The ultimate beauty dictionary of this year

It's December and the year 2022 is coming to an end, and we can't help but reflect on how it went by. We do this every year, don't we? We think about the fun moments we had, the best pictures we clicked and the happiest memories we made. But most importantly, we think about the lessons we learnt. Having said that, if you are a beauty enthusiast, here are a few terms we hope you got acquainted with or used very often, in 2022. If you did, here's your chance!

AI and AR

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) have revolutionalised the beauty industry. Many brands use these technologies to recommend products according to one’s skin colour and tone by enabling virtual make-up testing, so that you can assess whether or not a product looks good on you. Brands like Lakmé, L’Oréal Paris, M•A•C, Maybelline New York, Chanel, among others, along with beauty e-retailers like Nykaa. com and Boddess.com offer virtual try-ons to make shopping for make-up and skincare online not just easier, but also a lot of fun.

Bespoke

Customisation is not limited to fashion any longer. There are many skincare, haircare, and make-up brands that are founded on the principles of creating a customised routine and/or formula to suit one’s individual needs. And we couldn’t be more chuffed about it. This concept is thriving internationally, and closer home, homegrown brands like Karibo, Tinge By Sabrina, and Ruby’s Organics instantly manufacture customised lipstick and base products. Also see SkinKraft and Bare Anatomy, who have changed the game in the skin and hair industry

Ceramides

There are certain ingredients that quickly become the flavour of the season. And 2022’s buzzworthy skincare ingredient is ceramides. A type of lipid, ceramides are naturally found within our body. Their main function is to keep the skin’s moisture barrier intact in order to keep it nourished. But, with age and environmental factors, their levels start depleting, which could compromise skin health. Long story short: they are very important to keep the skin healthy.
 Try d’You In My Defence, `3,500, or Re’equil Ceramide & Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser, `395. 

Dewy skin

When it comes to runway beauty trends, there has been a lot of focus on skin of late. And the base make-up this season had a glowy finish to it. Ranging from extreme gloss to natural, deeply-moisturised skin, we spotted many versions—which makes it easy to not just cop the trend, but also make it your own. No matter what kind of foundation you own, there is a way to ensure a glossy, dewy, or luminous effect. If you own a matte formula [for oily skin types], start with a moisturising skincare routine, then use a setting spray with a dewy finish. Blend a few drops of a facial oil of your choice with the foundation to get that glowing effect. Seal the base with a generous spritz of the setting spray. Normal to dry skin types can opt for foundations packed with ingredients that boost luminosity—Clinique, Bobbi Brown, and Dior have some excellent formulations.

Essential oil

The pandemic made us conscious about self-care beauty rituals that have a calming effect on our mind and body. And the highly concentrated, aromatic oils, aka essential oils, are the perfect way to indulge your senses. Essential oils such as tea tree, eucalyptus, and lemon—which are known to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and purifying effects—received particular attention. However, do remember that these oils are potent and they must be mixed with a carrier oil like coconut or olive in order to be applied to skin—with discretion, of course. Other aromatic oils can be used in a diffuser to create a serene environment indoors. Try Forest Essentials Blended Diffuser Oil in Madurai Jasmine, `1,290.

Fragrance

As discussed, the fragrance, scented candles, and diffuser market has grown exponentially in the past two years. Brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Kenzo, Narciso Rodriguez, Paco Rabanne, and Byredo, among many others, launched several products in these categories. We also saw several homegrown brands join this fragrant journey...Good Earth, for example, launched their range of Eau de toilettes, Zagros and Isfahan, Naso Profumi released Palo Santo E Limoncello, a homage to Italian summer, and Forest Essentials added two striking new variants to their solid perfumes range this year.

Gadgets

If you are a tech nerd with a penchant for beauty, there were some exciting launches that merge the two worlds together. Dyson relaunched Airwrap with new, more advanced attachments, making it the must-have hair tool of the year. And YSL’s Rouge Sur Mesure, an intelligent, at-home, custom lipstick maker, took the cake for being the most luxurious, gorgeous beauty gadget to have hit the market this year.

