Skincare + Beauty Trends 2024

For 2024 skincare and beauty trends, it’s all about the return to real. Real skin, real ingredients, real results. No filters, no airbrushing, just healthy, glowing skin that’s all you. We’re embracing our skin's natural texture, our pores, our breakouts, and we’re owning it. Whether that’s looking to innovative, hard-working ingredients, skincare systems targeted to treat specific concerns, skincare-makeup hybrids to bridge that gap and work even harder, or clean mineral makeup that respects our complexion, this is the year of healthy, natural, glowing skin.

Less is still more in 2024, but we want our products to specialize in their target area—with bonus benefits to boot. That’s where skincare-makeup hybrids continue their growth path. Multitasking formulations that offer multiple benefits while still staying true to their core purpose. And, a new trend is born—Skin Streaming. Skincare’s answer to a capsule wardrobe, Skin Streaming is simply streamlining your skincare routine down to the most effective players. 

Supporting skin health is a mainstay every year on our trends list, and with that comes sun and environmental protection as a fundamental, moisture barrier repair, and anti-inflammation approaches. Clean skincare with selected, safe, and efficacious clinical ingredients with proven results continues to be in more demand than ever—a space we’re proud to lead the charge on, to support, maintain, and boost skin’s natural processes. 

Beauty trends in 2024 follow a similar streaming route to skincare. Makeup-skincare hybrids rule, and we want them to be even easier to use—stick formats for the win, versatile formulations for any part of our face—cheek, lip, and eye make the ultimate trifecta, and we want them loaded with skincare nourishers too. For makeup looks, we’re moving away from seeming too “done” in favor of being more effortless and nonchalant. We want to give one feature that main character energy, so an eye, a lip, or a cheek, with the supporting cast feeling soft and fresh. 

Skincare Trends 2024

“The skincare trends that are emerging for 2024 are an evolution of what we’ve seen in 2023, but more elevated. It’s exciting to continue the conversation about the importance of wearing sunscreen every single day, whether you’re leaving the house or not. And, we’re celebrating real, unfiltered skin that’s glowing thanks to a great skincare routine and professional treatment protocols. Pores and breakouts are normal, so let’s continue to normalize them. 

There are also some exciting ingredients that are taking center-stage this year. Some that have been around for some time—niacinamide, which is soaring in popularity, salicylic acid or BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acid) a power player in skin clearing and balancing, EGF—epidermal growth factor for skin repair and anti-aging, not to mention retinol and retinol alternatives like bakuchiol or phyto-retinol as we focus on skin barrier repair,” shares Steph Scalet, Glo’s Global Aesthetics Lead. “Skin Streaming is a newbie for 2024 but shares a similar principle to Skin Minimalism, with this idea to return to the building blocks of your skincare routine.”

Skin Health 

This will always top our skincare trends list. That’s because skin health is the foundation of everything. With our ever increasing awareness of how our lifestyles are impacting our overall health and wellbeing. “From minimizing aging factors from environmental aggressors such as the sun, pollution, and blue light with skin-defending vitamin C-powered antioxidant products, to supporting skin’s barrier function by calming inflammation and stress both at a skin level or with supplements and lifestyle modifications, and avoiding overly aggressive skincare approaches, we’re increasingly getting more savvy about how to treat our skin more holistically, understanding that skincare is just one piece of the selfcare puzzle,” says Steph. “While sun protection and skin barrier support are universal, when it comes to other skin health issues, everyone’s skin is unique. That’s why paying attention to the things that could be contributing to your specific skin concerns, even keeping a skin journal, can help in understanding what our skin needs, when it needs it, and building our skincare routine around that.”

 

Sun Protection As Fundamental

“Prevention is better than the cure and nowhere demonstrates this more in skincare than SPF for anti-aging,” advises Steph. “The sun’s UV rays cause free radical damage and oxidative stress, accelerating the growth of fine lines and wrinkles, along with pigmentation issues too. Adding sun protection to your daily ritual no matter the season or whether you’ll be outside or not is as important as brushing your teeth in the morning.” 

Thankfully sun protection continues to evolve and feel less of a chore and more of a pleasure with deliciously tactile, nourishing formulations like our C-Shield Anti-Pollution Moisture Tint infused with SPF 30, plus a glowing flexible tint too. Oil-free, hydrating, and oh-so protective against the sun and other environmental aggressors like pollution and blue light, adding this vitamin C-powered multitasking tinted moisturizer to your daily skincare will be a game-changer. Pre-game your skin with a vitamin C serum to really boost your SPF and environmental protection further. 

You can even add SPF to your makeup routine too, with Oil-Free Tinted Primer SPF 30 too. Think sun protection, color correction, and perfectly primed skin all in one. 

 

Real Skin Is In

No more hiding our skin’s texture, tone, or breakouts, the move towards natural, unfiltered skin is here. A reaction to the overly filtered and face-tuned images on Instagram and magazines, thanks to TikTok and its celebration of real people, real stories, we’re starting to embrace our skin’s natural quirks. 

