It has been one spectacular year in beauty trends.
Our favourite celebrities took the plunge with drops like Millie Bobby Brown’s Florence by Mills, Victoria Beckham Beauty and Lady Gaga’s Haus Laboratories. Some of the industry’s most hyped brands finally reached Singapore, including Jeffree Star Cosmetics and Charlotte Tilbury. At the same time, we bid farewell to an almost-era in local beauty as Sasa draws its shutters for good. (Psst! Closing down sales now on, shop your Sasa favourites for the last time *cries*.)
From all the beauty trends, drops and moments in 2019, we’ve rounded up FIVE of our favourites that will hopefully keep rolling in 2020.
1. Increasingly Diverse Shade Ranges
We shouldn’t have had to wait at all, but it’s about time! One of the best, if not the best things to launch in recent years are ever-expanding foundation shade ranges. From having only a handful of brands catering to diverse skin tones came Fenty Beauty’s high-profile launch in 2017, with 40 foundation shades. Fast forward two years and more brands than ever are following suit — both industry leaders and new players alike. Some of the best foundations to hit shelves this year definitely won us with their impressive shade ranges, including Urban Decay’s Stay Naked Foundation (50 shades) and NYX’s Born To Glow! Naturally Radiant Foundation (45 shades). Here’s to 2020 holding even more for diversity, inclusiveness and representation in the beauty industry!
2. Your-Skin-But-Glowier
Hot off the heels of yesteryear’s your-skin-but-better, we were really loving the your-skin-but-glowier looks that occupied 2019. One of the most unexpected launches this year was arguably Kat Von D’s True Portrait Lightweight Medium Coverage Foundation; a real first from the brand behind your iconic full-coverage, extreme long-wear Lock-It range. While True Portrait has a comfortable matte finish on first application, we found that it slowly allows a good-dewy-skin-day luster to peek through.
Also essential to the glossy look, highlighting balms/sticks gained traction in 2019 as more wearable alternatives to blinding shimmer. There’s just something so mesmerising about a flexible, lucid gleam across the skin that we can’t resist! (Pictured: Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick in Transparent and Sculpting.)
3. Straightforward Skincare
Frank labels, no frills packaging, no gimmicks. With the roaring success of brands like The Ordinary (launched 2017), it’s safe to say we’re riding a minimalistic skincare wave — and loving it. No more skincare jargon, no more pretentious marketing and inflated prices; just undisguised, upfront and cutting edge formulas that work. If we dare say, it’s one of the most refreshing and enlightening developments in the industry. New to the scene in 2019 was The INKEY List with 29 advanced formulas developed from the industry’s most sought-after ingredients. Think Rosehip Oil, Polyglutamic Acid and Vitamin C…all priced below S$25! Enough said, who else is pumped for more honest skincare in 2020?
4. Revolutionary SPF
We have made marked leaps in understanding sun damage and proper sun care. Beyond the broad category of “UV rays”, the growing differentiation between UVA and UVB rays has given us more reasons to get sun protected (seriously). And rightfully so, 2019 was a year of revolutionary development in sun care products. From guarding against UVB rays, to Blue Light, pollution, clean formulas and skincare-makeup hybrids, we’re just getting started! Some of our SPF stars from 2019 include Supergoop!’s Superscreen Daily Moisturiser and Zincscreen 100% Mineral Lotion for their lightweight, clean and high-performing formulas.
(Psst! Stay tuned for a massive SPF 101 article coming soon!)
5. Bold Comfort Mattes
Hands up if you remember the ultra-matte liquid lip craze back in 2017 and 2018. We will always love that opaque powdered finish, but could do without the cracking and intense dryness. Enter: 2019 and its comfort mattes. Trust us, these are the game changers. From Christian Louboutin’s Velvet Matte Lip Colour, Yves Saint Laurent’s Rouge Pur Couture The Slim and MAC’s Powder Kiss Lipstick, comfort matte formulas ruled last year. As if their much awaited comeback wasn’t enough, Gucci Beauty also launched the Rouge à Lèvres Mat Lipstick — 28 brilliant shades in a velvet, plush finish. We want them all!
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We can’t wait to see what 2020 holds for beauty. Although, it’s not always out with the old and in with the new — we’re rooting for these 2019 beauty trends to become mainstays. Tell us which beauty trends occupied your year in the comments below!
Take care,
Melisa
