The O-Word
Beauty Trend Report: September 2025
BEAUTY SEPTEMBER TRENDS
SOCIAL MEDIA INSTAGRAM & TIKTOK
TRENDS HAIR PERFUME, NYFW SPRING/SUMMER 2026, FAUX FRECKLES
September’s beauty trends lean into controversy, reinvention, and statement-making glamour. From TikTok’s divisive faux freckle debate to surprising looks spotted at the Emmys and NYFW, this month’s trends are all about pushing the boundaries. Beauty is less about perfection and more about sparking conversation, embracing individuality, and turning everyday routines into cultural moments.
As we continue tracking trend impact across brand identity, social content, and consumer behavior, September invites us to explore aesthetics that feel both experimental and deeply personal.
HAIR PERFUME
On the Emmys red carpet, hair perfume emerged as the surprise beauty accessory, according to PureWow. Celebrities like Parker Posey (@itsparkerposey) wore Parfums de Marly Delina Hair Perfume, applied by stylist Mark Townsend (@marktownsend1), to complete her “Bewitched Bob” look inspired by Endora.
Meanwhile, Hannah Einbinder (@hannaheinbinder) paired her custom Louis Vuitton gown with Valaya Hair Perfume, brushed through by stylist Jerrod Roberts (@jhair_stylist). The scents (rose, lily, lychee, peach, and musk) added a sensory layer of glamour. With luxury fragrance brands like Parfums de Marly (@parfumsdemarly) leading the charge, hair perfume is shifting from niche to red carpet essential - even if it can’t be seen in photos.
NYFW SPRING/SUMMER 2026 BEAUTY
New York Fashion Week embraced bold, high-impact beauty this season. Orange blush stood out at Michael Kors (@michaelkors) and Kim Shui (@kimshuistudio), where Romero Jennings (@romerojennings) used MAC’s Pinch of Marrakesh for a retro, sunkissed glow. At the same time, gray lips pushed unconventional tones to the forefront on runways from Kim Shui to Lapointe (@lapointe) and Collina Strada (@collinastrada). Nails made a statement too, according to Teen Vogue, with Grace Ling (@gracelingofficial) debuting stiletto chrome tips and Lapointe showcasing metallic diagonal designs by Naomi Yasuda (@naominailsnyc).
Together, these runway looks underscore fashion’s current appetite for experimentation: nostalgic warmth through blush, avant-garde edge with gray lips, and futuristic glamour with chrome nails. NYFW SS26 cemented beauty as a space where drama, artistry, and wearability meet, destined to inspire both editorial shoots and everyday recreations on social media.
FAUX FRECKLES
Faux freckles have surged on TikTok as a go-to for added dimension and an “effortless sunkissed” finish, but the trend has polarized audiences. Critics highlight the irony of faux freckles becoming desirable when many with natural freckles were bullied for them in the past. One viral comment reads: “Bullied for freckles my whole childhood and now everyone wants them,” according to Hypebae. Beyond the irony, others find them “fake-looking” or unflattering, and call for the trend to be over.
Despite the negative commentary, creators continue to champion the look, with Love Island USA’s Huda Mustafa (@hudabubbaaa) spotlighted as inspo and countless TikTokers sharing freckle pen tutorials. The back-and-forth has only fueled visibility, proving controversy is often the engine of virality.
