London Fashion Week: makeup trend takeaways

With ‘dirty’ looks hinged on the themes of fashion and decay, the return of Burberry and Dylon’s make-do-and-mend pop-up, London Fashion Week was all about layers, sustainability and innovation across a diverse talent pool. But what makeup trends did it signal for 2026? 

The first clue was the relative absence of bright and bold eye looks. Lauded as ‘incoming’ for the past 12 months, this is a trend that simply hasn’t materialised. Instead, what we saw was mostly smokey and sultry or sheer plain with the emphasis shifting to the lips. In heavier eye looks, there was yet another renaissance of the thick rimmed eyeliner look - and, yes, mostly in black. Lashes were natural and lifted, but not too exaggerated. Could this signal a move away from dramatic false eyelashes?

A recurring theme throughout London Fashion Week was contoured cheeks. As well as contour, blush was a definite feature, along with simple dustings of ‘believeable’ bronzer. Nothing overtly ‘orange’.

When it came to the lips, there was a mixture of muted pink nudes (coupled with bold, sultry eyes) and brazen, deep reds (worn with minimal eye makeup). This is a continuation of an enduring trend and there was more than one nod to the bitten cherry theme that’s emerging right now. However, matte was notably back. There was also a hint of two-tone lips, another predicted trend but one that has actually taken off. 

Staged between September 18 and 22 across numerous venues, London Fashion Week gave us a glimpse of what established designers and emerging talent have in store for next spring. The British Fashion Council collaborated with the event’s organisers to ensure designs that focussed on global collaboration and cultural relevance were among the highlights. 

Featured brands and designers included Harris Reed, Chopova Lowena, Erdem, Anamika Khanna and Conner Ives. Burberry’s return, which included an exhibition, was the defining moment of the show’s final day. 

Blush is still a hot trend.

Makeup surprises at London Fashion Week

With layered, crisp white and earthy creations taking centre stage, anything bold was reserved for the occasional colourful fabric. Personally, I was surprised but also not surprised that elaborate and bright eye looks weren’t a common thread. Aside from being time-consuming to create, the average makeup lover just hasn’t switched on to this ever ‘about to trend’ non-trend. There is a part of me that feels a mild sense of disappointment (I mean, who hasn’t got a bright or neon palette that they never use?) but I’m mostly relieved. Creative makeup can be a beast to conquer.

On the lip and cheek fronts, I was again surprised but not surprised to see matte stains and blush bang on the money. In fact, blush is now so ‘back’ it is a real staple of most looks. It also ties in rather nicely with the dirty and decayed theme that turned heads. The muddier looking the better, by all accounts. Blending may not take forever, if this cheek look takes off. 

Sultry, smokey eyes with enhanced nude-look lips.

The two biggest surprises, for me, were the heavy eyeliner looks (which I absolutely love) and, wait for it…. Glowy skin. Many of the looks we saw on the catwalk were elevated by exceptional skincare - a trend that continues to thrive, thanks to a strong Korean influence. Demi-glow and glass skin were both present, along with ashen, porcelain matte. Naomi Campbell, who opened Richard Quinn’s show, looked simply stunning with plump, glowy skin that defied her years. Of course, you don’t have to have great skin to replicate London Fashion Week looks; there are plenty of primers and setting sprays that will camouflage any overt dullness. And, don't forget, there's always lashings of hyaluronic acid to plump, plump, plump!

Overall, I think what we saw is exactly where the makeup market is headed. We’re going to see a continuation of the big blush trend, heavy, seductive eyes (brace yourself for yet more nude palettes) and, where the eyes are less intense, extreme lip shades. 

For me the makeup was 'do-able' rather than exciting, but that’s not a bad thing. Bottom line: we’ll all be perfectly capable of replicating those 'dirty' and flirty looks when we drape ourselves in layers next spring. If you’re not convinced, you’ve got plenty of time to practise!