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Beauty trends are shifting away from heavy coverage, complicated routines and one-size-fits-all products. Instead, we’re seeing a growing focus on skin tints, skincare-infused makeup, personalised shade matching and products designed to enhance the skin rather than hide it. From the arrival of Rhode in Australia to the continued rise of hybrid makeup-skincare formulas, beauty brands are increasingly blurring the lines between skincare and makeup.
In this edition, we’re exploring some of the trends shaping beauty routines in 2026, including the growing conversation around olive undertones, multitasking complexion products, SPF-infused makeup and the lightweight formulas consumers are reaching for in their everyday routines.
Rhode Has Arrived. Here’s What’s Actually Worth It
If you didn’t know just yet, Hailey Bieber’s brand Rhode Skincare is now available in Aus, stocked at MECCA online and in store, alongside the rhode.com site (now shipping to Australia + prices in AUD).
Read: Rhode Australia Launch: Where To Buy, What’s Worth It, And My Honest Reviews
We know the hype is very loud and hard to miss. We’re here to tell you that:
- It’s ok to be excited about something even though it’s really ultra popular (sometimes there’s a good reason to be).
- We’re curious too. So beauty writer and creator Morgan Rohan of Morgan’s Skin Journal is here to guide us through what she’d recommend and what might be worth giving a skip.
Morgans Top Pick: Rhode Pocket Blushes, $43.00
“It is a cream blush in a chubby stick format and when I say this glides on the skin, it truly does. Every shade I’ve tried is pigmented but still easy to blend and leaves a glowy, soft finish on the cheeks. It is long-wearing even on my dry skin and exceptionally easy to blend.” she shared in her recent deep dive.
Curious about shades? Morgan’s favourites are: Freckle – a neutral peach, Toasted Teddy – a true “blonzer”, though she says swatch it first if you’re fair or cool toned just in case, and Sprinkle – a warmer pink with a little bit of pearl.
Spotted: @scentswithsusan Swatching Rhode Pocket Blushes in Sun Soak, Date Cake, And Toasted Teddy:
Oh So Worth It: Rhode Peptide Lip Treatments, $35.00
“These are a very nice lip treatment that to me feels a bit lighter in texture compared to the really buttery balms we’ve gotten used to recently.
The feel on the lips is comfortable, does feel hydrating and isn’t too sticky.
There’s a few options for scents and they’re all really nice on the nose, not too heavy or sickly sweet. If you’re super sensitive there is also a no fragrance option that will still give that high shine finish.
Top scent pick: Hailey brought Strawberry Glaze back for a reason… it really is that yummy.”
😍 Also great:
- Rhode Glazing Mist Hydrating Face Spray, $52.00
- Rhode Peptide Lip Tints Tinted Lip Layer in “Toast”, $35.00
🤷 Morgan’s “Nice, but not essential” list:
- Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid Dewy Gel Serum, $55.00
- Rhode Barrier Restore Cream Comforting Daily Moisturizer, $55.00
To sum up? Rhode might not be for you if you want matte makeup, are meh on creams, want “actives” in your skincare routine, or a full routine overhaul.
Rhode’s focus is hydration and barrier support – it does that very well, but not much else (for now).
Shop: Rhode at MECCA | Rhode.com (AUD)
Olive Undertones Aren’t As Rare As You Think
This month, “6 of The Best Foundations for Light Olive and Fair Olive Skin Tones” was our top performing article.
Undertones were complicated enough when it was “only” warm, neutral, and cool. But olive skin undertones have been around just as long, just a lot less labelled.
The recent video from celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge talking through the colour theory behind our pistachio-toned friends came at just the right time.
Olive undertones were wildly misunderstood until communities like r/OliveMUA and r/FairOlives DIY’d the conversation, alongside content creators like Monica Ravi-Conway of @monica.raviii.
When professional makeup artists like Lisa created products that reflected their clients skin, many kermit-esque makeup lovers felt very seen.
“Since the beginning of my career, I always had to make custom mixes for my olive toned models and clients, as I could never find the perfect match…. This experience made me extra committed to making sure I offer realistic, natural and truly flattering olive tones across my complexion ranges… and this is just the beginning!” Lisa Eldridge shared.
🫒 Visit her olive-specific picks here via her website.
They’re far more common than the industry has historically acknowledged, with roughly a third of people Lisa has worked with in her career having an olive undertone.
Not too niche, right?
So What Actually Makes An Olive Undertone?
It’s not about skin depth (you can be light, medium, or deep and still be olive). It’s about the specific mix of melanin (skin pigment), haemoglobin (a protein containing iron in the blood), and the way those interact in your skin.
Read: 6 of The Best Foundations for Light Olive and Fair Olive Skin Tones
Olive tones have a characteristically low chromatic value – meaning the colours in your skin are muted and somewhat cancel each other out. That’s why warm, saturated foundations can look so drastically wrong, when others just look “healthy”.
It’s also why muted blushes and lipsticks – even when very bold – are so flattering, and almost classed as neutral.
In winter, olive undertones can skew almost bluish or greenish. In summer, they can change softer and more bronzy, rather than orange. If that sounds exactly like your skin, this might be you.
Quick tips for finding your match:
- Get shade matched in-store and ask for a sample to test at home – check it in different lighting including outdoors. Olive tones have a habit of shifting.
