There’s a real buzz around beauty right now – lots of news and new launches this year (unveiling as we speak and head towards summer now!) In January, we got our crystal ball out (and shook it – the one with the penguins and fake snow) to see what we thought looked “BIG” for 2012.
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PLANT-BASED, FRUIT & FLOWER ESSENTIAL OIL SKIN AND HAIR CARE WILL BE HUGE
(In a modern, gentle science-meets-nature way). Brands like Aveda, Weleda, Dr. Hauschka, Neals Yard, Kiehls, REN, Liz Earle, Oskia, Lubatti, Pai Skincare, Caudalie, Lavera will be our modern classics. How a formula feels, works, acts and smells will be more important than ever (during an economic downturn we look for feelgood, comfort factors). Scented skincare will be big – consciously or subconsciously, we’re seeking reassurance, pampering, inspiration, feelgood factor, to be happy, feel loved, feel well.
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CLEVER TIME-SAVING, MULTI-TASKING BEAUTY UNIVERSAL BALMS WILL SELL WELL
Emma Hardie’s Moringa Balm, Inlight, Rodial, Darphin, Aesop, Sisley, Lulu and Boo, Herbfarmacy, NaturalWisdom to name some good balm brands. Any clever, time-saving multi-tasking beauty product will do well. Beauty routines will become simpler as products work harder. We’ll tone down stripping/over-cleansing (it can make skin too reactive/sensitive) – no more sandblasting with extreme exfoliators (just gentle ones!)
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2012 WILL BE THE YEAR OF “READ THE LABEL”
a) to avoid the nastiest nasties b) to get to know good ones with those long Latin or scientific-style names c) to see what we’re paying for, who wants to pay £10 for a pot of paraffin?
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LUXURY BRANDS LIKE YSL, DECLEOR, GUERLAIN, DIOR, CLINIQUE, SISLEY, CLARINS…
…will make some exciting advances in skincare (they have the budgets in the research labs and there’s a science-meets-nature synchronicity going on leading to some big breakthroughs).
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BERRY-BASED PRODUCTS WILL BE THE NEW SUPERSTARS
Antioxidant-rich, Vitamin C boosters rosehip, blackcurrant, moringa, grapes, goji, acai, bearberry extracts/oils will star in many of the latest facial oils and serums.
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FACIAL OILS WILL BECOME THE MODERN MUST-HAVES
Delicate, concentrated, super-antioxidant-rich facial oils are back – for winter. Planets away from those “olive oils” of the past which were way too cloying and and made skin feel claustrophobic.
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NATURAL SELF-TANNERS WILL START TO GO MAINSTREAM and SPF30/50 will be “normal”
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BEAUTY WILL BE INSIDE-OUT
Supplements and supergreens/advanced nutrition will be in. You can’t glow on the outside if you’re lacking nutrients or hydration on the inside. It just shows. Brands like Terra Nova, Organic Burst, sites/retailers like Victoria Health, Whole Foods, Bodykind will do better than ever.
What do you think will be some of this year’s health and beauty highlights? Tweet us @BeautyShortlist!
