We have been chanting "It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me, and I'm feeling good" as our daily mantra to keep our will to survive 2026 on a high note and as beauty enthu cutlets, we are sure new beauty trends and launches will contribute to this endeavour in heaps. But when we really sit and think about it, that prime curiosity for what's next brings no new thoughts, because it feels like we have seen it all — blush draping, a return to soft matte makeup, injectables as the new norm, lip balms in every possible shape and form, and so on. So, we scoured the internet to find what beauty gals are inclining towards and what will be trending in 2026. Here's what we got:
Beauty Trends 2026: What's Hot & What's Not According To The LBB Crew
Dark Circles Are In
Internally, we are screaming with happiness cause we will finally be liberated from covering our panda eyes. As melanated folks who struggle with dark circles because of genetics (thanks, mom), it has been a forever struggle to cover 'em with layers of concealer and powder and damn, when that sensitive area gets cakey. So, if we get a brief break from fully covering them, we will embrace it and let 'em girls hang in all glory.
Clean Girl Makeup Is Boring
Not to spite anyone, but clean girl makeup needs to take a backseat now. Sure, for everyday, it works and looks very demure, very mindful, but for night outs, it's time we moved beyond using the bronzer as the sole eyeshadow on the lid and let our makeup have a moment. With stones, pastels and coloured liners becoming a common occurrence on Indian bridal MUA's IG feeds, we can see expressive eye makeup becoming the highlight of full glam in 2026.
Natural Hair Is Making A Comeback
Good news for those who still have virgin hair untouched by colours because natural hair with no colours, highlights and all that jazz is expected to be in trend in 2026. The vibe is very Dakota Johnson in The Materialists, with free-flowing, natural hair in focus. We are honestly excited to see how far this one fares because we feel kinda uncertain TBH.
Artistry Products Will Be Investment Worthy
Artistry makeup with well-formulated formula, better shade ranges and multiple colours available in palette form, especially for face products, is gaining popularity. It started with the MAKEUP FOR EVER all-in-one palettes, and recently, we saw Mary Philips' m.ph launch something similar with her underpainting face palettes. The idea is to give you, the consumer, a free rein over mixing hues and finding what works for you, in line with making you feel like a painter mixing different colours to paint a canvas.
Skin Minimalism
In 2026, we are leaving behind having a ten-step skincare routine and adopting a more doable routine with fewer, but more efficient formulations. It's not about what you use but what you use in the truest sense. So, using one serum that treats multiple concerns over using three serums will be a great place to start.
Boom Of LED Tools For Skin
With health and wellness driving consumerism, expect to see your oh-so-fancy LED mask become a thing of common with everyone wanting to benefit from its healing action for skin. Red light therapy and LED-driven skin treatments of sorts will become a thing of cool. Don't be surprised if you see folks hosting wellness parties with LED masks and wands being the it accessory to carry while sipping on green juice.
Nails Are Getting More Personalised
In 2025, we saw everyone having a whole lotta fun with their nails, with cat eyes, chrome, ornaments, and painted elements expressing the vibe one's feeling. In 2026, we see this only getting bigger and better. Bold nails that become a conversation starter will become a thing of cool. Oyster nails, funky textures and neon colours are expected to go crazy, so look out for them.
