The Best Beauty Trend Predictions of 2018
The year 2017 was a big one for beauty. It brought us 40 shades of Fenty foundation, an entirely new Kardashian beauty line to lust over, and so many unicorn-inspired #looks2try that it became hard to keep track. The year also marked a major shift in how we define beauty standards, and it sparked a conversation about what we, as consumers, deserve from the industry at large. We demanded more inclusivity, more streamlined routines, and more of a focus on beauty as self-care, paving the way for what's to come in 2018. As we 2017 fades into the rearview, it's time to start looking at what 2018 will bring to our beauty routines. Here, 11 trends we hope to see in 2018 — our most beautiful year yet.
1/12Body Hair, Don't Care
Will 2018 finally be the year the world agrees to say “Death to shaving”? Considering Gigi Hadid, Lourdes Leon, and Kiersey Clemons are already on board (as is one in four American women), it’s not crazy to think that body hair will go mainstream in the near future.
2/12Inclusive Beauty
Rihanna raised the bar for all makeup companies when she released her 40-shade line of Fenty foundations, making it clear to beauty lovers of every skin tone that they shouldn’t settle for anything less than a perfect match. Other brands have already started to follow suit (ahem, Kylie Cosmetics), and here’s hoping everyone will embrace inclusivity in 2018 — not merely as a trend but as an enduring movement.
3/12All-in-One Kits
Is there anything more annoying than having to schlep around an entire makeup bag to get the look you want on the go? Enter all-in-one kits. They satisfy all of your beauty needs with a few products instead of a whole kit n’ kaboodle. This year, eye shadows will double as highlighters, lipsticks as blushes, and bronzers as contours. Multiuse products? Yes, please.
4/12Skin Care As Makeup
Lightening up on makeup also means doubling down on skin care, which we are totally here for. Instead of caking on foundation, this year it should be all about layering serums and moisturizers for a naturally dewy look. Prepare for a feed full of #nomakeupselfies, everyone.
5/12Nails for a Cause
Move over, pretty pastels and bold brights: In 2018, it should be all about the statement-making mani. We’ve already seen “Boob Nails” and “Vagina Nails” championing for feminism, and expect to see more nails for a cause in the new year. After all, who needs graphic tees when you can rock graphic nails instead?
Instagram/@hunngvango6/12Electric Eyelids
If the Pantone color of the year is any indication, 2018 is all about the brights. Pinterest searches for "bright eye shadow" are reportedly up 63 percent, which means it may be time to put all of those Naked palettes into hibernation for the winter.
7/12Allover Oils
Let’s start the year off on the right foot by swapping out lotions and creams for head-to-toe oils. And FYI? Just because you have naturally oily skin or hair doesn’t mean you should steer clear of using these products — in fact, in some cases they can actually help even things out. Just saying.
8/12Glitter Everywhere
Sure, 2017 was the year of unicorn everything, but 2018’s glitter looks are set to be a bit more sophisticated. Think glitter eyes à la the new Fenty Palette, glitter highlighter à la Huda’s Winter Solstice shades, and glitter lips à la KKW beauty’s new glosses. This will be your sparkliest year yet.
QueenNyakimOfficial/Instagram9/12New Faces
As the beauty industry becomes more inclusive, so too do the faces that represent it. This year saw big names like Nyakim Gatwech and Munroe Bergrdorf become household names, totally challenging the standards of beauty as the world had come to expect them. Moving into 2018, expect to see an even more diverse range of industry spokespeople — a trend we hope continues year after year.
TheOuai/Instagram10/12Game-Changing Hair Products
More than ever, beauty brands are pushing the boundaries of how we expect products to perform. In 2018, expect to see even more unexpected product formulations — like foam dry shampoo, oil blotters for your scalp, and antifrizz wipes.
11/12Let's Go Au Naturel
Natural hair, natural skin — let’s take a page out of Alicia Keys's book and collectively agree to make this the year of natural everything. Because what’s more beautiful than you, unfiltered? (Spoiler alert: nothing.)
