9 of the Best Skincare Trends Predicted for 2022

Covid has really affected our lives and skin for good and bad. We are now faced with new skincare issues like maskne (mask acne) and people are taking better care of their skin and mind. This led to an explosion of some skincare trends on social media and some of those trends will likely follow us into 2022. In this article, I will be sharing 9 of the best skincare trends predicted for 2022.

1. Less Focus on Aggressive Results

A few years back, the unspoken rule was that ‘Beauty is Pain’. Remember that black face mask that you peel off your skin to remove blackheads. Yikes! Time is up for such harsh products that could irritate the skin and damage the skin barrier. Now, the focus is on nurturing the skin barrier with gentle products that contain ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides.

2. Minimalistic Approach

It is tempting to use a lot of products to target various skin issues but this is actually counterproductive. Too many products can trigger irritation and skin sensitivity.

Minimalist skincare is all about keeping it simple. For instance, It involves using the 3 essentials facial products:

Gentle cleanser even if you don’t have sensitive skin.
Hydrating moisturizer (for oily skin), light cream (for normal skin) or thick cream (for dry skin).
Facial sunscreen with at least SPF 30.

3. Intuitive Beauty

Intuitive beauty is more about following your instincts, rather than a strict regimen. Mindcare meets skincare. Most times, we treat symptoms like acne without getting to know the root cause. Intuitive beauty inspires people to do research and get help from professionals when things don’t feel right with their skin and body.

4. Fermented Skincare

Do you know that some good bacteria live on the skin to keep it healthy? The use of harsh and aggressive products kills those bacteria and leaves the skin exposed. That’s where fermented skincare steps in.

Fermented skincare products nourish the bacteria and extend the shelf life of active ingredients in products. Watch out for products with ingredients like Lactobacillus ferment lysate, rice ferment filtrate (aka sake), Bifida ferment lysate, etc.

best skincare trends 2022 - SPF with blue light protection

5. SPF with Blue Light Protection

There is a growing concern about the adverse effect of blue light on our skin i.e. hyperpigmentation and premature ageing. Normally, we are exposed to blue light from the sun. On top of that, we get extra exposure when using our smartphones, tablets and computers. That’s like 24/7 exposure.

Previously sunscreens were made to protect our skin from UV rays. However, blue light is more damaging to the skin than UV rays. So, there is a rise in antioxidant-rich sunscreens that also offer blue light protection.

6. Anti-Stress Products

Beauty starts from the inside is not just a catchphrase. Things happening in our body have a huge effect on the appearance of our skin. We’ve had a rough year so the focus is on de-stressing the body by relaxing, getting enough sleep and drinking enough water. There is a rise in demand for products that help people achieve those things. For example, tools like gua sha and jade rollers are being incorporated into the skincare routine.

7. Waterless Skincare

Water is precious to life but it is dwindling fast worldwide because it is being polluted, wasted and unsustainably managed. Meanwhile, water takes up about 60-80 per cent of skincare products. Experts are calling for us to assess our water footprint and reduce our usage. We are now seeing more waterless beauty products. For example, Moondust makes a powder-to-lather shampoo.

8. Other Retinoids

Skin ageing is inevitable but there are proven treatments for fine lines, wrinkles, sagging and other ageing issues. Research has proven that retinoids can reduce wrinkles and fine lines while boosting the production of collagen. However, some retinoids can irritate some skin types. There are alternatives like adapalene that are effective but less irritating. Bakuchiol is currently trending as a plant-based alternative to retinol.

9. Upcycling is the best skincare trend

Did you know that over 1/3 of all food produced globally goes to waste? Luckily, beauty brands are upcycling. This means that they are finding a use for ingredients like oat hulls, hemp, olive leaves that are usually thrown away.