Beauty 2026: major trends to discover now

Buttery yellows, iridescent pastels, saturated tropics… In 2026, beauty is written in highly sensorial, almost edible colors, supported by a discreet but cutting-edge science. The trend books are crystal-clear: aesthetics will be instinctive, playful, ultra-sensorial, but designed with laboratory precision.

The boards overflow with whipped cream effects, peony-pink blushes, translucent aqua greens and holographic purples. We come across candy-round packaging and icy, almost polar blues. We also see roses delicately faded on the skin, bright tropical palettes and dark mouths shining like fresh ink. Everywhere, the same idea prevails: emotionally charged beauty, driven by intelligent active ingredients, skin-tech textures and an obsession with comfortable skin.

Yellow Gummy: childhood sweetness

First of all, there’s this very regressive impulse : an ultra-soft gummy wave that awakens the aesthetics of childhood. Packaging becomes round, plump, almost fluffy. On the boards, this soft yellow, somewhere between butter and mimosa blossom, envelops cosmetics boxes, rounded nails and blond locks as if brightened by the sun.

Textures are reminiscent of pastries: thick custard-like creams, powders that can be pressed like shortcrust pastry, cases that look like madeleines. Blushes turn into translucent jellies and lip balms look like melting candies. Even probiotic supplements line up like colorful sugared almonds in the bathroom.

At the heart of this aesthetic, butter yellow takes center stage. In 2026, it will be used on eyelids as a satin veil, on lips as a slightly golden balm, and even in fuller, almost gourmand perfume bottles. This softness speaks of comfort, of nourished skin, of quiet glow rather than aggressive radiance.

And yet, beneath this sugary allure, the formulas are working seriously: encapsulated biomimetic peptides, gentle retinoids, new-generation niacinamide, prebiotics for the microbiome. The objective remains the same: to smooth and plump without ever aggressing, as if the skin were encased in a case of whipped butter, protected and reassured.

Futuristic ice beauty: glacier blue and intergalactic reflections

In contrast to this buttery comfort, there’s another desire: icy, almost polar beauty. Ice-blue eyelids, frosted highlighters, nails that look as if they’ve been frozen in ice, and matching accessories. It all looks like something out of a highly stylized winter landscape.

Icy lavender and minty green boards herald the rise of cool lights. Eyelids are covered in holographic make-up. Nails adopt a milky lacquer that catches every ray. Glosses feature translucent reflections reminiscent of crushed ice.

This cool palette is surrounded by an almost intergalactic aesthetic: holographic decorative objects, opalescent moon-dust pigments and silhouettes reminiscent of science-fiction classics. Eyes are adorned with iridescent shadows that change tone depending on the angle. Lips are dressed in pearlescent varnish, barely tinted. The effect is futuristic, but still wearable in the city.

Behind these spectacular effects, skin-tech textures ensure comfort. Gels transform into a dry veil. Balms powder on contact with the skin. Cream illuminators dry as a second-skin film. Luminous serums are bursting with hyaluronic acid, while creams retain an icy finish but a highly moisturizing core. The approach is in keeping with a clinical clean spirit: streamlined formulations, serious active ingredients and more precise promises.

Blurred poetry: fresh cheeks and bitten lips

Another strong chapter is the return of those “pinched cheeks ” that give the impression that blush is coming from within. Silk lingerie, satin gloves, small embroidered minaudières, openwork fabrics like antique lace… everything here speaks of a poetic, almost literary beauty.

On the face, it’s all about the blur. Blush is applied as a cloud. Lips are “bitten”, slightly blurred. Eyelids are covered in smoky shades, like a veil passed over a finger. Lace is present in detail: on nails, in softened liners, in transparent layered shadows, with a soft light just above the cheekbones.

The shades remain gourmand: crushed strawberry, peony, lychee, rosewood. We’re talking more about breathing than contouring, to let the skin’s texture come alive. To ensure this effect remains harmonious, formulas feature niacinamide combined with ceramides, soothing active ingredients and pre- and post-biotics that respect the skin barrier.

In this way, the complexion retains its nuances, its slight redness, like a page in a hand-annotated book. Make-up no longer seeks to cover: it suggests, it tells.

Tropiques mix & match: tangy colors on the loose

In 2026, color isn’t just pretty, it’s playful. Palettes are inspired by the tropics: lemon, coral, mango, raspberry, papaya green, dragon fruit fuchsia, burnt mandarin, red currant, palm green. Forget about perfect coordination.

Shadows are applied in a joyful mix & match. Manicures align different shades on each hand. Lipsticks are layered to create unexpected tones. Lips are adorned with pigmented balms inspired by exotic fruits. Cheeks take on a bold coral hue.

The faces are closer to editorial make-up. Color placements are more avant-garde: a flat lemon at the inner corner, a raspberry line under the eye, a mango blush that rises high on the temple.

This freedom echoes a very gourmet aesthetic: sliced fruits, colorful cocktails, exotic flowers. Formulas borrow from both luxury and scientific skincare: melting textures, light gels, micro-encapsulated active ingredients, revisited traditional powders like Nila orAker Fassi, anti-inflammatory complexes for smoother skin.

So we compose our look like a fruit platter, instinctively mixing shades, without apologizing for a pink eye and an orange mouth.

Romantic Goth: shimmering shadows

To conclude, 2026 confirms the return of a dark but refined beauty. Black lacquered nails, smokey eyes with smoky kohl, plum or black cherry lips, always enhanced with a touch of gloss. As for the skin, it remains fresh, almost translucent, to maintain the contrast.

Vampiric inspiration is invited without cliché: literary references, Gothic heroines, nocturnal silhouettes. Dark reds are enriched with fine oils. Eye textures are easy to work with, for a smokiness that can remain light or become denser in the evening.

Finally, night care plays a key role. Repairing overnight masks, time-release creams and regenerating serums prepare the skin to withstand these intense pigments. In the morning, the complexion is rested, ready to welcome back this blend of mystery and brilliance.

Underlying these universes is the same promise: in 2026, beauty no longer chooses between pleasure and performance. It assumes sensorial, almost playful colors, while relying on cutting-edge formulas that respect the skin, its microbiome and its rhythms.

It’s up to each and every one of us to compose our own score, because the beauty trends of 2026 don’t dictate anything, they offer playgrounds. It’s up to you to pick and mix, to tell your own story.

To keep up with these movements as they are launched, Paris Select ‘s Beauty section is already promising a wealth of information, from skin-tech palettes to the most desirable body serums.