As the new season takes hold, AW26 is setting a moodier tone for beauty. Across the runways, makeup shifted towards deeper pigment, diffused definition and a stronger emphasis on the eyes, with berry, plum, espresso and oxblood emerging as the season’s defining shades.
Few people are better placed to translate these trends into real life than Sharon Drugan.
The Dubai-based makeup artist, creative director and educator has spent more than 15 years working across celebrity, editorial and luxury beauty. Her portfolio includes Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Tyra Banks, alongside work with names including Dior, Net-a-Porter and Christian Louboutin.
Below, she shares five ways to adapt AW26’s key beauty trends for everyday wear:
A Quieter Kind of Glow
After several seasons of high-shine, glass-like skin, luminosity is becoming more considered for AW26. Skin remains healthy and radiant, but glow is concentrated rather than spread across the entire face.
“In Dubai, the heat will naturally create shine throughout the day, so I am very specific about where I add luminosity. I keep it on the cheekbones and temples, while the forehead, nose and chin remain fresh. You still have beautiful light in the skin, but it does not look wet.”
For a more refined finish, Sharon recommends applying foundation in thin layers and building coverage only where it is needed. Rather than powdering the entire face, press it gently into the T-zone, leaving the outer areas of the complexion with a natural sheen.
Blush Softens the Sculpted Cheek
Bronzer remains part of the AW26 beauty story, but the heavily sculpted cheek is giving way to softer, more diffused colour. Cranberry, rose, muted berry and terracotta tones appeared across the runways, alongside fresh washes of pink.
“Bronzer and blush do different jobs, so I wouldn’t say one has replaced the other. I still use bronzer to add warmth to the complexion, but the heavily carved cheek feels less current. Blush can give the face shape without leaving an obvious contour line.”
Sharon recommends placing blush slightly higher on the cheek and blending it towards the temple for a lifted, modern effect. When using bronzer, allow the two shades to meet softly rather than creating distinct bands of colour.
The Smoky Eye Loses its Perfect Edges
The smoky eye is back for AW26, with espresso, plum, charcoal, gunmetal and deep green offering softer alternatives to solid black. This season, however, the look feels less constructed, with pencil sitting close to the lash line, shadow softly diffused and edges deliberately imperfect.
“A smoky eye does not need several dark shadows covering the entire lid. I prefer to work a creamy pencil directly into the roots of the lashes and soften it with a small brush. Keeping the depth close to the lash line gives the eye definition without making the makeup feel heavy.”
For a softer interpretation, Sharon suggests leaving some of the natural eyelid visible and gradually building colour around the outer corner. Choose brown, plum and charcoal to create depth without the severity of black.
Berry Moves Beyond the Classic Autumn Lip
Deep lips are another defining beauty look for AW26, with berry, raisin, wine and oxblood appearing in everything from blurred stains to full, opaque colour.
The key to making these traditionally autumnal shades work in Dubai is adapting the finish to the occasion.
“A deep lip can be worn in completely different ways. For daytime in Dubai, I like berry or wine pressed into the lips, so the colour looks softer. For evening, a full oxblood lip against clean skin can look incredibly beautiful. The shade may be traditionally autumnal, but the finish changes how it feels.”
For an effortless daytime stain, Sharon recommends pressing colour into the centre of the lips and blending it outwards with a fingertip. For evening, define the shape with lip pencil and allow the deeper shade to become the focal point, keeping the rest of the makeup clean.
Let One Feature Take the Focus
With AW26 offering plenty of statement beauty – from smoked eyes and cranberry cheeks to oxblood lips and metallic shadow – Sharon’s final advice is perhaps the simplest — resist the temptation to wear every trend at once.
“If the eyes are smoky, I would keep the lip quieter. If the lip is deep, the eyes may only need mascara and a little definition. Strong blush, a dark eye, a berry lip and glossy skin together can quickly overwhelm the face. Choose what you want people to notice first and build the rest of the makeup around it.”
For Sharon, the autumn beauty reset doesn’t call for a full rethink. Sometimes, it’s simply a case of going a shade deeper, softening the finish or changing where the product sits on the face. Small shifts, but enough to make a familiar makeup look feel right for the new season.
