{"id":1762562,"date":"2026-02-10T22:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T19:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1762562"},"modified":"2026-02-10T22:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T19:45:00","slug":"dark-romance-is-the-seasons-hottest-beauty-trend-with-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1762562","title":{"rendered":"Dark Romance Is the Season\u2019s Hottest Beauty Trend\u2014With Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/media.allure.com\/photos\/698b737df8a137750616d5af\/16:9\/w_1280,c_limit\/dark%20romance%20lead.jpg”]<\/p>\n

\n
\n

We are in the throes of a romance resurgence: Readers are devouring love stories en masse (romance was one of the most-consumed audiobook genres on Everand and Spotify in 2025), and the genre is inspiring big-screen adaptations (like the upcoming The Love Hypothesis,<\/em> starring Lili Reinhart). People are also finding love in places they never expected (like hockey rinks, thanks to Heated Rivalry<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Yes, reading romance is hot right now in more ways than one, and it\u2019s showing in the latest beauty trends too. With the much-anticipated releases of Wuthering Heights,<\/em>Dracula: A Love Story,<\/em> and Practical Magic 2,<\/em> hair and makeup are leaning toward the \u201cdark-romance\u201d aesthetic for 2026. But unlike the dark-romance trope in novels and fanfiction, which centers on taboo relationships and morally gray characters, these looks are less about shock value and more about heightened emotion. They imply physical intimacy in some way: tousled hair, a blushy blush, and smudged liner\u2014a good, old-fashioned romp (or the thought of one).<\/p>\n

But the inspiration for the dark-romance beauty trend goes beyond today\u2019s love-story-heavy zeitgeist. Joseph Carrillo, a New York City-based makeup artist, sees it as a collective desire for escapism. \u201cThe world is in chaos,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re tired. We\u2019ve been living with hyper-edited faces and overdone routines for years. Romantic makeup lets people look human again. It\u2019s about mood, feeling, identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Devin Toth, a New York City-based hairstylist, adds that the renewed appetite for romance reflects a longing for connection. \u201cPeople are tired of feeling so detached,\u201d he says. \u201cThey\u2019re ready to embrace desire and beauty in real life again.\u201d<\/p>\n

We\u2019re in our yearning era, folks. Here\u2019s how it\u2019s showing in our hair and makeup.<\/p>\n

Makeup<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dark-romance makeup isn\u2019t about depth of color, though it could literally be dark, if you so desire. It\u2019s about the mood. \u201cIt\u2019s emotional, not theatrical. Dark, but soft,\u201d says Carrillo, who sees it as \u201ccheeks flushed but not contoured, and lips that look kissed, washed with gloss or softly stained.\u201d<\/p>\n

Margot Robbie\u2019s makeup in Wuthering Heights,<\/em> by hair and makeup designer Si\u00e2n Miller, captures this perfectly. Robbie\u2019s character, Cathy, appears with soft, balmy lips and noticeably flushed cheeks. \u201cWe wanted a weather-beaten look for the characters,\u201d Miller previously told Allure<\/em>.<\/em> She used Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, Merit Flush Balm, and Pat McGrath Labs Divine Cream Blush on Robbie\u2019s cheeks throughout the film. Robbie\u2019s blush during the press tour also has this vibe, but in a more wearable-for-everyday way.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"darkromance<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of Warner Bro. Pictures<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"darkromance<\/span><\/div>\n
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

For lips, Carrillo recommends dabbing on Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Tint Oil in Affection for a sheer, comfortable wash of color. \u201cThink bitten, blurred, effortless\u2014never lined or trying too hard.\u201d Carrillo says that if you decide to opt for a more literal take on the trend, make sure your lip look still appears a little imperfect. He recommends berry, wine, oxblood, and deep rose-colored products or “anything with warmth or translucency so it still feels romantic,” he says.<\/p>\n

You can also look to past runways for inspiration, particularly Di Petsa\u2019s for spring 2025, Badgley Mischka fall 2023, and Who Decides War fall 2023, where models walked down the runways with stained, smudgy lips, and flushes that looked like they were born from fervor.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"dark<\/span><\/div>\n
Launchmetrics<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"dark<\/span><\/div>\n
Launchmetrics<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

These looks occasionally edge into goth territory (at the end of last year, Pinterest predicted \u201cvamp romantic\u201d looks\u2014gothic hair and smudged-kohl smoky eyes\u2014would take off in 2026), but the makeup we\u2019re discussing here isn’t as starkly contrasting (or as spooky). The biggest difference between goth and dark romance comes down to complexion. Nirvana Jalalvand, the makeup artist behind Jenna Ortega\u2019s Wednesday Addams, says she approached the moody, macabre teen’s complexion with cool contrast tones. \u201cI don\u2019t warm up the skin at all,\u201d she says. \u201cThere\u2019s no blush\u2014it\u2019s literally just the base and then the contour.”<\/p>\n

