These are the 2022 beauty trends we’ll be seeing a lot of

Beauty trends can be hard to keep up with, and every few months there's bound to be the re-emergence of old classics and some brand new ways of applying makeup and skincare. Of course, 2021 gave us trends like wet skin, and ‘no makeup makeup' with a focus on seriously dewy, glass-like skin, fluffy brows, and full, glossy lips. But the question is, are we over those looks now, or are they only just getting started? Let’s find out—these are the beauty trends coming our way in 2022

The influence of TikTok and incredible beauty hacks from influencers, including blush to bronzer hacks all mean that makeup looks feel more attainable and learning how to do it yourself is much easier.  Novices and non-MUAs among us can all get involved in the trends below, and stay up to date with all the current looks.

While we already know what hair trends are in store for us, will 2022 beauty see us go more minimal, or will it be the year for vibrant colors and bold, striking looks?

1.  Less is more 

According to the beauty expert and Doll Beauty founder Danielle Gregory, we’re not quite done with natural makeup.

Danielle says: “Less is more. The low-key and natural look will remain strong.” This is definitely relieving news to those of us who don’t like wearing heavy makeup,  nor have the time to fret over a cat-eye.

Daniella explains 2022 looks will feature: “A minimal dewy base, naturally fluttery lashes and a clear lip gloss with a sheer mirror-like shine that layers over everything.”

What makes the natural look so great is that it really is versatile, whether you just want to look fresh and awake for work or like you’re glowing from within on a date. As Hailey Bieber says we all want to look like “a glazed donut.”

Products like the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter are perfect for that dewy, shiny skin and brands like Glossier are iconic for their lipgloss and skincare first attitude to beauty. 

2.  90s lips 

Sorry Millennials, the 90s nostalgia isn’t dead yet. While 2021 saw the return of 90s hair trends and fashion, 2022 will see the 90s lips make a comeback,

Danielle says 90s lip liner will be everywhere, with everyone wanting defined, juicy-bigger-looking lips. She explains: “The aim is to enhance the natural shape of lips, without looking overdone, using nude and brown tones up to two shades darker than your natural lip color.”—As long as we don’t go back to concealer lips, we’re okay with this.

90s lips also mean a lot of clear lipgloss!

3. Spikey Brows

While there were mutterings of the 90s skinny brow making a comeback thanks to the likes of Bella Hadid, it doesn’t look like the fluffy brow is going anywhere—it’s just getting spiker.

Yep, the slicked-up, editorial brow will still be very much on-trend in 2022—likely because it looks so good with minimal skin.

Tori Rosero, founder of Glowblade adds that though the bushy brow is still the goal for this year, we'll see them more maintained and natural-looking. This is down to the incredible brow products at our disposal, that make feathered brows look effortless. 

Tori also noted that we'll also see more people opt for semi-permanent microblade brows, which creates fuller-looking brows.

4. Graphic Colored Liner

We’ve already spotted celebs like Rihanna with her red liner, and the likes of Dua Lipa and Zendaya embracing bold, colored liners. Meaning bold liner is coming in a big way next year. 

Though natural makeup is still very much in, we will also see a few pops of color here and there!  Plus it helps that you can find liquid eyeliners and pencils in every shade imaginable!

5. Semi-Permanent makeup 

Beauty technology seems to get better and better by the day, meaning you can actually find a lot of semi-permanent alternatives to makeup—like brow and lash tinting and even semi-permanent freckles.

Tori says we’ll see a rise in beauty lovers opting for semi-permanent makeup that slowly fades, such as an alternative to the best eyeliner, and did you also know that semi-permanent foundation is a thing? 

Tori says: “The principle of the treatment remains the same; tiny particles of color are implanted between 1.5mm to 2mm below the surface of the skin to create a make-up effect in the eyebrow, eyeliner, creating freckles and even foundation. SPMU foundation isn’t very well known as of yet but it does exist! 

“It’s perfect for anyone who suffers from an uneven skin tone or is simply looking for a fresher complexion, either way, people will be looking to ditch the cakey foundation and looking to get ready quicker in 2022.”

6. Lip blush

Leading on from the rise of semi-permanent makeup, Tori says we'll also see the emergence of 'lip blush.'

This follows many dissolving their lip fillers including celebs. Apparently, there will be a rise in people looking to permanently tint their lips with a wash of pink. 