- Browse r/OliveMUA and r/FairOlives on Reddit for community shade matching and real-skin swatches.
- When in doubt, reach for a buildable, flexible tint while you figure out your undertone.
- Consider a foundation mixer if your undertone doesn’t map cleanly to any existing shade – they work and give you the most options, especially through the seasonal changes.
Check out these popular colour mixers: RCMA MAKEUP Foundation Adjuster Palette or ISAMAYA Colour Correcting Serums in “Olive” and “Pistachio”
Is Hybrid Makeup-Skincare Actually Helpful? A Cosmetic Doctor Weighs In
It can feel like every new makeup product has “skincare goodness” packed in – sometimes for real skin benefits, but other times it’s a single ingredient buried near the bottom of the INCI list (the lower down the list, the lower the percentage) doing nothing much for your skin beyond marketing.
Read: A Cosmetic Doctor’s Favourite Hybrid Makeup-Skincare Products
We asked Dr. Yalda Jamali to walk us through what hybrid makeup-skincare can and can’t do – and which products in her routine earn the label.
“As someone who loves wearing makeup, I also love getting added benefits from my routine. Many makeup products on the market now offer skincare benefits, acting as multipurpose formulas that support the skin barrier, hydration and sun protection while still delivering a beautiful application.” Dr. Yalda shares.
Her top picks (and why they work):
- bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Skin-Perfecting Tint SPF30 – mineral UV filters with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalene. Sensitive skin friendly, sheer-to-natural coverage, and 30 shades. A solid pick for dry, dehydrated, or reactive skin.
- Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF15 – vitamin C derivative, hyaluronic acid, and salicylic acid in one oil-free foundation. Good for uneven tone or mild congestion. Note: SPF15 is supplementary – still wear your morning sunscreen under this.
- Kosas Revealer Concealer – peptides, caffeine, and hyaluronic acid under the eyes. Medium coverage that blends like skin, not product. Not full-coverage, but for general under-eye fatigue it delivers.
- Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm SPF30 – lanolin, vitamin E, and SPF30 on one of the most consistently unprotected areas of your face. Subtle colour, repair-focused formula. An Australian favourite for good reason.
What hybrid makeup can’t do? “Makeup can complement good skincare, but it doesn’t replace a well designed routine or in clinic treatments when needed.” she mentions.
When hybrid makeup is done well, it adds something to steps you’re already taking.
Naked Sundays BeautyScreen SPF50 Reviewed By Two Skin Types And Shades
We just chatted undertones and makeup-skincare (or skincare-makeup).
Naked Sundays fits both topics, adding three cool-toned editions: 1.5 Fair Cool, 3.5 Light Medium Cool, and 9.6 Rich Cool.
The BeautyScreen Peptide Foundation Tint SPF50 is available in 15 shades across a range of undertones.
Praise, Combination Skin Type, Using Shade 9
Read: The Best Tinted Sunscreen for Dark Skin? My Review of The BeautyScreen Peptide Foundation Tint SPF50
“I wear shade 9 and when I say the blend is perfect, I’m not exaggerating. This one-of-a-kind product has a watery/ fluid texture which enables you to sheer it out or build it up so you can customise your coverage.
I subjected the product to a 13-hour wear test with no primer, just my usual morning skincare and no setting powder either.”
“I was planning on spending the whole day at home and wanted to see how the product would wear and if it would oil up or possibly even separate.
Dearest gentle reader, it did none of that.
Not only did it not separate, but I also somehow didn’t develop KFC bucket levels of oil on my forehead either. I don’t know about you but that sounds like wizardry to me.” Taken from Praise’s detailed review + wear test.
Minnie, Acne-Prone Sensitive Skin Type, Shade 2 (Now Uses Shade 1.5)
Read: Acne Prone, Sensitive Skin Review of Naked Sunday’s BeautyScreen Peptide Skin Tint
“Even though it’s marketed as a tint, it’s actually pretty flexible.
You can wear it sheer, or if you’re looking for more coverage, it builds up nicely without getting cakey or heavy.
I find myself reaching for this as a daily foundation, and while I use an SPF underneath for thorough protection, this tint does a great job as a secondary SPF layer.
The formula is satin-matte, so it’s not fully matte (which I’m grateful for), but it does a solid job holding back oil throughout the day.”
“It’s rare for me to find a product that doesn’t leave me redder or more irritated by the end of the day, but this tint actually leaves my skin looking better and less irritated.
Plus, there’s no eye-sting at all, which is usually a huge dealbreaker for makeup products with SPF.” From Minnie’s review.
Thank you for reading our February 2026 edition. We enjoyed sharing more makeup content in our newsletter this time round, but what did you think?
Also, is there anything new in your routine this month? When you shop, do you keep your undertone in mind?
Let us know. We’re all ears.
🐰 WRS Team x
This Month’s Winner Of The $100 VAMS Beauty Gift Card:
Liz .B 🎉 We’ve emailed you! Please check your inbox.
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Related Reading
- Rhode Australia Launch: Where To Buy, What’s Worth It, And My Honest Reviews (Swatches Included)
- 6 of The Best Foundations for Light Olive and Fair Olive Skin Tones (Tested on Middle Eastern Skin)
- A Cosmetic Doctor’s Favourite Hybrid Makeup-Skincare Products For Skin Support
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