Let 2026 be the year you shine.
We’ve stepped into a brand-new era—a fresh chapter, a clean slate—one that’s entirely ours to shape and create in whatever way feels right. This is about authentic self-expression, feeling inspired in the present moment, and letting your unique beauty radiate in ways that genuinely make you feel incredible.
The days of chasing every trend just to feel relevant or validated? Officially over. Instead, think of beauty—makeup, color, and skincare—as your personal playground. A space for curiosity, creativity, and joy. We’re living in a time with access to so many beautiful, innovative products that you can truly become the Michelangelo of your own canvas.
So ask yourself: Who do I want to be right now?
What does this version of me look and feel like?
Once you answer those questions, the fun really begins.
Make this the year you feel less overwhelmed by what everyone else is doing, and far more excited about stepping into a more confident, intuitive, and upgraded version of yourself.
I’m deeply passionate about self-expression and helping people feel empowered in the knowledge that they already have all the tools they need to become their best selves. My role is simply to offer guidance—to help fine-tune your vision and elevate it into a true work of art.
Whether your style leans Minimalist, Confidently Chic, Ageless & Radiant, or Unapologetically Bold, consider this your invitation. Read on for thoughtful tips and curated product suggestions designed to refine your look, amplify your confidence, and help you wear your chosen aesthetic with ease—and a very big smile.
THE MINIMALIST (The 5 Minute Face)
This no-makeup makeup look is all about transparency and barely there understated beauty. The goal is to enhance—quietly. Light, intentional touches of color create the illusion of fresh, beautiful skin without ever looking like you’re wearing makeup. Mastering this approach means understanding how to use color and texture in ways that feel seamless and undetectable.
Always start with skincare. Well-prepped skin is non-negotiable—it hydrates and softens, creating a balanced canvas and a natural glow. Instead of a full face of foundation, try spot-concealing only where needed, using a small, semi-firm brush or your fingers to paint away and neutralize discoloration. The result is more natural—and much faster.
Brush brows into place with a good brow gel, or even slightly disrupt them for a relaxed, effortless feel. For a healthy, fresh glow, tap a pinky/peach cream or liquid blush onto the apples of the cheeks, sweep it lightly across the bridge of the nose, and add a touch to the eyes—and even the lips—for cohesion.
Finish with a whisper of mascara if you like, just enough to give the eyes a subtle lift and a well-rested result.
Feeling this vibe? Try these ultra-natural must-haves…
Sheccid Beauty Collections Timeless Beauty Face Serum
Cutting-edge technology meets ancient botanical wisdom in this refined serum elixir. Cooling cucumber and calming chamomile soothe the skin, while Hyaluronic Acid 4D and Aloe Vera deliver deep, lasting hydration. Niacinamide, Vitamin C, and Spirulina work in harmony to brighten, balance, and even the complexion.
I especially appreciate the brand’s commitment to conscious beauty and thoughtfully curated ingredients. For added support, Snow Mushroom and hydrolyzed proteins help soften the skin and lock in moisture. The result is calm, hydrated, luminous skin—perfectly prepped for overall well-being and a beautifully makeup-ready canvas.
Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica
It’s easy to understand why this high-tech concealer has earned its devoted following. On contact, it seems to hover weightlessly over the skin, diffusing imperfections and creating a softened, airbrushed finish that still looks entirely like skin. The effect is seamless, luminous, and quietly transformative.
Fermented Arnica works to calm visible redness, while Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide infuse the skin with moisture and light, leaving it plump, smooth, and refreshed. The texture melts on contact, blending effortlessly and building exactly where you want it—never settling, never feeling heavy. Dab it, let it fuse with the skin, and move on with your day, knowing everything looks beautifully in place.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze® Gel Extreme-Hold Clear Wax-Gel
I love a great brow gel, and this one is a true staple in my kit. I’ve used it countless times on clients—never flaky, never drying. The sleek comb applicator gives you complete control, allowing you to guide brow hairs in any direction until the shape feels just right.
Once you’ve perfected the look, the award-winning hybrid gel-wax formula sets everything in place, locking brows into a clean, groomed finish that lasts. Effortless, precise, and natural results.
Goop Beauty Colorblur Glow Balm in Velveteen
With a beautiful and very wearable range of shades to choose from, this multi-purpose balm is exactly what you need to create there but not there sheer color. So nourishing and hydrating, thanks to Sea Buckthorn, Safflower, and Vitamin E Oils,
Apply to cheeks and lips for a little blurring tint in no time.
Urban Decay Tube Job Lash Augmenting Tubing Mascara
This new tubing mascara wraps each lash in weightless color for a “your lashes, only better” effect. Infused with peptides to nourish and castor oil to strengthen, it conditions as it defines. The precision comb applicator separates and coats every lash for natural, clean, refined results—no effort required.
