Best Beauty at the 2026 Fragrance Foundation Awards

A star-studded lineup of scent enthusiasts, fragrance denizens and master perfumers descended upon the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on Thursday night for the 2026 Fragrance Foundation Awards. The event, organized by chief executive officer Linda G. Levy, honored the new class of recipients — including Rare Beauty Eau de Parfum, Tom Ford Voyager, Honorine Blanc and more —between a buzzy cocktail hour and a sit-down dinner.

Guests brought beauty in both prestigious and playful ways, pairing full beats with bouffant, brush-through curls; no makeup-makeup with sleek, straight ends and shimmering eyes with elegant updos. Ahead, WWD breaks down the best hair and makeup moments from A-list presenters Kelsea Ballerini and Iman to fashion mogul Vera Wang.

Iman

Paying homage to the late Valentino Garavani, Iman arrived on the carpet dressed in a red-hot, chiffon one-shoulder dress by the Italian designer. Echoing the gown’s elegant nature, the 70-year-old supermodel styled Old Hollywood-inspired soft waves and full glam, featuring a black-out smoky eye, bright undereyes, bronzer undercutting her cheekbones and a brown-taupe lip.

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini matched Iman’s fiery fashion aesthetic in a red full-length, cowl-neck gown. Her beauty, however, was distilled down to a ’90s matte eye, feathered lashes, an even-toned complexion, faint blush and a rosy lip. It was a no makeup-makeup look that paired well with her pin-straight hair tucked behind her ears.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang departed from her signature hairdo, separating her lengthy extensions into low pigtails under her ears. The ends of each pony were looped back through the hair tie, creating a Princess Leia-esque style. For makeup, the renowned fashion designer kept it light, using only charcoal shadow to accentuate her eyes and a clear gloss to dress her lips.

Jackie Aina

Jackie Aina stepped out in a pastel yellow corset gown layered under a matching satin trenchcoat. The bright hue of her fashion was juxtaposed with bronze eye shadow and stark black liner over her lids and in her waterline. That said, the blond hues in her messy updo tied the ensemble together, inviting a warmth of color back in.

Melissa Koby

Melissa Koby teamed a strapless pear-hued lace dress with a finely cut bob and purple shimmer on her eyes. Her short, inky ends were curls in small sections around her head, finishing slightly above her collarbone. With her face-framing layers out of her eyes, the sparkly shadow took center stage, bringing out the pigmented blush on her cheeks and hot pink gloss over her lips.