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The 5 Biggest Beauty Trends of New York Fashion Week, From Watercolor Eyes to Shimmering Metallics
The 5 Biggest Beauty Trends of New York Fashion Week, From Watercolor Eyes to Shimmering Metallics
India A made a steady start to their innings before rain brought an early end to the second day in Lucknow
Fashion Month has officially kicked off—just as it always does—in New York, where the city’s runways set the stage for the season. And there’s just something about spring that brings a fresh, exhilarating energy. On the beauty front, the usual suspects set the mood for spring/summer 2026, but with a twist: At Collina Strada and Ulla Johnson, eyes were awash in ethereal pastel hues, while at Khaite and Tory Burch, glossy, slicked hair signaled rawness and rebirth. Injecting edge into nature’s fresh start is the ’90s, reigning once again with moody browns inspiring evocative eye and lip moments at Grace Ling and Proenza Schouler. Elsewhere, chromatic touches—from gold foil lips at Luar to prismatic glitter washes at Diotima—brought head-turning drama.
In New York, watercolor-like washes swept across faces, creating a soft, dream-like effect. It began at Collina Strada, where makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench applied whisper-light pressings of iridescent pink, blue, and gold shadows, blended in a delicate C-shape from lids to undereyes. Other standout moments followed: at Anna Sui, Pat McGrath teased a forthcoming eye launch with “desert skies at twilight” eyes in shades of blue and purple, complete with sky-blue lashes. At Ulla Johnson, Romy Soleimani, drawing inspiration from Helen Frankenthaler’s Western Dreams, veiled eyes in ethereal tones of gold, rose, and powder blue (in Sisley Phyto shades Glow Gold, Bois de Rose, and Silky Sky). Finally, at Sandy Liang, Charlie Riddle gave models painterly lips using Stila Convertible Color in Lilium, Peony, Camellia, and Petunia, blending out the edges for a soft-focus feel.
From hyper-slicked to windswept, wet-look hair returns every spring, embodying freshness and the spirit of renewal. At Khaite, hair legend Guido Palau swept model lengths into high-shine slick backs, with hair trailing down the back for a “structural silhouette that also felt airy and achievable.” He used the TRESemmé Extra Hold Mousse and A-List Collection Workable Hairspray from root to ends before molding the sloped shape. At Tory Burch, hair was slicked and side-swept, with feathery, face-framing pieces adding a cool wispiness.