When it comes to strange new skincare ingredients and trends, South Korea and social media have a lot to answer for. But while we might be weirded out by some of the up-and-coming skincare crazes reaching the spotlight, below are eight of the top growing trends that BD predicts are set to become big business...
Snail slime
Claimed to stimulate the formation of collagen and elastin, snail slime has also been revered for repairing the signs of photo-ageing and minimising premature skin ageing caused by free radicals. Yep, people are popping the mucus formed from a snail’s bodily secretion on their face – and it’s doing them good. Weird? Perhaps… but if Katie Holmes is willing to give it a go, I’m brave.
Companies using this: Super Aqua, , Missha, Dr. Jart+, Labcconte, Elicina, and Labcconte.
Horse oil
If you’re eating lunch while you read this feature and didn’t put your salad down with the words “snail’s bodily secretion”, you may want to now. The latest South Korean beauty trend beginning to gain traction around the globe is horse oil – which is basically horse fat. Used for centuries in China and Japan for treating burns, cuts, inflammation as well as skin diseases like eczema and muscle pain, Asian Beauty Secrets author Marie Jhin reveals: “The oil is derived from the fat of horses and contains high levels of alpha-Linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid (EFA) that cannot be produced by the human body.” EFAs help the skin create a protective barrier that is antioxidative, antimicrobial, and reduces water loss – leading to an even, glowy complexion.
Companies using this: Guerisson.
Multi-masking
We’ve had clown contouring, glitter tears, drippy lips, but one Instagram beauty trend that has merit behind it is multi-masking – i.e. wearing multiple face masks at once. And this one might not be as crazy as first thought. Working like a customised facial, multi-masking draws on the idea that the skin on different areas of your face is not the same. The trend sees people apply specific masks to different parts of their faces including the t-zone, forehead, nose, chin, cheeks, and eye area.
Companies using this: While many skincare companies offer skincare masks, we recommend (for the Hydrating Hydra-Mask), (Argini Soothing Mask), mesoestetic (energy C Peel off Mask), SkinCeuticals (Clarifying Clay Masque), and (Anew Alpha Peel-Off Facial Mask).
Fermented plants
The knowledge fermentation is good for the gut has seen kombucha sales soar across the country, and now skincare companies are beginning to take a renewed interest in this bacteria-loving trend. Using a similar process to the fermentation of food, fermented skincare uses yeast to break down the molecular structure of active ingredients into smaller particles – leading to nutrients, minerals and actives being more easily absorbed into the skin. Super-boosting skincare products, the process also creates amino acids and antioxidants that are said to be more potent than those found in their unfermented counterparts.
Companies using this: , Murad, Missha, Oskia, and Fresh.
Snake and bee venom
While snake and bee venom are becoming widely adopted by beauty companies (although many do favour the synthetic version), it will forever hold a place on the “unique” and “strange” list of beauty ingredients. Because when you really think about it, including this ingredient in a skincare product sees people put poison on their face, actual deadly poison. But while that sounds super scary, the venom helps stimulate the natural production of collagen as well as provides skin tightening anti-ageing benefits. And it’s safe. And it works. BD predicts the future will likely see more of this ingredient come to the fore.
Companies using this: Balance Active Formula, Skin Physics, , , , and Manuka Doctor.
Donkey milk
You’ve heard of goat’s milk, now donkey milk is beginning to gain traction within the beauty world for its high vitamin C content and gentle and soothing properties. One brand that’s fallen in love with this ingredient is Napoleon Perdis, with the make-up brand’s Auto Pilot Hydrating Milk Cleanser featuring lactation-by-donkey. Explaining to Refinery 29, Perdis says: “After learning Egyptian queen Cleopatra had reportedly bathed in donkey milk for its youth-enhancing effects, my team and I did some research into the benefits. We discovered that, due to its vitamin-rich composition, it was perfectly suited to the face.”
Companies using this: , Royal Natural.
Animal placenta
There’s been a growing trend in recent years of new mums eating their own placenta – with the likes of Kim Kardashian, January Jones, Alicia Silverstone, and Kourtney Kardashian all jumping aboard this craze. And while we’re aware of plant placenta being used in skincare products, this trend has now broadened to include animal placenta. Most commonly taken from sheep (although some have even been known to use human placenta), placenta’s beauty benefits include providing nutrients, anti-ageing benefits, and promoting skin repair.
Companies using this: Mila Skin Care, New Zealand Pure, Medicox, Nature’s Beauty, Health N Nature.
Bird’s nest
Regarded as one of the four top youth tonics in traditional Chinese medicine due to being rich in organic nutrients, antioxidants, proteins, amino acids, and essential minerals, Asian beauty companies are adopting bird’s nest into tonics and face masks (and we all know that Asia is paving the way for cosmetics across the globe). Renowned for rejuvenating epidermal cells to improve the elasticity and complexion of the skin, bird’s nest can help bring luminosity and youthful radiance to skin.
Companies using this: Yen, Sasatinnie, Watsons, Zing, Eu Yan Sang, My Scheming, My Beauty Diary, Bio-Essence, Ginvera, It’s Skin, The Face Shop.