Every month, I go to dozens of breakfasts, lunches, and cocktail parties where brands launch their new beauty products. And without fail, I get a serious case of D�j� vu. Many products -- even from very different companies -- seem incredibly similar. The same way fashion designers all send the It color down the runway each season, beauty is all about trends. And skin care trends are often the most obvious. Ingredients, delivery systems, and even packaging all change in waves.
But where do these trends come from? Most experts will tell you the answer is Asia. "For years, we looked to Europe for skin care trends and innovations," says Dana Nicolette, national aesthetician for Amore Pacific. "Now, everyone is focused on Asia." Nicolette points out that the average Korean woman's skin care regimen is 22 steps (and I thought my eight-product ritual was elaborate!), which may explain why Americans are so fascinated by Asian skin care.
Take BB creams, for example: These do-it-all beauty balms have been wildly popular in Asia for years, and now the U.S. market is saturated with them. There are even trends within the BB category (read on to find out what they are).
Whether skin care trends originated in Asia or dermatologists' offices (another important sphere of influence), trendy skin care products all have two things in common: They're multitasking and -- for the most part -- they're effective. Ready to see the best of the best?
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Sleeping masks
When I first heard about sleeping masks, I envisioned the satin eye masks people wear on airplanes. However, in the skin care world they're something completely different: Thick creams and gels that you apply over your regular skin care before you go to bed. "Sleeping masks are designed to deliver maximum moisture to your skin while you sleep," explains Nicolette. "They can even help the ingredients in your other products work better."
I now keep one on my nightstand, and I slather it on the night before an early morning appointment. My skin looks dewy and refreshed when I wake up.
I've worked in beauty for more than nine years, and BB creams are the biggest skin care trend I've ever seen. Now, there are dozens (maybe even hundreds) of BB creams on the market, and there are micro-trends within the category.
The latest crop of BB creams is designed for women with combination and oily skin. These women felt that BBs left them shiny -- and brands listened. Dr. Brandt BB Matte, $39, contains mattifying ingredients, and
Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream for Combination to Oily Skin, $11.99, is an oil-free version of their best-selling BB.
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CC Creams
After BB came CC -- color correcting -- creams. Like BBs, this trend originated in Asia, and it has been picking up momentum in the U.S. over the last few months. Some brands that didn't develop BB creams are jumping right into CC creams instead. While they're similar, CCs often provide slightly less coverage with more brightening benefits. "CC creams are brightening skin care with color," says Nicolette. "Women in Asia expect their products to do a lot -- so these have to deliver long-term benefits as well as immediate results."
In recent weeks, I've tested more sunscreens than I can count. And many of them have one thing in common: They're tinted. But it's not like a makeup tint -- an SPF tint is different. It's barely detectable, and can match a wide range of skin tones. And that's because the tint isn't supposed to be makeup -- it's there to help the sunscreen blend into your skin instead of leaving your face looking white, or worse, gray. Genius, right?
Every month, I go to dozens of breakfasts, lunches, and cocktail parties where brands launch their new beauty products. And without fail, I get a serious case of D�j� vu. Many products -- even from very different companies -- seem incredibly similar. The same way fashion designers all send the It color down the runway each season, beauty is all about trends. And skin care trends are often the most obvious. Ingredients, delivery systems, and even packaging all change in waves.
But where do these trends come from? Most experts will tell you the answer is Asia. "For years, we looked to Europe for skin care trends and innovations," says Dana Nicolette, national aesthetician for Amore Pacific. "Now, everyone is focused on Asia." Nicolette points out that the average Korean woman's skin care regimen is 22 steps (and I thought my eight-product ritual was elaborate!), which may explain why Americans are so fascinated by Asian skin care.
Take BB creams, for example: These do-it-all beauty balms have been wildly popular in Asia for years, and now the U.S. market is saturated with them. There are even trends within the BB category (read on to find out what they are).
Whether skin care trends originated in Asia or dermatologists' offices (another important sphere of influence), trendy skin care products all have two things in common: They're multitasking and -- for the most part -- they're effective. Ready to see the best of the best?
