Back in September, New York Fashion Week set the beauty trends we’ll be seeing this upcoming spring and summer. “We saw the 1990’s gray taupe and nude shades surface. The skin is usually sheer, effortless and approachable,” director of artistry at MAC Cosmetics Romero Jennings tells ESSENCE. Meanwhile, hair was used in ways we’d never expect: turning into hats, accented with feathers, and smacked with clay.
But, naturally, fashion week is always one step ahead (and trends are revamped every season). With New York Fashion Week’s fall-winter 2026/27 season starting February 11, the shows are looking six months into the future, predicting the trends we’ll see this coming fall.
Ahead, backstage beauty veterans Romero Jennings and Lacy Redway predict the biggest trends we’ll see this NYFW FW26.
Mood-Setting Blush
From Pat McGrath’s legendary dollish blush to blush as contour, 2025 was all about flushed cheeks. And, so is 2026. “This season, makeup will serve as both an accessory and a vibe setter, with blush as one of the standout features,” predicts Jennings, who’s keyed makeup for NYFW shows like Prabal Gurung, Theophilio, and Kim Shui.
This season, he expects us to get familiar with seeing the MAC Strobe Beam Liquid Blush on the runway. “It’s lightweight, adds color, structure and is the most used blush in my professional makeup kit,” he says. But, don’t expect to see it the same every time. Whether he’s using his fingers or a #109 contour brush, “placement techniques vary, from traditional application on the cheeks to mimicking bronzer on the upper cheekbones, temples, hairline, and nose.”
Traditional Sleek Styles
“I expect traditional sleek styles to return and really stand out,” says fashion’s hottest hairstylist Lacy Redway. “Sleek hair is always a go-to during fashion weeks, as it creates a silhouette that doesn’t disrupt or take away from the designer’s artwork.” You can expect to see her use TréSemme’s Instant Fix Styling Stick for the most sleek styles.
And, like Paris Couture Week, “seeing how lead artists find ways to showcase hair details within updos is always exciting.” According to Redway, of course that includes braids.
Timeless Skin
“Skin is in and trending,” says Jennings. From the magnified mannequin skin to plump cloud skin and reflective glass skin, we’re in a skincare renaissance. At New York Fashion Week, Jennings says skin will remain central yet “complemented by references to futurism and 1990s trends.” Think: cold gray tones in new textures. And, paired with sculpted skin, “expect larger, organic eyeshadow shapes paired with muted lips.”
Whimsical Braids
According to Dazed, 2025 was the year we embraced whimsy. We saw it in the rise of dillydallying, the Labubu craze, and in beauty, the return of hair fashion in shows like Guvanch and Collina Strada. This season, “I want to see and help bring more braided and whimsical styles that feel a little more like fantasy to my shows but are still easy to recreate at home,” Redway says.
As for what she’s going to be reaching for the most? TRESemmé’s A-List Collection Workable Hairspray and Lacquer Shine Spray.
Mannequin Lips
“The lip moment might be either barely there, mannequin-lips or high gloss patent shine,” Jennings says. The return of MAC Pro Lip Erase, first launched in the early 2000s, means an update on concealer lips. “The timing is perfect for it since many are looking to pare down and simplify makeup looks while celebrating DIY,” he says. “It can be work alone to create mannequin lips (muted-skin-toned lips) or under lip products to enhance color, texture and is long lasting.”
Interesting Cuts
On the front row, bobs and short cuts have long been a hit. For one, this past couture week, we saw a rise in avant-garde eye-shielding fringes. Now, Redway says she hopes to see the same mood of interesting cuts and bobs at New York Fashion Week. “Bobs are taking over everywhere right now and what better place to launch the newest iteration of the cut than on the runway, a place that trends tend to start first,” she says.
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