“Pores, blemishes, dry skin, redness, these are all real concerns for most of us at some point in our lives,” says Steph. Rather than simply concealing or camouflaging—which can lead to making them worse, or overlaying filters on our pics, 2024 takes the baton from the previous year and gets real about how our skin looks and feels. “Targeted skincare that supports, treats, and boosts your skin’s natural glow is key,” she adds.

Skin Streaming 

Move over Skin Cycling, there’s a new trend in town. And, no it’s not to do with Netflix or Hulu, “Skin Streaming is simplifying your skincare routine to three or four products that effectively address your skin’s needs. This usually includes a cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen,” says Steph. “And, using fewer products equals spending less money on your routine, and Skin Streaming will also make you more conscious of the products your complexion actually needs. This also asks you to actually give your skincare time to work too—rather than giving up too quickly on it before you see results.”

For Skin Streaming, we love to use products from the same solution category such as Brighten + Glow if you’re looking to revive dull skin or target pigmentation, Hydrate + Restore for hydration and barrier repair, or Clarify + Balance if mattifying oily skin or keeping skin clear from breakouts is your focus.

 

Skinimalism 2.0

With our time-pressed schedules, demand for better value, and a move towards less waste and impact on the environment, we want multitasking products now more than ever. But we also want them to deliver results. And, this is where skin minimalism 2.0 comes in. Part of the Skin Streaming movement, “It’s all about creating a simplified skincare ritual that features key essentials, such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, without compromising on results,” explains Steph. “And, in fact we are increasingly seeing the need for proof of results become a pivotal driver in our product decision-making too.” 

Hero Ingredient: Niacinamide

Brightening, protecting, balancing, hydrating, repairing signs of aging, reducing pore size, and soothing—the list could go on, niacinamide is the Taylor Swift of skincare thanks to its many accolades and huge fan base. You’ll find it in many skincare products and even some beauty products too because its benefits are broad and effective. “It’s even suitable for sensitive skin too, so it can make a great replacement for other more active ingredients like alpha arbutin or salicylic acid,” shares Steph. 

 

Retinol Alternatives

Retinol has long been superhero ingredient in the skincare world, and many consider it an essential to their skincare rituals for its dazzling multitude of benefits. Helping to accelerate skin cell turnover, reduce inflammation, diminish hyperpigmentation, and stimulate collagen production, retinol promotes smoother, firmer, brighter skin, and is a key anti-aging ingredient. “But it’s not for everyone. If you have dry or sensitive skin, retinol can irritate skin and needs to be built up in tolerance over time. If you’re pregnant, it’s recommended to avoid use of retinol altogether. And, this is where retinol alternatives come in. Phyto-retinols or bakuchiol are plant-derived alternatives to retinol with similar skin-boosting benefits,” shares Steph. 

As phyto-retinols and bakuchiol are not considered active ingredients, they’re not photo-sensitive like retinol, so are safe for use during the day (you should still always use SPF), plus they’re suitable for all skin types. 

Top Treatment: Microneedling 

Reigning supreme as one of the top treatments performed across the country in 2023, for 2024 the demand for microneedling is set to get even bigger. A treatment performed by skincare professionals, it can help reduce the appearance of acne, scars, fine lines, and other textural concerns, creating tiny holes in the top layer of the skin to stimulate your skin’s natural healing process, and produce more collagen and elastin. Microneedling creates smooth, glowing skin, without the levels of pain or downtime of other more aggressive procedures.

“Microneedling combined with radio frequency is also growing in popularity too as this helps to tighten and firm loose skin, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles even more,” shares Steph. 

“And, Microinfusion is another big one for 2024. It uses a smaller amount of needles on a more superficial level, paired with a cocktail of targeted serums that are effectively pushed into the open channels, getting those active ingredients deeper into the skin, for glowing results with little to no downtime,” she adds.

Science-Led Skincare

Cleanical (clean + clinical) skincare gets even bigger in 2024. Why? Well, it hits that sweet spot, prioritizing safety, science, efficacy, and results without harm to you, animals, or the planet. Using sustainable formulations, cleanical products feature the latest in bio-technology or clean chemistry to create lab grown actives as alternatives to naturally occurring ingredients that may be endangered or rare, avoiding exhausting natural resources. 

Clean, clinical skincare also uses safe chemical actives and natural ingredients where suitable, with tried-and-tested results. Glo is proud to be a clean, clinical brand, that’s vegan and cruelty free, formulating all our products without parabens, phthalates, harsh sulfates, talc, mineral oil, and artificial fragrance. We also pride ourselves on our clinical results for our key skincare products, giving you peace of mind that everything you put on your skin has science-backed safety and results. 

