Beauty in 2019: Vogue predicts upcoming trends in skincare and more

From bacteria-rich skincare products to high-tech devices capable of reducing wrinkles and fighting acne, Vogue predicts the makeup, skincare and hairstyling trends in 2019 and beyond.

1) “Tunable beauty products will adapt to your skin’s needs.”

Dior Capture Youth Glow, Rs 6,600; Neutrogena Booster Hydro Boost Multivitamin Booster, Rs 1,300; Oribe Power Drops Damage Repair Hair Booster, Rs 4,150

Consider it the new frontier of customisable skincare, says dermatologist Dr Ellen Marmur: “Products so personalised that they change with you.” That means pretty soon you might be able to “apply a sunscreen that adjusts to protect you more when you’re exposed to more UV light,” she says. For now, though, concentrated add-ons like hydrating treatment drops and antioxidant-rich boosters (like the Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster) can enhance your routine when mixed with your favourite moisturiser or leave-in hair conditioner.

2) “You’ll be able to change your hair colour instantly, with zero damage.”

Christophe Robin Temporary Color Gel, Rs 2,500, and Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3, Rs 2,549

Until now, switching up your hair colour on the regular wasn’t a great idea (see: broken ends, straw-like texture). But in five years we’re going to be able to do away with the endless hours of processing and bleaching, says Chris Appleton, Kim Kardashian West’s hairstylist. Colour technology is already headed that way, with natural dyes using clean, low-odour colour and hair-silkening proteins to coat hair (like Christophe Robin’s new colour gel, infused with inula flower to brighten colour and oat extract to make hair crazy shiny, or The Face Shop Stylist Easy & Quick Hair Color Treatment infused with shea butter and macadamia seed oil). In between dye jobs, a new crop of souped-up hair serums, like Color Wow Kale Tonic or Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3, help strengthen strands at home.

3) “You’ll want to slather your entire body with bacteria.”

Elizabeth Arden Superstart Probiotic Mask, Rs 4,800; Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Masque, Rs 3,900; Algenist Alive Prebiotic Balancing Mask, Rs 2,700

It’s Skincare 101: Wash your face until every speck of dirt, oil and makeup is stripped away. But now there’s evidence that doing so, along with overzealous exfoliation, could be messing up our skin’s microbiome (aka the protective layer of good bacteria). That knowledge has led more and more brands to incorporate healing pre- and probiotics in everything from face masks (like Elizabeth Arden’s Superstart Probiotic Mask or Eminence’s Clear Skin Probiotic range) and scalp serums to daily supplements in an effort to restore balance, strengthen barrier function and calm inflammation. In the years ahead, expect to see a surge of even more bacteria-laced products hitting shelves.

4) “High-tech devices will replace your skincare products.”

UFO Smart Mask Treatment, Rs 20,500; ZIIP Nano Current Device, Rs 35,300, and Silver Gel, 3,600; Dr Dennis Gross SpectraLite FaceWare Pro LED Mask, Rs 31,000

Smooth, glowy skin without ever having to apply a single serum or moisturiser? That’s coming, according to dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross, who believes that pro-strength light-therapy (LED) and microcurrent devices (like the ZIIP wrinkle smoother or Foreo’s UFO Smart Mask Treatment) will do the work of—or at least cut down on the use of—traditional topicals in the not-so-far future. “We’re already starting to move away from thinking that you need to apply something, be it a cleanser or cream, to define it as skincare,” he says. His offering: the hands-free SpectraLite mask, which uses multicolour beams to “target similar cell receptors that respond to [proven skin care] ingredients such as vitamin C and retinol.” The purported benefits? A boost in skin circulation, collagen and firmness (from the red light), and cleared acne (thanks to the blue).

5) “You’ll be able to snap a pic of anyone and virtually try on their makeup.”

Image: Josephine Schiele, Youcam

Sounds like something straight out of The Jetsons, but coders are currently developing a platform that lets you “scan an image of your BFF or favourite influencer and then try on their beauty look via virtual and augmented reality right on your phone,” explains Alice Chang, founder of the YouCam Makeup App. Another prediction she thinks will come true: “Artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology will become so advanced it will be able to suggest similar [makeup] products to the ones seen in any photo.”

6) “You’ll be able to 3D-print completely customised makeup.”

Image: Getty 

Think shade-matched foundation is cool? Just wait till you can print out a custom formula that’s your perfect tone and texture, says makeup artist and founder of Beauty is Boring, Robin Black. Three-dimensional makeup software is already out there. Admittedly it wasn’t great when it hit the scene a few years ago (limited pigments, weird finishes), but since then, computer-generated makeup technology has gotten a lot more sophisticated. “There’s even one that 3D-prints a custom lipstick in a press-on mold that’s the exact shape of your lips so you get the most precise application ever,” Black explains. What her crystal ball sees ahead? “We’ll be printing bespoke formulas on demand with specific scents, personalised applicators and vegan ingredients.”

7) “You’ll never have to deal with grey hair again.”

Phyto RE30 Anti-Grey Hair Treatment, Rs 4,200

Unless you want grey hair, of course. But for those of us who don’t, a next-gen hair serum from French pharmacy brand Phyto actually reverses the greying process. It’s formulated with a special plant-based peptide that stimulates the production of melanin in your hair follicles, which means the next time your strands grow out, they’ll be your OG natural colour. The caveat: You need to commit to applying it once a day on your roots for three months, but that’s a small price to pay for no more greys, don’t cha think?

8) “Antipollution creams will be as necessary as SPF.”

Clarins Anti-Pollution Beauty Perfector, Rs 5,300; Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Mask, Rs 4,200; Glamglow Liquid Charcoal Clarifying Oil, Rs 4,400

Skin’s public-enemy number one has long been the sun; now free-radical-causing dust, ozone and air pollution is a growing concern, says Jessica Alba’s facialist Shani Darden. Don’t worry, though—beauty scientists have our backs (and faces). They’re constantly working on things like shield technology that creates an actual barrier on the skin and discovering innovative antioxidants like apricot extract (found in Garnier’s new SkinActive Moisturizer) or cilantro and orange extract (found in Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Mask) to help fend off damage. Another line of defense, says Darden, is using cutting-edge versions of retinol (found in her Texture Reform Serum or Skinceuticals Retinol Cream 1.0), which as of now “is the best and most important ingredient to use other than sunscreen as far as prevention and protection go.” Other pollution fighters to try: Clarins SPF 30 Anti-Pollution Beauty Perfector and Glamglow Clarifying Oil.

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