Hyaluronic Acid

Okay, HA didn’t come into the limelight this year, but it certainly made its presence felt in almost all kinds of formulas. Serums, moisturisers, lip treatments, foundations, lash-growth products, and even setting spray...hyaluronic acid is now part of practically everything. And for good reason. Its unmatched ability to attract moisture from its surroundings and hold up to 1,000 times its own weight makes it one of the Holy Grail ingredients in beauty today.

Inner beauty

A new army of wellness capsules, powders, and gummies—aka beauty supplements—now come with the promise to beautify you from the inside. While these supplements cover nutrients that one’s body might be deficient in, the term essentially highlights the beauty benefits these products offer. Designed to enhance the quality of skin, hair, and nail health, supplements are available in the form of capsules, shots, liquids, etc, that have vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and collagen in measured concentrations that help boost your skin health. The most common supplements include one or more ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants (like glutathione), amino acids (like collagen), minerals, prebiotics, etc, and are intended to be taken orally

Joyology

This term has ushered in a new era in beauty. Joyology dictates that one must find joy in the products that we are using—be it in terms of fragrance, texture, or look and feel... everything about the formula should instil a sense of happiness. It also aligns well with the new movement in beauty, which focuses more on well-being now.

Korean ingredients

While K-beauty took the world by storm many years ago, specialised Korean beauty ingredients—like Jeju volcanic clusters, lava water, camellia, orchids, bija, ginseng, snail mucin, etc—have now become an intrinsic part of beauty formulas across the globe. From skin-clearing properties to antiageing benefits, there’s nary a beauty concern that these ingredients can’t fix.

Limited edition

Beauty is a comprehensive art that the mind sees, the body feels, and the brain interprets. And brands have nailed this sensory blend with the help of limited-edition products with specialised packaging, designer collaborations, and more. We love these collectables—that come dressed in cute pouches, artsy cases, and jewelled flacons—as they can be cherished for a long time, and they make our dressers look super-pretty.

Meditation

A practice that originated in India several thousand years ago has now become a way to not just relieve anxiety, but achieve a youthful appearance as well. How so, you ask? Constant stress can deprive the skin of oxygen and nutrients. Meditating religiously every day calms the mind, relieves daily stress, and, in turn, increases the oxygen supply to the skin. This helps rejuvenate the skin and body and transforms cells and tissues, too. Along with internal benefits, meditation helps slow down the ageing process, leading to fewer wrinkles and fine lines, and improves radiance.

Niacinamide

This ingredient was at its peak in the 2010s, and then it lost its charm as we became obsessed with clay, charcoal, and aloe vera, among others. But niacinamide is back as a standalone ingredient in serums to award you with luminosity your skin doesn’t just need but also deserves. A form of Vitamin B3, niacinamide strengthens the skin’s outer layers, soothes redness and irritation, improves elasticity, and evens out the skin tone. Do you need any more reasons?

Overnight intensive care squad

The night-time skincare routine is more important than ever. As our skin repairs itself while we hit snooze, scientists and dermatologists have whipped up all kinds of formulas that spend the night with you and leave you with a glowing complexion in the morning. Night-time-only products such as Clarins’ Super Restorative Night Cream restore elasticity overnight, Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Multi-Recovery Complex is designed to fight various signs of ageing, Laneige’s Sleeping Masks for the face and lips lock in moisture and keep the skin supple.

PRP

Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP as it is popularly known, is a professional treatment where your blood is placed in a centrifuge, which separates it into three layers: plasma on top, platelets and blood cells in the middle, and red blood cells in the bottom. PRP is derived from the centre layer. The platelet-rich plasma is reintroduced to the skin through a noninvasive procedure, which stimulates cell turnover, boosts collagen and elastin, and leaves the skin feeling tighter and plumper, and looking smoother.

Q Switch Laser

One of the fastest routes to spotless skin, the Q Switch Laser technology delivers quick, powerful pulses of energy to remove dark spots and treat pigmentation, minus any chemicals. The painless treatment delivers instant results.

