Since the start of the pandemic, the focus on skincare has been huge. People wore less makeup and spent more time on skincare. This trend will continue to be strong this year.
Let’s look at the hottest skincare trends of 2022.
1. Bakuchiol
Many more products with bakuchiol will be launched. Bakuchiol will become as obvious a star ingredient as vitamin C.
Having a good natural alternative to retinol that doesn’t irritate the skin will further strengthen the anti-stress skincare trend.
Even, smooth, firm skin without disturbing the skin’s barrier is so 2022.
The question is whether the Indian plant Babchi will be grown and harvested in time to meet demand.
By the way, it’s good to keep track of the percentage of bakuchiol a product contains to get value for your money. At least if bakuchiol is the main ingredient in a product.
Expect to see new eye creams, serums, face creams, and oils starring bakuchiol.
2. Effective and bioactive ingredients
Active ingredients like retinol, niacinamide, and vitamin C have trended in recent years and will continue to be popular this year.
What we will see more of, however, are other bioactive ingredients. Bakuchiol, which we have already mentioned, but also antioxidants like vitamin E and polyphenols.
Ingredients like algae extracts and exotic cold-pressed oils will also become really popular.
They are more complex in their composition and usually contain various antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids that together quickly provide noticeable effects on the skin.
Suki Skincare and 100% Pure are examples of brands that are heavily investing in bioactive ingredients.
3. Liposomes
When we crave active ingredients, we must not forget that we also want fast-acting and deep-penetrating skincare products. This is where liposomes come into play.
Liposomes are very small bubbles made of the same material as our cell membranes. These tiny bubbles encapsulate potent ingredients and deliver them quickly to the deeper layers of the skin where they are released.
They are used in skincare to provide faster action with better effect. Liposomes take skincare to the next level and are definitely something we will see more of this year.
Here are some examples of facial products with liposomes:
Suki Moisture-rich Brightening Mask Suki Radical Results Youth Serum Suki Concentrated Clarifying Toner Suki Resurfacing Enzyme Peel Suki Balancing Day Lotion
4. Smart multi-products
There are many advantages to multi-products:
- We avoid buying a bunch of different products, which saves both money and space in the bathroom cabinet.
- A safe bet to buy since the products are always used, which reduces waste. They get used up before they go bad. A positive thing for our wallet and the environment.
- Multi-products are our best gym and travel companions.
Besides oils, balms, and salves, other multi-products will trend.
Those beyond the ordinary like Bruns balsam nr 3 which can be used as body lotion, cleansing milk for the face, and shaving cream.
5. Tools
Being able to get results without products, cosmetic or surgical procedures has long been popular.
Various tools that take our skincare routine to a whole new level have long existed and they are here to stay.
More brands will release their own tools such as cleansing brushes and suction cups.
6. Zero waste and plastic-free
Zero waste is getting hotter every year and this year is no exception.
More brands are launching plastic-reduced, plastic-free, and sometimes completely packaging-free alternatives.
We will also see more refill systems. A sustainable trend in the right direction!
7. Upcycling
Upcycling means taking waste or by-products and transforming them into a completely new product with higher value. The product is therefore recycled upward in value, instead of being downgraded at each recycling step.
Upcycling is hotter than ever and the concept will get much more attention in the new year.
8. Concentrated products
Sustainability thinking—quality over quantity—will take more space both among manufacturers and consumers.
We want a shampoo that lasts 2-3 times longer like shampoo bars, a small, economical drop of toothpaste on the toothbrush.
The advantages of concentrated products here are:
- pure ingredients, minimal or no unnecessary fillers
- buy less often, reduce shipping/transport
- better effect, concentrated, undiluted
9. Double masking
Double masking is the new trend. During the pandemic, the use of face masks has drastically increased.
Instead of going to the salon occasionally, we now aim for frequent mini-facial treatments at home.
Double masking means using two or more masks one after the other – just like in a salon treatment. You combine different face masks targeting specific skin issues.
For example, you start with an exfoliating mask, then a deep-cleansing one, and finish with a moisturizing mask.
Double masking thus provides broader and better results compared to a single mask trying to do everything.
NOTE! Combining face masks that do the same thing serves no purpose and can actually over-treat the skin.
10. Anti-blue light
The pandemic has made us spend even more time in front of the computer screen.
That’s why skincare products that protect against blue light continue to be something we crave.
i+m face creams are examples of products that protect the skin against blue light.
11. Good bacteria
During the year, we will see more beauty products and even makeup with good bacteria.
It involves fermented ingredients, probiotics, and prebiotics in skincare.
Good bacteria act as active protection against bad bacteria, soothe inflammations, and counteract skin aging. The good bacteria are an important part of skin health.
Brands like 100% Pure and Dr Sannas offer some products with beneficial bacteria.
12. Balancing products
Regardless of skin type and age, the golden balance is the ultimate goal.
We have now shifted the focus from solving specific skin problems to the overall health of the skin. Skin in balance is fundamentally stronger, self-repairing, and healthier.
Strengthening the skin's overall balance is the shortcut to solving all types of skin problems for healthier and more beautiful skin.
There are different balances to achieve:
- balanced sebum production
- pH balance
- moisture balance
- bacteria/microflora balance
A single product cannot provide total balance to the skin; all steps in the skincare routine should together support and supply what the skin needs to achieve balance.
Sometimes the diet also needs to be adjusted to support the skin from within.
13. Strengthen the skin barrier
The desire to strengthen the skin barrier is yet another holistic approach for more resilient skin against external and internal stress factors.
As a counterpoint to trendy bioactive products, strengthening anti-stress products will take an increasingly larger role this year.
Sometimes the use of cleansers and acids can be excessive, which weakens the skin barrier. Then you need to work on rebuilding the skin barrier.
Skin with a damaged or weak skin barrier tends to:
- be dry and flaky
- itch, get eczema and similar conditions
- develop uneven skin tone
- become sensitive, easily red and inflamed
- more prone to various skin infections
Strengthening the skin barrier is actually quite simple. However, it requires changing your routines more than just changing products:
- reduce the number of products in the skincare routine so the skin is not overtreated
- let the skin rest from acids, overly stimulating and active products
- stop burdening the skin with chemicals and substances it cannot utilize, absorb, or that do not benefit the skin
- focus on anti-stress: get enough sleep and drink enough, relax, and eat foods that strengthen the body and its defenses
When it comes to products, choose mild and pure ones that can hydrate and soothe irritated skin.
The products should provide the skin with plenty of moisture and be able to keep the skin hydrated for a long time.
Use products with ingredients such as vegetable oils, aloe vera, squalane, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, sorbitol, niacinamide (active but mild), and antioxidants that protect the skin from oxidative stress.
