Key Points
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Skincare trends in the early 2020s spread more quickly and to more people due to social media and online availability of items.
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Skincare routines in 2023 include shaking up the trends from 2022 and focusing on reducing waste.
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2023 skincare routines use fewer products to achieve intense hydration.
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Products and trends for 2023 incorporate unlikely yet effective new ingredients.
As 2023 kicks into action, the skincare industry is buzzing with excitement about the latest trends and innovations in the world of beauty products. From new ingredients to cutting-edge technology, the skincare landscape is constantly evolving to provide the best skincare routines of 2023.
Skincare is one of the most popular hashtags and has a whopping 15 billion views across social media platforms. Dermatologists, celebrities, influencers, and consumers chimed in on the skincare craze in 2022. This isn't likely to slow down as there are several more trends on the horizon for emerging skincare routines of 2023.
Skin cycling, Korean skincare products, and LED masks were all the rage in 2022. New and improved techniques and products promise healthier and younger-looking skin for consumers.
Advanced Skin Cycling
In 2022, the skin cycling trend generated billions of views and videos on TikTok. New York dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, the inventor of the term “skin cycling,” is an ardent advocate of the process which involves a five-day rotation of certain skincare products with designated rest days, exfoliation days, and retinol days.
The 2023 new-and-improved version of this routine is advanced skin cycling.
Bowe calls advanced skin cycling "one way to personalize your skin cycling routine if your skin can tolerate 'push' products [retinoids and exfoliating acids] more frequently."
In advanced skin cycling, you drop a “recovery” night when you use a bland, simple moisturizer and add another retinol or exfoliating night. The trend is all about ramping up the active ingredients if your skin is healthy and happy enough to do so.
Slugging
Many online viewers were obsessed with dewy, glowy, and well-moisturized skin in 2022. That desire and look are also popular in the new year.
One of the best ways to achieve glossy skin is by skin slugging, which involves layering petroleum jelly over serums and creams to lock hydration into the skin. The term owes its existence to New York-based aesthetician Charlotte Palermino's TikTok and Instagram videos in 2020.
Palermino, the co-founder of Dieux skincare company, points out there are "more brands talking about layering skin-care and trapping hydration, also known as 'moisture sandwiching' or 'skin flooding.' Respecting your skin isn’t going anywhere, and thankfully, protecting your barrier isn’t just a trend."
Trimming Down Products in Your Routine
In the past, dermatologists and skincare influencers advocated numerous single-use products — cleansers, toners, retinol, exfoliators, and moisturizers. While certain ingredients are necessary for a successful skincare routine, using many different products is wasteful and complicated for those with a busy schedule.
In 2023, skincare enthusiasts are turning to multi-use products. Instead of using five formulas, people need only one or two. This reduces waste, saves money, and saves time.
Palermino says "Having a mausoleum dedicated to products you don’t have enough time (or available skin space) for isn’t as aspirational as it used to be." She notes too many skincare steps in your routine causes irritation, redness, and dryness. Adverse reactions are less likely with fewer products in the mix.
Plus, the more steps you have, the less likely you are to follow all of them.
Tremella Mushrooms
When it comes to the latest and greatest ingredients to incorporate into your skincare routine for 2023, tremella mushrooms should be number one on your list.
Tremella mushrooms contain hyaluronic acid, a popular hydrating element in many skincare products.
Hydration is key to healthy, radiant skin. Tremella mushrooms deliver intense moisture essential for beautiful skin.
Top-rated products containing tremella mushrooms include Three Ships Dew Drops Mushroom Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C Serum, Humanrace Humidifying Cream, and Volition Beauty Snow Mushroom Water Serum.
Skincare for the Entire Body
In the past, products such as moisturizers, serums, and exfoliators were popular for the face. In 2023, the amount of love and care you give your face is also applicable to the rest of your body.
Bodycare is the new skincare in 2023. Face masks transition to body masks, facial serums are matched with body serums, and exfoliation is no longer just for removing dead skin cells from the face.
Some skincare routines phase out over time, but bodycare makes room for you to focus on yourself as a whole — and that is never likely to go out of style.
Bring everything you do for the skin on your face to the rest of the body. Your body thanks you!
Link Between Mental Health and Skin Health
Everyone feels stressed from time to time. Stress takes a huge toll on your skin's health.
Maybe due to the impact of a three-year global pandemic and the effect it has had on people's mental health, people are considering their mental health even in their skincare routine in 2023.
Stress causes high cortisol levels, resulting in inflammation, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, and acne breakouts. Using products to combat these physical symptoms is a great call, but focusing on your mental health makes you feel great inside and out.
"Emotional well-being is the bridge between our mental, and therefore, physical health," Dr. Bowe says.
The new year focuses attention on psychodermatology. In a Psychiatric Times article, psychiatrist Dr. Mohammad Jafferany notes that psychodermatology looks at the skin's health and mental health as two interconnected functions. Issues with the skin are often related to your psyche, he says.
Skincare and Makeup Hybrids
The idea of mixing skincare with makeup isn't exactly a new trend, but skincare and makeup hybrids are on the rise in 2023. Acne-fighting skin tints and foundations enriched with SPF are filling more space on shelves.
There's no reason why you can't glam up without protecting your skin. Skincare-infused makeup is a great way to combine beauty and health.
"Makeup products with skincare ingredients are going to be a big hit," London's Adonia Medical Clinic founder and director Dr. Ifeoma Ejikeme explains in an interview with Country & Town House. Ejikeme explains: "The focus is on skincare, always working to improve the quality of skin even whilst wearing makeup. We are already seeing this with SPF in makeup and lip oils instead of lip gloss, but in 2023 this is going to become more refined and expected."
The latest and greatest skincare and makeup hybrids include Colorscience Total Protection Color Balm SPF 50, Kosas Revealer Concealer, Jones Road Miracle Balm, and Merit Day Glow Highlighting Balm.
Blue Tansy
As the years go on, more and more people are willing to try unconventional ingredients in their skincare. Blue tansy, an essential oil of a rare Moroccan flower, is one of those elements. The oil has a soothing effect on the skin.
Oncologists use blue tansy on cancer patients suffering from skin burns and irritation from radiation treatments.
Blue tansy works wonders on dry skin, eczema, and acne-prone skin. It has powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties to calm irritated skin.
Some effective products containing blue tansy are Lord Jones Pore Detox CBD Face Oil, Testament Beauty Morrocan Chamomile Sleeping Mask, and May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon.
Korean Skincare
In 2022, K-beauty was all the rage around social media. In 2023, Korean beauty and its skincare hacks are now a well-established fact of life in the skincare world.
Korean skincare introduced the world to unconventional ingredients in products that aid in hydration and anti-aging, making users' skin look and feel younger. Korean skincare is popular for people in their 30s and 40s because it emphasizes prevention and early intervention for aging skin.
Korean skincare is designed to lock in moisture, protect, and improve skin texture, which is important for those starting to show signs of aging. Men are also turning to Korean skincare because of the growing emphasis on grooming and self-care for everyone, and the recognition that taking care of their skin helps them look and feel their best.
Some popular Korean skincare recipes include ginseng, snail mucin, mugwort extract, fermented rice water, licorice root, pearl, birch, and bamboo extract. These ingredients continue to take the skincare community by storm.
Don't Be Afraid To Try New Things
The skincare industry is constantly growing and new trends sprout up all the time.
From the rise of multi-use beauty products to the use of innovative ingredients like tremella mushrooms, you have more options than ever when it comes to taking care of your skin.
With the right products and a consistent routine, anyone can achieve healthy, radiant skin in 2023 — and for many years to come.
