Hair skinification, clean sunscreen and wearable skincare: Meet the nu-gen beauty products we'll all be hooked on this year
The beauty world moves fast and sometimes it seems as though there's a product launching every day. But underneath the gloss and glamour of all the luxurious lipsticks, superstar serums and heavenly-scented perfumes, there's some serious innovation at play. Whether it be the ingredients inside, or the packaging around, there's no doubt that the beauty world is a constant source of inspiration and evolution that never ceases to amaze.
To celebrate all that is new, as well as what's we're most looking forward to in the next year, we've rounded up the nu-gen products that we are all going to be using by the end of the year...
WEARABLE SKINCARE
In the past month alone, two new patch-based skincare brands have launched, but when it comes to wearable skincare, we've only seen the tip of the iceberg. In the next year, expect to see a whole lot more leave-on skincare products, whether that be in sticker format, like new brands ZitSticka and Vice Reversa, both of which rely on mini, micro-needling patches that deliver active ingredients deeper into the skin, or technological offerings like Dr Dennis Gross SpectraLite FaceWare Pro.
HAIR SKINIFICATION
Haircare is no longer a simple two-step affair, with a roster of targeted treatments padding out the simple shampooing and conditioning staples. From sheet masks, to scalp serums, the nu gen of hair products are set to adopt the traits of skincare, with active ingredients included to treat every condition from dry scalp to split ends. Take new brand on the block Briogeo and their range of botanical treatments, including this scalp-reviving conditioner, which boasts active ingredients like charcoal and peppermint oil as well as a unique jelly-texture usually only spotted in K-beauty skincare.
MICROBIOME ME
Gut health has been paramount to the wellness game over the past couple of years, with the pro and pre biotic industries booming (not to mention the Kombucha revolution). Advances in science have lead to a greater understanding of the microbiome - the culmination of genetic material of the unique bacterial community that each person hosts on their skin - and skincare companies have been quick to spring into action. Galinée, the trailblazer in prebiotic and probiotic beauty, has now expanded their offering to support the bacteria on the scalp with a range of haircare, while new brands like MotherDirt are surfacing, showcasing biome-friendly beauty products, packed with live friendly bacteria to support the skin's optimum balance.
PLASTIC-FREE
The last few years have been eye-opening in terms of our contribution to plastic pollution, with everything from micro-beads, to plastic straws, to cellophane wrap coming under fire - and rightfully so. Millions of tonnes of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year, threatening marine life and causing chaos to aquatic ecosystems so it comes as welcome relief, therefore, that many beauty brands are doing their bit to alleviate the issue, with the launch of entirely plastic-free products (or else, using reduced, recycled or recyclable plastics instead). Lush and some more niche brands are making solid shampoos and conditioners that negate the need for plastic bottles, while luxe and mass brands alike, including Kiehl's, REN, Simple and Neal's Yard Remedies are making leaps and bounds towards becoming sustainable and responsible in the way they approach their formulas and their packaging, as well as supporting charitable initiatives that work towards tackling the ramifications of global warming.
AIR CARE 2.0
The problem of pollution isn't going away anytime soon but the world of air-care is only getting better, providing us with increasingly convenient and effective ways to safeguard against toxic particles and fumes. Take the new Dyson Pure Cool Me personal purifier fan, which removes gases and 99.95% of pollutants while being small enough to sit atop your desk at work. Then there's the Airvida wearable air purifier that fits around the neck like a space-age necklace to protect on-the-go.
CLEAN SUN SCREEN
With conversations about the protection and preservation of marine life and coral reefs at the forefront of the beauty world, it's only apt that we start to see changes in the formulation of SPF and sun care. Ingredients commonly found in sun screens like oxybenzone and octinoxate have been shown to be toxic to coral and acquatic life, and many brands have vowed to eliminate them from their products. Dermalogica’s new Prisma Protect SPF30, REN Clean Screen SPF and Avène's new range of sun care products are all reef friendly, and we expect to see more brands making changes in the next year.
