This Month In Beauty

In the age of social media, trends are formed and changed almost overnight. One minute, 10-steps beauty rituals are in, the next minute they’re out. 2018 saw millennials obsessed with all things shiny and rainbow coloured, some called it the unicorn trend. It made its way across all three verticals of the industry – skincare, makeup and hair care; beauty masks with glitter, hair and makeup focussed on bright pops of colour. At the other end of this spectrum was the pastel trend especially when it came to hair colours. Many Instagram influencers and celebrities were seen sporting lavender, rose gold and lilac hair. We also saw more and more labels looking for sustainable solutions. In 2019, sustainability is bigger and better, spearheaded by Lush, just look at their zero-waste shop. What else is on the radar? Let’s find out.

SKIN CARE

Cruelty and Vegan Beauty

Skincare enthusiasts rejoiced as the major beauty brand ‘Cover Girl’ earned its cruelty-free status, finally accredited with the coveted Leaping Bunny Certification. Another beauty giant Dove also gained the cruelty-free status, certified by PETA. While on the vegan beauty scene, vegetable-infused products are hot.

Sustainability

The industry, on the whole, is taking steps towards addressing the plastic waste and the water usage problems long associated with the beauty industry. Lush opened their zero waste shop by focussing on products that come in solid form, such as their shampoo bars. Unilever and L’oreal are both aiming at halving their water usage for water per finished product by 2020. Some brands are working towards launching ‘dry’ products that won’t use water as an ingredient at all, such as dry face cleansers, masks, etc..

Probiotic Products

The food industry for years has gone on and on about the benefits of Probiotic bacteria. Looks like in 2019 the beauty industry is finally catching up with the trend. There are two bacteria claimed to have beneficial effects on the skin – Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. Clinique is a major brand working on harnessing these friendly bacteria to create products that help soothe inflammation and irritation, and not just that, the bacteria also help to slow the signs of aging.

Beauty Tools

This is a beauty & DIY lover’s dream product; DIY home facial kit sales are up. Dry brushing is popular amongst women as a technique to reduce cellulite, however doing the same on the face was never considered wise. This trend took off in Asian where a major part of the continent prefers organic methods over cosmetic ones, the brush acts like a scrub, removing dead cells and boosts blood circulation giving you a natural look.

MAKEUP

Diversity

The beauty industry has been biased towards a certain demographic –  light-skinned, younger population. This year we have seen a lot of indie brands launch which caters to varied skin-tones and the launch of their makeup lines that are targeted towards a wider audience is anticipated. People of colour are no longer forced to settle for less. Many brands are coming up with products aimed at demographics with darker skin tones – Middle Eastern, Asian, African now have ranges that cater to their unique skin needs.

Cream Lipsticks

Not too glossy, not too drab, cream lipsticks are a perfect median between glossy and matte lipsticks. It adds a nice pop of colour without drying your lips as the mattes do. The colours range from bright vibrant hues to earthy browns and neutrals.

Big Brows

Statement brows are the thing this year. Gone are the days of over plucked, sharp, super slim eyebrows. This year is all about leaving them bushy and turning up the size and volume. Many companies are making products that help grooms brows such as pencils, pomades, powers, and sculpting gels.

Going Bare

This trend is a fresh welcome to those who prefer their simple, almost bare makeup routine. Makeup artists are skipping the foundation and swapping it with the use of concealer and primer, only on parts where it is necessary. Some are even going completely natural with just a touch of mascara and lip gloss.

Disco Homage

This trend has a mixed audience, while some prefer to stay in the present and leave the over-the-top glitter makeup to the 70s. Some choose to go retro without going too literal. Lids sporting shadows of black and gold or ultra, high shine purple are popular and gaining more steam with each passing month.

Monotone

Going monotone from head to toe has been a major fashion trend on the runway in some form for the last 4 to 5 years, this year monotone on the face is ‘in’ too. Make-up artists are applying the same head to toe technique when it comes to doing up the lips, the eyes, and the cheeks. All three sport the same colour or the same palette.

HAIR CARE

Embellished Hair

Studs and chains are popular accessory choices when it comes to sprucing up an outfit. The chains are often seen worn around the neck and the studs adorning the eyes or the forehead in a myriad of patterns. This year the trend is going strong but has moved upwards towards the mane. Ponytails with links of chains loosely attached or studs along-side the parting are gathering steam.

Curls

Curls are ‘in’ both natural or made up. Naturally, curly hair looks beautiful and is unique from one person to another. Hairstylists are playing up the natural texture of the hair to add more body and life to the mane. Meanwhile straight haired beauties are going in for strong, dense curls using curlers, for a crazy mess of a head. Keratin treatment for curly hair is also a must for keeping the curls sharp, smooth and frizz-free.

Punk

Loud pop of candy floss colours, in punky, dishevel cuts are in. The use of wigs is popular too for those who want to give this trend a try, or to dabble with it here and there without any commitment.

These are some of the major beauty trends in 2019 – we’ll continue keep our eyes peeled to see what’s ahead!