At the 98th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrities showed up with nails that were just as attention-grabbing as a perfectly executed red lip or Old Hollywood hairstyle. Some stars went all out with statement manicures to match their black-tie ensembles.
Caring for our fingernails and toenails is often an afterthought, says professional nail technician Titilayo Bankole. Many of us don't think of maintaining our nails the way we do our teeth and hair. But they deserve more attention (and not just in the form of fun nail art), she says. Our nails are essential to our daily lives. "If you lose a nail, try picking up a coin off the floor. Try buttoning your shirt. It's almost impossible to do,"
In 1994, when the grunge aesthetic gripped the nation (chokers, combat boots), the make-up artist Heidi Morawetz created Le Vernis Rouge Noir. There and then, backstage at Chanel's Autumn/Winter ready to wear show, she mixed black and reds until the shade emerged - a perfect blend of rebellion and conformity; not too black, not too red, not too bold, and not too boring.
Sand Art is a game by Kory Jordan and published by 25th Century Games for two to four players ages 10 and up. It takes about an hour to play, and has you collecting resources and then coloring in a bottle, making art in a bottle out of sand, in case the name didn't give away the plot. Gameplay Overview: Sand Art has you gathering and mixing sand, which is used to fill your bottle.
In the original, and best Total Recall, there's a scene where Rekall's receptionist uses a digital pen to change the color of her nail polish. It's only taken 35 years, but now a company has turned up to CES 2026 with a version that actually works outside a pricey sci-fi movie. iPolish is a company which makes press-on acrylic nails that, when you apply an electric charge, changes color.
"Me and my girlfriend went on color hunting in Berlin this weekend," user Erikas Mališauskas shared on X. "We picked two random colors and had to make a 3×3 photo grid featuring that color. I got yellow, she got blue, here's the result." Commenters rallied together in agreement, saying how good of an idea this is.
Like those, it scours our culture's incessant preoccupation with physical beauty, both the lusting for it and the lengths we will go to get and keep it. But The Beauty possess a mind of its own as it expounds on rich themes that Murphy's been interested in, mixing humor with black humor while he comments on sinfully glamorous lifestyles and the dark side of human nature and desire.
The gloss and color-pop of lacquer is a refreshing alternative - it achieves a playful vibrancy with modern sophistication. There are plenty of perks that come with lacquer finishes, too. For one thing, lacquer can be applied almost anywhere, from an accent kitchen island to your dining table to the material for all of your counters and cabinets. It introduces and strengthens the room's color scheme, also contributes some fresh texture with its sleek, shiny finish.
Though it's merely a line, a stripe instantly takes a plain manicure into something more playful and experimental. On TikTok, a search for "striped nails" brings up thousands of colorful results, proving that even a simple design makes a big impact. Whether due to their graphic appeal or ability to make your fingertips pop without feeling overdone, the trend has won the hearts of countless nail art aficionados. Creator @sofia_linaresss showed off a set of horizontal lines and joked that she had a " bad case of the stripes," while @madysenclarke revealed a chic set of line-adorned French tips that sparked a flood of compliments in her comments section.
While the fun-loving girls of the internet are still up in arms about Pantone's selection of cloud dancer - a subtle shade of white - as the color of the year, Pinterest is taking things in a much bolder direction. The platform's annual color trend forecast predicts five vibrant hues for 2026, including one that's impossible to ignore: wasabi. This yellow-leaning green is joyful, punchy, and totally in-your-face.
Whether you're following the decade's revival or not, its emblematic knitwear is coming for your nails. On TikTok, "mohair sweater nails" are going viral, with creators showing off striped tips with expertly blurred lines that evoke that amazing '90s-era thrift store find that all your friends are jealous of. These fuzzy sweater-inspired designs feature a fabric-like texture that brings the cozy vibes to your fingertips, making them perfect for your winter nail art game.
Sun-In, but all grown up. Boy blondes start with a dirty blonde base, brightened by golden balayage and babylites for a result that reads more beachy than bottle-made. Take Margot Robbie during the recent Wuthering Heights press run, for instance - a nod to kid hair colors, with warmth and lightness that doesn't require the commitment of a full dye job.
Skin-tone hair isn't about toning things down, per se. In fact, the switch-up can be just as dramatic as any other dye job. But instead of chasing contrast for the sake of change, it redirects that energy toward finding a color that actually works with your complexion - an individualized approach to a beauty trend that feels refreshingly rare on TikTok. The result? Hair that looks like it's made for you, even though achieving it is anything but a coincidence.
The appointment of Roan all grunge glitters, colourful face jewels and clumpy mascara celebrates the experimental, edgy and playful Mac aesthetic, and signals what may be the end of what industry figures often describe as the beige buffet of post-Covid fashion and beauty. Oh, the relief in seeing the back of all-over camel, in enjoying makeup textures other than perfectly smooth and glassy, the joy in a glinty eyelid or gemstone applied haphazardly and for no other reason but fun.
When you think of glam, your mind likely automatically goes to masterful makeup looks and gorgeous hairstyles - but a beautiful manicure is just as important to a look. At the 2026 Golden Globes on Jan. 11, the stars proved exactly that. Classics, like a French manicure or a shimmer polish, are timeless for a reason. But other on-trend mani looks, like cat eye, vampy colors, jewel-toned hues, or soap nails, are also go-tos for A-listers.
"After more than a decade of bronzed beauty - from golden skin to liquid bronzers - we're seeing a return to the cool-toned elegance of the '90s," says celebrity makeup artist Gemma Peace. The only problem? "Most makeup launches have leaned heavily toward warm, orange-based tones." Enter blue lip gloss: the easy hack to make your current products look fresh and modern.
The 2026 Grammys red carpet was a sight to behold. Musicians stepped out in dazzling sequined gowns, naked dresses, custom suits, and cut-out designs, with each 'fit more jaw-dropping than the next. Stars' beauty looks were just as fun - everything from mermaid waves to vampy glam, intricate updos, and 2016-era makeup was on full display, proving the "clean girl" aesthetic has officially been kicked to the dust.
The rules are there to simplify and clarify, lighting our route to a well put-together outfit. That well put-together outfit has the power to help you feel calmer, simply because you look in the mirror and see a competent person and therefore feel like a competent person.
On TikTok, many people are pulling beauty inspo from these cute (and slightly creepy) toys, which were originally released in 1972. Blythe dolls have big eyes, pouty lips, and perfect makeup, plus really fun outfits, hairstyles, and accessories. Because there are so many versions of the doll - think a Fenty-level range of skin tones - it's said that everyone has a Blythe that looks exactly like them.
Basically, it's what happens when the siren versus doe eyes debate calls a truce - which, in an internet landscape obsessed with beauty standoffs, actually feels like the winning move. Softness has been having a moment across trends (see: blurred lips, ghost lashes, and everything described as "diffused"), after all. As spring leans into makeup that looks alive, the baby deer style feels like a natural next step. It's sweet but not too innocent, wide-eyed with a slightly sharper edge.
