Outdated Beauty Trends To Leave Behind In 2026

Every new year comes with new makeup trends, and while that's very exciting, it also means that certain older trends will be replaced. In the beauty world, fads come and go rather quickly, though there's always an outlier or two that lingers for years before finally being considered démodé. With a new year underway, we enlisted makeup artist T. Cooper, owner of Major Face, to help us understand which trends we need to leave behind and what we should replace them with, and we learned about several key shifts that will elevate your eyes, lip, and more in 2026.

Still, keep in mind that trends are always meant to serve as inspiration rather than strict rules one needs to follow. So, if one of these outdated makeup looks is a staple of yours, don't be too alarmed. After all, makeup is all about expressing yourself in ways that you like, and if that means rocking a trend that isn't the newest anymore, then so be it! With that out of the way, here's what we can expect to see less of in the world of makeup this year.

Back in 2022, we explained why you need to add baking to your makeup routine, and while everything we mentioned still holds true, especially for a full-glam moment, beauty trends have now shifted toward a more natural-looking base. "Mountains of loose powder under the eyes and around the mouth tend to settle into fine lines," T. Cooper tells us exclusively. "This technique makes the skin's texture look dry and brings attention to blemishes and dry patches. It may look OK on camera, but in real life it's a mess." This doesn't mean that you can't bake at all anymore; just be mindful of the areas you do it in, as visible or cakey powder isn't a cute look.

Instead of heavy baking, Cooper suggests a more lightweight approach, explaining that "setting makeup intentionally with light layers of finely milled powders or silky pressed powders only where needed" is the way to go. "This technique makes the skin look much more youthful and hydrated," she adds. So, while you can bake in areas you feel it's necessary, try giving a lighter approach a chance. You might just be surprised how far a little fine powder can actually go!

Super long and thick eyelashes may have been popular in the second half of the 2010s thanks to the era's bold makeup looks, but in 2026, they couldn't be more out of style. "Having thick, tightly packed lashes with heavy bands only weighs down the eye," T. Cooper explains exclusively to Glam. "Lashes like that age the face and make the eyes look small." In fact, reaching for dramatic eyelashes is one of those common makeup mistakes that leave you looking older. "All the girlies love them during the days of dramatic 2016 glam, but now feel disconnected from where beauty is headed," Cooper adds.

Now, if your natural eyelashes lack volume or definition, you can still go for falsies; just grab more natural-looking ones. Cooper explains that "lightweight, feathery lashes that open the eye and still deliver length without heaviness" are where the trends are headed. "We're beginning to see a major emphasis on lash health in beauty, which is why innovations like the Ardell Nourish Lashes line are so relevant right now," she adds. "They're infused with biotin and peptides, so these lashes improve the condition of your real lashes with each use. They come in different lengths, allowing you to still be glamorous, but the look is softer and fresher." 

Individual eyelashes or shorter eyelash strips can also create a more natural look and give you that incredible eye-lift-like effect when added just to the outer half of your eye. Alternatively, you can grow your lashes to new heights with our tips so that mascara is truly all you need in the morning.

Natural-looking eyebrows have been popular for a couple of years now, but many still remained loyal to the dramatic Instagram brows of the 2010s, embracing one of the many outdated eyebrow trends it's time to let go of. However, T. Cooper tells Glam exclusively that sharp eyebrows are a trend of the past once and for all. "Sharp, overly filled, carved out brows look artificial and completely distract from the rest of the face — no matter how pretty your makeup is," she says. "A terrible eyebrow will ruin a beautiful beat every time."

Instead of carving out your brows with concealer and filling in every inch of them with a dark shade, try to do less of everything. Our makeup artist explains that "natural, hair-like brows that follow the individual growth pattern" are what you should be striving to achieve. "Creating soft strokes, filling in subtle gaps, and having a flexible hold is the new it girl eyebrow esthetic," she tells us. "Using a brow gel, like Ardell Brow Glue, to lift and set hairs maintains their shape all day." Doesn't that just sound dreamy?

Lip liners have gained popularity in recent years thanks to stars like Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber showcasing how they apply them, and it's clear why. They add beautiful depth to your lips, so if you've been using lipstick without any liner, it's time to hop aboard the lip-pencil express. "Light lipstick colors, especially in cool tones, can look chalky on the lips without the dimension added by a deeper lip liner," T. Cooper tells us exclusively. "I call it powdered donut lips, because that look mimics someone taking a bite out of a donut and having confectioners' sugar all over their mouth." The makeup artist adds that this was a common makeup look in the 2010s, but that it has since gone out of style.

You might feel intimidated, but don't worry; lip liners are easy to use. Cooper tells us that "outlining the lips with liner and blending the lip color to appear softer" is a great way to achieve a natural and long-lasting look. "A good liner enhances the lip shape, and makes just about any lipstick shade look intentional. And it works with all finishes," she adds. Once you hop on the lip liner trend, you may just find that you can't get enough of it.

The glitter cut crease was an unforgettable era in makeup history. However, according to our expert, it's time to say goodbye to this look, at least for a while. "The OG glitter cut creases are a bit too dramatic for everyday wear," T. Cooper shares exclusively with us. Now, while this might seem obvious to some, just remember that in the late 2010s, glitter cut creases were a part of regular makeup looks — and not just those for fancy occasions. "Sometimes the cut crease was filled with glitter, and sometimes the cut crease shape was done with glitter," Cooper adds, explaining that "beauty has turned down the volume quite a bit" since then.

Instead of a dramatic cut crease with glitter, the makeup artist suggests going for a more seamless look. Cooper tells us that "blended shadows, shimmer, glossy lids, and neutral smokey eyes" are where makeup has shifted in 2026. "The new eye look is effortless, multi-dimensional, and able to transition from day to night."