When I visited Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s residency, I knew I’d fall in love with the sights and sounds of the archipelago. What I didn’t realize? I’d leave deeply inspired by its beauty — not only in its natural landscapes, but in the ways Boricua women and femmes present themselves, from hair to makeup and everything in between.
Puerto Rico has always been a beacon of self expression. Today, it’s home to a fast-growing beauty industry that’s shaping the global scene. Brands like Selenia and Necromancy Cosmetica showcase Puerto Rican creativity through the power of a bold mani-pedi or standout lipstick. Whether they’re creating groundbreaking cosmetics or simply expressing themselves, Puerto Ricans are nothing short of beauty trendsetters, and the rest of the world is paying attention.
With the announcement of Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show performer, all eyes remain on Puerto Rico. Music may be the central focus, but PR’s beauty movement also deserves its flowers and might just inspire your watch party look. Below, we unpack five stunning beauty trends that are all over San Juan.
Bare Face, Bold Lip
During a night out on San Juan’s Calle Serra, I observed legions of Puerto Ricans in minimalist base makeup punctuated by a statement lip. Lorén Aldarondo, lead singer of the Bad Bunny-approved band Chuwi, is the unofficial ambassador of this look. For live performances, the Isabela, Puerto Rico native often sports a diffused brown or red lip color (topped with gloss, of course). It perfectly accents her otherwise understated makeup, and the people of San Juan have followed suit. I saw variations as subtle as a glossy taupe, and as striking as a purple-based burgundy, reminiscent of Necromancy’s Sacramental Lipstick.
Head-to-Toe Glowy Skin
This photo of Puerto Rican influencer Carla Bejarán accurately represents the levels of glowiness I witnessed in PR. Puerto Ricans take radiant skin seriously, and it extends beyond the typical cheekbone highlighter. No one pulls off a dewy décolletage quite like them. To achieve a similar look, start with a rich moisturizer, like Moist Me! from Puerto Rican brand The Bag, which is intended for use on wet skin. Follow with a lightweight oil, like The Bag’s Body Serum. For added shine, dot your favorite cream or powder highlighter over the high points of your collarbones and shoulders.
Floral Hair Accessories
When I entered El Coliseo, the venue for Bad Bunny’s residency, it seemed that almost every concertgoer had a flor de maga, the national flower of Puerto Rico, tucked behind their ear. The morning after the concert, I even spotted flor de maga clips and hair ties behind the counter at Walgreens. The bright red bloom was by far the most popular, but I also saw people wearing flower-shaped claw clips in a rainbow of other colors. The clips appeared in various sizes, and most often secured half-up, half-down styles and slicked-back buns. For a unique spin on the style — and to support a Puerto Rican business — check out Eledé’s Ama hair pin.
Statement Nails
There’s nothing like commemorating a concert with a custom manicure. At the residency, I saw detailed sets that paid homage to the Puerto Rican flag, Bad Bunny, the flor de maga, and Puerto Rico’s endemic species, like the sapo concho (crested toad) and coquí (treefrog). Other folks opted for simple, monochromatic nails in shades of coral, light blue, and sparkly neutrals. Puerto Rican nail polish brand Selenia maintains the tropical essence of those hues, and it’s perfect for those who want to achieve a Caribbean-inspired look with an at-home mani. Moss Flow, a metallic chartreuse polish, looks like it could have been plucked straight from El Yunque, Puerto Rico’s beloved national rainforest.
Face-Framing Tendrils
Whether they wear their hair in a protective style or have straight-to-wavy strands, Puerto Ricans have those two pieces of hair on lock. I saw so many iterations of this look at the residency and on the streets of San Juan, I lost count. With the hair divided into a middle part, a few loose tresses cascaded from high ponytails, tidy updos, and thick braids. Even those who wore their hair down tended to tuck most of it behind their ears, save for those showstopping, bang-like sections in front. You've probably seen Young Miko repping the look around the world as well.
