Skincare is the most important part of any makeup routine; it helps lay the foundations for how flawless your makeup will look and helps prevent skin damage and blemishes which we can all say we don’t want!
In 2022 the skincare craze was huge, from slugging to laminated skin, we saw it all, and this year we expect the frenzy over our skin to continue.
So, what can we expect in 2023, we hear you ask? Below we have included some predictions we have of what we think we’ll see happening within the world of skincare in 2023.
Skin Minimalism
This is one new trend that we have pre-empted for a while. Gone are the days of having a 10-step skincare routine that is over complicated and for most of us simply too long. At the end of a long day, the last thing most of us are thinking about is our 10-step skincare routine, for the most part, it is inaccessible and unrealistic. So, in 2023, we expect to see a rise in minimal skincare routines or the use of products that target multiple areas combined into one tube.
The no-nonsense simplified skincare routines are more accessible and more effective at looking after our skin. The main concept is doing more with less, with the removal of the excessive routines and the stress that comes along with them, you will be pleasantly surprised to see an improvement in your skin quality by the end of it.
So, what’s included in this new minimised routine? All you need in your new 2023 skincare routine is a gentle face wash, vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, moisturiser, and sunscreen. In the evening all you really need is a gentle wash, some retinol, and a moisturiser and that’s it!
What makes skin minimalism so popular is how simple and easy it is. There are also some great products on the market that have two and sometimes three of these steps included within them, so there is no need to have hundreds of different tubs and tubes of products that you simply don’t need.
Garner makes an amazing 2-in-1 product that is a moisturiser with vitamin c and SPF 25! It prompts healthier, more glowing skin after 7 days and is an amazing product if you’re looking for an item that will target multiple steps in your skincare routine.
Beauty Pie does a Triple Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisture Miracle Cream that can be used as a moisturiser with your hyaluronic acid infused within it.
There are plenty of moisturisers on the market that include SPF within them which makes life so much easier for us and our skincare routines, even on our lazy days.
Skin Cycling
This next trend is already huge online and will help you achieve glowy-looking skin. Skin cycling is when you alternate different products on different days of the week to help maximise their usage and provide you with glowy and healthy skin. Skin cycling does two main things, it prevents irritation and allows you to get the most out of the products that you are using.
Your morning skincare routines will stay the same, but it is your night-time routine that you should cycle to help nourish and improve your skin. The basic routine is as follows.
Night One- Exfoliate
By exfoliating, your skin will give you an immediate glow alongside prepping your skin so that you get the most out of the products you’ll use on night two. The Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a great exfoliant for targeting blemishes and removing dead skin cells.
Another good product that you could use at this step of the skin cycling routine is the Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant as it works to unclog your pores and contributes to a radiant-looking complexion.
Night Two- Retinol
On night two it is recommended that you add retinol to your skincare routine. Retinol is one of the most powerful skincare products that you can use on your skin for its properties that help promote cell regeneration and removes the appearance of fine lines.
No7 does an amazing retinol that is perfect for beginners and is fragrance-free. Medik8 also does a superb retinol that is perfect for sensitive skin and is gentle upon application.
When you start adding retinol to your skincare be aware of the percentage of retinol you are adding. If the percentage is too high, it can be very damaging to your skin and cause breakouts and peeling.
Your best to start off with a product that is below 1% of retinol as these products won’t be as aggressive on your skin and they’ll allow you to slowly build up your skin barrier and increase the percentage over time.
Nights Three and Four – Rest and Recover
Nights three and four are all about allowing your skin to rest and recover. Avoid using any exfoliating acids and retinoids and focus mainly on hydrating and nourishing your skin.
Skin Barrier Treatment
If you haven’t already started working on your skin barrier health, then you need to start asap. When your skin barrier is damaged, your skin is open to the elements. External irritants and pollutants are more likely to get into your skin and therefore make your skin more prone to acne. Over-exfoliating and using too many acne products also impact the health of your skin barrier and in some cases can even make your acne worse!
So how can we fix our skin barriers? Well, it’s simple, stop using overactive products. These are your retinol and harsh exfoliants that your skin may either not be ready for yet or is being damaged by their over usage. Harsh ingredients can do more damage than good to your skin, so it is recommended to avoid exfoliating for two weeks and at this time focus more on hydrating products.
Focus on products that include niacinamide, ceramides and probiotics alongside stopping over cleanings your skin and invest in getting a gentle and soothing cleanser instead. Be careful to not overwhelm your skin at once with lots of new products, keep it sweet and simple.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 Multi-Purpose Repairing Balm is a versatile balm that is brilliant at restoring your skin barrier as it is super hydrating and soothing for your skin. The Byoma Hydrating Serum has a Tri-Ceramide complex and will give your skin a surge of hydration making it appear glowy and nourished.
It’s worth noting that it is helpful to use products that contain pre, post or probiotics as they will help build up your skin’s microbiome.
It’s also important that the cleanser you are using doesn’t strip all the moisture away from your skin as this too can also lead to a damaged skin barrier. Glow Recipes Avocado Ceramide Moisturiser Barrier Cleanser as it includes pre- and post-biotics alongside ceramide which will help support your skin barrier moisture.
Words By Sophia-Fai Roche
Header Image: Paul’s Choice Instagram
