The 13 best beauty looks from Paris Haute Couture Week

Paris Haute Couture Week has come to a close, leaving behind a trail of striking beauty moments. Makeup artists and hairstylists showcased their full creative potential, enhancing designers' visions with bold accents, from graphic liner to retro hairstyles and dramatic lipstick shades. This season, beauty trends were divided into two distinct directions: some embraced timeless elegance, while others introduced a fresh perspective, setting new standards. The runways of Dior, Valentino, Chanel, and more have become a blueprint for upcoming beauty trends. We break down the most mesmerizing looks and the inspiration behind them – what inspired the stylists’ imagination, and what ideas define the aesthetics of the new season.

Georges Hobeika: emotion through makeup

At Georges Hobeika, emotions became an integral part of the beauty look. Smudged mascara created the effect of teary eyes, adding a touch of high drama. This makeup, seemingly washed away by tears, intensified the depth of the gaze and conveyed the delicate fragility of feminine beauty. Blurred shadow edges and a glossy sheen on the eyelids enhanced the effect, complementing the airy, luxurious silhouettes of the gowns.

photо: spotlight \ georges hobeika

photо: spotlight \ georges hobeika

Christian Dior: sculptural hair

Christian Dior’s collection drew attention to futuristic “dragon braids”, symbolizing strength and grace. Paired with laminated, perfectly lifted brows, this look brought a sculptural precision to the face. The minimalist yet powerful beauty aesthetic seamlessly complemented Maria Grazia Chiuri’s refined silhouettes.

photо: spotlight \ christian dior

photо: spotlight \ christian dior

Germanier: a nod to the ’90s

The ‘90s fashion comeback made its mark at Germanier, where a voluminous bun adorned with a beaded headband evoked the iconic hairstyles of that era. This styling choice balanced between bold structure and playful elegance, pairing effortlessly with garments lavishly embellished with rhinestones.

photо: spotlight \ germanier

photо: spotlight \ germanier

Armani Privé: графичная дымка

Armani Privé captivated not just with exquisite couture but also with a new approach to beauty trends. Lead makeup artist Hiromi Ueda added dramatic depth to the models’ looks with blended eyeliner in intense black and gray shades, creating a smoky effect that mysteriously framed the eyes. This technique amplified expressiveness while complementing the collection’s architectural silhouettes, merging classic graphic nature with a modern touch.

photо: spotlight \ armani Privé

photо: spotlight \ armani privé

Valentino: barefaced beauty

Makeup artist Yadim Karramza embraced radical naturalism for Valentino’s runway: zero makeup, free-flowing, untouched hair—an homage to raw feminine beauty. This minimalist approach provided a striking contrast to Pier Paolo Piccioli’s monochrome palette and clean lines, reinforcing the sheer power of simplicity.

photо: spotlight \ valentino

photо: spotlight \ valentino

Tamara Ralph: delicate sophistication 

For Tamara Ralph’s couture collection, soft, ethereal beauty looks reigned supreme. Gentle makeup enhanced natural features, while elegantly gathered hairstyles with softly released strands created a romantic effect that seamlessly harmonized with the collection’s silken textures and delicate lace details.

photо: spotlight \ tamara ralph

photо: spotlight \ tamara ralph

Zuhair Murad: the glow of perfection

The lifting makeup trend is here to stay, as Zuhair Murad clearly demonstrated on the Paris runway. While audiences marveled at the elegant silhouettes, the luminous, sculpted beauty looks stole the spotlight. Glowing skin, subtle contouring, and soft blush created a lifted, polished complexion, perfectly complementing Murad’s embroidered couture gowns and intricate draping.

photо: spotlight \ zuhair murad

photо: spotlight \ zuhair murad

Elie Saab: vintage elegance

Elie Saab channeled 19th-century aesthetics, enhancing the refined ensembles with a standout detail, micro-bangs. This rare styling choice added an air of mystery and sophistication, reinforcing the Victorian elegance of the silhouettes presented on the runway.

photо: spotlight \ elie saab

photо: spotlight \ elie saab

Jean Paul Gaultier: wet textures
Jean Paul Gaultier’s show was dominated by sleek, wet-look hairstyles with face-framing tendrils. This styling choice extended the grunge aesthetic, seamlessly blending with the collection’s provocative and futuristic ensembles.

photо: spotlight \ Jean Paul Gaultier

photо: spotlight \ Jean Paul Gaultier

Chanel: a timeless classic
The red lip made a triumphant return at Chanel, reaffirming its place as a beauty essential. A soft-matte texture with blurred edges and shades enhancing the natural lip color complemented Virginie Viard’s refined tweed ensembles, paying homage to Chanel’s legendary aesthetic.

photо: spotlight \ chanel

photо: spotlight \ chanel

Giambattista Valli: architectural bangs

One of the most striking elements on Giambattista Valli’s runway was the sculptural wave of the bangs, perfectly in sync with the show’s romantic atmosphere. This hairstyling detail added both structure and delicate softness, emphasizing the grace and refinement of the models. The soft curves of the bangs created an airy effect, flawlessly harmonizing with the collection’s voluminous designs.

photо: spotlight \ Giambattista Valli

photо: spotlight \ Giambattista Valli

Stéphane Rolland: роскошь рококо

Seemed that nothing could surprise us anymore, retro hairstyles have made a comeback, and every hairstylist has embraced this revival. However, Björn Axén and Johan Hellström managed to astonish, reminding us of hairstyles that once reigned supreme. At Stéphane Rolland’s show, they presented a reinterpretation of Rococo-inspired looks from the 17th and 18th centuries. Voluminous shapes were masterfully balanced with light, airy textures, seamlessly blending historical opulence with contemporary minimalism. This fusion adapted classic grandeur to modern couture’s architectural silhouettes, creating an exquisite dialogue between the past and present.

photо: spotlight \ Stéphane Rolland

Viktor & Rolf: celebration of color

At Viktor & Rolf, maximalism reigned supreme, undoubtedly setting the tone for future beauty trends. Pink-lilac eyeshadow, intense blush, and a matching lipstick shade created a cohesive, artistic beauty look, commanding attention with its vibrancy and saturation. This makeup aesthetic extended the theatrical concept of the collection, where playfulness and eccentricity fused into a striking vision. The upcoming season promises to be filled with bold accents on eyes and lips, where self-expression through makeup becomes a defining part of personal style. The confidence and artistry of this approach foreshadow an era where bold and expressive color choices will dominate the beauty landscape.

photо: spotlight \ Viktor & Rolf

photо: spotlight \ Viktor & Rolf