- Makeup is shifting away from minimalism in 2026: Bold, fun looks with an emphasis on technique, artistry, and self-expression are in—while hyper-minimal skin, barely-there eyes, and “clean girl” vibes are starting to feel dated.
- “Intelligent beauty” is the new north star: The focus is on makeup that enhances personality and creativity without feeling heavy or overdone—think wearable, real-life looks that prioritize balance over perfection or strict trends.
- What’s officially out: Rigid “clean girl” aesthetics, harsh sculpted lines, choosing between matte or dewy finishes, and heavy full-coverage foundations—replaced by softer edges, flexible textures, hybrid finishes, and buildable formulas.
In case you missed it, makeup is officially back. We're seeing an uptick in bold and fun looks, sure, but there's also a strong emphasis on technique and artistry. And with this newfound trend forecast comes along a whole lot of outdated makeup trends that just aren't cutting it anymore. The makeup trends that dominated the past few years—hyper-minimal skin, barely-there eyes, and “clean girl” sameness—are starting to feel dated.
"When I look ahead to 2026, the biggest trend I see is a shift toward what I’m calling intelligent beauty," says makeup artist Nikki DeRoest. "Makeup that enhances personality and allows room for creativity and self-expression without overwhelming it," she explains. But don't worry if your vibe isn't going all-out in Chappell Roan cosplay. DeRoest assures that makeup that looks "effortless, wearable, and rooted in real life" is still a thing. "It's all about that balance," she adds.
All of that to say, this year's crop of makeup trends are anything but muted and invisible. Ahead, Cosmo's full breakdown of the looks losing momentum (and a peek at what you can expect to replace them).
Makeup Trends That are Out for 2026:
1. "Clean Girl" Everything
The "clean girl" makeup movement began on TikTok as a response to simple routines with high impact. Think: a swipe of concealer under the eyes to reduce dark circles, brown mascara for a lengthened yet soft eye look, a neutral lip liner paired with a tinted lip balm to define and moisturize. We also can't deny how its rise in popularity correlates with an increased interest in the idea of the "trad wife" and an overall more conservative society following the 2024 election.
So, of course, a bit over a year later, this idea of makeup feels rooted in compliance and control. It's connected to a desire for likability and a standard level of attractiveness, not necessarily out of the enjoyment of doing or wearing makeup. And in 2026, that individualistic and artistic approach to makeup will be everything, marking a whole new idea of what a "fresh face" looks like. Neutral and natural makeup will always exist, of course. But it's not the default anymore. Makeup will be more playful and less rigid in 2026.
2. Any Harsh Lines
An overly sculpted, strong look dominated makeup for years. From contoured cheekbones to carved-out brows to outlined lips, heavy shading was meant to hide certain features and exaggerate others. This idea—using makeup to essentially shapeshift; to change your face rather than embrace it—is what drew a lot of people away from beauty and into the arms of the clean aesthetic to begin with. But in 2026, anything that's meant to make your face look like it's been filtered feels incredibly dated and old-school (and not in the cute Y2K kinda way).
One way this is playing out is through skin. The underpainting approach is still going strong, thanks to Mary Phillips and the launch of her Underpainting Palette under her new eponymous brand. But DeRoest is focused on the lip space. "I’m seeing excitement around lip formulas that feel comfortable, flexible, and modern—things that give color and confidence without feeling heavy or overly structured," she tells Cosmo. "It makes sense culturally, too—people want something that feels intentional but easy, and lips offer that in one step." An early adopter? Rhode's Peptide Lip Shape. It comes with a silicone smudger to help diffuse edges and has a pliable formula that softly smudges.
3. Making the Choice Between Matte and Dewy
We shouldn't have to choose! The pendulum keeps swinging from hyper-glowy to matte, across lips, cheeks, and skin. But 2026 is entirely against the idea of picking one lane and staying in it.
"I don’t think we’re going back to a traditional, flat matte," says DeRoest. "What’s really happening is a redefinition of matte—it’s softer, more diffused, and much more skin-friendly," she adds. With the rising interest in beauty, formulas have gotten more high-tech, meaning many of our gripes from the past with how something sits on your skin are somewhat solved.
DeRoest anticipates a blurred finish taking over in 2026, perfectly melding both matte and dewy looks. "You see it most clearly with blush right now," she says, "where color still has presence and payoff, but the edges are gentle and the texture melts into the skin instead of sitting on top of it." For her, it's all about skin that looks "healthy and dimensional, just with a velvety softness that feels modern and wearable in real life."
4. Full Coverage Out the Gate
The idea of a true "full-coverage foundation" is dead. (RIP!) These formulas were typically heavy and made your skin look one-dimensional. Now, don't get me wrong: This doesn't mean it's all skin tints and rainbows around here. Instead, buildable, lightweight textures that can be layered to help disguise discoloration and breakouts are far more exciting.
Meet the experts:
- Kyle Anderson is a National MAC makeup artist based in Jersey City, NJ. He's done makeup for campaigns, on celebrities, and for the runway.
- Nikki DeRoest is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist whose work has appeared on red carpets and in editorials. She's also the founder of clean, SPF-focused beauty brand, Ciele Cosmetics.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
