The Beauty Forecast: The Autumn/Winter Trends to Know 2026

Make-up is no longer solely focused on coverage and finish; the formulas to take note of right now are ones that look after your skin rather than simply masking it. “Dewy and glow-first make-up is leading the charge with skincare-first concealers, foundations and lip products,” says Andriana Bantra, senior retail analyst at Kantar. From Westman Atelier’s exosome-loaded Suprême Bio-Complex Liquid Foundation to Charlotte Tilbury’s hyaluronic acid-infused Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer, supercharged skincare ingredients have been quietly making their way into our make-up bags.

And it doesn’t stop at skin: YSL’s Lash Latex Mascara is formulated with humectants and botanical extracts to nourish and condition the lashes. While Hermès’ Hermèsistible lip oils contain vitamin E and emollients for a wash of colour with all the lip care benefits of a balm.

The subtly flushed cheeks seen across the AW26 runways – from Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren to Victoria Beckham and more – made a strong case for softer blush looks. According to expert make-up artist Celia Burton, “AW26 make-up is moving away from the perfected idea of beauty towards something that feels more human,” with blurred complexions as a base, but with something “lived-in” layered over it. For blush, this means “a flush that feels very real life… it’s considered make-up, but you don’t necessarily see the work,” she explains. Hourglass’s new Ambient Lighting palettes in Wish, Luck and Hope are perfect for creating this second-skin effect with ultra-finely milled shades ranging from luminous pearlescent highlighters to pink, plum and peachy blush tones that blend effortlessly across the cheeks for a soft, diffused finish.

The reigning colour on the AW26 runways? Regal purple. From shimmering violet lids at Balenciaga and Carolina Herrera to bold plum-brown lips at Tom Ford, the new obsession with purple marks a return to playful maximalism for make-up. And, it’s a colour that’s surprisingly easy to wear – in small doses. Try, a pop of purple on the inner corner of your eyes using Prada’s Dimensions Eyeshadow Palette; a flick of Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Satin Kajal Eyeliner in Fig across the lash line, or plump for an aubergine pout with Tom Ford’s Runway Lip Colour in Unzip.

If you’ve found yourself thinking that you’re looking more tired than ever, you’re not alone. Long hours spent staring at laptops and late-nights scrolls come with a prerequisite squint that can leave the eye area looking fatigued. And, instead of kicking the swiping habit, there’s been a rise in demand for ‘digital detox eyecare’, according to WGSN’s AW26 Skincare report.

And it’s true: while cutting your screen time in half might feel unrealistic, what is realistic is investing in eye care designed to plump, comfort and refresh the eye area and, yes, mitigate the effects of screens. Cosmetic Consult’s sell-out Miracle Cryo Eye Masks are infused with niacinamide and caffeine to help reduce the appearance of dark circles, while hyaluronic acid, glycerin and peptides can boost hydration. Pair them with an eye cream such as Neurae’s new The Harmony Eye Contour – also packed with caffeine, moisture-binding actives and botanical extracts – for a brighter, revitalised eye area, scroll or no scroll.

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The beauty tech boom shows no signs of slowing down. Now, clever at-home devices deliver the kind of results once reserved for a trip to the clinic. The growing conversation around GLP-1 weight-loss medications is fuelling interest further, says Pia Fisher, senior beauty strategist at WGSN: “There is growing demand for multifunctional, do-it-all devices that provide tightening, lifting and regeneration.” For skin that’s lost some of its firmness, try Lyma’s Laser Pro. Rather than working only on the surface, its low-level laser is designed to reach deeper layers of the skin to support natural collagen renewal, leaving the face and body looking smoother, firmer and more lifted.

The longevity conversation isn’t going anywhere, and the science behind it continues to evolve at a rapid pace. One of the brands on the front line of longevity advancements is Swiss Perfection. Born from 28 years of cellular research, the RS-28 Rejuvenation Serum goes far beyond surface-level anti-ageing. The formula harnesses the power of exosomes derived from the Iris germanica plant. These potent bio-actives combined with NAD+ boosters are designed to communicate directly with skin cells, working to reactivate skin’s natural 28-day renewal cycle to boost cell turnover – the kind of innovation that marks Swiss skincare as one to watch in the longevity race.

Longevity has also been making its way into the haircare space. The new focus? The scalp. “Hair health [is being] treated as rigorously as skin health,” says Bantra. “Scalp health is increasingly being treated as a skincare category in its own right.” A new wave of haircare is emerging: barrier-supporting, anti-inflammatory products designed to protect scalp health and prevent the signs of ageing hair before they appear. K18’s FutureIQ hair serum is packed with biomimetic peptides, a root-anchoring complex and antioxidants which work to slow hair shedding, as well as melanin-supporting ingredients to help delay the appearance of greys.

According to WGSN’s AW26 Haircare report, “brands that take an inside-out approach to haircare through clinically backed supplements to address scalp health, breakage and density loss” will be the ones to watch this season, with Bantra also noting that “ingestible haircare will reinforce the shift towards treating hair as part of overall wellbeing”. The much hyped Vida Glow’s Hairology Capsules are formulated with biotin, selenium and zinc to support the maintenance of healthy hair as well as AnaGain, a potent pea sprout extract rich in proteins and phytonutrients to help stimulate hair follicles which need to be healthy to ensure strong hair growth.

Traditional winter reds are taking a back seat this season in favour of something a little more, well, autumnal. “This autumn, we’ll see warm, coffee-inspired shades really come into their own,” says Juanita Huber-Millet, creative director and founder of Townhouse Nails. “They work beautifully with an autumn wardrobe and just feel so polished and effortless.” The brand’s new Cozy Club nail polish collection ranges from shades Mocha, a rich, glossy brown, to Chai Latte for a softer option if you’re more partial to neutrals.

Beyond the colour of your manicure, the most exciting nail treatments right now are incorporating the latest advancements in beauty tech. The Townhouse x Foreo Manicure adds red LED light therapy into its signature treatment (which includes shaping, buffing, cuticle care, massage and a soothing masque therapy with heated mitts) to help firm and smooth the skin on your hands. Finish with one of Townhouse’s coffee-inspired nail colours and consider your AW26 manicure sorted.