With the warm weather fast approaching (well, hopefully, if ‘La Nina’ ever goes away), it’s time to put away the dark shades of winter and consider the beauty trends we’re going to see in the 2022/23 spring/summer season.
Bringing Y2K back
Plenty of colour is what we can expect in beauty trends this season, according to Priceline Pharmacy’s Brooke Jones, the 2022 Priceline Beauty Advisor of the Year.
“I think this spring/summer we’re going to see a lot of fun with colour, but still an effortless makeup style,” she said. “I expect to see an embrace of natural skin with minimal coverage, super flushed cheeks, with a pop of colour from a liquid liner on the eyes or a bright glossy lip.”
Ms Jones says we can also expect to see a few K-Beauty (South Korean derived) trends making waves on our shores, “especially glitter liner or shadow – I expect this will be big during party season”.
Ashleigh Hutson, 2021 Pharmacy Guild of Australia/Maxigesic Pharmacy Assistant of the Year, agrees, saying we can expect to see the Y2K look trending this spring/summer.
“We’re starting to see the return of the 2000s dictating trends,” she said. “Think slicked back hair with lashings of hairspray and gel, and bold, blingy makeup looks with high pigments of colour. Don’t be afraid of going OTT with this look as the aesthetic of Y2K returns.”
In another reflection of the early 2000s, Rebecca Small, Marketing Manager Beauty at Hiro Brands, says bronzed faces with a natural glow, glossy lips, liquid blush and eyeshadow, and colour splashes will be all the rage this season.
She points to “bright corals and berries for a modern take on the early-2000s trend”.
A colour splash will be the essential beauty item this season “to match your mood for the day”, she adds.
“Experiment with colour and mix and match,” Ms Small said. “Be sure to use a tubular mascara, especially on the hotter days for a ‘no-panda-eye’ look.”
While colour and sparkle are in, Ms Hutson adds that we can also expect to see more natural looks in spring and summer with the ‘no makeup’ makeup look likely to trend. She says the season will be all about “achieving flawless, glowy skin without the look of heavy makeup”.
“The barefaced fresh look is best achieved with cream-based cosmetic products such as cream blushes and highlights, which we’re seeing many brands continually launch to the market as we enter the spring/summer season,” she said.
The ’no makeup’ look
Addressing the natural side of beauty, Ms Hutson says customers will be increasingly concerned about the impacts that inflammation (and an inflammatory lifestyle) has on skin and beauty.
“More people are becoming aware and educated about the anti-inflammatory aspect of life, and that inflammation [can] trigger problems with our skin,” she said.
“We’ll find that people will start to move away from heavy skin care products such as acid peels and medicated treatments as they become aware of the [possible] longer-term side effects.”
She notes that people are moving towards more natural skincare options to support their skin health and strengthen their skin’s barrier.
The essentials
Maintaining healthy glowing skin is important in all seasons, and in spring/summer this becomes more of a focus, especially when it comes to preventing sun damage.
“Sunscreen is by far the most important product for spring and summer,” Ms Jones said.
“Of course, it’s important all year round, but this time of year we spend more time outside enjoying the sunshine. So, remember to protect yourself every single day with sunscreen – it helps to reduce the risk of skin cancer, sunburn and ageing [signs].”
Ms Hutson agrees, underscoring the importance of sunscreen, especially in the warmer months.
“The importance of sunscreen is undebatable [as it plays an important role in] shielding our skin from harmful UV rays and the consequent damage and risk of skin cancer,” she said.
“Applying daily can help minimise the signs of ageing, such as dark spots, pigmentation and even wrinkles.”
Long, hot, steamy spring/summer days can sometimes leave you feeling as if your makeup is melting off. To combat this, Ms Jones suggests another essential item to have in your bag: a “good setting spray”.
“Setting spray is a great way to help the longevity of your makeup on hot days and for big events without adding more heavy layers,” she said. “It can also help reduce the appearance of any cakey base makeup and reduce oiliness throughout the day.”
Assisting your customers
While plenty of stores, physical and online, offer comprehensive makeup ranges, one place that will always stand out in the crowd when it comes to beauty products and tailored advice is retail pharmacy.
So, how can you help your customers achieve the latest beauty look this season?
Ms Jones says knowledge is key.
“Attend as many training sessions as you possibly can, speak with every brand representative you see and ask them about their new products,” she said.
“Even if you think you know everything about the product, there’s no harm in hearing about it straight from the source. Don’t be shy to ask for samples from your reps as well. The best advice you can give to a customer is from trying the product yourself.”
Ms Small says the beauty product knowledge of pharmacy assistants is important for a business to retain customers.
“Know the new product releases and how to apply them to different coloured skins and age groups,” she advised.
“Ask questions to understand which products best suit each individual. Customisation and product knowledge are key.”
While product knowledge is vital, Ms Hutson says, listening to what your customer wants is also important.
“When working with customers to help them achieve the latest beauty trends or looks, it’s important to listen to the journey they want to take,” she said.
“By doing this, you can understand what each specific customer is looking for on their beauty path, and easily recommend the products that will work great for them – for the end goal they want to achieve.”
This feature was originally published in the September issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine.
