From wearing your moisturiser on your handbag, to hair so shiny people will think you’re an AI. These are the biggest 2026 beauty trends that our Beauty Director SJ loves, and you will too
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Can I confess something? I have written about beauty trends for as long as I can remember, and most of the time, they leave me cold. Often too unachievable, too high-maintenance or totally barmy (like that moment last year when ‘jellyfish hair’ was trending and we were apparently all desperate to cut the sides short and grow the rest of it long to make it look like tentacles. Sigh).
However, there’s something different about 2026 beauty trends. They include looks that feel actually accessible, involve products that inject an element of fun into your routine (something we all need) and hair colour you’ll genuinely be begging your stylist to do.
Here are my picks.
Makeup and skincare fusions, the next gen
Image: Sculpted by Aimee
Yes, skincare with makeup benefits and makeup with skincare benefits isn’t a new concept, but 2026 sees brands amping up those multi-tasking capabilities. This is more than another tinted moisturiser hitting the shelves, this is about foundations containing skincare actives like niacinamide to reduce the appearance of pores and hard-working serums that come in shade ranges.These new buys will not only save you time but also money.
If you’re looking for something that’s doing exactly that right now, then Sculpted by Aimee Second Skin Dewy Foundation SPF 50, £25, is a brilliant foundation that contains SPF alongside hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane, plus centella asiatica, which helps strengthen the skin barrier and soothe inflammation. Or try Perricone MD No Makeup Blush, was £33 now £24.75, it’s an oldie but most definitely a goodie: a vitamin C-infused blusher that adds instant colour but also improves discolouration over time. L’Oreal Paris True Match Plumping Tinted Serum, £14.99, is a fusion of a slow-releasing hyaluronic acid serum that keeps hydrating and plumping the skin throughout the day with tint. It comes in 9 shades, each one is ‘stretchy’ and would work across at least three skin tones.
But keep your eyes peeled as new innovations will be hitting the beauty shelves soon.
Sensory skincare that looks cool on TikTok
Images: TikTok @livia.nguyen and @kaitlynfallasmr
As you’re aware, South Korea is ground zero of skincare trends. The latest rumblings? 3D face creams and washes. These are arguably created more for a visual impact and to go viral than targeting genuine skin issues – however there’s nothing wrong with adding some frivolity to your skincare routine. Especially if it’s with your cleanser, which you’re washing off anyway.
I’ve seen shaving foam cleansers – not dissimilar to the Sundae Body Whipped Shower Foam, £13 – being squirted directly onto content creators’ faces – whatever floats your boat, I guess. Then there’s cleansers containing 3D textures (they look like the balls from bubble tea) floating inside the formula. They burst when massaged in and disperse some useful skincare ingredients – the modern-day version of The Body Shop bath pearls, if you will. There are already some moisturisers available that contain encapsulated pearls of hydrating ingredients, such as Laneige Bouncy & Firm Serum, £22, and Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream, £24.50 but expect this trend to take those kind of products and super-size the texture for viral effect.
Wearable beauty accessories
Move over Labubus, 2026 is all about wearing your favourite skincare as a handbag charm. You’ve probably already spotted leather lip balm holders in the shops, but they cover up the packaging when you want to be showing it off. So now there are bejewelled universal lip balm and lip gloss lids that pretty much fit most brands, which come with a handy clip to attach to your bag.
You can already snap up Bubble Tell All Juicy Secret Lip Balm, £9, Glow Hub Hand Sanitiser Cleansing Mist, £7, which comes with stickers and charms for extra personalisation, and Ghost fragrances has just launched Ghost Mini Moon Keyring, £12 – a super cute moon-shaped keyring that comes with a travel-size bottle that fits in perfectly. Expect to see similar for your hand cream, moisturiser and more.
Glass hair
Image: L’Oréal Professionnel
We’ve had glass skin, now it’s your hair’s turn. This is about creating high-shine hair and to do that you need the correct products and the most high-shine style. First up, expect a serious increase in peptide-infused haircare this year. Peptides strengthen keratin in the hair. The stronger the keratin, the stronger the hair, which means fewer breakages. And fewer breakages means each hair strand will be smoother and shinier. Try The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum For Hair Density, £20.80, Typebea G1 Overnight Boosting Peptide Serum, £43 and L’Oreal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Professional Leave-In Mask, £30.
Glass hair will also have a knock-on effect on the styles we sport – to show off shine to the maximum, you need straight hair to allow light to bounce off the surface. So expect poker straight styles for 2026.
The blonde shade to ask for
Image: Left: Instagram (@rosiehw) and Right: Unsplash (Mathilde Langevin)
When colourists tell me that the hot new colour of the season requires minimal upkeep, I’m all ears. Step forward the blonde hue for the year, ‘British Blonde’, coined by Nicole Kahlani, consultant colourist at Hershesons in Fitzrovia. “The inspiration for this look is a young Rosie Huntington-Whiteley or Cara Delevingne in her first Burberry campaigns. It’s blonde that’s not too perfect. There are a few tones blended, but it’s really characterised by grown-out roots. It’s nostalgic enough to evoke fond memories, but not so old that it feels vintage or outdated. It creates an effortless look, making the colour appear lived-in, which is softer and more flattering, and reflective of most clients’ day-to-day style.”
The reality of this look could mean that you’re either booking in for fewer appointments to achieve that grown-out effect, or asking your colourist to not apply your highlights so seamlessly to the roots.
Skincare that supports your daily pattern
Image: Courtesy of Unsplash via Getty Images
Skincare that gets to work rejuvenating your skin while you sleep isn’t new, but in 2026, we will see a step-up in products that offer exactly what’s needed, depending on the time of day you’re using it, as consultant dermatologist, Dr Alexis Granite explains. “Innovation will align with the body’s natural rhythm in day vs night formulations that adapt to hormonal and environmental shifts. Expect ingredients like chrono-peptides, melatonin analogues and timed-release antioxidants supporting repair, defence and sleep quality.”
This is more than using a day cream and then night cream. It’s about seriously smart ingredients doing all the hard work for you. Ingredients that are able to keep on working at a consistent rate without dropping off in efficacy throughout the day or night which means you should see results from your skincare sooner as the ingredients are working harder for longer. Chrono-peptides are particularly exciting: these are peptides designed to activate or be more effective at specific times of day. And melatonin analogues are ingredients that mimic melatonin’s skin benefits (repair, antioxidant activity, sleep support) without being actual melatonin.
Short and natural nails
Images: Left: Unsplash / Oscar Ramirez. Right: Shutterstock / SeventyFour
With more and more people looking for gel manicure alternatives, perhaps it’s not surprising that one of the biggest nail trends for 2026 is keeping nails short and natural-looking. You can, of course, still have a gel manicure to achieve the look, but if you’re trying to save money or just want to give your nails a bit of a break, then there are plenty of polishes that will have you nailing the look quickly and easily.
Essie Nail Polish in Mademoiselle, £8.99, is an iconic natural shade. Nails Inc. have the most amazing range of nude shades – Caught In the Nude Collection, £8 – to suit every skin tone and Leighton Denny Semi-Sheer Nail Polish in Starkers, £12.50, allows your natural nail to shine through while making it look healthier than ever.
