Is achieving flawless skin one of your New Year’s resolutions? What about kicking your makeup routine up a notch?
Luckily for us, 2017 has great things in store for natural beauty trends. Here’s what we can expect this coming year.
Multitasking beauty products
Stylish and easy? Sign us up! Multitasking beauty products are all the rage. Plus, they can simplify our morning routines and reduce our beauty product hoards.
These magical formulas are either designed to look a bit like lipsticks (that can be dabbed directly on skin) or as little pots (in which the product can be applied with fingertips). They can be blended into the eyelids, cheeks, and lips. Mix and match, or opt for a monochromatic look.
Healthy beauty
As with all products, read the ingredient lists before buying. A few notorious chemicals to avoid include
- parabens
- phthalates
- silicones (especially pervasive in hair-care products)
- colours derived from coal tar
- BHA and BHT
“Air-dry” haircuts
Our tresses will thank us for this trend! Gone are the days when it was fashionable to spend hours with your straightening iron every morning.
Haircuts that are suited for our natural hair texture and length will allow us to dry without any fuss—or damage. Often these cuts embrace the imperfect, slightly lived-in look. Only a little product is required for styling. Très chic!
Facial massage
The trend of facial massage won’t be disappearing anytime soon! It not only helps reduce stress, but also gives us a chance to work much-needed moisturizing oils into our parched winter skin.
Here’s how to give your face a massage:
- After cleansing your face and removing makeup, apply your favourite facial oil (see tip box to learn more).
- Using circular motions, massage your lymph nodes (under your throat and along your jawline), your cheeks, and your temples. To counteract all the frowning and smiling we do in the day, make sure to push your skin upward and outward, rather than downward. You can also use a zigzag horizontal motion on the forehead to help counteract wrinkles.
- Exercising caution, gently massage your eye area.
Which oil to use?
Not sure which oil to use? It all depends on your skin type.
- Dry skin benefits from super-nourishing sweet almond or avocado oil.
- For normal or combination skin, try argan or jojoba oil.
- Those with oily skin will be surprised at how lightweight grapeseed oil feels.
Facial mists
These are a bit like trendy toners—but better! Not sure how to use them? Try these methods:
- Use to set a full face of makeup.
- Give your face a quick spritz to refresh and cool throughout the day.
- Spray on after cleansing as a toner and hydrator.
No makeup at all
Some celebrities, such as Alicia Keys, are celebrating their freckles and imperfections by completely forgoing makeup. There’s a good chance we’ll see more of the #nomakeup movement in 2017—it’s both refreshing and inspiring!
When going makeup free, skin care is key. Make sure to give your dry winter skin plenty of nourishment in the form of moisturizer. And don’t forget SPF, as UV rays can be powerful in the winter as well.
Pillow talk
Make sure your beauty sleep really is beauty sleep! Wash your pillowcases regularly to reduce bacteria and dirt buildup—and the same goes for towels and face cloths.
Natural brows
In 2016 we saw brows go from barely there to bold! And although brows will continue to reign supreme in 2017, they’re of the natural, feathery, slightly “undone” variety.
This is good news for us, though, because it’s much less work! Rather than using dark pencil to fill in brows and using gel to set them, simply use tweezers to (minimally!) take care of any strays, while following your natural shape.
Daily exfoliating
To be clear: these are not the harsh physical exfoliating scrubs that many of us are used to. Rather than a weekly exfoliating session, skin care experts and beauty bloggers are now suggesting a very gentle daily exfoliating regimen, in the form of pre-moistened exfoliating pads. Formulated with gentle fruit acids, these pads are meant to help banish dry flaky skin, encourage cell turnover, help brighten one’s complexion, and tone skin.
It’s incredibly easy—just wipe the pads across the face after cleansing and before moisturizing. Look for products that contain ingredients such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, citrus-derived acids, and vitamins.
Local products
Go Canada! Many health food stores are opting to carry a selection of indie products from local natural companies. Previously only found at farmers’ markets or craft fairs, natural health retailers are opening their doors to the little guys, to great success!
2017 beauty resolutions
Kick it up a notch with one of these natural beauty, skin care, and makeup resolutions.
Take a trip to your hairstylist for a cut consultation.
Ask them for suggestions of cuts and styles that suit your natural hair texture.
Give your products a purge!
Toss any that are past their prime or that you haven’t used for ages. Keep only what you love and use.
Don’t neglect diet.
Chow down on fruits and veggies to benefit from their vitamin and antioxidant content and fatty fish, nuts, and seeds for their essential oil content. If you’re not getting enough in your diet, consider supplementation.
Incorporate local products into your skin care and beauty routine.
Visit your favourite natural health retailer and ask the staff for local product suggestions.
Push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Want to try a cat eye or learn how to sculpt your own brows? Go for it! Remember, makeup skills require practice just like any other skill, so do your homework and practise, practise, practise.
Consult the pros!
Visit a holistic nutritionist, or a dermatologist or esthetician who specializes in natural products for custom complexion recommendations.