 

 

Beauty Trends 2024

“In 2024, beauty is way more respectful to skin than ever before. Makeup is cleaner, packed with skincare ingredients and ethically-sourced pigments, it’s more buildable to let skin breathe, and it works with skincare to treat the skin while adding that complexion or color element,” says Janeena Rumsey, Glo’s Global Artistry Lead. “It’s a continuation of 2023’s fresh, modern look.”

Skincare Makeup Hybrids

Much like with our skincare, we are moving away from 14-step makeup routines, preferring our products to work smarter and join forces, saving us money, time, creating a less “done” effect.

“Pigment load and longwearing coverage isn't the only thing we want from our makeup,” explains Janeena. “This is where skin-forward makeup hybrids come in. Not a new concept but getting a next generation makeover, we want our makeup to be skincare loaded and good for us.” 

Case in point being our Solution Primers, four skincare-powered makeup primers, carefully crafted to treat specific concerns, while smoothing skin, creating the perfect canvas, and extending makeup weartime. “So many people gave up on primers because they felt they were just an unnecessary step. These next-generation primers will change everything you thought you knew about primers. Blurring, mattifying, hydrating, or illuminating, not only do they transform concerns like dryness, dullness, shine, or texture, they also keep your makeup in place all day, meaning less touch-ups, and a better look for longer.”

Want color-correction and SPF from your primer? Try Oil-Free Tinted Primer SPF 30. “We combined skincare ingredients like niacinamide with mineral pigments to color correct, plus sunscreen, to create the ultimate canvas for your foundation. 

Our Essential Eye Base is the perfect eye primer, color-corrector, and even eyeshadow effect for lids, infused with soothing antioxidants and a little boost of caffeine to help relieve any puffiness. 

And, if you don’t feel like your makeup has enough skincare in it, you can always add a few drops of your favorite serum to truly personalize your boost. “We love adding HA-Revive Hyaluronic Drops for extra hydration, or C-Shield Anti-Pollution Drops for a vitamin C brightening hit,” says Janeena.

 

Main Character Makeup

Unless you’re dressing up for a special occasion, looking too “done” has been on the out for a while now, and this is being replaced by creating a central feature, and letting the rest be more in the background. 

“That doesn’t mean you need to stop wearing makeup, far from it,” explains Janeena. “You can still do your smokey eye, just less of a dramatic contour or bold lip, you can do a bold lip and go light on the cheeks and lids, you get the idea.”

For cheeks; “We’re looking to do less of that chisel and sculpt we’ve seen before, and more about letting a natural contours and bone structure naturally shine through with a little highlighting help,” says Janeena.“

Clean Complexion

For complexion, it’s still about keeping a clean look. “And, that means more natural coverage infused with skincare benefits. We want to see real skin, we’re lessening the foundation coverage and letting skin breathe. ” Janeena explains. “Tinted moisturizers with sunscreen will be a main focus to add an extra layer of protection as you cover for everyday skin-forward complexion looks. And, foundation formulas are moving away from heavy, cakey textures, instead taking on a feather-light approach that melts into skin as opposed to sitting on the surface.”

 

This clean skin look allows for more impactful effects on the eyes with bold shadows, graphic liner, and exaggerated lash lengthening. 

Espresso Makeup

“Led by the popularity of the latte makeup trend, coffee-inspired shades are leading the charge in our color palettes for 2024,” says Janeena. Throwing back to the early noughties, brown hues are playing big across lips, eyes, and even cheeks, from deep espresso blends to mocha, macchiato, and latte.  

Balletcore Makeup

If espresso makeup isn’t your vibe, a more pretty and delicate look might just be, and that’s the balletcore makeup trend. “Not new, but just as popular as ever, think the lightest of pinks, barely there washes of color, delicate blushes, silky glosses, and glowing dewy complexions,” says Janeena. Extra points for a slicked back ballerina bun too.

Cherry Cola Lips + Ombre Lip Looks

A trend with its roots in TikTok and a little nostalgia too, cherry cola lips are on point for 2024. “Playing into the wider ombre lip trend, cherry cola is all about that deliciously glossed red hue lip, lined with brown to create that sparkling effect,” says Janeena. “For ombre lips in 2024 it’s less about that big contrast and more about playing with your natural lip color, color-matching it to complementary shades and then lining and fading outer corners with a slightly deeper liner.”

Graphic Liner

A perennial trend but evolving each year, graphic eye liner is throwing new shapes in 2024. “Practice your precision because it’s all about sharped winged liner looks, bold lines, and really opening up the eye with liner statements,” shares Janeena.

“Create a cat eye wing shape but make it longer and sharper for an upgraded graphic feline liner look. Embrace your inner rock chick and give it a try.”

Blush Crush

“We saw an overload of blushed-out looks in previous years, and it continues into 2024. Whether cream or powder blushes, a “doll blush” look is gaining traction, with blush targeted to the apple of cheeks to create a youthful effect. No harsh contrast or circles though, make sure to blend it carefully.” After all, blush is all about adding a little life back into your skin to accentuate all your best bits.