As a maximalist makeup lover, it brought me great joy announcing the end of the Clean Girl beauty reign at the end of last year, but what’s next? Metallic makeup!
Looking into my crystal ball – how all beauty editors foresee the upcoming trends, of course – metallic makeup has been quietly bubbling up in 2026 from the runway to your favourite celeb faces like Tyla, Hailey Bieber, Zara Larsson, Chase Infiniti and Wunmi Mosaku.
And we’re so here for it.
“What can I say, other than that it’s fun, and fun always makes its way back,” makeup artist Lara Nasamu tells Glamour on why we’re seeing the emerging beauty trend. A peek through at her Instagram feed and you’ll see just how obsessed she is. Metallic lips, lids, cheekbones and skin all look like they’ve beamed straight in from the year 3026. “There’s nothing else that gives you that immediate deep gasp – ‘ahhhh’ – moment than when you swatch something shiny,” she adds.
I similarly have found myself switching out my regular eyeliner shades – from hot pink to electric blue – for gold, silver and holographic blues, greens and purples. Inspired, in part, by the recent arrival of Half Magic in the UK. Founded by the iconic makeup artist behind Euphoria, Donni Davy, I asked her about the recent resurgence of maximalist makeup. “People want to participate in expressive, fun or colourful makeup, but they give up before they even try because they think they can’t,” she says. “That’s what really inspires me with Half Magic. I want to show them that it’s so much easier than you think; undo everything you thought about fun, creative, artistic makeup and we’ll show you how easy it is with our products.
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Among the offerings that dropped on Sephora, some of my faves are Glitterpill and Sparklestik, but the real MVP is Glitterpuck – AKA my new go-to for effortless glam. A pressed glitter that doesn’t end up everywhere, it somehow manages to survive my sweaty hooded lids and can be applied with a simple swipe of your finger. A tip I picked up from Donni, I’ve also been using a fluffy powder brush all over my body before a night out for an extra dusting of sparkle. “I don’t think in terms of rules and a lot of steps, like some makeup artists who are more traditionally trained,” Donni explains. “I really think about the human aspect of it and the chaos. Maybe you have a kid and you’re running around or you’re late and want to throw something on really quick that makes you feel like the best version of yourself.”
When it comes to nailing metallic makeup and not looking like the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, Lara suggests keeping things simple at first. “Sometimes it’s about focusing on one feature as a standout,” she says. “A metallic lip is my personal favourite, paired with a more subdued eye or vice versa with a bolder eye and a softer lip – it can be as simple as that.” Keeping things simple(ish), my day-to-day makeup has come courtesy of Glisten Cosmetics’ water-activated Wet Liners in the shades Ametrine, Blue Lagoon, Mermaid and Chameleon while the Chroma Flik duochrome liquid liners layer together beautifully to create ombre liner looks. The game-changer has been Chroma Gloss, converting me from a clear gloss girl, instead giving a hint of metallic purple (Opal), orange (Solstice) or blue (Twilight) that really come to life in the sunshine. Warning: A little goes a long way.
If you’re feeling brave, turn up the dial and “go bold”, says the makeup artist. “Taking it all over the body, the face and layering tones and metals. It’s almost like treating it like a second skin, which is what we’re seeing a lot of in the beautyscape – not knowing where the pigment starts and where it stops.” For seamless metallic finishes that blend beautifully with your skin, Lara says hydration is key. “Especially if you’re using shadows and loose pigments. Having well-hydrated, glowy, exfoliated skin allows these products to layer beautifully and further enhance the illusion of the metals. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, everything always starts with a well-prepped base.”
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Need more inspiration? From Victoria Beckham Beauty to Kosas, beauty brands across the board are bringing metallic finishes to their new releases. Lara also points to Danessa Myricks as a leader in the space. “The colour story and formulas are some of my favourites, the chromes and shimmers are insane and really bring the looks to life,” she says. “Smaller indie brands like The Pastel Roses make some of my favourite loose pigments, perfect for creating that veil of colour over the skin – mixing them with Inglot Duraline is a must.”
As always, working smarter, not harder, is the name of the game and finding ways to make your beauty products go the extra mile is perfect for metallic makeup. “I love using Isamaya Metal Lip Balm not just for a metallic sheen on the lips, but also on the skin – they give a really glossy, ethereal otherworldly glow that differs from traditional highlighter,” Lara says.
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With maximalist makeup well and truly back in our lives, experimentation and playfulness is key. Don’t overthink it! Don’t know where to start? Donni advises simply jumping in with both feet. “Leave brushes out of it for a moment and dip into products with your finger and put it on your eye. Don’t even try to watch a bunch of ‘how to’ videos, just start putting it on – whatever you like best. You have to just break in and have fun.”
