Skincare trends we will see the back of in 2023

LIKE fashion trends, every year skincare trends pop up that beauty fanatics hop onto.

While some of these trends might be great and work wonders, others can cause more harm than good.

Dr Alek Nikolic, a specialist in aesthetic medicine and owner of SkinMiles, shares the skincare trends we need to leave behind in 2022 and what he predicts will be the biggest skincare treatments in 2023.

Here's what he advises you to stop doing in the new year and why.

Skin icing

Even though one may think that the cold helps with inflamed skin, icing tends to reduce blood flow and constrict capillaries. This reduces the nutrients and oxygen flowing to the skin. If the skin is inflamed, alternatives would include gentle cleansers and moisturisers specifically indicated for sensitive or inflamed skin.

Slugging

This is the trend of applying petroleum jelly over your night-time skin regime. The thought is to trap the skin's moisture. However, this approach also traps exfoliated skin and can increase surface oil which leads to breakouts. Stick to your night-time skin regime as is.

At-home needling your serums into your skin

This can lead to increased skin reactions and sensitivity, increased breakouts and even dermatitis. The alternative is to needle without using serums.

DIY face masks

Not all ingredients are safe for every skin type. DIY masks can cause sensitivity reactions and dermatitis.

Alternatives include masks that are designed specifically for one's skin type and skin concern.

Applying toothpaste on your breakouts

This can irritate the skin, making it worse. Rather apply spot treatment gels specifically formulated for acne and breakouts.

Nikolic predicts the following to be the biggest trends in 2023:

Sustainable skincare

When shopping for sustainable skincare, haircare and make-up, the key is to check if the ingredients are sustainably sourced and safe for your skin, and if the packaging is also plasticfree or recycled.

Ceramides and niacinamides will be the hero ingredients

Both ceramide and niacinamide help the skin create a barrier that will prevent moisture from being lost, keeping the skin hydrated. These are multitasking ingredients.

Bakuchiol may gain popularity

Many people proceed with caution when it comes to incorporating retinol into their skincare routine as it may lead to irritation. This is where bakuchiol enters the chat. Bakuchiol can be seen as the natural alternative to retinol which took the spotlight this year.

“Bakuchiol is a powerful plantbased ingredient that is suitable for those who have sensitive skin. It also has anti-ageing properties,” says Nikolic.

When incorporating bakuchiol into your routine he suggests that you don't use it with products that include glycolic acid, as it may possibly have an impact on the potency of the product.