The Beauty of Acceptance

Recently many celebrities can be seen sporting and endorsing their natural skin, be it on their Instagram or even magazine covers. The message that’s strung along, is mostly about embracing natural beauty or breaking down the seemingly unattainable standards of beauty set before us. As the world becomes more conscious of mental health, and its correlation with the beauty industry, many influencers can be seen trying to convey the message of embracing oneself completely. Instead of trying to attain unrealistic beauty standards, people are being encouraged to be more accepting of themselves, flaws and all! Rafa Mashiyat Zahid looks at the recent trends in beauty and skincare and breaks them down for the readers.

Skincare

Knowledge is Power

Gone are the days when the 10 steps Korean skincare was all the rave. Customers are now seen to be well versed in the scientific aspect of skincare. Words like Hyaluronic acid and Niacinamide are just thrown around casually amongst skincare junkies. Brands are even encouraging users to do their own research and understand the ingredients to understand what is better suited for their skincare concerns. Brands like Ordinary and Inkey list have products that are named after the main ingredient. Examples being, the Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution or The Inkey List Retinol Anti-aging Serum. The simple fact that they are not called by dumbed-down names for the layman, and are very popular nevertheless, speaks volumes about how much they are pushing for intelligent skincare.

Less is more

Along with knowledge about the ingredients, it has been seen now that products with a small, simple, and yet effective ingredient list are being promoted by dermatologists and skincare gurus. Complex formulas are being replaced with simpler ones that target specific skin issues. Korean brands are doing very well in this regard. Their science-backed, targeted skincare has been seen to work wonders on a multitude of skin concerns! 

Clean Beauty

The concept of clean beauty is steeped with a better understanding of the downright toxic ingredients that can be found in some skincare. Anyone who is into skincare at all can be scared to death simply with words like Parabens, Talc, Formaldehyde, or even something as seemingly harmless as a fragrance! Sites like beauty counters even have a list called the “The Never List” which has over 1800 ingredients that are used in beauty products that are known carcinogenic or hormone disruptors. In light of all the information available on toxic ingredients, brands are taking a “clean” approach to skincare lines by keeping them devoid of these chemicals altogether. Many brands have taken a stance to be completely transparent with their ingredient list so that customers can make an informed decision when buying their products. 

No to being Sun-kissed

Protection against pesky little sun rays is nothing new in the beauty industry. It is a known fact that UVA and UVB rays are simply awful for our skin. Aside from causing hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, it may cause liver spots, actinic keratosis, or solar elastosis according to the American Cancer Society. Since skincare is being talked about so much, the conversation on how to keep your skin looking young and radiant just by protecting it from the sun has come up many times. Sun damage is one of the leading factors that contribute to skin problems. However, many sunscreens are seen to leave a white cast because of the zinc in the formula, which is an issue for people of color. To combat this issue, and to celebrate inclusivity, many new formulas have entered the market which does not leave a white cast at all. This has led more people of color to be educated about the harm that the sun can cause. Therefore, since more people are aware of the aftereffects of sun damage, SPF has become every skincare enthusiast’s best friend!

Beauty

Fresh as a daisy

The beauty industry, for the time being, has come to the conclusion that having beautiful, radiant skin is the first step in your makeup routine. Everyone is seemingly hyper-focused on getting beautiful skin! As for makeup, gone are the “cake face” days! The concept of the beauty trends now is to show off your natural skin in all its glory with texture and freckles. Enhancing what one already has seems to be the way to go. The lightest touch of a sheer foundation with spot concealing and the lightest dusting of powder is the perfect dewy base to look out for. 

Be Cheeky

The Blush trend is here and it’s the happiest, most heartwarming trend of the year. Seems like everyone just woke up one random morning and decided to go crazy with the rosy cheeks. Different types of blush trends have been creeping up, depending on whether you want to look as cute as a button, or absolutely fierce. Concentrate a slight dusting of blush on your cheeks right below the eyes to look innocent and more rounded, or blend it up to your temples to make your face look more lifted and fierce, and a touch of blush over the bridge of the nose will make you look sun-kissed with no sun damage to accompany you! The cherry on the top of this trend is the cream blushes, which can be used to give that perfect dewy finish that makes the skin look beautiful, healthy, and naturally flushed.

Match Up

The monochromatic aesthetic which the fashion industry has been raving about has finally caught up with the beauty world! An entire look with the same tones of color or even the same product is not only appreciated but celebrated! Using the same color on your eyes, cheeks, and lips is very reminiscent of past beauty trends. However, that trend has made a full comeback this season. Products like the NARS, the Multiple or Benefit Lip, and Cheek Tint, which can be used for all three are very popular. In fact, products that are sold as cream blushes like, Fenty Beauty Match Stix or Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush are being used by influencers as a blush and eye shadow as well making them multi-functional and fan favorites!

Curls for days

In a surprising turn of events, curly hair is in! Gone are the days, when curlies would be asked to straighten their hair to make their mane look more “appropriate”, or would be made fun of for having “crazy” hair. People everywhere are embracing their natural spring-like locks and are going out of their way to take care of them. The Curly Girl Method, an approach to hair care, designed by Lorraine Massey has become the curly girls’ bible. The method may be called Curly Girl Method, but anyone can use the routine irrespective of gender and is guaranteed success with healthy luscious coils.