Keeping Up with Skincare Trends for 2019

Success does not just happen, it comes from having a passion, a thirst for knowledge and the experience to master a technique that stands you and your business out from the crowd. You must be driven and have a hunger for learning. Your knowledge as an industry professional will need continuous growth and development.

Skincare and beauty is an industry that never sleeps. As long as there are brands pushing the boundaries to be the next best thing we are compelled to ensure we are riding the top of each new wave. We always ensure that we have an understanding of innovative new ingredients, technologies and techniques as soon as they launch. It is essential we feel confident in our research in order to distinguish between the trends that are vital for our own business growth and the trends that are simply a trend or a fad that we can allow to pass us by.

The Statistics

The health and beauty industry is set to reach £27 billion sales and become the fastest growing sector over the next 5 years. Encouraged by our ‘looks-obsessed’ culture, product innovation and skincare with new and savvy ingredients are forecast amongst this statistic to be the fastest growth. It is predicted that by 2022 the growth in both the mass and premium skincare market to be 27.9%

It is expected that this significant growth is to come from the sale of masks, serums and primers. As a skincare specialist I can see how this trend may develop. These products are ideal for us as professionals to up sell in order to increase the sale per head to our regular advanced skincare users.

With social media flooding our daily lives with ‘so called celebrities’ indulging in a sheet masks whilst flying first class to far off exotic destinations, clients are dazzled by this craze. And it is up to us to use this and all other 2019 trends to our advantage.

Treating an Increase in Oxidative Stress in 2019

In 2018 we are already witnessing an increase in the number of clients coming to see us with the growing concerns of skin pigmentation. The majority of our clients now tend to be ‘sun savvy’. SPF’s can be found in their daily skincare regimes, so what has resulted in such an increase? And why now?

Pigmentation has been linked to an increase in the amount of oxidative stress we are now exposed to on a daily basis. This oxidative stress reacts within our epidermis, the home to our ‘warrior’ melanocyte cells. Recent research also shows links between excessive exercise and the overproduction and uneven distribution of melanin.

As oxidative stress takes hold of our epidermis our superhero melanocyte cells react to protect other more precious VIP skin cells which results in pigmentation.

With the recent increased media focus on health issues such as obesity, fitness has become one the UK’s top priorities; an all too familiar trend. Social media plays its part also, portraying gym toned bodies and buzz words such as “hitting the gym”, “strong is the new skinny”, “no pain, no gain”, and “you’re only as good as your last workout”.

And unfortunately, exhaustive exercise = excessive increase in free radical or oxidative stress.

Overloading our epidermis with oxidative stress, relaying on our melanocytes to protect other skin cells from damage comes at a cost. Not only is there an increase in premature ageing; and an increase in skin pigmentation, this also creates a race towards disease and dysfunction - not just within our skin but with our overall health as well.

So how do we support our clients and protect them from oxidative stress? It is paramount that as an industry professional you feel knowledgeable and confident in treating such a complexed skin concern, such as pigmentation - and it’s a concern for 2019 so it’s time to get studying and stocking up on products to overcome this issue.

Skin Peeling Vs Skin Resurfacing in 2019

“Society doesn’t have time to peel”

With innovative combined acid treatments and advanced delivery systems, patented molecules are able to deliver proton energy into living cells. Proton energy is required for advanced skin resurfacing. The result, is skin resurfacing achieved from the ‘inside out’.

Such an innovative approach to treating our client’s skin allows us to eliminate potential ‘downtime’. Gone are the concerns traditionally held by aestheticians and clients trying to schedule their appointments around their social and holiday calendars!

With this new ‘peeling’ - otherwise called resurfacing technology, the skin specialist can work deeper and more effectively without causing too much skin trauma. This eliminates the possibility of post inflammatory pigmentation and allows us to confidently treat clients concerned with pigmentation caused by oxidative stress.

Hot Topic: The Vegan Trend

The sale of vegan beauty products has grown by 38% in the last 12 months and now accounts for 26% of prestige women’s skincare. Driven by social media and campaigns like ‘Veganuary’, the popularity of a vegan lifestyle has grown as consumers embrace a healthier lifestyle.

We have seen a dramatic increase in the variety of vegan brands being introduced to the prestige beauty market, but many of these brands have limited distribution.

The drive by skin savvy consumers pushes us as skincare professionals to take the time to investigate ingredients and swot up on their traceability, their packaging ethos and how animal friendly they are.

This niche-segment in the market is rapidly going from strength to strength, so is this a trend worth pursuing?

I work predominately in advanced aesthetics with clients who come to me with high expectations and expect immediate and visible results. Initially when introduced to the vegan, organic skincare market I must admit I was dubious, would these products give my clients the results they so desired how very wrong I was. I now get to take my clients back to bed, to deliver a flawless treatment with outstanding results and with products my clients feel mirror their lifestyle choices. I ensure my treatment offerings attract clients that come to me with a variety of beliefs and values. I love that I can be so diverse!

Out with the Old and in with the New

Dermaplanning/Dermablading; is the sensation that hit the industry in 2018. This is a technique that professionals from all over the industry can preform; from nail technicians to medical clinicians.

So why the hype? If I pop my skin specialist hat on and really look at the concept of this treatment is it not just a version of ‘mechanical exfoliation’ with the added benefit of removing some skin fuzz?

To recap, Dermaplanning is a physical exfoliation method utilising the use of a sterile surgical scalpel to gently shave the top layer of dead skin, the stratum corneum. Given it will remove the sometimes unwanted peach vellus hair but is this any different from the positive effects an AHA or skin resurfacing treatment would have on the skin? Also do the benefits outweigh the alternative treatments available to us already that also support the tenacity of the skin?

As you can probably gather I am not much of a fan! I worry that the hype comes from the fact a ’surgical scalpel’ is involved and that the treatment looks ‘scary’, ‘thrilling’. Again is this a treatment that has been exploited by social media?

What concerns me most is why so many advanced aestheticians and skin specialists are jumping on the Dermaplanning band wagon. Is it the fear of being left behind or the fear of not having the confidence or knowledge to guide their clients in the right direction to optimum skin health?

Good luck and enjoy the ride 2019 has instore for you.