Paris Fashion Week AW26: The "Aliengelic" Glow Across Multiple Runways
Paris Fashion Week AW26 wasn’t just about fashion. It was a sensory experience that blurred the lines between artistry, beauty, and futurism. Among the standout runway themes this season was a trend that beauty editors and fashion insiders are calling the “aliengelic glow” - a surreal, futuristic makeup aesthetic that feels almost extraterrestrial in its intensity and imagination. From unexpected pops of color and chromatic textures to ethereal, glowing skin and sculptural contouring, this trend redefines what makeup can do on the runway.
At the heart of this otherworldly trend was one of the season’s most talked‑about beauty collaborations: Daniel Sällström’s makeup for Rick Owens AW26.
Ethereal Dystopia: Rick Owens x Daniel Sällström
For Rick Owens AW26, makeup artist Daniel Sällström brought a high‑concept vision to life that felt nothing short of alien. It featured elongated, sculptural eye makeup, unexpected pops of neon pigment that look almost like optical illusions on the face, and color contacts paired with dramatic, extra‑long lashes that transformed models into futuristic beings straight out of a sci‑fi movie.
Rather than traditional beauty application, Sällström’s look felt like performance makeup where pigment and form collided to create a visible narrative. Eyes were obscured, exaggerated, and framed in ways that activated the face as a canvas rather than just a complement for clothing. In contrast to polished elegance, this beauty was bold, intense, and definitely not meant to look natural - it was meant to make a memorable impact.
Colored contacts and neon pigment gave models a gaze that was haunting, hypnotic, and truly alien.
Red, strained under eyes makes you wonder what the story is behind these characters.
Dramatic false lashes and exaggerated eye framing created looks that were less about conventional glamor and more about surreal aura.
This is the kind of beauty that lives in photos and is cinematic, dramatic, and unforgettable.
Other “Aliengelic” & Futuristic Beauty Moments at AW26
While Rick Owens pushed the limits with an avant‑garde, sci‑fi beauty ethos, other runways during Paris Fashion Week AW26 echoed similar themes of luminosity, iridescence, and otherworldly glow:
1. Chrome & Iridescent Accents at Chanel
At Chanel AW26, beauty took on a shimmering, almost galaxy‑like quality. Makeup teams used metallic eye makeup and pastel‑toned, iridescent finishes that reflected light like planetary surfaces. A slicked‑back hair look paired with glowing, chromatic pigment felt like a celestial interpretation of glam.
2. Balenciaga’s High‑Gloss Glow
Though contrastive to Rick Owens’ dystopian approach, Balenciaga embraced high‑gloss, futuristic radiance across eyes and cheeks - blending dewy highlights with shimmering, nearly reflective makeup textures that gave faces a luminous, elevated shine with an almost robotic perfection.
This was very fitting against a Euphoria-esque backdrop.
3. Matières Fécales’ Slightly Feral Gloss
At Materiales Fecales AW26, the “aliengelic” glow took on a more raw and experimental form, with skin that appeared almost wet, reflective, and intentionally irregular rather than perfectly highlighted. The glow was placed in unexpected areas, creating a disrupted, liquid-like effect that felt more environmental than controlled - as if the makeup interacted with light and movement in real time.
Balancing between human and synthetic, this look pushed beyond traditional beauty into something more atmospheric and slightly unsettling, proving that glow can be imperfect, conceptual, and just as impactful as polished luminosity.
What the “Aliengelic” Glow Means for Beauty & Fashion
The "aliengelic" makeup trend emerging at AW26 isn’t about subtle enhancements. It’s about reinvention, and the extinction of the current beauty standard. It’s about seeing the face as an art piece, a mood setter, and an emotional landscape all at once. Whether through iridescent chromatic pigments, reflective highlighters, or experimental application techniques, this beauty trend explores:
Beauty as performance: makeup isn’t just worn; it activates a look.
Futuristic expression: luminescence and reflective textures are becoming key visual cues.
Artistic juxtaposition: contrast between glossy shine and sculptural pigment creates visual tension.
This season, makeup and fashion are converging in unexpected ways, and we’re here for it. It’s making beauty not just an accessory to clothing, but a central character in the runway narrative.
How to Bring a Touch of This Glow to Everyday Style
If you’re inspired by the aliengelic aesthetic but want something wearable for daily life or editorial content:
Try iridescent highlighters that catch the light at the cheekbones, temples, and brow bones.
Experiment with reflective and/or colorful shadows to bring texture and dimension to the eyes and face.
Use sheer, light‑catching products to build glow rather than heavy matte foundations.
Just like jewelry, this glowing makeup trend is about luminosity, character, and presence. It’s a beauty narrative that feels fresh, forward‑thinking, and full of personality. (Just like Darling Devotion) ;)