2026 Makeup Trends to Try ASAP, According to Pro Makeup Artists
As your start to put together your new year vision board, you'll definitely want to make space for 2026 makeup trends. We're still very much obsessed with minimalist glam and neutral tones, but according to pro makeup artists, pops of color are making a major comeback in the new year with statement eyes or bold lips. And when it comes to skin, it's all about creating that IRL Instagram filter effect.
“2026 is the year of skin that looks alive,” says celebrity makeup artist and Ulta Beauty Pro Team expert Jaleesa Jaikaran. “Think more of a soft focus and youthful radiance with just enough sheen to feel healthy without tipping into overly glowy.”
Celebrity makeup artist Christian Briceno agrees, adding that it's all about finding the middle ground between dewy and matte. “It gives the face a beautiful, refined, modern finish without sacrificing radiance or making it look flat,” he says. “It photographs beautifully, looks good on video, and is wearable on the street and the red carpet.”
If you're more of a minimalist, bare skin and clean makeup are very much still in style, but expect a shift away from cool tones overall. “It's all about using browns and warm neutral shades to create a tasteful story," says Briceno, who points to latte makeup and toasty makeup for reference. “For harmony and soft cohesion, look for tones that warm the complexion without looking muddy or orange.”
Ready to try something new? Ahead, professional makeup artists share their top 2026 makeup trends.
Instagram @christianbricenomakeup1/7Skinimalism
"In 2026, the most significant flex is skin that looks like you've done almost nothing to it," says Briceno. “Skinimalism is that line between skin care and makeup: you can correct and shape, but you never lose the skin's life. Clients want their skin to look like skin, healthy, hydrated, and genuinely cared for before a single drop of makeup goes on. This beauty approach is perfect on mature faces: less product, more respect for texture.”
To get the look, Briceno recommends using an emollient moisturizer (which is ideal for mature skin) with a face-sculpting massage "promote circulation and release muscle tension. Then, apply a tinted moisturizer, preferably one with SPF to protect skin from harmful UV rays. He recommends the Mineral Fusion Sheer Tint SPF 50 paired with the Concealer Palette to give your skin a breathable, radiant finish and their Hydro Shine Lip Gloss, which adds a healthy sheen.
Instagram @christianbricenomakeup2/7Allover Bronze
'90s cool tones have taken over in recent years, but Briceno notes that warm tones are making a major comeback, especially with trends like latte makeup and toasty makeup.
“This trend is modern and expensive-looking all at once, especially when you balance matte warmth on the eyes with a creamy, plush cheek and a slightly blurred, bronzy lip,” he says. For a healthy and glowy complexion, he recommends the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow. “It provides a warm, sculpted contour and soft golden glow that never reads overdone. Mineral Fusion Liquid Foundation adds a luxe, soft-matte finish that anchors the whole look.”
Instagram @christianbricenomakeup3/7Draped Blush
Our blush obsession isn't going anywhere in 2026. “Draped blush is a technique I keep seeing coming back,” says Briceno. “It's all about a lifting effect and enhancing the person's bone structure. It's so flattering in person and even better on camera; it doesn't just look naturally flushed; it looks sculpted.”
Briceno's technique includes mixing textures to get the most natural finish. “A cream base for saturation, followed by a soft powder blush to set everything in place without compromising the skin's natural texture,” he says. He recommends using the Mineral Fusion 3-in-1 Color Sick and Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Creme & Powder Blush Duo. “Each color includes both textures, and they melt into the skin with that signature, high-end softness.”
- Joe Maher/Getty Images4/7
Colorful Lashes
Welcome to the lash renaissance. “Black mascara will always be our favorite classic, but browns and greys are redefining what ‘finished’ eyes look like, softer, moodier, and more editorial,” says Briceno. But 2026 is all about the colorful lash, for an unexpected pop of color. “Suddenly the entire energy of the face shifts,” he says. “I treat colored lashes like accents to enhance a look. A muted mauve can add quiet depth, while a hit of electric blue at the outer corners can turn a simple eye into a fashion moment. This is where a lot of 2026 beauty is headed: micro-details with macro impact.”
Briceno is a fan of the YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara in Electric Blue, which “is the most stunning, vibrant blue mascara I've tried to date” and the glittery Maybelline Space Diamond Mascara that “will give your lashes a whimsical, starry eye.”
Instagram @jaleesajaikaran5/7Maximalist Eyes
Dust off that eyeshadow palette, because bold eyes are going to be bigger than ever. “2026 is leaning back into play and drama on the lashes, jewel-toned lids, chrome moments, and unexpected textures that make the eyes the event,” says Jaikaran. “Whether it's a smokey eye and wash of color or a full metallic lid, we're bringing drama back with intention.”
If you're a newbie to color, Jaikaran says an easy method is applying bold liner and blending it out to cover the lid. She recommends the Hard Candy Party Lines Double Ended Liner, which is perfect for experimenting.
Ulta Beauty Pro Team6/7Statement Lip
Bring your holiday red lip into 2026. “This year, lips come back with personality," says Jaikaran. "Clean, radiant skin paired with a saturated lip instantly feels polished and powerful and whether you’re reaching for a rich brick brown, a true red, or a bold pink. It’s a simple equation but the impact is always a moment.”
For a matte lip that lasts, Jaikaran says prep is key. “I always exfoliate with the damp edge of a towel followed by lip balm letting it sit for a few minutes,” she says. “This preps the skin and allows for a smoother application. I find matte and blurring formulas perform even better with the right prep.”
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Ulta Beauty Pro Team7/7Satin Skin
Satin skin is the perfect hybrid between dewy and matte. “As a pro makeup artist of over 12 years, complexion has always been a star but now we are learning into even light layers, blurred edges and a finish that feels like your real skin got a facial and a full nights rest," says Jaikaran.
Skin care prep is everything for this look. Jaikaran recommends layering on lightweight products to get the perfect base. “Milky toners, hydrating primers, and skin tints that melt rather than mask,” she says. “I love using a soft radiance primer first, then only setting the center of the face so the glow still peeks through. Mixing milky toners like Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner with stick foundation is a great option for that satin finish skin.”
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