Right now, beauty fans aren't just delighting in party makeup looks – they're already welcoming in the new season trends. More specifically, the lipstick trends 2026, which are set to feature on next year's style agenda.
To bring you a guide that's truly expert-led, Glamour reached out to top makeup artist Lisa Caldognetto to get her thoughts on the key lipstick trends for the year ahead. Generally, she says, the next few months are going to see us be more creative with lipstick looks - from the shape, to the colour and even playing with different textures.
So, whether you’re a red lipstick fan or die-hard nude lipstick wearer, these are the trends to save now and recreate later.
Lipstick trends 2026
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The ‘90s influence has been clear in fashion and beauty for a few years now, along with a more recent sprinkling of the ‘00s. This pairing is set to shape next year’s best lipstick trends: “We’re seeing this huge, nostalgic, Y2K–90s [influence] meeting a modern look,” says Lisa. “I think we’re going to see a lot of lip liner still in mauves and browns with a defined shape, and it’s still going to be really glossy and build volume.”
She adds that nude and pastel glosses are also coming into the mix, but “that lip liner just gives it some kind of weight.”
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Cherry has been everywhere in beauty this autumn–winter, but it’ll be time to usher in a new colour palette in 2026: berry tones.
“We’re going to see berry-toned lips everywhere – rich plums, deep reds, burgundies with that almost vampy edge,” says Lisa. “This is inspired by Wednesday and Frankenstein, and Proenza Schouler and Prabal Gurung’s SS26 fashion week shows. It’s going to be a moody vibe.” You can also create a “glazed berry” effect by layering gloss over the top, Lisa adds.
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Super soft-focus, blurred lips with that lived-in, slightly smudgy finish are all the rage for 2026. “We’re going to continue to see those very Japanese and Korean-inspired makeup styles, where everything is very blurred and soft,” predicts Lisa. “It feels really natural and effortless. I think it's going to be dialled up a little more [so think] hydrated lips with plumpness. It plays with youthfulness and that’s why it’s such a pretty, easy, ‘just woke up like this’ kind of vibe.”
Ensuring your lips are in good health is essential to pull this one off – keep one of the best lip balms by your bed and apply every night to stave off flakes and cracks.
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At the other end of the scale, ultra-defined lips with crisp, clean and sharp edges are also going to be a trending look for 2026. “There’s going to be a lot of sculpting within the lips,” Lisa confirms. “You might see a lot of lip liner to give definition and more graphic features, creating a pointed cupid’s bow as a real point of interest within the makeup. This can work in an array of textures.”
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We’re also branching out from traditional lipsticks, liners and glosses to play with texture. Lip stains will be an even bigger trend next year, while we’ll also see brands embrace more unique textures and formats.
“We’re seeing more and more lip stains,” says Lisa of the current makeup launches. “Some brands have almost a felt tip lip liner; we’ve also got the Wonderstain blue lip stain.” Refy recently launched its cream lipstick with a rollerball-meets-doefoot applicator, while Maybelline’s Vinyl Ink features a long-wear, high-shine effect.
