This year is shaping up to be a big one for the beauty industry. While 2019 finally saw some brands extending their shade ranges and striving for inclusivity (let's hope this continues into 2020 and beyond, because there's still a lot of work to be done), the theme of 2020 will be sustainable practices and products that are good for you and the planet. When it comes to the hottest looks of the year, there's plenty of fun to be had, too. From bold neon hues and artsy nails to the buzziest new hair treatments, we've rounded up the beauty trends that are set to define the year ahead.
It's no secret that the beauty industry's pretty jars of lotions and potions are taking their toll on the planet and that our empties most often end up buried in a landfill or floating in the ocean. Luxury haircare brand Kevin Murphy has already made the switch to sustainable packaging made 100% from Ocean Waste Plastic (which is exactly what it sounds like: plastic collected from oceans), and they project the switch will save 360 tons of plastic from the ocean each year. We can expect to see more beauty, skincare and haircare brands following suit this year.
There's also a movement towards products that are easier to package in sustainable ways and that can be refilled. New Canadian skincare line aN-hydra launched The Powder of Youth, a water-activated powder cleanser that is packaged in a tiny refillable glass bottle that provides enough product for three months.
Kevin Murphy Hydrate-Me Wash and Rinse, $89, amazon.ca.
Ren Clean Skincare Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash, $36, sephora.com.
aN-hydra The Powder of Youth No. 1, $66, an-hydra.com.
Bold makeup is going to rule 2020, and not just on high-fashion runways. Whether it’s a swipe of royal blue mascara, a barely there line of fuchsia eyeliner or a pop of yellow eyeshadow to brighten up the inner corner of the eye, the next year is all about integrating striking, ultra-saturated shades into our everyday looks. If you’re not ready to rock neon lips or pink-rimmed eyes to the office just yet, a fresh mani will do the trick.
YSL Beauty Vinyl Couture Mascara, $41, sephora.com.
Colourpop BFF Liquid Liner in Ducky, $11, colourpop.com.
NYX Cosmetics Off Tropic Eyeshadow Palette, $24, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
M.A.C Matte Lipstick in Breathing Fire, $23, thebay.com.
Essie Nail Polish in First Timer, $12, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
The classic French mani is getting an update worthy of a new decade, with artsy tips, asymmetrical crescents, fun patterns and bright pops of colours. Whatever your style, you can customize your mani to match. For the Yuhan Wang SS20 fashion show, nail artist Lauren Michelle Pires created a playful cloud-shaped manicure that shows sky's the limit—literally.
imPRESS Press-On Manicure in Squad, $11, impressmanicure.com.
Sephora Collection Tough As Nails Deluxe Manicure Kit, $27, sephora.com.
All things '90s dominated 2019 (including a Spice Girls reunion tour!), and we’ll see a lot more of it next year. According to the Pinterest Trends Report, searches for “lip liner and gloss” have grown +144% over the past year—but it doesn’t mean you should stock up on brown lip liners and fleshy pink lip glosses. To modernize the throwback look, pick a lip liner that’s just a touch darker than your natural lips and blend out harsh lines with a finger or cotton bud before applying liberal amounts of gloss or nourishing lip oil. The result is a natural, two-tone lip that looks plump, fresh and grown-up.
Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob, $9, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Dior Lip Glow Oil in Pink, $45, sephora.com.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer in FU$Y, $24, sephora.com.
Burberry Lip Colour Contour, $33, thebay.com.
Wet'n'Wild, Megaslicks Lip Gloss in Crystal Clear, $4, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Capsules and ampoules are having a moment, and it’s set to continue into the new year thanks to a slew of upcoming single-dose serum and acid launches. Some active ingredients—like retinol and vitamin C—lose their potency when exposed to air and sunlight, so sealed capsules and glass vials are the perfect delivery system. Plus, each dose provides just enough serum for one use so there’s less product waste.
And it's not just skincare that's packaged in this way—you'll find potent single-dose hair treatments on the shelves, too.
Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules, $98, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repaid Intensive Recovery Ampoules, $145, esteelauder.ca.
Eve Lom Cleansing Oil Capsules, $97, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Darphin Ideal Resource Youth Retinol Oil Concentrate, $120, sephora.com.
Pantene Pro-V Intense Rescue Shots Hair Ampoules, $5 for 3, walmart.ca.
Our easy-breezy “woke up like this” days may be numbered—super sleek hair is making a comeback. Modeled after the K-beauty “glass skin” trend—which aims to give you a luminous and poreless complexion that reflects light like glass—glass hair is all about ultra-shiny locks. And though the term “glass hair” initially referred to pin-straight blunt bobs, this year’s high-shine look is going to be big for every hair lengths, types and styles. We’ve seen the high-gloss look pop up in Hollywood this past year on the likes of Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber, but it’s set to go mainstream in 2020 thanks to a few industry launches that promise to banish flyaways and give dull hair a much-needed shine boost. At the top of the list? Kérastase’s K Water treatment—an in-salon service that gives hair an instant high-gloss finish that lasts until your next wash.
Kérastase K Water In-Salon Treatment, $10 (may vary by salon location), kerastase.com.
Function of Beauty Custom Hair Serum, $25, functionofbeauty.com.
Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush, $28, sephora.com.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer with Limited Edition Stand, $499, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
T3 SinglePass Luxe Professional Straightening and Styling Iron, $235, sephora.com.
If laid-back vibes are more your style, '70s-inspired shaggy haircuts are also going to be big this year. Think: lots of layers, long piece-y curtain bangs and tousled waves, as seen recently on Keri Russell at the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premiere (above). “Whether your hair is super straight or super curly, we’re seeing layers and a little bit of unkempt texture,” says Marilisa Sears, Lead Hairstylist and Global Spokesperson for Marc Antony. And the 'do could not be easier to style as she recommends using your fingers—no brush required.
Marc Anthony Dream Big Volume Volumizing Super Powder, $11, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Voir Haircare Rainforest Mist Flawless Finish Hairspray, $26, voirhaircare.com.
Amika The Autopilot 3-in-1 Rotating Curling Iron, $165, sephora.com.
The secret to healthy locks is not a shampoo, a mask or a serum—strong hair starts with scalp health. “People are starting to realize that scalp is like skin—it reacts to life’s stressors,” says Marilisa. “There’s product build-up, there’s pollution build-up, there’s sun damage, and making sure that the scalp is really clean so that the hair can grow better is important.” She recommends detox shampoos rather than clarifying shampoos, as they’re gentler and can be used everyday without stripping moisture from the hair.
Another big trend for 2020? Sunscreen for your scalp—even if you have thick hair, your scalp can suffer from sun exposure and the unprotected spots along your part are especially at risk. Expect to see more products catering to this concern hitting the shelves over the next few months.
(Photo: Element5 Digital via Pexels)Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo, $37, sephora.com.
Kristin Ess Hair Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub, $18, well.ca.
Marc Anthony Nourishing Hemp Oil Instant Cooling Scalp Treatment, $11, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Sisley-Paris Revatilizing Fortifying Serum for the Scalp, $250, holtrenfrew.com.
Sephora Collection Scalp Massager, $13, sephora.com.
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