Top 44 Makeup & Cosmetics Trends (September 2026)

Makeup & Cosmetics Industry: 2026's Defining Movements

CAGR = compound annual growth rate

We rebuilt this list on July 13, 2026 from our live trend database, the same feed that powers the table above. The headline: fragrance is now the loudest category in beauty search, clean and vegan formulas are posting some of the fastest growth on record, and tinted SPF has quietly become a base-layer staple. Nails are booming again on press-ons, a new wave of celebrity cream complexion products led by rhode is reshaping the face category, and global aesthetics from K-beauty to gyaru are pulling in a wider audience. Every search-volume and growth figure below is pulled from that live data.

If you want to explore more trends like this across categories, sign up for Rising Trends and unlock the full experience.

---

1. Fragrance Takes Over Beauty Search

Fragrance is the loudest category in beauty right now. The broad term "fragrance" pulls 135,000 monthly searches and is up +49% year over year, but the real story is how the language has splintered. "Niche scents" has climbed +124% to 40,500 searches, "unisex fragrance" matches that pace at 33,100 searches (+124%), and value hunters have pushed "perfumes affordable" up a remarkable +666% to 22,200 searches. At the premium end, "luxurious perfume" is up +235% at 40,500 searches.

Perfume has become a discovery category, and shoppers no longer type "perfume" and stop there. They search by house, by note profile, by price tier, and by gender-neutral positioning.

Why Fragrance Is Booming

Scent is surging because:

• Fragrance wardrobing: Consumers now own a rotation of scents for different moods and seasons rather than one signature bottle
• Niche and unisex normalization: Genderless and independent perfume houses have moved from cult status to the mainstream search vocabulary
• Affordable discovery: Decants, samples, and value brands drove "perfumes affordable" up +666%, opening the category to first-time buyers
• TikTok scent reviews: Perfume review culture turns individual bottles into viral, searchable moments
• Gifting and self-purchase: Fragrance travels well as both a gift and an everyday treat, keeping demand steady year round

What's Gaining Momentum

Fragrance (135,000 searches, +49% YoY) – The base category term keeps climbing as scent becomes a bigger share of beauty spend.

Niche Scents (40,500 searches, +124% YoY) – Independent and artisanal houses are the fastest-growing corner of the perfume search world.

Unisex Fragrance (33,100 searches, +124% YoY) – Gender-neutral scent is now a default expectation rather than a subcategory.

Affordable Perfumes (22,200 searches, +666% YoY) – Value-driven discovery, decants, and dupes brought a wave of new buyers into fragrance.

Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume (60,500 searches, +234% over three months) – A designer house showing sharp fresh momentum as its signature bottles trend again.

Maison Margiela Replica (33,100 searches, +124% over three months) – The memory-driven Replica line keeps converting scent-story browsing into search.

Key Players

• Scentbird – Subscription and discovery model that lets shoppers sample before committing
• Kayali – Layerable, gourmand-forward scents built for fragrance wardrobing
• Lattafa – Affordable Middle Eastern perfumery driving the value tier
• Snif – Modern unisex fragrance with a try-before-you-buy model

---

2. Clean, Vegan, and "No-Makeup" Formulas

Formulation is now a search term of its own. "Vegan mascara" has exploded to 27,100 monthly searches, up more than fifteen times year over year (+1594%), and "vegan foundations" has climbed more than twelvefold to 9,900 searches. The minimalist aesthetic carries the rest: "makeup minimalist" is up +524% at 18,100 searches, "clean makeup" is up +236% at 22,200 searches, and "clean beauty brand" has jumped +123% over the past three months to 18,100 searches. The classic "no makeup makeup" look holds steady at 22,200 searches (+83%).

Shoppers increasingly cross-check ingredients before they buy, and the high-volume "ewg" term (90,500 searches) shows how many are running products through independent safety ratings.

Why Clean and Vegan Win

Ingredient-first makeup is surging because:

• Ingredient transparency: Consumers want to know exactly what is in a formula, and vegan and clean labels answer that in a single word
• Skincare-makeup blur: A minimalist face relies on good skin first, so lighter, cleaner formulas fit the routine
• Rating literacy: Tools and databases marketed around safety scoring push shoppers toward "clean beauty brand" searches
• Cruelty-free as default: Younger buyers treat vegan and cruelty-free formulation as a baseline, not a premium add-on
• Effortless aesthetic: The "no makeup makeup" look keeps demand tilted toward sheer, skin-like products

What's Gaining Momentum

Vegan Mascara (27,100 searches, +1594% YoY) – The single fastest-rising eye search this year, pairing plant-based formulas with everyday performance.

Vegan Foundations (9,900 searches, +1275% YoY) – Base makeup is following mascara into vegan territory with breakout growth.

Makeup Minimalist (18,100 searches, +524% YoY) – The pared-back routine is now a search intent, not just an aesthetic.

