Skincare Trends For 2024: What’s Hot In The Beauty World

The world of skincare has been taking off over the last number of years. If you are a self-confessed skincare fanatic, we are here to satisfy your hunger for skincare knowledge.

The skincare market has seen huge growth as the shift has veered away from makeup, and instead, the focus is on skin. It's a welcomed shift, encouraging us to embrace our natural side and turning the focus away from heavy, overdone makeup. Skin health is where it's at in 2024!

This year we have seen the increasing pressure put on brands to stop using overly-filtered and airbrushed images, urging them to portray "real" skin, pores, and all.

With so many skincare trends coming and going, so too do the skincare buzzwords. Thanks to the likes of TikTok, every day we are being bombarded with the next best 'holy grail' product that's going to solve all of our skincare problems–or so we're told.

It's easy to become overwhelmed with information and struggle to know whose advice is the right advice. And the truth is, everyone's skin needs are different.

Contents

In this article, we'll be talking you through some of the skincare trends you'll be seeing more of, as well as the skincare buzzwords you may have already seen floating around the internet and social media.

The average skincare routine has evolved from the humble cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize, to a 10-step routine involving things like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, retinol, and now even skincare tools such as LED masks.

If you want to starting a private label skincare business or learn more about skincare trends and how to nail a healthy skincare routine, then keep reading!

Divining into the hottest skincare trends

1. Skin barrier repair
2. Actives
3. "Glass skin" and "slugging"
4. Skin-cycling
5. K-beauty
6. Sheet masks
7. SPF
8. Skincare tools
9. Body care

Skin barrier repair

Arguably the most important aspect of a skincare routine and the biggest trend of 2024, is to ensure that first and foremost, you have a healthy skin barrier. Perhaps over the years, you have thrown skincare products at your face, not really knowing what the ingredients were, and whether or not they were actually suitable for your skin type.

As a result, your skin was likely irritated and you could have caused damage to your skin's natural barrier function. Your barrier's function is to protect you from environmental factors, as well as maintaining moisture levels.

A damaged barrier may show itself as dryness, sensitivity, and inflammation, a.k.a all the things we want to avoid!

As we were being inundated with all of these new skincare ingredients, skincare brands saw this as an opportunity to focus some of their products on skin barrier repair.

Companies such as CeraVe and La Roche Posay place much of their emphasis on barrier repair. And quite frankly, it is a skincare marketing success since every routine is essentially useless without a healthy base. Good skin health starts with the basics.

Actives

Actives have paved their way into our skincare regimen and it looks like they're here to stay. With so many different choices of actives in your skincare products, it's likely you will find one that really works for you.

Actives have been trending ever since retinol first came on the scene and began to go viral. Retinol, (which is derived from Vitamin A), has been hailed as a life-changing ingredient that can re-wind the clock and totally transform your skin.

Retinol works by increasing collagen production and can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The results? Glowing skin, and improved overall skin texture. Sounds amazing, right?

Following in retinol's footsteps, there has been a surge in other active ingredients such as tretinoin, which has similar benefits to retinol but typically requires a prescription because it's significantly stronger.

Another trending product in the beauty industry is vitamin C. The skincare benefits of vitamin C include brightening your skin tone, anti-aging effects, and plumping of the skin, and it even helps to reduce acne scarring. It's no wonder this product has become a staple in the skincare industry!

"Glass skin" and "slugging"

Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm sure you've heard skin being referred to as a glazed donut, thanks to Hailey Bieber. A new trending term with the same concept is "glass skin".

Hydration has always been important in skincare, but recently more emphasis has been placed on having juicy, plump skin. So much so, that the aim is now to look like a glazed donut before going to bed every night, apparently.

Hyaluronic acid is a really effective product to ensure your skin is holding onto as much moisture as it can. Hyaluronic acid is an easy one to add into your routine before applying your moisturizer every morning and evening. Some of the most impressive benefits include improving skin elasticity, smoothing skin, tightening, and locking in moisture.

Another new trend that appeared in late 2023 was "slugging". And no, it's not as bad as it sounds!

A holy grail product for many, snail mucin snuck its way into our world and suddenly we wondered how we ever lived without it.

Slugging refers to using an occlusive moisturizer, such as snail mucin or the humble Vaseline, and practically smothering your face in it. It's usually done as the last step in your evening skincare routine, and according to the skincare experts on the internet, it really does work.

If someone tells us covering our face in snail goop and Vaseline is going to transform our dry, dull skin, of course we're going to do it! Duh!

In all seriousness, snail mucin has been around for a long time, and is an ingredient that has been used in Korean skincare for decades. So you don't need to worry about it being a new skincare 'fad', or about its reliability. It's 100% safe!

Skin cycling

This is the method of rotating your skincare products each night so that you can maximize the benefits but minimize the possible risk of skin irritation that could occur as a result of using too many actives in your routine.

Typically, you would assign day 1 to focus on exfoliating, day 2 to actives like retinol or salicylic acid, and days 3 and 4 are often referred to as 'recovery nights', where you allow your skin to rest and focus on soothing and hydrating the skin.

By taking this cyclical approach you can ensure your skin barrier doesn't become compromised and give yourself enough time to recuperate after using actives. By balancing your skin needs you can give yourself the best chance at getting that gorgeous, glowy skin you've always dreamed of.

K-beauty

If their adorable packaging wasn't enough to coax you into trying their products, then buckle up because we're about to convince you why you need to give Korean skincare a try!

Korean skincare has continued to be influential in the global skincare industry by providing holistic skincare products. Using primarily organic and natural ingredients, K-Beauty products are suitable for skin of any age or complexion.

