If a trip down the makeup aisle is any indication, spring is in the air — or least on the shelf. This year is all about nature, from precious gem powders to sustainable packaging. Before you head shopping, here are some of the biggest spring beauty and wellness trends.
BEAUTY FIT FOR AN EMPRESS
Beauty products containing precious gems such as diamond dust and pearl powder are all the rage this season, but pearl powder has been used in Asia for millennia. The empresses of China were renowned for their flawless skin, due in no small part to the application of pearl powder.
If you research pearl powder, you’ll quickly discover it doesn’t come cheap, but never fear. Just a small amount offers beaucoup benefits. It brightens, tightens, reduces redness and discoloration, and protects against environmental toxins. Pearl powder also revs up cell renewal, meaning dewy, younger-looking skin.
For best results, be sure what you choose is labeled ‘100% pearl powder.’ Use it as a face mask or a finishing powder. You can even drink it to relieve headaches, and for skin that glows from the inside out.
RETINOL ALTERNATIVES
Bakuchiol isn’t the easiest word to pronounce, but you’ll learn to love it when you hear what it does. Bakuchiol is earning a lot of buzz this year as a plant-based alternative to retinol. A lot of us have a love-hate relationship with retinol. It does the job on those fine lines and wrinkles, but nobody likes suffering through the red, scaly, sensitive skin that is part of the process.
Now for the good news: bakuchiol works just like retinol, except that it can be used during the day without suffering from light sensitivity. Bakuchiol has been studied scientifically and comes out a winner. In one study, wrinkles decreased by 11%, skin was 8% firmer, and a whopping 70% had less redness. Bakuchiol also offers a synergistic effect with other antioxidants, working together to feed and regenerate skin cells. And here’s even more good news: bakuchiol also works on pimples and melasma.
It should be noted an allergic reaction to bakuchiol is possible, meaning you could experience redness and peeling, particularly at higher concentrations.
BEAUTIFUL FACE, HEALTHY PLANET
Sustainability is getting a lot of attention among both indie and well-known brands. Packaging will become more minimal this season, with eco-friendly versions making an appearance. One hundred percent recycled plastic bottles and refillable containers will also become more widely available. The products themselves will also be sustainable, like compostable wipes and face masks. Vegan beauty products will continue to blossom this spring as mental health, physical health and beauty converge.
CBD
Demand for cannabidiol (CBD) products surged in 2019, and CBD seems poised to continue its meteoric rise as it crosses over from wellness to beauty. CBD products are on course to become legal in all 50 states in 2020, which more or less guarantees an increase in demand for this scorching hot commodity. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant CBD soothes as it reduces pain and inflammation, including for conditions like acne. CBD locks in moisture, offering you healthy, glowing skin. Look for it everywhere in face oils to bath salts.
CUSTOMIZED BEAUTY
Nothing is more personal than your face, and advances in technology are allowing for a wider selection of made-to-order skincare products and makeup this year. Even big names like Kiehl’s and L’Oréal are getting in on the trend. While with Kiehl’s, you’ll have to visit a store to make your personal blends, L’Oréal just unveiled Perso, a device that can create lipstick, foundation and skincare products on-demand in your home. It’s kind of like a K-cup coffee maker, except for makeup.
With so many beautiful and sustainable options to choose from, fair weather and fair faces are definitely in the forecast for Spring 2020.