Lip blushing is literally getting your lips tattooed to add a forever flush to your lips, it can also be used to colour correct, and will fade gradually with time—ideal if you always find yourself reapplying your lippy or fear walking around with lipstick on your teeth.

7. Skin Skin SKIN

Skincare will continue to be one of the most important aspects of beauty in 2022. Our skincare product order and routines will be rituals by the end of the year.

Grace Vernon, Global Cultural Insight & Trend Lead at Boots UK and Jamie Kerruish, Beauty Director, say that searches for ‘ceramides’ are up 54% and ‘peptides’ are up 66% over the last 3 months. In fitting with the minimalist make-up looks that have taken over this year, there's also been an emphasis on working on making the canvas of your skin the best it can be. According to Grace Vernon "When it comes to looking after our most precious canvas, skin health is the way forward, with customers preferring to research their own skin type and its individual needs, rather than miracle cures".

Jenna Unwin, Founder of the Million Dollar Facial says skincare enthusiasts will be looking to simplify their routine because less is more really is an overall theme in 2022.  Jenna says: “Consumers want simplified skin routines that don’t take hours to complete and use fewer products which ultimately can save them time and money.”

Jenna also adds that people will also seek professional advice more for their skin woes as the market is so saturated now with products, it can be hard to know what your skin needs.

There will also be a rise in demand for multi-purpose products because we all love a 2-in-1.

The 'Glow Facial' is also predicted to be big this year, according to Yelp, beauty lovers will continue to covet dewy, fresh skin. This style of facial is all about having a luminous complexion, so that means lots of face masks and the best hyaluronic acid serums.

8. The Octopus cut

The Octopus hair cut has already been huge so far in 2022, as it's a fresh take on the already viral wolf cut and mullet. 

The look features more length than the other cuts, but thinner, with all the wait still remaining at the top of your head, creating an octopus-style silhouette. It's the perfect look for anyone that wants change, but not a dramatic chop!

9. The Minimal Mani

Along with all the other nail trends headed our way this year, it looks as though our obsession with minimal aesthetics isn't going anywhere fast.

The minimalist mani encompasses everything from neutral shades to simplistic nail art. Daisy Kalnina Founder & CEO of Peacći says: "Little details, like mini stars, hearts, flowers or dots, are an easy way to elevate your nail look while making a subtle statement.”

10. Affordable beauty 

Searches for #makeupdupes total 252.4M views on TikTok to date, with almost 9 out of 10 (88%; rising to 93% of Generation Z shoppers) looking for sustainable credentials in their beauty purchases.

Of course, the rise in the cost of living means that everyone is more conscious of what they buy, and how it can factor into budgeting. It means that beauty lovers are looking for alternatives to their favourite cult products, while staying well clear of throwaway cosmetics. It's a hard task, but Grace Vernon, Global Cultural Insight & Trend Lead at Boots UK says that sustainability credentials in their beauty and personal care purchases can be seen through the success of the Recycle at Boots scheme which has banked over 1 million product empties.

11. Skin-tegrity of hair

In a similar style to stripped back skincare routines, searches containing the term 'scalp' having more than doubled on boots.com, and brands are responding to increased demand for scalp treatments and skincare ingredients for hair. It's also clear to see influencers on TikTok and Instagram talking extensively about having great scalp health as the key to unlocking healthy, shiny locks and hacks like learning how to make shampoo bars at home becoming more popular. Getting back to basics is most definitely in, with products containing aloe vera to hydrate your scalp at the top of many shopping lists.

12. Are maximalist styles on the way back?

Could bold looks a la Euphoria be making their way back before the end of 2022? As summer arrives and parties and festivals start up, experts are seeing search for louder looks all the time. Grace Vernon, Global Cultural Insight & Trend Lead at Boots UK says that makeup has come back from the barefaced lockdown brink and is ready to bring the fun. 

‘Glitter’ and ‘Nail Art’ have been trending on TikTok, with hashtags gaining 9.9 billion and 21.8 billion views respectively. Hannah Stern, Boots Beauty Trainer said “If there’s one word to describe our approach to cosmetics this year, it would be ‘freedom’.  2022 is all about having fun with makeup and experimenting – and with over 1,000 Boots Beauty Specialists on hand with advice and tips, freshening up your everyday look or opting for something new has never been easier.”