Their holistic approach to skincare is a breath of fresh air which is why it's currently trending in the Western world. Their skincare philosophy emphasizes natural and gentle ingredients, focusing heavily on skin hydration and achieving healthy and radiant skin.

Korean skincare is known for investing heavily in bringing innovative products to the market, always being the first to try something new and exciting. K-Beauty continues to hold the industry standard and has an unmatched cult following that other skincare brands can only hope to achieve.

Many of their products' skincare ingredient lists contain natural herbs and botanicals such as green tea, ginseng, rice extract, and tiger grass. These ingredients have a high concentration of antimicrobial properties, making each one an effective ingredient in your routine.

Perhaps the most poignant takeaway from Korean skincare is that a skincare routine goes beyond just the products. There is a ritualistic approach to skincare that promotes a sense of mindfulness and self-care, highlighting that skincare routines shouldn't be just another mundane routine, but rather a moment with yourself.

This approach, along with its list of unique and innovative ingredients has made Korean skincare a beloved regimen for people all over the globe looking to achieve luminous, healthy skin.

Sheet masks

Sheet masks are a staple of Korean skincare, but in the last few years we have noticed them increasing in popularity around the world. They are often infused with potent ingredients used to deeply hydrate and nourish your skin.

They're cheap, effective, and easy to use. They do kind of make you look like Dwight from that one episode of The Office, though. (IFKYK)

SPF

Thankfully, the world has evolved from darker times when we all used to put baby oil on our bodies and go outside to lay in the sun in the hopes of catching a tan. Due to proper sun health education, more and more people are becoming aware of the serious dangers of the sun.

Sunbeds and tanning oils begone! Sunscreen is our new BFF.

Skincare brands that previously didn't have anything to do with sun protection have now started launching their own products, many made with skincare-loving ingredients, designed to work well under makeup, and some even tinted.

‍Oh, the options!

Skincare tools

One of the most exciting new advancements in skincare is the introduction of skincare tools.

Once upon a time, if you wanted to have LED Light Therapy, you'd have to go to a dermatologist's office or a salon. Nowadays, however, you can do it from the comfort of your own home–with your feet up while you press play on another episode of Real Housewives. Bliss.

LED face masks have become increasingly popular in the skincare realm as of late thanks to the multiple benefits it offers. LED masks have been shown to address a number of skin concerns with amazing results! The best part is, it's suitable for almost all skin types.

How does it work you ask? Otherwise known as a light-emitting diode, LED masks generate different wavelengths that can penetrate the skin cells at different levels. It reacts to create a natural biochemical process known as photobiomodulation to help rejuvenate your skin.

Most masks will have different levels of penetration, labeled as Red Light, Blue Light, and Yellow Light. Each one will target different skin concerns.

Red light

Works up to 4cm below the skin. It will stimulate collagen production and elastin production. It also boosts circulation and lymphatic drainage and visibly improves signs of premature aging. If that wasn't enough, it can also accelerate skin repair.

Blue light

Targets skin cells up to 1mm on your skin's surface. Blue light has antioxidants proven to kill acne-causing bacteria, so if you're someone who suffers from breakouts this might be your new saving grace. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects, it helps skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.

Yellow/amber light

Works with skin cells up to 2mm below the surface to remove toxins, promote lymphatic drainage and blood circulation, improving the skin’s metabolic processes. Yellow light is known for its skin smoothing abilities, improving the overall appearance of the skin.

Another skin care tool that has been trending in the beauty world is Gua Sha. Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese technique mainly used to aid lymphatic drainage in the face. A Gua Sha is a tool used to perform a gentle massage on the face to de-puff and brighten.

The results are immediate, but can also improve more over time with consistent use. By gently gliding the tool, which is usually made of jade or rose quartz, along the face it stimulates blood flow, encourages the removal of toxins, and boosts collagen. We don't know about you, but this sounds like an exciting night in to us!

Body care

Last but not least, is body care. The skin on our body is just as important as the skin on our face. That's why we've seen body care having its moment in the beauty world.

Body care is often overlooked but it requires just as much attention as our face does. More brands have been expanding their products beyond just body exfoliants and moisturizers. We have seen new body care products enter the market that contain familiar skincare ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C.

Dry brushing has been around for years but has recently taken off as a new form of exfoliation. You can do it before you shower as a method of removing dead skin cells, but an added bonus is that it helps the lymphatic system and boosts blood flow, giving you glowing skin from the inside out!

Body oils are a great way of getting some extra hydration after you've had your shower which could be likened to the temperatures of hell. We know there's no better feeling than stepping into a hot shower, but your skin probably says otherwise. When your skin is feeling stripped after a shower, sometimes a regular moisturizer just won't cut it.

Body oils provide concentrated doses of hydration, antioxidants, and fatty acids to leave your skin silky smooth. We can't live without!

Key takeaways

One of the key takeaways from this article is that there will always be new skincare trends emerging.

Skincare doesn't have to be super complicated. Skincare routines will vary from person to person. You shouldn't feel the need to adopt every step into your own regimen. Sometimes, all you really might need is fewer products and a stripped-back routine.

Sometimes less is more–our skin barrier can get overwhelmed by too many products and it's important not to get peer pressured into using every product on the market in a bid to fix your skin. A simple skincare routine can go a long way, and once you have it nailed, then you can look about adding in additional products to target specific areas.

With beauty brands pushing the focus onto natural makeup more and more, skin minimalism is letting us embrace our natural beauty (finally!).

It's time to nail that skincare routine and get glowing!