Retinol

This is one of those ingredients nearly every dermatologist swears by (but also warns about because not all skin types react well to it). Retinol helps the epidermal cells of the skin maintain their functions and restores a healthy turnover cycle, awarding you with a smoother texture. Sunday Riley’s A+ HighDose Retinoid Serum, `7,600, is one of the most trusted formulas in the biz as it’s great for all skin types, and is especially kind to sensitive skin. Also, in the past few years, along with the clinical derivative, the natural form of retinol—bakuchiol—has gained prominence as it is mild and suits all skin types.

Sustainable beauty

This industry has a major carbon footprint, and brands today are taking conscious steps to do their bit for the environment, by reducing waste, using recycled packaging, and offering refillable products. Many prestigious names like Dior, Chanel, Givenchy, and Lancôme, are monitoring how their manufacturing affects the ecosystem and taking necessary steps to curb environmental pollution. And then there are certain homegrown brands like Bare Necessities, Earth Rhythm, Neemli Naturals, and Juicy Chemistry that function on a zero-waste policy, and work towards creating products that are beautiful inside out.

Tea-infused concoctions 

This ingredient is killing it in the beauty business. There are a tonne of brands that offer tea-infused (both green and black) skincare ranges because these humble leaves are packed with many benefits. Green tea, for instance, hydrates and soothes the skin, controls sebum production, treats acne, clears clogged pores, and fights signs of ageing. While black tea depuffs the skin, treats blemishes and pigmentation, promotes collagen production, and is a great anti-ageing ingredient.

Ultherapy

If you are looking for non-invasive ways to achieve younger, firmer skin, then this FDAapproved treatment is for you. Ultherapy uses ultrasound energy to lift and tighten the skin by boosting collagen. The best part: there is very little downtime, and you will start seeing serious results 30 days after your session.

Vegan

With a major focus on clean beauty, vegan formulas are gaining prominence in the skincare and make-up business. While cruelty-free formulas indicate that they haven’t been tested on animals, vegan refers to zero animal or animal-derived ingredients used in a formula. Don’t trust a label at first sight, it is important to study the ingredients list and look for certifications that prove a formula is vegan. Kimirica, for instance, is PETA Vegan Approved and also carries other certifications like PETA Animal-Test Free, and uses eco-friendly packaging.

Water-based perfumes

This year, many brands switched the base of their fragrances from alcohol to water. Traditionally, with alcohol-based perfumes, the scent would unravel after the alcohol evaporated. But with water-based fragrances, the original notes can be experienced fully as soon as it is sprayed. Bonus: the scent does not change over time, so there are no top, middle, or base notes. Gucci, Annick Goutal, Behnaz, and David Mallet are some of the brands that offer alcohol-free scents.

X-Teen

People born in the 1980s, known as millennials, are going back to the beauty trends that were big in the ’90s, aka their teenage years. This has led to a new category in make-up, called ‘X-Teen’. And you won’t just see millennials sporting trends from this decade, Gen-Z has taken a shine to them, too. Think frosted lids, brown lip liner, gloss (both on the lips and lids), skinny brows, tiny sunglasses, and more.

Y-zone care

Vulva/vaginal-care products have secured a separate category in beauty. The Y-Zone, as it is popularly referred to now, must have a pH level of 4.5—if the pH level fluctuates, it could lead to irritation. The common mission of feminine cleansers is to protect the region against bacteria. While we know that the vagina is a self-cleansing organ, sometimes, climate changes, sweating, waxing, and other factors could potentially disrupt the skin’s function. It is recommended to choose a product that has antibacterial effects, and the ability to maintain the pH balance. Avoid using perfumes, and aromatic oils and lotions as they can cause allergies.

Zits

During the pandemic, more of us faced acne issues because of constantly wearing face masks—the mouth, chin, and jaw region were the areas of concern. Clarifying products (cleansers, toners, and facial pads) with salicylic acid, BHAs, or tea tree keep pimples at bay, ensuring excess sebum or face mask-induced acne doesn’t wreak havoc on your skin.