Clean Beauty Brand (18,100 searches, +123% over three months) – Shoppers are searching for whole brands they can trust rather than one-off products. The same brand-first search is rebuilding the shelf below the neck too, which we cover in skincare trends.

No Makeup Makeup (22,200 searches, +83% YoY) – The enduring soft-glam base look keeps pulling steady, growing volume.

The eye is where this minimalism shows up most sharply: read our breakdown of the ghost lashes trend, the mascara-free look that has now peaked in July two summers running while the maximalist lash terms fall.

Key Players

• ILIA – Skin-first clean makeup that helped define the category
• Tower 28 – Sensitive-skin-friendly, clean formulas with a cult following
• Kosas – Hybrid makeup built around skincare ingredients

---

3. Tinted SPF Becomes the New Base

Sunscreen has quietly turned into a makeup category. "Supergoop sunscreen" pulls 90,500 monthly searches and is up +234% over the past six months, "kopari sunscreen" has surged +853% over six months to 18,100 searches, and "ultra violette sunscreen" is up +125% over the past three months at 8,100 searches. The generic "tinted sunscreen" term holds 49,500 searches, up +50% over six months, as products marketed to protect and blur in one step replace foundation for a lot of shoppers.

The appeal is a single step that is marketed as both a skincare and a base-makeup move, which fits neatly into the minimalist routines driving the rest of the category.

Why Tinted SPF Is Surging

The tinted-SPF wave is building because:

• One-step routines: A tinted, sun-protective base is marketed as coverage and daily SPF in a single product
• Skin-first mindset: The clean-girl and minimalist looks reward a natural, luminous base over heavy foundation
• Format innovation: Newer serums, sticks, and fluids feel like skincare rather than traditional sunscreen
• Shade inclusivity: Broader shade ranges make tinted SPF a realistic foundation replacement for more people
• Social proof: Dermatologist-adjacent creators keep daily SPF front and center in beauty content

What's Gaining Momentum

Supergoop Sunscreen (90,500 searches, +234% over six months) – The brand that helped make daily SPF a beauty step rather than a beach product.

Kopari Sunscreen (18,100 searches, +853% over six months) – One of the freshest movers in the category, riding tinted and body SPF interest.

Ultra Violette Sunscreen (8,100 searches, +125% over three months) – An Australian "skinscreen" label breaking into the wider conversation.

Tinted Sunscreen (49,500 searches, +50% over six months) – The generic term keeps growing as SPF-with-coverage goes mainstream.

Key Players

• Supergoop – Category leader that turned daily SPF into a beauty routine
• Kopari – Coconut-based skin and sun care with fast-rising search demand
• Ultra Violette – "Skinscreen" hybrids blending SPF with skincare finish

---

4. The Nail Category Reloads on Press-Ons

Nails are one of the highest-volume beauty searches of the year, and the format has shifted. "Press on nails" commands 246,000 monthly searches, up +49% with the same pace over the past three months, as reusable, salon-look sets go mainstream. "Fast drying nail polish" is up +83% at 49,500 searches, indie polish label "mooncat" holds 74,000 searches and is up +83% over the past three months, and quick-cure system "dazzle dry" adds another 74,000 searches (+22%).

The through-line is convenience without compromise: press-ons and fast-dry systems deliver a salon result at home, which is exactly where the growth is concentrated.

Why Nail Culture Keeps Growing

The nail resurgence is happening because:

• Salon look at home: Press-ons deliver intricate, gel-style sets without an appointment
• Speed matters: Fast-drying and quick-cure formulas remove the biggest friction point in at-home manicures
• Indie polish loyalty: Niche brands like Mooncat build passionate, collectible followings around limited shades
• Reusability and value: Reusable press-on sets stretch a single purchase across many looks
• Highly shareable: Nails photograph and film well, feeding a constant loop of social inspiration

What's Gaining Momentum

Press On Nails (246,000 searches, +49% YoY) – Reusable, salon-look sets are now one of the biggest nail searches on the internet.

Fast Drying Nail Polish (49,500 searches, +83% YoY) – Speed is the selling point as shoppers chase quick, smudge-free at-home manicures.

Mooncat (74,000 searches, +83% over three months) – An indie polish brand with breakout fresh momentum and a collectible shade range.

Dazzle Dry (74,000 searches, +22% YoY) – A quick-cure, long-wear system bridging salon results and home use.

Key Players

• Mooncat – Indie polish label driving collectible, community-led demand
• Olive & June – At-home manicure system and press-on leader
• Dazzle Dry – Quick-dry, long-wear polish system for salon-grade results

---

5. Celebrity Cream Complexion Rewrites the Face Category

The face category has moved from powder to cream, and founder-led celebrity brands are leading it. "rhode bronzer" has broken out to 12,100 monthly searches, up +656% over the past three months alone, while "rhode pocket blush" is up +174% at 22,200 searches. "danessa myricks blurring balm" matches that pace at 40,500 searches (+174%), and "westmore beauty body coverage perfector" is up +400% over three months at 40,500 searches. Even the broad "luxe foundation" term has broken out to 165,000 searches as a brand-new keyword. The prestige end of that same shift is ranked on our luxury trends page.

