The New Year brings an abundance of new beauty trends, some we embrace, others we shelve.
Based on conversations with experts and close tracking of social feeds, there's a clear shift in makeup for eyes, lips, and cheeks, and skincare is becoming more sophisticated in its ingredient selection and, most importantly, results. Fragrance leans sweet but sophisticated rather than schoolgirl.
To get across just a taste of what will tempt you in 2026, here are some of the best trends to try, by editor Trudi Brewer.
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PDRN will dominate skincare
PDRN, or polydeoxyribonucleotide, is a DNA fragment, often extracted from salmon sperm. This ingredient has been part of skincare routines and facial treatments for a few years, thanks to K-Beauty, but this year, its popularity is on the rise. Praised for boosting collagen production, enhancing the skin’s glow, and providing anti-ageing benefits. PDRN has been a staple in skin serums and is now available in professional clinics as skin-boosting tweakments. PDRN injectables are expected to be a hot topic this year, as they offer noticeable results when injected just below the skin’s surface.
For those hesitant to use animal-derived ingredients, vegan PDRN alternatives are becoming increasingly more popular. These alternatives are bioengineered from plants and microbes to meet growing demand for cruelty-free, hypoallergenic options. In the case of Lancome’s new Absolue Longevity The Soft Cream, the PDRN is derived from rose DNA and created through a special extraction process. The brand claims it will enhance skin regeneration, revitalise skin cells, and ultimately stimulate natural collagen production.
Exosomes
No longer a beauty buzz, this trend is here to stay, and the science behind it is sublime. Exosomes are tiny vesicles that naturally occur in the body and are released by cells to carry proteins, DNA, and RNA to other cells. Essentially, they are messengers that allow your skin cells to communicate with each other and tell them how to function at peak. Once harnessed in skin care, they act as stimulators to repair tissue and boost collagen - the cushion and scaffolding that you need to keep your skin firm. But exosomes are tricky, little numbers. Since only human-derived exosomes are effective in human skin, there has been discussion about how exosomes are sourced, their origin, age, and the growth environment of the cells used to produce them, which are critical to their quality. As this trend grows, you can expect more brands to use bioengineered exosomes, which deliver similar results. One standout is Dermapen Gold with MG-EXO-Skin, used with microneedling, that delivers peptides, proteins, and growth factors deep into the skin, where remarkable regeneration happens. This treatment, which combines hyaluronic acid with copper peptides to rejuvenate and restore the appearance of ageing or damaged skin, is ideal for all skin types and ages and works effectively on the face, scalp, and other areas of the body. Another in-office skin treatment gaining momentum is AnteAGE PEARL, used in microneedling and combining exosomes (human cell-derived) with PDRN.
90’s makeup
Rebellion is in the air for makeup looks in 2026, with a resurgence of '90s grunge and 2010s-era indie sleaze. Embodied by stars like Billie Eilish, she emphasises embracing her perceived ‘flaws’, opting for smudged eyeliner instead of a single coat of mascara, and using blotted longwear lip stains instead of precise lip liner - both easy to achieve and look effortlesly lived in. In a beauty world where increasingly filter-perfect, AI-enhanced ideals bombard us daily, it's refreshing to embrace a ‘come as you are’ attitude, especially for those craving a more relaxed and authentic approach to beauty.
When it comes to eyeshadow shades, we favour chocolate brown over black and a pink nude for the lips. This combination is both modern and flattering on the skin, suitable for any age. You can also expect glacier-inspired tones in shadows, even frosted finishes are making a comeback on beauty counters, including icy cream colours and cool-toned liners with a shot of shimmer, adding a modern nod to makeup this year.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa, $64. There are 18 shades. HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Le Monster Lip Crayon, in Peony Matte, $45. There are 10 shades. MECCA MAX Zoom Liner in Aqua, $21. There are 12 shades. Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumising Mascara, $57. There are four shades.
Velvet Matte
Like skinny jeans, matte is back - but not as you knew it in the 2010’s. It’s a much more luxurious finish, with cutting-edge skincare ingredients in the formulas. The skin finish with the new matte foundation is sheer, not flat. Blush is going nowhere, thank goodness. But where to apply it is evolving, think intentional placement that acts as the anchor for your entire makeup look.
