K-Beauty Experts Predict 5 Huge Skincare Trends For 2020

Source: Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

Skincare is finally having its moment. We’re realizing that putting a little extra effort into our skin will not only reap long-term rewards, but it has a knock-on effect on our makeup routine. Smoother skin and fewer skin concerns mean less time spent at our makeup table and better results. Not to mention that #selfcare is now an important part of our daily routine, and there’s nothing more self-indulgent than pampering your skin.

In 2020, skincare is getting more and more sophisticated; so while facial mists, vitamin C, and retinol became a huge talking point in 2019, this year there’s a new formula hotlist, and it’s a little more gentle. We spoke to K-beauty aficionados and the Founders of cult K-Beauty brand, Glow Recipe, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, to get the down-low on what they predict to be five huge skincare trends for 2020.

1. Minerals Are The New Vitamins

We’ve seen a huge rise in the popularity of supplements and adaptogens in the last year in particular (stay tuned for some reviews), and we love the boost they give our mood and skin. Sarah explains that studies show 50% of the population are deficient in select minerals, which is why she believes “Minerals will be a new wave in skincare – topical application in addition to ingestion is a must.”

Sarah says, “One of our favorite minerals in skincare is magnesium, which helps manage stress in the body and helps to calm and rebalance skin. We’re big fans of the benefits of the mineral and added even more of this ingredient into our Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream, to supplement the existing magnesium from the banana extract. Another mineral we love is selenium, which is highly antioxidant-rich and can also work as an enhancer of other antioxidant-rich ingredients in formulations to enhance the protective properties of skincare.”

2. Treating Lip Care Like Skincare

via Giphy

“Multi-tasking hybrid products have trended for some time in skincare, with more innovations that combine different usages into one product, from moisturizer-SPFs to exfoliating toners. We see this effective approach entering into the lip care category, where a lip product can have multiple skin-care benefits, all combined into one. We predict lip products that can both exfoliate and hydrate, while potentially bridging the makeup category as well. Just like the skin on your eyes, your lips have some of the thinnest skin on your body and it’s important to look beyond the face to make sure you’re caring for your skin as a whole. Look out for different lip masks, scrubs, and treatments with skin-beneficial ingredients that go beyond just improving the look of your lips and work on healing and deeply nourishing the skin of your lips,” says Christine.

One of our all-time fave examples of a multi-tasking lip product is the Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment SPF 30, $22, which not only nourishes and hydrates the lips but also protects them against the sun while giving a gorgeous tint. The formula comes in six creamy shades, including a clear version.

 3. The Next Generation of Potent Actives

“In 2020, we will see a new generation of potent actives emerging into the market, as well as in different formats. Typically, the highest concentration of actives has been in serums and masks, but we’re expecting them to start to show up in the other steps of your routine, too,” Christine tells us, and we definitely like the sounds of that. She explains, “This is possible because significant advancements have made inactive ingredients more stable. We are seeing more innovations that provide alternative delivery systems for potent actives.”

“A great example of this is the Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask, which contains encapsulated retinol that allows the potent active to be used around the delicate eye area. The new year will usher in a new generation of encapsulated formats of powerful actives in addition to retinol,” Christine says.

Christine also predicts a new generation of encapsulated formats, such as “niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, which helps with stabilization and also time release to give skin a steady but gentle dose of ingredients.”

4. Acids Go Natural

The beauty world has undoubtedly become obsessed with all things natural and clean, and Sarah says brands are finding more and more ways to incorporate this ethos into their product offering. “One of those innovations is naturally derived acids, which is a more gentle approach than traditionally popular acids like AHA and BHA, and sourced from natural botanical extracts. Botanical AHAs can come from the hibiscus flower or coconut flower and are a great way to get the benefits of exfoliation without the irritation.”

“When we initially started formulating with botanical AHAs, our labs mentioned that it was difficult to source, but we predict that with its growing popularity, naturally derived acids will become even more popular in 2020,” Sarah says.

5. Less Aggressive Skincare

via Giphy

Just like when you overload on your fave food, skincare lovers are about to do the same with potent actives. Because although active ingredients are great, there’s no doubt that they need to be used more cautiously. As a result of their popularity and misuse, Sarah says, “We’re seeing that complaints about redness, sensitivity, dehydration, tightness, and irritation have spiked recently. With only 15~20% of the population actually having sensitive skin, there’s clearly another culprit behind this increase in inflammation.”

This is why Christine believes, “It’s time to take a break. In 2020, we believe that the skin-care world is going to adopt a slow and steady approach to actives. For example, a harsh chemical peel may instantly exfoliate the top layer of your skin, but it can also compromise the skin barrier and make it more susceptible to damage and irritation. To counteract these effects, we expect to see an influx of soothing, calming and healing ingredients in skincare, such as Centella Asiatica, or ‘cica,’ antioxidant-rich matcha, chamomile, turmeric, and konjac in every step of skincare.”

K-beauty products are a great source of the above ingredients, as they often focus on hydrating, soothing, and nourishing ingredients. The new Glow Recipe Banana Souffle Moisture Cream, which is packed with soothing and calming ingredients to help prevent irritation and inflammation is a great example – we even used it after an intense PRP and mesotherapy treatment as it was so soothing, hydrating and calming.

For more soothing skincare ingredients, check out these hydrating K-beauty essences on Peach & Lily.

Which of these trends are you so ready for in 2020?