Copenhagen Fashion Week beauty trends to recreate at home

Skin but better

A fresh, radiant complexion is a perennial favourite at Copenhagen Fashion Week, which consistently celebrates natural beauty. Designers Herskind, Munthe, and Opera Sport again championed the your-skin-but-better mantra this season. Notably, celebrity makeup artist Christine Lucignano recommends using a sheer dimensional base to achieve this look at home. Her top picks include Charlotte Tilbury’s new Unreal Skin, Makeup by Mario’s Surreal Skin, or Clarins Tinted Oleo-Serum. 

At Rotate, Charlotte Tilbury was tapped to craft the makeup look, led by Sofia Tilbury and keyed by Irish makeup artist Sam Tsan. The look centred around a fresh, dewy complexion to complement the delicate fabrics, soft colour palette, and floral motifs. It finished off with a neutral, understated eye and a soft pop of colour on the lips. Dyson style Ambassador Cim Mahony kept the hair low-key, too, favouring an undone, organic style inspired by 90s Kate Moss. 

Juicy fruits 

While minimal skin was the dominant trend at Copenhagen Fashion Week, there were some subtle flashes of colour. At Lovechild 1979, the eyes were framed with a soft wash of peach to complement the earthy tones and reflect the collection’s tactile and expressive minimalism. At The Garment, makeup artist Sidsel Marie Bøg played with placement, sweeping a lemon shade across the lid with the citrus hue inspired by the Mediterranean vibes of the collection. 

If you want to play with colour, Christine Lucignano suggests using a sheer, colourful palette and applying it smokey. “Start with a smudgy colour pencil and add sheer layers of pearl-effect shadows like grape, blueberry, or peach.”

80s redux

From neon-coloured pop lips to blue eyeshadow, Caro Editions and Nicklas Skovgaard reimagined key looks from the decade. 

Taking a nostalgic view, Skovgaard presented a collection that fused 80s sportswear with feminine prom-style dresses. The 80s references didn’t stop there; pearl blue eyeshadow brought up to the brow, chunky lashes, and pearlised blush helped the models lean into the retro decade. MAC crafted the makeup look using the shade Tilt for the perfect pale wash of blue. 

At Caro Editions, with a fun, playful, maximalist collection, a pared-back beauty look wouldn’t do. A matte neon and fresh skin perfectly complemented the clashing prints, dramatic silhouettes, and quirky hats. 

Blush flush

From boyfriend blush to fresh workout flush, complementing minimal skin at most shows was a blush flush. But this wasn’t bold, bright shades; instead, a focus on more pared-back blush hues. Christine Lucignano says: “Cheeks continue to steal the makeup spotlight; just change your tones to tawny and brown-based mauves.” 

At Baum Und Pferdgarten, the collection’s theme was Office Olympics, with sporty styles paired with sequins and relaxed separates. The makeup focus was a glowy, post-workout flush. At Gestuz, it was all about cool-girl, rock’n’roll 70s sensibilities; blush veered on the boyfriend blush trend, sitting lower on the cheek and having a naturally healthy, subtle contour finish. 

Brows 

You might be forgiven for thinking that skinny brows might be on the return, along with the noughties nostalgia. Thankfully, the Remain show brought back the bold brow, showcasing fluffy, brushed-up brows, pinched cheeks, and soft, contoured skin. Lucignano mentions the trend: “Brows are getting three-dimensional and not as blocky. Achieve this by combining a brow powder and a liquid brow pen.” 

Plaits and wet hair

Much like the makeup looks, hairstyles at Copenhagen Fashion Week were kept clean, minimal, or with slightly textured tresses. Keeping to the pared-back aesthetic was Herskind, with a twisted plait that let the focus remain on the collection of power suits and transparent textiles. 

Munthe revitalised the classic plaited hairstyle with a modern twist, infusing it with a fresh and contemporary vibe of wrapped fabric and gelled face framers. The beauty of plaits, says Christine Lucignano, is that you have perfect two—or three-day waves when unravelled or unwrapped. 

Sleek, wet-look hair splashed at (Di)Vison and Forza Collective, with wet strands adding a cool-girl dimension than dry strands could. At Forza Collective, hair was pulled back and tucked artfully into backless designs, while at Han Kjøbenhavn, chunky strands framed the face. 

But achieving the look at home is not just about wetting your hair and out you go; instead, it needs a little more thought. For a nice alternative for an evening do, try a wet hair look. Christine Lucignano recommends, “Try using Color WOW Pop&Lock or Alberto Balsam Wet Look Styling Gel. For finer hair, start with blow-dried hair; for curly or fuller hair, wet it first. Wet Look can be styled either slicked back or in a pony or left loose and flowing.” 

Feature collage made by IMAGE. Photography by Bryndis Thorsteinsdottir and Tonya Matyu.