I’ve always judged the Pantone colour of the year to be way less interesting to readers than to journalists. But the 2026 winner (an unremarkable off-white called Cloud Dancer) struck me as even less relevant when trends are finally looking interesting again.
Around the time of that news, Mac named glam pop queen Chappell Roan as its new global ambassador. The appointment of Roan – all grunge glitters, colourful face jewels and clumpy mascara – celebrates the experimental, edgy and playful Mac aesthetic, and signals what may be the end of what industry figures often describe as the “beige buffet” of post-Covid fashion and beauty.
Oh, the relief in seeing the back of all-over “camel”, in enjoying makeup textures other than perfectly smooth and “glassy”, the joy in a glinty eyelid or gemstone applied haphazardly and for no other reason but fun.
Mac has the appropriate toolkit at the ready: its Connect in Color palettes (£46) contain 12 eyeshadows in textures from smooth mattes to chunky glitters in interesting, but complementary, shades (even the Unfiltered Nudes option feels edgy).
The formulas are easy enough to smoosh on carelessly with fingers and provide a stable foundation for plenty of smudgy kohl – Roan wears Mac’s sooty Feline Eye Kohl (£20).
Cool-girl brand Violette FR is also pushing this fresh, more creative approach to beauty. Its tremendous Lune Liners (£35) give a striking eye effect in return for little effort – their holographic finish means that any wobbles in your stroke don’t quite register. I’m wearing Cuivre 29 – Big Bird yellow from one angle, acid green from another – with my regular makeup, and the effect on my mood of wearing a touch of slightly silly colour to work is noticeable.
This move toward “dopamine beauty” is embodied by makeup artist and social media star Emily Wood (younger sister of White Lotus actor Aimee Lou Wood), who has built a large audience by ostensibly daubing on 1970s turquoise eyeshadow, crude swipes of canary yellow and glitter that spills over her nose, but the overall aesthetic of her Instagram grid is deceptively intentional.
Also carefully considered are the superb multi-finish palettes of US-based makeup artist Danessa Myricks, who makes glittery, chromatic and glossy eye looks seem perfectly fine for a lunch date. If you’d like her superlative Lightwork VII Freedom Palette (£142.50) you’ll need to drop serious coin, but I’m afraid I couldn’t help myself.
