5 of the Hottest Skincare Trends for 2022 that You Should Keep an Eye On

As last year began to draw to a close, we realized that it is time to discover new beauty and emerging skincare products. Innovations in the items we already use, plus fresh beneficial ingredients and new ways to protect and invigorate skin all await. Here, we’ve collected a peek of what’s arrived as the best skincare for 2022.

Skin Barrier Strengthening

Protecting and strengthening the skin’s top layer (the epidermis) is important for shielding from pollution and toxins, UV rays, dehydration, and infectivity—all of which result in visible signs of aging and irritation. This outer wall guards the remaining dermis and subcutaneous layers. The skin’s microbiome, or flora, encourages a strong barrier and healthy skin when it is protected. There are several ways to help this along.

Avoiding overdoing skincare and using fewer harsh products serves to maintain the skin’s pH balance. Mild, gentle cleansing and not over-cleansing are both important, as well as cutting back on chemical peels and masks, which are better used only periodically. Microdosing—a slow and steady approach to treating skin—is a trending method of protecting the skin’s barrier and consists of applying low concentrations of ingredients to deliver results gradually – and may work well for individuals with sensitive or overly stressed skin. 

Keeping skin quenched with the right moisturizer and hydrating serum, along with drinking plenty of water and eating a primarily plant-based diet high in omega 3 fatty acids can also help ensure a healthy epidermis. 

And finally, head outdoors. Studies have shown that spending time in nature and green spaces helps to increase healthy microflora on the skin’s barrier.

Luminosity

Glowing, silky, dewy, glossy. However you describe it, luminous skin isn’t going anywhere. For a while now, the glammed-up looks that began in the late aughts have been replaced with fresh, downplayed makeup and a focus on natural beauty. And while there’s an uptick in glam and glitz due to the holidays and the wake of homebound lifestyles, the freshness of bare-faced beauty is still on-trend and looks to stay around for a while. 

A good skincare routine and products that exfoliate and promote healthy cell turnover produce radiant skin. We love brightening serums like Obagi Daily Hydro-Drops Facial Serum with vitamin B3 and pure Abyssinian and hibiscus oils, and SkinMedica TNS Illuminating Eye Cream for lustrous skin.

The Ultimate Skincare Routine, Minimized

While cleansing, treating, and moisturizing are the basics, it’s easy to get carried away piling on products in hopes of achieving fast results. But instead of flawless skin, we may be left with inflammation, redness, or acne. When it comes to improving the skin’s barrier, a less-is-more approach with a streamlined skincare regime will allow the skin’s natural oils and flora to balance.

The treatment step can be simplified with products that work together like the SkinMedica Award Winning System, which combines anti-aging, pigment correction, and hydrating serums all in one bundle with steps for using them in your regimen. The skincare in this system works to deliver potent concentrations for better results.

It's in the Ingredients

We will see plant-based and vegan skincare products increasing in popularity, and an influx of quality ingredient lists on labels. As we become more educated on skincare, we’ve come to know what we want to see in it. More than ever, we know the benefits of ingredients and when and how to use them. Skincare companies will continue to shift focus toward offering the most effective and pure ingredients and will actively share what’s in their products.

SPF, Please.

SPF never goes out of style. What’s new is that there are more vehicles to deliver SPF than ever before. Oils, primers, serums, and more have joined the ranks of lotions and creams. With so many choices, there’s really no excuse. It’s so easy to protect from the sun’s damaging UV rays year-round, and in products that are great for skin. One of our favorites is SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 34 Tinted because it works for all skin types and features antioxidants to protect and rejuvenate skin.

Expect a rise in more products featuring blue light protection for skin, with ingredients like iron oxide and zinc oxide that help to block and reflect light and prevent damage to skin from even short-term exposure.

We’re ready for everything that 2022 has to offer! Here’s to a new year with good health and natural beauty, for all skin types and all skincare regimens…cheers!