The choice to play up the cooler and lighter tones of Ortega’s skin also helped create a<\/strong> \u201cmore-powdered look,\u201d that’s quintessentially goth, says Jalalvand. It’s a major departure from the blushy, post-hookup complexion associated with dark romance. Carrillo notes that while dark romance is still moody, it should feel fresh. \u201cSkin should look alive and luminous,\u201d he says. Carrillo suggests using Glossier Cloud Paint Plush Blush in Plume or Glow Recipe Dewy Flush in Watermelon \u201cif you want it to feel fresh and juicy\u2014like you just felt something.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Eyes are also approached differently. While gothic eye makeup can appear severe (\u00e0 la the graphic liner looks that Cassandra Peterson wore as Elvira or the sharp shadow shapes of Juju and Gilli), dark-romantic eyes skip \u201charsh edges and heavy mascara,” says Carrillo. “Lashes should stay fluttery, flirty.\u201d He recommends sweeping on a pencil liner\u2014like the soft, easy-to-maneuver MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy\u2014and smudging it along the lash line. \u201cThe goal isn\u2019t precision,\u201d he notes. \u201cYou want that \u2018I slept in my makeup and somehow look better\u2019 effect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hair<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dark-romantic hair is loose, windblown, and far from polished. Think of Cathy wandering the moors in Wuthering Heights,<\/em> or Kate Sharma from Bridgerton<\/em> riding her horse in the rain, before [redacted]. (You won\u2019t find spoilers here, we promise.) \u201cIt has a lived-in, piece-y look,\u201d says Sarah Hindsgaul, Los Angeles-based hairstylist and brand founder. It\u2019s melancholic but free, she adds, \u201clike she\u2019s just been running around fighting for her love.\u201d<\/p>\n

April Kayganich, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and curl expert, says that historically, these hair looks have not been inclusive. \u201cThe imagery that pops into my head and references I’ve seen for this look are typically soft waves, or a soft curl.”<\/p>\n

But according to both Kayganich and Hindsgaul, the key to achieving the heroine-yearning-in-a-meadow vibe is playing up your hair\u2019s texture. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what your hair\u2019s curl or wave pattern is,\u201d says Hindsgaul. She points out that Robbie\u2019s hair in Wuthering Heights<\/em> is straight, but you can still see a softness that looks lived in.<\/p>\n

\n
\"margot<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of Warner Bro. Pictures<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Hindsgaul\u2019s observation is spot-on: Miller has explained that Robbie\u2019s free-flowing hair was intentionally designed to represent the character\u2019s youth and brash yearning.<\/p>\n

To achieve that look at home, Hindsgaul recommends building volume and enhancing your hair\u2019s natural texture. She suggests thoroughly washing and towel-drying your strands first. (She\u2019s partial to using the Crown Affair hair towel because \u201cit\u2019s huge and absorbs so much water.\u201d) Then, reach for a mousse, like her brand\u2019s The Soft Hold Mousse, which defines your hair\u2019s kinks and curls while keeping it flexible: \u201cYou just apply your mousse everywhere and turn your head upside-down,\u201d then gently scrunch your hair upward. (We also love the Best of Beauty-winning Lottabody Wrap Me Foaming Mousse, especially for coarser textures.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Hindsgaul suggests finishing the look with a diffuser on all hair types\u2014even fine and straight. \u201cOn straight hair, you might not get an actual curl pattern, but you can get texture out of it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Kayganich recommends approaching curly and coily hair similarly: Rake two pumps of air-dry cream (like the Hairstory Hair Balm) throughout hair while it’s wet. \u201cYou want to use as little product for that soft, touchable look,\u201d she says. Then, use a curl foam (like The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam) before you hit your curls with a diffuser. Take a beat before reaching for your dryer, though. \u201cIf you let the hair air-dry for 10 to 20 minutes before going in with your diffuser, you’re going to have a more relaxed, stretched-looking curl.\u201d<\/p>\n

For tight coils, she recommends doing a two-strand twist or bantu knots, especially \u201cif you’re looking to manipulate your hair for a more stretched look.\u201d Your first steps are the same\u2014rake curl cream and foam throughout wet curls\u2014before putting them into your protective styles. Then let your hair dry completely. This is key, says Kayganich. \u201cIf you take the style out before it is completely dry, you won’t have any set curls,\u201d she says. For this reason, she recommends getting a bonnet dryer or even a hood dryer at home or starting that style early in the day.<\/p>\n

Once your hair is dry, \u201cuntwist and gently separate,\u201d she says\u2014and skip the hair oil. \u201cSome people might want to put hair oil on their hands to prevent frizz, but a little frizz is the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"dark<\/span><\/div>\n
Launchmetrics<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\"Dark<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @_thehalfrican<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"romantic<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @_thehalfrican<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"2026<\/span><\/div>\n
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"2026<\/span><\/div>\n
Launchmetrics<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

More dark, romantic beauty inspiration.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\"sarah<\/span><\/div>\n
Courtesy of @sarahhindsgaul<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"dark<\/span><\/div>\n
Launchmetrics<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"2026<\/span><\/div>\n
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"dark<\/span><\/div>\n
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"blurred<\/span><\/div>\n
Launchmetrics<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"bronzer<\/span><\/div>\n
Launchmetrics<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"dark<\/span><\/div>\n
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"dark<\/span><\/div>\n
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Shop our dark, romantic makeup and hair picks.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Makeup<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Rare<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n