WGSN colour insights: SS26 beauty trends

WGSN's Beauty Colour Forecast is an edit of the 30 colours that are set to have the strongest relevance across all beauty categories.  

These colour choices are based around the trend agency’s ‘STEPIC’ framework, which involves analysing trends in society, technology, the environment, politics, industry and creativity to pinpoint the colours and palettes that will “reflect future drivers, innovation and consumer behaviours shaping 2026.” 

WGSN has officially named Transformative Teal​ as its colour of the year for 2026, which it has dubbed: “the year of redirection.” 

According to WGSN beauty strategist Megan Bang, SS26 beauty consumers are set to “seek new approaches to colour and healing through unexpected colour combinations and glimmer-inducing finishes.”  

“Primal earthen tones will feel regenerative, while psychedelic brights represent new forms of mysticism. Tactile jelly brights and healing pastels will bring levity, while rich darks offer sensual mystery," she continued. 

Beauty colour trends to watch for SS26​

Bang talked us through some of the key colour stories that are predicted for the SS26 season.  These included: 

Otherworldly wellness tones ​

“Evoking an alien bathhouse, contrast colour of the year ‘Transformative Teal’ with charged restful hues and pops of jelly mint,” said Bang.  

Suggested product applications for the cosmetics industry are skin care, bath and body, product packaging and semi-permanent hair colour.  

Key finishes would be matte, semi-matte, metallic, semi glossy and semi sheer. 

WGSN considered this to be an “early stage colour story” that could be tested “in small volumes.”  

Inspire multisensorial joy through jelly brights  ​

“Update last season’s candy-coated mystical brights with experimental textures and playful applications,” she said.  

The jelly brights are playful, off-kilter brights that can be “grounded with cherry lacquer.” 

Key words included: unusual youthful, bouncy, directional and Gen Z; while product applications could include semi-permanent hair colour, eyeshadow, lipstick, nails, packaging and makeup tools. 

Suggested key finishes included: soft-matte gloss, translucent and shimmer. 

In terms of a trend investment projection, WGSN viewed this as an “emerging colour story” that could be “monitored for future potential.”  

Spark luxury with Olive Stone shimmer and heritage reds ​

This is a “new take on gold that is enriched by classic reds,” explained Bang.  

Key words for this colour trend included: sensual, classical, evening and metallic 

Potential product applications could be colour cosmetics products such as eyeliner, lipstick, lip stain, nails, and eyeshadow. 

The key finishes would be metallic, shimmering, satin and semi-matte and WGSN viewed this as a “perennial colour story” that could be optimisised with continual innovation.  

Activate mystery through sensual tones and rich darks  ​

“Inspired by old answers to new questions, this mystic palette fuses nightlife energy with alt-wellness aesthetics,” said Bang.  

Key words for this colour trend are electric, psychedelic and spiritual​.  

Meanwhile product applications could include fragrance, lipstick, bath & body, wellness, packaging, home fragrance and body care tools.  

Suitable finishes are glossy, latex, shimmer, soft-matte and matte. 

More SS 2026 trends ​

Along with these aforementioned colour stories, WGSN also referenced the following as colour trends to observe for SS26:  

• Invigorating botanical hues that are “versatile and nostalgic” 
• Soft summer snow with “icy hues that are healing and cyborgian” 
• Sensual mystic tones, which WGSN dubbed “unusual wellness tones” 
• Crafted classic hues, which WGSN called “a palette that feels inviting and commercial.”