Say goodbye to smudging, flaking, crumbling, and clumps. In their place: lashes that look longer, lifted, and beautifully defined for up to 24 hours. And when it’s time to remove, it couldn’t be easier—just add warm water and gently massage as the tubes slide off effortlessly.
CONFIDENTLY CHIC
Polished, elegant, timeless—a makeup look that is all about enhancing features and skin with intention. Start with flawless, hydrated skin—spot-conceal or use a light-to-medium coverage foundation, blending seamlessly into hairline, jaw, and décolleté. Light powder under the eyes and around the nose keeps shine in check without masking radiance.
Shape brows softly for balance and symmetry, then add a modest wash of taupe, gray-plum, burgundy, bronze, or charcoal across lids and lightly under the lower lash line. Smudge a slightly darker tone into the base underneath your upper lash line for subtle definition, or in the waterline for a bit more impact, and finish with a couple of coats of mascara.
For cheeks, choose a nude pink shade or bronzer that complements your eyes and lightly sculpts cheekbones. Define lips with a neutral liner like a nude-rose-brown shade, fill in with a fresh rose/mauve/nude lip color and you are good to go.
Love the look? Try a few of my faves below…
Suqqu The Foundation SPF 30
A favorite among celebrities like Margot Robbie and Miranda Kerr, this exquisitely rich Japanese cream foundation feels as decadent as it looks. Its gold-standard ingredients work in harmony with the skin’s natural oils, creating a flawless, luminous complexion with a refined, sun-protected lustrous finish. This is makeup at its most polished—and that’s exactly how your skin will look.
Merit Solo Shadow Cream Eyeshadow in Iris
These beautifully crafted shadows feel velvety to the touch while delivering impeccable, crease and water-resistant color with a soft, matte or luminous finish. They blend effortlessly, allowing you to build dimension with ease.
While every shade is stunning, Iris is a standout—a silvery heather-plum that creates the most refined, elegant smoky eye. Use a whisper for softness, or layer for depth without ever looking overdone.
Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Stick Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner + Brush in Fluid Fig
I’m already obsessed with these new liners. Their sleek, angled applicator is everything—designed to let you create in multiple ways, from bold, graphic lines to tiny, precise fill-ins, which is exactly what this look calls for. The liquid formula glides on effortlessly, depositing rich color with ease, while the soft brush on the reverse side blends and perfects the finish.
Whether you gravitate toward classic shades like Melted Onyx and Brown Noise, or reach for my personal favorites Fluid Fig and Wine Spill, the result is eyes that look defined and accentuated.
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick in Petal
This luxurious color stick glides on with a velvety-smooth feel, subtly sculpting and enhancing the cheeks with the most natural wash of color. Petal is fresh and timeless and it effortlessly ties the entire look together, leaving you looking polished, radiant, and just incredible.
Makeup By Mario Ultra Suede® Sculpting Lip Pencil in Dimitri
Smooth application, spot on neutral and vibrant color range, effortless blendability and staying power…these matte lip liners have everything you need to create a more defined and fuller pout. With a dual-ended brush for easy blending and lip-lock technology to keep your liner from migrating or disappearing, you have everything you need to finish off your look.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Lipstick in Sway
Housed in a sleek, seductive tube, this richly pigmented balm glides on effortlessly, leaving lips feeling nourished and replenished. The Pomegranate Jojoba Complex, along with Rosehip and Avocado oils, works to soothe, protect, and condition. I chose Sway for its lovely, versatile berry-pink tone—universally flattering, endlessly wearable, and simply gorgeous.
AGELESS & RADIANT
This look spans all ages and focuses on sheer edges, combining neutrals with fresh hints of color accents and subtle glow without weight—makeup that enhances and never overpowers. By choosing hydrating creams and liquids, you instantly create a youthful, radiant finish with minimal effort.
Start with a smart, technology-driven priming foundation that adds warmth, coverage, and skincare while smoothing and blurring the skin in a single step. For the eyes, glide on a dewy stay-proof liquid shadow that brightens immediately and stays flawless all day. Follow with two to three coats of mascara to lift and define, jiggling the wand mostly at the base for maximum results.
Apply a neutral to slightly bright moisturizing, blurring blush to cheeks for a soft, natural contour. Fill in sparse brows with delicate strokes from a brow powder or pen, then tie it all together with a lip liner and color that mirrors your natural tone or use your cheek color for a perfectly polished result. Finish by highlighting strategically—inner eye corners to open up eyes, cheekbones, brow arch to lift, and nose bridge—for a soft, luminous glow.
If this look speaks to you, try these timeless staple pieces…
Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation
Age-defying ingredients combined with white tea and vitamin E deliver light-diffusing pigments, antioxidants, and advanced blurring technology. The skin appears softly perfected and beautifully even, with natural coverage that feels weightless. The result: luminous, flawless skin that lasts all day.