Cream and liquid complexion products win because they layer over minimal skin without the cakey finish of traditional powder, which fits the dewy, skin-like look everything else in the category is chasing.

Why Cream Complexion Is Winning

Cream and liquid face products are surging because:

• Dewy over matte: Cream blush, bronzer, and balm deliver the lit-from-within finish that defines current makeup
• Founder-led hype: Celebrity brands like rhode turn single product drops into instant, searchable launches
• Skin-like layering: Sheer, blendable formulas sit naturally over tinted SPF and minimal base
• Multi-use appeal: Blush-and-bronzer sticks and balms double as lip and cheek products for on-the-go routines
• Blurring finish: Balms and perfectors are marketed to soften texture without heavy coverage

What's Gaining Momentum

rhode Bronzer (12,100 searches, +656% over three months) – A breakout product search that captures the founder-led launch effect in real time.

rhode Pocket Blush (22,200 searches, +174% YoY) – Compact cream blush turning into a repeat-purchase staple.

Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm (40,500 searches, +174% YoY) – An artist-brand hero product built around a soft-focus, skin-like finish.

Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector (40,500 searches, +400% over three months) – Body-coverage complexion crossing over from infomercial to fast-rising search.

Half Magic Beauty (8,100 searches, +84% over three months) – A rising complexion-and-color brand gaining fresh momentum.

Key Players

• rhode – Founder-led brand turning cream complexion drops into search events
• Patrick Ta – Artist-led glam brand anchoring the premium cream category
• Danessa Myricks – Multi-use, artist-built complexion products
• Half Magic Beauty – Rising complexion and color line

---

6. Global Beauty Aesthetics Go Mainstream

Beauty search is increasingly borderless. Korean retailer "olive young" pulls 246,000 monthly searches and is up +82% over the past three months, while the broad "k beauty products" term is up +519% at 9,900 searches. Japanese street-style "gyaru makeup" holds 40,500 searches (+82%), and South Asian body art is surging: "simple henna designs" is up +309% over the past three months at 49,500 searches, with "simple mehndi designs" up +123% over three months at 18,100 searches.

Global looks and rituals are no longer niche interest searches. They are mainstream inspiration, pulling shoppers toward specific regional aesthetics, retailers, and techniques.

Why Global Aesthetics Are Spreading

Borderless beauty is growing because:

• K-beauty retail access: Retailers like Olive Young make Korean routines and products easy to search and buy internationally
• Aesthetic subcultures travel: Looks like gyaru spread through short-form video far beyond their origin
• Ritual and occasion: Henna and mehndi searches spike around celebrations and as temporary body art
• Technique curiosity: Shoppers search specific regional methods, not just products, to recreate looks at home
• Cultural discovery: Social platforms surface global beauty traditions to audiences that would never have found them otherwise

What's Gaining Momentum

Olive Young (246,000 searches, +82% over three months) – The Korean beauty retailer is a fast-rising global discovery destination.

K Beauty Products (9,900 searches, +519% YoY) – The category term is climbing sharply as Korean routines go mainstream again.

Gyaru Makeup (40,500 searches, +82% YoY) – A bold Japanese street-style aesthetic finding a new international audience.

Simple Henna Designs (49,500 searches, +309% over three months) – Minimalist henna is one of the freshest movers in beauty search.

Simple Mehndi Designs (18,100 searches, +123% over three months) – Occasion-driven body art with strong, growing seasonal demand.

Key Players

• Olive Young – Korea's dominant beauty retailer and a global K-beauty gateway
• Laneige – Flagship K-beauty brand anchoring the skincare-makeup crossover
• Sephora – Global retailer surfacing regional aesthetics to mainstream shoppers

---

Summary

The makeup and cosmetics landscape of 2026 reveals an industry in motion. Whether shoppers are building a fragrance wardrobe (135K searches), switching to vegan mascara (27.1K searches, +1594%), replacing foundation with tinted sunscreen (49.5K searches), applying press on nails (246K searches), reaching for rhode bronzer (12.1K searches, +656% over three months), or exploring olive young and global aesthetics (246K searches), the common thread is personalization, skin-first formulas, and discovery.

The winning approaches in cosmetics share these characteristics:

• Skin-first formulas that blur the line between makeup and skincare
• Ingredient transparency through clean, vegan, and independently rated labels
• Convenience without compromise, from press-ons to one-step tinted SPF
• Founder and community pull, where a single drop or aesthetic becomes a search event

For entrepreneurs and investors, the data points to several high-growth opportunities: niche and affordable fragrance, vegan and clean formulations, tinted SPF hybrids, reusable press-on systems, cream complexion products, and globally inspired beauty for a borderless audience. See how Rising Trends helps you find trending beauty products before they peak.