure it brings me to report that, for spring/summer time, brows are simply, nicely, brows. Wave goodbye to the skinny, pencil-drawn creations of the ’90s, the heavy ombré brows we noticed dominate ten years in the past and even the feathery, spiky brows we have seen reign supreme within the first half of this decade.
Retaining on model to the overarching “polished” theme of the season, our brows are set to easily be preened and brushed. Maybe strays are cautiously plucked, however aside from that, brows are styled with little greater than some quiet pencilling and a brush from root to tip. Chanel, Coach, Loewe and Missoni all proved that brows are set to step out of the highlight and revert again to their supporting-character power forward of spring.
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Volumizing Tinted Forehead Gel
CHANEL
Stylo Sourcils Haute Précision
