With countless skincare products on the market, it’s sometimes hard to know what’s right for you and where to start. Here’s a concise overview of our top 10 skincare trends for 2023.
1. Gender-neutral products
The inclusive beauty movement is redefining the industry, with gender-neutral skincare products gaining popularity and many new brands expected to launch this year. In fact, Herbacin recently introduced its new Skin Solutions line, developed for women and men of all ages to address skin concerns related to life stages and lifestyle—such as blemishes, age spots, and breakouts. Our hand creams, shower gels, and shampoos, with their herbal care formulas and naturally fresh scent compositions, are suitable for everyone—the focus is on positive effects for skin and body, not gender. That said, men’s and women’s skin needs can differ in certain respects, particularly when it comes to hormonally driven skin challenges—think shaving irritation or intensive makeup use.
2. Barrier repair
Your skin barrier—the ultra-thin outermost layer of skin—protects your health by keeping the good in and the bad out. A compromised skin barrier can cause or worsen conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne. If your skin barrier is weakened, simplify your routine to protect overall skin health. Back to basics: cleanse gently, hydrate lightly, exfoliate with care, and nourish with plant oils.
3. Greater sustainability
While the beauty industry has been working on innovative ways to become more environmentally conscious, this will continue at a higher level in 2023. Many brands are developing products with natural ingredients, recyclable packaging, and compostable materials. Animal testing for cosmetics has thankfully been banned in the EU since 2013, and vegan care formulas are becoming increasingly popular—rightly so. At Herbacin, this has been a given for more than 100 years.
4. Skin Cycling
A skincare concept based on balancing exfoliation and recovery to help protect the skin barrier. It follows a four-day cycle: exfoliation night, retinoid night, recovery night, recovery night—then repeat. This approach helps you get the most out of active ingredients while minimizing irritation by allowing your skin to rest and regenerate.
5. Menopause-related skin changes
Menopause is rarely discussed from a skin health perspective, but this topic is finally getting the attention it deserves. Women over 40 and their specific skincare needs are coming into focus this year. Brands are introducing daytime moisturizers and products featuring complexion-refining squalane and hydrating ectoin—a lesser-known but brilliant ingredient that nourishes and strengthens the skin.
6. Skinimalism
We are entering the era of skinimalism—faster, more efficient, and often more affordable skincare routines with natural ingredients. There is a growing market for multi-purpose products and minimalist routines, especially among Gen Z consumers who prefer to keep things simple. The benefits extend beyond skin health to environmental sustainability as well.
7. Hybrid skincare
Makeup meets skincare—the best of both worlds. From classic tinted moisturizers to subtle lash tints and radiant cheek tints, this trend combines just the right amount of color and coverage with added skincare benefits.
8. Proactive prevention
Dermatologists recommend having a 10-year skin plan by age 30, as skin needs evolve with each life stage. Millennials and Gen Z are leading the proactive prevention trend by starting aesthetic treatments in their twenties and thirties at the first signs of skin aging. While the procedures may be similar to those used later in life, prevention focuses on lower doses and gentler methods. The same applies to skincare products like eye creams, serums, and primers—starting early at the first signs of fine lines or age spots can help slow the otherwise inevitable aging process in a visible and effective way.
9. Holistic treatments
It’s no longer just about skincare and cosmetic treatments—it’s also about how they make you feel. Aromatherapy-inspired scent compositions turn skin and body care into a true self-care experience for the senses. This trend goes beyond classic wellness: cosmetic treatments now often include complementary offerings such as breathwork, astrology, or nutritional counseling. The skin as a mirror of the soul—this old wisdom is resurfacing and shaping holistic cosmetic concepts.
10. New ingredients
According to skincare experts, many ingredients will take center stage in 2023. Niacinamide will be everywhere, alongside a renewed focus on hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Glutathione is set to become the new tranexamic acid, with more glutathione-based skincare products emerging for skin brightening.