By India Espy-Jones ·Updated February 5, 2026 /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Back in September, New York Fashion Week set the beauty trends we’ll be seeing this upcoming spring and summer. “We saw the 1990’s gray taupe and nude shades surface. The skin is usually sheer, effortless and approachable,” director of artistry at MAC Cosmetics Romero Jennings tells ESSENCE. Meanwhile, hair was used in ways we’d never expect: turning into hats, accented with feathers, and smacked with clay. 

But, naturally, fashion week is always one step ahead (and trends are revamped every season). With New York Fashion Week’s fall-winter 2026/27 season starting February 11, the shows are looking six months into the future, predicting the trends we’ll see this coming fall. 

Ahead, backstage beauty veterans Romero Jennings and Lacy Redway predict the biggest trends we’ll see this NYFW FW26.

Mood-Setting Blush

From Pat McGrath’s legendary dollish blush to blush as contour, 2025 was all about flushed cheeks. And, so is 2026. “This season, makeup will serve as both an accessory and a vibe setter, with blush as one of the standout features,” predicts Jennings, who’s keyed makeup for NYFW shows like Prabal Gurung, Theophilio, and Kim Shui.

This season,