2023 Skincare Trends: What the Pros Predict

With a new year comes a new bunch of skincare trends. Not all will be brand new. Some beauty trends (the transformative ones) will extend from previous years into the new year. However, there may be a few that you’ve never heard of before, most likely with social media origins.

When it comes to skincare, there’s always some new hot trend around the corner that you’ll either love or hate. Here’s our 2023 skincare trend report to give you an idea of what to expect next year.

Skin Barrier Repair

Dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick predicts that 2023 will be all about nurturing your skin barrier.

“The skin barrier is important to maintain the health of the skin, and when it is disrupted, it can cause or exacerbate other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne,” she explains.

Instead of over-exfoliating your skin with harsh actives like exfoliating acids (AHAs/BHAs), focus on treating your skin with extra care. By that we mean using skincare products that nourish and hydrate skin, such as cleansers, serums, and moisturizers enriched with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, aloe, and antioxidants. You should still exfoliate — just less.

Product pick: Rainbow’s Hydrate Serum

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is not a new skincare ingredient, but it is getting hotter with each passing year. The pros predict that niacinamide will reach its peak of popularity in 2023.

A form of vitamin B, niacinamide is a powerful antioxidant with a hot of benefits — which is probably why more and more beauty brands are including it in their products.

"Niacinamide works with your skin's natural chemistry to improve overall skin texture by rebuilding a lipid layer, minimizing the appearance of pores, and preventing UV damage and inflammation as an antioxidant," says board-certified dermatologist Brandith Irwin, M.D.

Best of all, niacinamide is great for all skin types. Everyone can benefit from including it in their daily skincare routine.

Product pick: Rainbow’s Smooth Serum

Retinol Alternatives

Retinol has long been a gold standard for anti-aging in the beauty industry. While it’ll probably always be the go-to ingredient for most, 2023 will see more people opting for retinol alternatives. Since so many of us deal with dry, sensitive skin, retinol can often be a little too harsh for the skin. But that doesn’t mean we want to miss out on all its benefits.

Bakuchiol is one of the best retinol alternatives available right now, and the derms expect to see it around in 2023. Just like retinol, bakuchiol boosts collagen production and speeds cellular turnover, manifesting smoother, firmer, fine-line-free skin. The key difference is that bakuchiol is much gentler. It doesn’t trigger the same side effects that retinol does (i.e. redness, dryness, irritation).

Expect to see more bakuchiol-based beauty products in the coming year. This plant-based active has been proven to improve skin tone and texture without accompanying unpleasant side effects.

Product pick: Rainbow’s Glow Mask

Slugging

Yep, slugging is going to be just as hot in 2023 as it was this year.

“Slugging is a trend that has made the rounds on social media a number of times,” says board-Certified Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon Dr. Dustin Portela. “The idea is to do your full evening skin care routine, and before going to bed, apply a thin layer of Vaseline (petrolatum), Aquaphor, or CeraVe Healing Ointment.”

According to Portela, slugging helps to reinforce your skin barrier and provide the skin with plenty of hydration to keep it smooth and healthy. Slugging has been one of TikTok’s top trends for months now, and the pros predict it’ll continue going strong in the new year.

There’s also a chance that slugging will become more prominent in hair care, helping to nourish, repair, and strengthen strands.

Skin Minimalism

The cosmetics industry has seen a decrease in interest in 12-step beauty routines. Since the pandemic, people have veered towards a simpler routine, and we’re going to see that reflected even more in 2023.

So, what even is skin minimalism? Minimalism is basically a minimalist skincare routine comprising of only the essentials, rather than multiple products. Not only is this 2023 skincare trend beneficial for sustainability, but it’s also beneficial for the skin — especially sensitive skin. Applying fewer products means avoiding a cocktail of chemicals that can inflame skin.

With skin minimalism, your personal care routine should consist of a cleanser, serum, moisturizer, lotion, and sunscreen. That’s all!

Self-Care Skincare

With the hectic few years we’ve had, we’re definitely going to spend 2023 taking better care of ourselves. Following a daily skincare routine is a form of wellness and self-care that can be highly beneficial for your mental health.

You don’t need to use dozens of formulations to wind down and de-stress. All you need are a handful of your daily essentials — applied with thought and care in the bathroom. From your daily cleanser to your vitamin C serum, remember to use these products daily and get yourself into a routine to foster your mental wellbeing.

Boob and Butt Skincare

This is actually a Rainbow prediction! But we seriously believe that 2023 will see more brands offering boob and butt skincare products. After all, those areas experience skin concerns like fine lines, stretch marks, and pigmentation too. It makes sense to start tackling those issues before they get worse.

Rainbow’s butt and boob products are made with high-performing, natural ingredients to deliver firming, smoothing, and lifting effects. As a clean beauty brand, all our products are vegan, cruelty-free, and clean.

Product pick: Rainbow’s Boobies Scrub

So, those are the 2023 skincare trends you can expect to see in the coming year, as predicted by dermatologists. Be sure to keep your eye out for these trends, and let us know which ones you’re loving the most!

Got predictions of your own? Head over to our Insta page, and let us know in the comments! We look forward to hearing what you think!