The Hottest Makeup Trends Of Fall 2026 Put A New Spin On Old Favorites

Fall 2026 is a time to not entirely pull away from the old, but to create a new rendition of things. And this speaks true of makeup trends this season. Not only are the usual color palettes shifting away from your traditional warm browns and golds, but this fall, the pendulum is swinging towards cooler shades. To gain a more in-depth perspective on the makeup trends taking center stage in fall 2026, we spoke to celebrity makeup artist Caroline Hernandez for her input. 

And while some boomer beauty trends have proved their lasting power, we're actually seeing a resurgence of the makeup looks that were popular in the '90s. Though this time, we're infusing a modern twist. From the way we use makeup to shape our face, to the type of finishes that are making waves throughout social media, fall 2026 is ensuring that we leave our unique mark while honoring the past.

Forget the browns, golds, and greens that are typically synonymous with fall and turn your gaze elsewhere. This season is the time to rely on cooler shades when it comes to your makeup, so looking towards silver and light gray is the way to go. "To differentiate from the warm bronze shades we've seen, color has shifted to the opposite palette of cool taupes, slate, mushroom, and grayish brown shades, shifting to deep cool plums for deeper skin tones," Hernandez exclusively explains to Women.

However, Hernandez also notes that pastel shades are having a moment as well, from light powdery blues to lilacs. While adding such colors to your makeup routine might seem daunting at first, she suggests applying them to the lash line to make your eyes pop. And our makeup expert recommends Blend Bunny Cosmetics' Haunt Me Palette (Magnetic Pans), which is the perfect encapsulation of all the colors that are on trend this season.

While this season's hottest colors are in line with what was regularly used in the '90s, we're only using it as inspiration rather than directly copying it for fall 2026. And although the smoky eye is making a comeback, we're going for a more relaxed version of it for this season. Caroline Hernandez gives detailed instructions on how to pull off a smoky eye look with a contemporary twist, and it's the opposite of her advice in the dos and don'ts of recreating Pamela Anderson's iconic smoky eye makeup look.

Rather than opting for a liquid eyeliner, Hernandez directs our attention towards kohl pencils instead. The aim is to make everything look softer and more blended compared to the rigid lines of the traditional smoky eye. "[The eyeliner] should look cooler and more effortless than sharp and precise," the makeup expert advises. "The trick is to do one eye and blend before it dries down, then move on to the next eye." Hernandez has one go-to product in mind when executing this look, and that is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Smoke, where you'll get both quality and ease of use.

Fall 2026's makeup trends also call for greater attention to be paid to your skin. And that means having a good skincare routine and good health overall is definitely key. Fall 2026 is all about that inner glow, one that's achieved without the assistance of highlighters or shimmery eyeshadows. This skin-first ethos entails enhancing what you already have and shying away from slapping on thick layers of foundation to let the skin shine through.

According to Hernandez, this extends to what type of finish is in vogue this season. We're certainly steering away from the overly dewy or bone-dry matte looks of the past. Instead, we're favoring satin finishes, thus reviving the 'cloud skin' trend that replaced glass skin back in fall 2023. "Skin ... is looking a little more satin," Hernandez tells us. "Through the center we've seen a little more shine control, with the luminosity swept over the high points of the face to catch light and keep the dimension there." But if you're looking for a little extra glow that looks natural and not overly exaggerated, she recommends Chanel's Baume Essentiel for the job. 

With everything else leaning towards a cool-toned, icy color palette, it stands to reason that lips are going in the opposite direction. Berry lips are certainly the perfect color to finish off fall 2026's on-trend makeup look — a pop of color that instantly causes you to stop and stare. "Berry and oxblood stained lips are really big and pair perfect with these cooler-toned eyes and cheeks," Hernandez exclusively shares with Women. And one of the best berry-colored lip products on the market is MAC Cosmetics' Powder Kiss Cheek and Lip Mousse in the shade Date Night.

But it's not only berry tones that are in fashion for lips this season, because we're saying goodbye to glosses as well. In Hernandez's expert opinion, blurred, cloudy lip finishes with a sprinkle of luminosity is the lip look to aim for. And the combination of deep berry lips with the desired finish for fall 2026 can be achieved using R.E.M's Blurred Butter Lip Balm.