The F/W ’25-26 beauty trends that will set the tone for the next season

Beauty on the runways moved between extremes—precision one moment, laid-back the next—showing how hair and make-up can heighten a silhouette or soften its edges, sometimes even changing the entire mood. What came through was a beauty edit full of contrasts. There were futuristic wet-look finishes set against softer side-sweeps, gilded lids that caught the light, balanced by almost bare skin, and lacquered lips standing strong beside sculptural blush. Together, they sketched a portrait of the season ahead. Here’s our round-up of the looks that will define Fall/Winter trends.

YOUR SKIN, BUT BETTER

The runways seemed to agree on one thing: skin should look like skin, only better. For Prabal Gurung’s show, make-up artist Sil Bruinsma skipped concealer and foundation altogether, relying on Peach & Lily skincare. Models walked out with complexions that looked drenched in light, the glow spilling onto collarbones and shoulders. Moschino dialled it up further, making the gloss feel almost architectural. Chanel kept it pared back in a way that felt effortless and distinctly Parisian. Come winter, it’s safe to say the world will be catching up to this “glossy” finish.

THE SCOOP EFFECT

Side-scooped hair made a comeback. At Zuhair Murad, glossy, sculpted waves curved neatly across the cheek. Lever’s “Anatomy of Identity” show took the same shape in a sharper direction, pairing liquid-like, wet-finish scoops. The message is clear: the trend is here to stay in beauty’s vocabulary. For a more realistic take, a softer side part with tucked-back strands captures the mood without the lacquered weight.

WHISPERS OF GOLD ON THE LIDS

Beauty spoke in flickers of light. At Kobi Halperin in New York, models stepped out with their eyelids dusted with gold flecks that caught the runway stare, a subtle shimmer that added to the drama of the clothes without stealing from them. In Paris, Iris van Herpen carried the idea into her own universe, where gilded accents framed the eyes like liquid metal, fusing seamlessly with her sculptural silhouettes. The way to make this your own is simple: tap a fine gold pigment or cream shadow onto the inner corner or sweep a sheer veil across the lids with your fingertip.

TEMPLE GETS THE TINT

Blush draping emerged as a fresh shift. At ArdAzAei, a sculptural approach to blush stood out for its precision. Swept from the temples down towards the cheekbones, the pink wash created lift and contour, lending a structured frame to the face. More about placement than pigment, the effect tied seamlessly to the collection’s pastel palette of pinks and lavenders It’s a reminder that blush isn’t just colour but structure too—and the higher sweep makes it the season’s most wearable update.

LACQUERED TO PERFECTION

Away from muted or matte shades, Schiaparelli turned the spotlight onto lacquered lips. The models strutted the runway in high-shine black and some in deep red pouts that dominated the runway. Make-up artist Pat McGrath, in her signature style layered the PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil in Xtreme Black and Longwear Lipliner in Elson to create precision, letting the lips speak for themselves while keeping the rest of the face minimal. Sleek sculptural chignons by Guido Palau framed the luminous, glass-like complexion. The gloss and precision of the lips played off the collection’s sharp lines and textures—an experiment worth your time

Lead image: Getty Images

This article first appeared in the October 2025 print edition of Harper's Bazaar India

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