The biggest beauty trends of 2026, from scent stacking to AI-customization and alien core

Niche fragrance continues to expand as consumers seek more specific, layered scent identities and catalogues of perfumes built around mood, time of day and context. Reports linking emotional wellbeing to sensorial cues suggest that fragrance will play a heightened role in routines that aim to influence mindset as much as perceived attractiveness. In this environment, Pinterest Predicts beauty trends include scent stacking, where several complementary perfumes, hair mists or body products are applied together to build a customised trail.

Data-led insights into ingredient popularity and mood associations are guiding fragrance houses and suppliers towards olfactory profiles that speak to comfort, escapism or focus rather than traditional gendered structures. Limited-release lines, locally inspired accords (think city exclusives) and smaller-batch collaborations sit alongside more functional scent formats that promise calming or energising effects, showing how beauty trends in fragrance straddle both personal expression and wellness language.

Sensorial wellness is emerging as a strong focus, with ritual-based products that target emotional wellbeing as much as skin condition, according to Cosmetics Design Asia. Textures, scents and application formats are being designed to create a specific atmosphere, whether that is calming, uplifting or grounding, often supported by references to neuro-cosmetics and mood metrics. These beauty trends reflect the growing commercial value of wellness-aligned routines, with some analyses reporting significant expansion in this segment of the beauty market.

Masks, cleansers and body care that cite mood-enhancing scents, cocooning textures or self-massage protocols are positioned as daily or weekly rituals that structure time and punctuate the day. Brands working with sensorial ranges that align with “neuro beauty” concepts show how formulations can be pitched as supportive tools for stress management in addition to aesthetic maintenance, adding another dimension to contemporary beauty trends.

Pinterest Predicts says colour cosmetics for 2026 will lean into frosted finishes, jelly textures and what has been described as an alien core aesthetic, where slightly surreal, reflective or future-facing effects replace flat mattes. Trade show showcases of inventive textures suggest a growing interest in hybrid products that sit between skincare and make-up, such as bouncy blushes and cushiony highlighters designed to catch light while maintaining a fresh skin finish. These details feed directly into beauty trends centred on experimentation with light, gloss and translucency.

Rather than full-scale maximalism, these looks are often paired with relatively pared-back bases, letting specific elements like a jelly blush or metallic wash on the eyes act as focal points. The alien core influence can mean glassy lids, chrome-like accents or subtly distorted contours that read more as mood than costume, adding texture and depth to beauty trends without relying on heavy application.

AI-led product personalisation is increasingly embedded into how beauty is discovered, bought and adjusted over time, particularly among digital natives. Data platforms that track ingredients, reviews and usage patterns enable brands to refine recommendations, shade matches and routine builders for consumers who are used to tailored feeds and interfaces. This shift underpins beauty trends that treat AI as a background utility rather than a novelty feature, Consumer Edge reports.

Apps and tools that analyse skin images, questionnaire responses or historical purchases feed into adaptive routines where formulas or product combinations evolve based on feedback loops. For Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers, this can normalise a dynamic relationship with brands where products are expected to update as conditions and preferences change, reinforcing beauty trends that prioritise responsiveness and ongoing optimisation.

Asian beauty continues to gain visibility and influence globally. Cosmetics Design Asia reports that the Asia-Pacific region already holds over 30% of the beauty and personal care market value and is projected to grow further through 2029. Korean beauty in particular is expected to see export growth into markets such as the US, supported by interest in gentle, hydration-led routines and concepts like glass skin that foreground barrier support. These patterns indicate that Asian-origin formats and philosophies will remain central to international beauty trends.

Reports of rising Chinese cosmetics exports and increased representation of Korean brands at major industry fairs confirm that more Asian players are shaping the texture, format and storytelling language of global launches. Herbal-inflected actives, layered routines and a focus on both sensoriality and efficacy are likely to inform how non-Asian brands design their own ranges, as beauty trends move towards a more visibly cross-cultural aesthetic and ingredient mix.

These evolving beauty trends of 2026 show a market where science meets sensoriality, setting the stage for discerning consumers seeking efficacy alongside enjoyment. From AI-led personalisation in skincare routines to the global rise of Asian beauty innovations, the sector adapts to data-informed demands that prioritise resilience and ritual. Brands that align with these shifts will define the next wave of beauty trends in skincare and beyond.

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