After several seasons dominated by ultra polished skin and barely-there makeup, this season's shows introduced something slightly more rebellious. Eyeliner was smudged rather than perfectly drawn, hair moved naturally instead of sitting rigidly in place and glitter appeared in flashes across eyelids, cheekbones - and even through hair. Importantly, none of it felt theatrical for the sake of it.

Across Paris, Milan, London and New York, beauty reinforced the mood of each collection. At Vivienne Westwood, kohl rimmed eyes added a sense of punk romance; sleek ponytails mirrored the balance of strength and softness at Victoria Beckham, meanwhile the glimmers of glitter and chrome were a welcomed addition at Chanel.

The result? Beauty trends that felt expressive, yet, surprisingly wearable. Autumn/Winter 2026’s beauty looks are about to have major off the runway moments.

If one makeup look dominated the season, it was the return of smudged eyeliner. No, it was not the hyper smoky eye of the early 2010s - instead, this season, artists leaned into liner that looked imperfectly perfect and deliberately lived in.

At Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood in Paris, eyes were rimmed with inky black kohl pressed deep into the waterline and softly smudged around the lash line - perfectly echoing the house’s punk heritage. While Comme des Garçons decided to push the look further with several models walking the runway with heavy black pigment circling the entire eye, creating a dramatic gaze that truly anchored the collection’s eclectic sculptural silhouettes.

In London, David Koma approached the trend with a more refined hand. Liner was concentrated through the waterline to intensify the eyes, while the rest of the look remained minimal.

At Givenchy, Lucia Pieroni’s smudged liner look contrasted beautifully with the collection’s vivid colours, grounding the looks with a darker beauty moment. While leaning fully into 90s nostalgia, Gucci paired their smoky eyes with high-shine lacquered lips that felt editorial yet wearable.

Even Hermès, known for their understated beauty, embraced the trend their way. In place of jet black kohl, artists opted for a soft grey wash along the lash line to subtly define the eyes without disrupting the house’s infamous elegant restraint. For real life wear, the appeal is obvious. A soft kohl pencil pressed along the waterline and gently smudged with a fingertip instantly creates the same effortless effect. Just remember, precision is not the goal here - a slightly imperfect finish is exactly what makes the look feel the way it should.

The dominant hairstyle of the season, the low ponytail. Sleek, minimal and quietly elegant - but this time with a slight edge.

At Victoria Beckham in Paris, hairstylist Anthony Turner created one of the most memorable versions of the look. There, hair was parted deeply to one side before being gathered loosely at the nape of the neck. Turner made sure to keep the crown smooth while the lengths retained a natural softness, creating a style that felt polished without all of the control it usually holds. He described the intention as effortless and feminine, “almost as if the models had already been to the after party”.

A similarly refined interpretation appeared at Issey Miyake. Working with Dyson tools, hairstylist Holli Smith created slick low ponytails with controlled volume and luminous shine. Its clean silhouette mirrored the beautiful architectural precision of the collection.

Jean Paul Gaultier introduced a subtle twist - styling ponytails slightly off centre to create an asymmetrical effect that added a little more personality to the minimalist look.

The key takeaway is refreshingly simple: a strong parting, smooth roots and a relaxed ponytail instantly delivers understated runway elegance. All you have to do is do it your way.

At the very opposite end of the spectrum, several designers embraced big, textured hair inspired by the glitz and glamour of the 1960s.

At Vivienne Westwood, hairstylist Ramona Eschbach looked to iconic actress Romy Schneider for inspiration. Hair featured very low side partings, backcombed roots and brushed out curls that created height and movement, while maintaining softness around the hairline. The result felt nostalgic but not overly styled - glamorous tresses that still moved naturally.

At Chloé, Anthony Turner took a more organic approach. Hair was styled to look as though it had been lifted by the wind. There he used blasts of air to create flyaways and an airy texture. The finished result was light, fluffy and beautifully undone.

Meanwhile at Ujoh, softly textured curls framed the face with relaxed elegance, reinforcing this season's shift away from hyper-controlled styling. Volume is back, but it is softer, looser and far less rigid than before.

Glitter returned this Autumn/Winter, but this time with a refined twist. At Diesel, eyelids were coated in a bold sparkle that perfectly matched the brand’s rebellious and experimental energy. The effect sparkled under the runway lights, creating a beauty moment that was truly impossible to ignore.

Vivienne Westwood also embraced the shine, layering it across eyelids creating a beautifully textured, almost celestial effect.

At Chanel, the look took on a more poetic turn. Fine glitter and chrome was combed through hair and washed lightly across the eyelids. Meanwhile at Coperni, shimmer was used sparingly across lids and cheekbones creating an otherworldly futuristic glow.

It's easy to go overboard with this trend, so it translates best through subtlety. A shimmer shadow across the eyelids or an iridescent highlighter along the cheekbones can deliver the same luminous effect without the post-party glitter fallout.