Carolina Herrera unveiled the Spring Summer 2026 collection in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, and makeup lead James Kaliardos created a runway beauty look defined by luminous skin and the brand’s iconic red lip. The show marked the first time the house staged a main collection outside New York, drawing on Madrid’s 17th-century Golden Age and the La Movida movement of the 1980s for inspiration.
MAKEUP
Makeup lead James Kaliardos designed the season’s look using Herrera Beauty, translating the collection’s romantic codes into a beauty direction that felt both modern and theatrical. He focused on radiant skin and a vivid red lip, translating the brand’s signature aesthetic into a beauty look that echoed the silhouettes on the runway.
Skin preparation came first. Nude Couture Triple Moisture Serum Foundation provided a hydrated, radiant finish that unified tone and texture. Its lightweight formula allowed the skin to maintain natural movement while offering enough coverage for runway lighting. To sculpt and add dimension, Kaliardos applied Nude Couture Matte Bronzer, whose soft-focus pearls created gentle definition and a touch of sunlit warmth across the face.
Lips carried the house’s unmistakable signature. Carolina Red 310, an iconic shade tied to the brand since its early days, formed the center of the look. Fabulous Kiss Lip Liner 310 delivered precise definition before Fabulous Kiss Satin Lipstick 310 added rich pigment and a silky texture. This red, immortalized in Andy Warhol’s portrait of Mrs. Herrera, underscored the continuity of the house’s visual identity while paying tribute to its founder.
Eyes echoed the sculptural nature of the collection’s clothing. Kaliardos used Fabulous Eyeliner to create a graphic elongated line, defined by a flexible tip and a smudge-proof formula designed to last for 48 hours. He layered luminous accents with Chic Eyeshadow Stick in two tones: 11 Mírame Gold and 10 Lunar Catwalk. These shades added dimension and shimmer, catching light as models moved across the runway. A coat of Fabulous Eyes Mascara Smudgeproof amplified lashes with jet-black pigment, balancing volume with precision.
The makeup, shaped with care and purpose, enhanced the story on the runway. James Kaliardos’s artistry allowed Herrera Beauty to create a visual moment that honored the brand’s legacy.
