{"id":953,"date":"2026-02-11T06:53:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T22:53:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sasgai.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/11\/dark-romance-is-the-seasons-hottest-beauty-trend-with-photos\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T06:53:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T22:53:45","slug":"dark-romance-is-the-seasons-hottest-beauty-trend-with-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sasgai.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/11\/dark-romance-is-the-seasons-hottest-beauty-trend-with-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Dark Romance Is the Season\u2019s Hottest Beauty Trend\u2014With Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

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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<\/strong>, Merit Flush Balm<\/strong>, and Pat McGrath Labs Divine Cream Blush<\/strong> 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

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Courtesy of Warner Bro. Pictures<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n