2026’s Biggest Beauty Trend? According to Marc Jacobs, Romanticism

Marc Jacobs wants romance. But in Jacobs’s world, romance doesn’t mean fluffy florals, a hand graze, or a yearning stare. For 2026, romance is about adding levity, “soft chaos,” and most importantly, valuing unique identities. This Jacobs-specific version came through in the beauty looks created by Pat McGrath and Duffy for the designer’s runway show at the New York Public Library last night.

“Marc was obsessed with simple, absolute beauty,” McGrath said backstage. “We used sheer blush, clumpy lashes, and subtle, powdery washes of baby blue or baby lilac on the lids. It’s a nod to classic cosmetics imagery, but seen through Marc’s lens, where romanticism meets rebellion. It’s modern romanticism, a kind of soft chaos that’s utterly captivating.” To help each model’s natural features radiate, McGrath treated every face like a fresh canvas, infusing each with a youthful glow, a modern edge, and a touch of “rawness.” This contrast created fresh, luminous looks for each model.

They appeared as if they had just run through a meadow to meet their first love. They looked like they were flushed from being noticed by a crush. They were romance personified. McGrath called it “poetic.” Though the looks for all 19 models were slightly different, they were cohesive—dewy skin, bright inner corners, and lots of blush. Each model had a playful, cherubic end result.

“We did FetishEYES Mascara on top and bottom of the lashes, soft contouring, and our gorgeous Glow Balms on the cheeks,” McGrath explained. From there, she mixed Legendary Long-Wear Lip Liners in the shades Contour and Rebel Rose, then blotted them to create a blurred-out, bitten lip.

For the hair, uniqueness reigned—Duffy even went so far as to call his creations an “army of individuality,” but with romantic elements to tie into Jacobs’s vision. Duffy played with classic beauty, using roller sets, big hair accessories like bow accents, and braids to create undone waves and lots of length. At another show, these elements might have looked overplayed. “In Marc’s world, it doesn’t look so classic,” Duffy said.

All of this together served romance, with a modern twist. It’s a nice reminder that the most loving gesture might be celebrating individuality—though a healthy dusting of blush never hurts.