2026 Beauty Trends: Smudged, Smooched, and Slightly Sleepy

Designers embrace imperfect, lived-in beauty looks for the year ahead.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:21pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The fall/winter 2026 New York Fashion Week runways signaled a shift away from the hyper-controlled, minimalist beauty aesthetic of past seasons. This year's It girl embraces a more relaxed, slightly disheveled look - think smudgy, just-kissed lips, air-dried hair with natural waves and flyaways, and a touch of morning-after makeup. Designers like Coach, Collina Strada, and Sandy Liang drew inspiration from the bedroom, showcasing beauty trends that celebrate imperfection and getting out the door faster.

Why it matters

This new beauty trend reflects a broader cultural shift towards embracing authenticity and rejecting the pressure for perfection. In an era dominated by highly curated social media feeds, the 2026 beauty look celebrates the beauty in looking a little tired and lived-in. This trend also aligns with sustainability and minimalism, as it requires less time and effort to achieve.

The details

Key beauty trends for 2026 include: 'Smudgy, just-smooched' lips at shows like Boy London and Altuzarra; 'Bed head' hair with light crimps, frizz, and natural waves at Coach and Collina Strada; 'Morning-after' makeup with a light halo of blush around the eyes instead of concealer at Sandy Liang; Messy, lived-in eyeliner looks at Tory Burch and Christian Cowan; Colorful, short eyeliner wings in shades like plum and teal at Ulla Johnson; And a return to classic shoulder-grazing side-parted bobs and waves at labels like LaQuan Smith and Ralph Lauren.

  • The fall/winter 2026 New York Fashion Week runways showcased these new beauty trends.
  • This new 'smudged, smooched, and slightly sleepy' beauty look is set to define the year ahead in 2026.

The players

Guido Palau

Lead hairstylist at Coach, who let models' hair run freely with light crimps and frizz.

Mustafa Yanaz

Lead hairstylist at Collina Strada, who drew inspiration from 'hat hair' to create a 'natural swirl that looks almost backcombed and twisted' look.

Lacy Redway

Hairstylist at Christian Siriano, who swirled models' hair around their necks to create a tucked illusion.

Romy Soleimani

Makeup artist at Sandy Liang and Ulla Johnson, who embraced a 'morning-after' makeup look and played with colorful eyeliner.

Sir John

Makeup artist at Sergio Hudson, who added a touch of playfulness with double-winged kohl eyeliner.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Hat hair was one of the main looks on the runway, which translated to a 'natural swirl that looks almost backcombed and twisted in certain areas.'”

— Mustafa Yanaz, Lead hairstylist, Collina Strada (elle.com)

“Using Sisley Paris Phyto-Khol Star Waterproof in Mystic Plum and Matte Jungle, lead makeup artist Romy Soleimani added a short, colorful wing to some models. In contrast, others donned a fiery blue-red lip.”

— Romy Soleimani, Lead makeup artist, Ulla Johnson (elle.com)

What’s next

As these new beauty trends gain popularity, we can expect to see them reflected in upcoming fashion editorials, social media trends, and consumer product launches throughout 2026.

The takeaway

The 2026 beauty look celebrates authenticity, minimalism, and the beauty in imperfection. This shift away from the highly curated, polished aesthetic of the past reflects a broader cultural desire to embrace our natural selves and get out the door faster.