Lisa Eldridge Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow in Emily
I love a great stay-proof liquid eyeshadow, and this one from celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge is a winner. It’s universally flattering and, from a color perspective, this luminous taupe tone instantly brings light to the eyes while subtly enhancing their shape. It’s completely neutral, so it works beautifully with any cheek or lip combination. What I also love is the effortless blendability—it becomes seamless and airy on the skin and requires zero maintenance throughout the day.
Lancôme Lash Idôle Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
Lancôme makes great mascaras and this one is no different…A fantastic mascara that leaves no lash uncovered thanks to its curved precision brush. Every stroke lifts and separates even the tiniest hairs while defining and adding depth. Wear one coat for a subtle, barely-there look, or build it up with a few more for added emphasis. Either way, the clump-free gel formula stays perfectly intact all day—until you’re ready to take it off.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Hope
These cheek colors created by beauty founder Selena Gomez are wonderful for a couple of reasons—they feel completely weightless and deliver either a sheer matte or radiant finish without ever looking overdone. Every shade is flattering and brings out a natural, youthful flush. One of my favorites is Hope, simply because it’s one of those universally wearable shades (nude mauve) that beautifully mimics the skin’s own natural rosy glow.
Dior Rouge Dior Stage Lipstick in 120 Iconic Rose
Plush, hydrating pigments housed in a sleek, jet-black signature Dior tube—this lip color is all about luxury and beauty. Lips feel soothed and cushioned as the color glides on, and it surprisingly lasts for hours. Try my pick, Iconic Rose, or choose another shade that resonates with your look. You truly can’t go wrong—your lips will always look polished and beautifully cared for.
Violette_Fr Baume Shine Universal Highlighter Balm with Squalane
Your face comes alive instantly with this beautiful highlighter balm. Infused with skin-nourishing ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, vitamin C, and squalane, it helps keep skin moisturized and smooth. What I love most is the satin-like sheen—it never looks oily or overdone. The result is a natural, luminous glow that makes the skin appear fresher, more radiant, and beautifully lit with every application.
UNAPOLOGETICALLY BOLD
Go big—or go home. You’re just as comfortable creating a sleek winged liner as you are experimenting with deep lip shades or vibrant eye colors. The bolder, the more artistic—the more authentic your expression. I love that, because this is the most powerful way to show who you are.
That said, even the boldest looks benefit from balance. Start with a smooth and even hydrated base that allows bright shades to pop without feeling heavy. When playing with vibrant eyes or lips, focus on one feature at a time to prevent the look from tipping into costume territory. Build color gradually—layering intensity gives you control and keeps the artistry polished.
Textures make all the difference. Pair a perfectly painted deep matte crimson lip with immaculate dewy skin for total glam with an edge, or apply a delicate matte cat liner alongside a glassy dark lip to create depth and dimension. Playing textures off one another delivers powerful results and makes a strong statement—without ever overwhelming the face.
Finally, set your look with a light finishing spray to lock everything in place. Tiny touches—like a subtle glitter accent, or a pop of color on the lashes—bring the entire look together, making it confident, intentional, and unapologetically you.
Looking for more makeup impact? Give these a try…
Nars Powermatte Long-Lasting Lipstick in Notorious
Saturate your lips with this stunning collection of bold shades, including some of the most incredible reds I’ve seen. While the finish is matte, lips feel comfortably moisturized and stay perfectly intact thanks to the transfer-proof formula. No muss, no fuss—just alluring lips that command attention in the most sophisticated way possible.
Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen Liquid Eyeliner Duo for Ultimate Precision
Draw exquisite lines with this dual-sided calligraphy pen and liquid liner brush, all in one. Designed to give you ultimate control, it deposits the deepest black pigment exactly where you want it—whether that’s a flicked-out wing, a subtle accent, or a touch of added detail.
Bakeup Beauty Tarantula Lash Mascara
Ginormous, thick lashes are a cinch with this mega mascara. Created by red carpet makeup maven Jo Baker and loved by many celebrities, it delivers bold drama without the dreaded flakes or crumbles. Layer as much as you like and watch your eyes go from ordinary to extraordinary in seconds.
Sarah Creal No Further Questions High Glide Peptide Lip Gloss in My Pleasure
This luscious bronze lip gloss is infused with powerful peptides, algae extract, and other nourishing ingredients that do everything from creating a high-shine, multi-dimensional finish to moisturizing and smoothing the lips as you wear it. It never feels sticky—just rich color and beautifully comfortable, as if your lips are perfectly prepped and ready to be kissed.
RMS Radiance Lock Setting Mist
Protect your makeup creations for up to eight hours with this radiant, weightless setting spray. Powered by clean ingredients and plant-based technology, it seals in color, adds moisture, and helps prevent fading. I especially love that it’s alcohol-free, so skin stays hydrated and replenished. Your makeup won’t budge—and your skin will thank you.
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Makeup Artist & Beauty Expert @robinschoenmakeup
Learn more about Robin’s talented work at RobinSchoenMakeup.com