Sweep colour up to the temples for a natural flush, and on the apples of the cheeks. The finishes a soft-focus matte rather than full shimmer, but they are still easy to blend and are long-lasting. Lipsticks, too, are leaning less toward gloss; the new matte colours have a slight sheen that keeps lips looking luscious rather than opaque.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Blurring Second Skin Matte Foundation, $86, there are 25 shades. Tower 28 GetSet Blur + Set Matte Blush, $43, in Long Beach Iced Tea. There are six shades. NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation, $82; available in 36 shades. Morphe Lip Filter Hydroplump Soft Matte Lipstick, in Petal, $29. There are 12 shades.
Experts over influencers
There is a shift from generic influencers to niche experts and authentic creators, driven by audience demand for real value and professional advice, over entertainment, especially with AI saturation. Beauty brands are shifting toward deep, consultative partnerships with skilled professionals such as dermatologists, doctors, and medical educators, fostering long-term brand building over quick, paid posts. We, for one, are pleased that experts are back in the spotlight after the list of not-so-great recommendations. The worst trend of 2025, called out by dermatologists, was ‘natural sunscreen contouring’: Selectively applying sunscreen to contour the face while leaving other areas exposed to the sun. Dermatologist, Dr Brendan Camp, comments, “Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed areas of skin to protect it from damaging ultraviolet radiation. Selectively applying sunscreen predisposes untreated areas to sunburn, sun damage, and increases the risk of later developing skin cancer.” Another is DIY beef tallow moisturiser. “There’s no real benefit to it over a traditional moisturiser,” says dermatologist, Dr Muneeb Shah, who’s also known as the popular TikTok DermDoctor. We are not so kind. Who in thier right mind would rub animal fat on their face? First up, it stinks. A recipe for disaster, carrying risks of bacteria, especially for those with oily or acne-prone skin. “Whether it helps hydrate the skin is controversial, but it certainly acts to occlude the skin, trapping in oil, dead skin, and bacteria, which is a recipe for inflammation and breakouts,” says Dr Brooke Jeffy, who sits on the ELLE Beauty Advisory Board. Another is the excessive exfoliation trend. Beauty experts will tell you that over-exfoliating with multiple products and harsh ingredients can strip the skin of its natural oils, compromising the skin barrier and leading to inflammation, dehydration, and ultimately more breakouts. Finally, microneedling makeup? The trend of using microneedling tools to infuse makeup deeper into the skin. “Using small needles to push makeup further into the skin creates a longer-lasting semi-permanent tattoo and should absolutely be avoided, says dermatologist Dr Blair Murphy-Rose. If you need skincare advice, a beauty therapist is a great place for glow-giving guidance.
Edible scents
From sweet caramel to tempting marshmallow, sugary scents, or gourmand fragrances, as experts call them, are not fading anytime soon. While lovely, they lean toward sophistication, rather than schoolgirl, and the price tag reflects that. They are even creating a new fragrance category named ‘neo-gourmands.’
This fragrance type blends classic edible notes such as vanilla and caramel with unexpected earthy, woody ingredients, including coffee, sea salt, cedar and fig. Still comforting yet more complex, many feature bioengineered ingredients to create a scent that is not overly sugary. If you like your scent sweet, in 2026 you will be spoilt for choice.
BORNTOSTANDOUT Nuts Eau de Parfum, 50ml, $373, ingredients: pistachio, almond, caramel, rum, and honey, vanilla, sesame, onka, tobacco, and white musks. Kayali Freedom Musk Latte, 41 Eau De Parfum, 10ml, $65, ingredients: Bergamot, pink pepper, mandarin, cinnamon, café latte, Turkish rose, lavender, and chocolate musk. The 7 Virtues Buttercream Haze Eau De Parfum, 50ml, $184, ingredients: Buttercream icing, maple caramel crème, and whipped vanilla and tonka bean. DedCool Mochi Milk, 50ml $176, ingredients: Rice milk, marshmallows, peach nectar, vanilla bean, Jasmine petals, and white musk.
Here’s what’s big in the year ahead.