Milan Fashion Week confirms a timid comeback of maximalist beauty If fashion is lacking, make-up gives us some surprises

Walking around, sitting front row at the shows, navigating the backstage areas, one opinion seems to echo: this Milan Fashion Week felt weak. Weak in glamour, weak in ideas, weak in faces. We can’t say for sure. What we do know, however, is that runway make-up is blooming again. After a couple of seasons of clean girl beauty, natural bases, blush mimicking sun-kissed cheeks and barely-there eyeshadow, something is shifting. Let’s take a closer look at what we observed, inferred, and noted during the beauty backstage of the just-ended MFW FW26.

Natural make-up with a pop of color

N21 with Kiko and Tonyandguy, and Ermanno Scervino with Eisenberg Paris, chose a middle ground. While the complexion remained natural (as seen at Onitsuka Tiger with Olivella and at Luisa Beccaria with MAC Cosmetics), something shifted. At N21, eyelids took on a wet-look effect, like lake water. Lips turned a deep burgundy, almost brown. Deep red lips also appeared at Ermanno Scervino, where the eyes were defined with black eyeliner. The same eyeliner showed up at Vivetta with MAC Cosmetics, uneven and inky, like swan eyes - one of the strongest inspirations behind the collection, which brought a dreamy masquerade ball to the runway. Burgundy lipstick, now officially a trend, was also spotted backstage at Dolce&Gabbana.

Metallics, glitter, and everything else

At Blumarine and Diesel, metallic eyeshadows stole the spotlight, paired with earrings in the first case, while at the latter, faces were completely covered in glitter. Two opposite ends of the spectrum, yet sharing one idea: make-up (at Diesel created by MAC Cosmetics) should embellish and adorn the face, turning it into an accessory of the look itself—rather than simply making it more beautiful, more feminine, or more human. The maximalist crusted textures at Antonio Marras, the under-eye circles at Avavav, and the blush at Venerdì Pomeriggio were among the absolute highlights of the week.

And who takes care of the models’ skin? Lieve and Monster Management with a dedicated kit

During Fashion Week in Milan and Paris, when everything revolves around runways, castings, and endless fittings, there’s another story worth telling: the models’ skin. From this awareness comes the partnership between Lieve and Monster Management, created to offer the girls a small reset moment in the middle of hectic days. A concrete act of self-care that looks beyond the spotlight and supports models not only in moments of glory, but also through stress, exhaustion, and the inevitable disappointments that can come with such intense weeks. The project is called After Runway, a skincare kit designed to help skin recover after hours under harsh lights, layers of make-up, and constant travel. The routine includes four essential products: gentle micellar water, brightening serum, refreshing mist, and soothing lip mask, formulated with a dermatological approach to support the skin barrier, protect against oxidative stress, and restore hydration. More than just a set of products, it carries a clear message: every performance requires recovery. Because behind every perfect look is real skin, and real skin deserves care and respect.