6 Spring 2022 Skincare Trends to Try This Season: Slugging, Light Therapy and More
The beauty consensus is in: nourished, minimalistic skin is having a major moment this spring. From products like lightweight moisturizers and healing retinol body lotions, to TikTok trends like slugging and light therapy, no skincare technique is off the table.
And since you've likely been investing more in your skincare than ever before — especially while dealing with the brisk, often dry winter temperatures of the last few months — a spring skincare refresh feels like the perfect opportunity to embrace the new (thankfully warmer) season, and tap into some of the year's biggest beauty trends while you're at it.
Whether you're the type of person to go all-in with spring cleaning each year or not, there's no doubt that cleaning out a cluttered beauty drawer or closet is always worth the time — especially when it leaves you with more space for a new arsenal of products.
Just as you would transition your wardrobe from winter to spring, adjusting your skincare routine for the changing seasons is a natural shift. And for anyone who spent the coldest days of the year layering up on thick, protective creams — the jump to lighter products (like face oils, fresh lip balms and dewy moisturizers) will be a welcome one.
Not sure what to add to your updated spring beauty routine? The ET Style team has pulled together the very best spring skincare trends and accompanying products to try in the new season — along with a few dermatologist recommendations, as well. From icy skin-sculpting tools and clarifying face oils that lock in moisture, to nourishing SPF remedies for dry skin and celeb-loved light therapy technology, there are so many fun (often TikTok- and Hollywood-approved) beauty products and skincare trends that will help to take your spring beauty routine from good to great.
Check out the six best spring skincare trends and products to try this season — from slugging to light therapy, body retinol lotion, lightweight moisturizer staples and more.
Spring "Skinimalism"
This season, less is definitely more. While 15-step skincare routines and products jam-packed with ingredients were once believed to be the keys to radiant, glowing skin, TikTok's skinimalism trend says otherwise — arguing that a more stripped back approach, comprised of "multitasking products," is both easier on the skin and far more sustainable too.
SkinCeuticals — the brand behind one of the most popular, beauty lover-adored serums on the market — has a new Vitamin C serum with salicylic acid to add to your spring skincare routine. This product is said to help with early breakouts and prevent future ones from happening. What could be better than that?
Korres' one-step cleanser works away any makeup that's typically tough to get off. And, because it's a soap-free cleanser, it'll clean up clogged pores and leave you with fresh skin without stripping away your natural oils. In other words, there won't be any drying out with your new spring skincare practice.
Slugging
In the case of weird and wonderful skincare trends, slugging certainly tops the list. As with most of TikTok's viral beauty techniques though, the skincare hack falls on a spectrum. There's the extreme: see skin-tingling videos of snails crawling on people's faces for proof. And then there's the real, more achievable: smothering the face with an emollient cream (such as Vaseline) as the slimy (yet surprisingly hydrating) final step in your skincare routine.
"While slugging is trending on social media and seems like a new skincare hack, it's not a new practice," says Dr. Anar Mikailov, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and Founder of KP Away. "Medical professionals have been recommending slugging, or applying a thin layer of an ultra-occlusive product — typically 100% petrolatum on your skin — for extremely sensitive or eczema prone skin, after surgical procedures, skin rashes, or cosmetic lasers and injections to promote skin healing."
@ctabone#greenscreen#skincare#nighttimeskincare#sluggingwithvaseline#slugging#skincarehacks#salicylicacid#foryou#fyp#foryoupage♬ original sound - Product Test By Celeste
Body Retinol
A truly great skincare routine aims to nourish all skin on the body — not just the face. With spring just around the corner, that means the season of sleeveless tops and other skin-baring styles is almost here. With the help of body retinols and retinol body lotions, you can target everything from fine lines and wrinkles to body acne and hyperpigmentation more easily — regardless of where it falls on the skin.
Skincare Tools: Light Therapy and Cryotherapy
If you're going to cultivate an effective skincare routine, you're going to need more than just a solid serum or toner — and skincare tools like light therapy or cryotherapy products have emerged as some of the best solutions to breathe new life into your skin this spring. From celeb-loved skincare wands to cooling sculpting tools and even popular micro-current technologies (hi, NuFACE), there are plenty of fresh skincare tools worth trying this season.
@rachelrigler Will it work? 😳🤔 Product is currently link in my insta story! #skincare#solawave#redlighttherapy#advancedskincarewand♬ original sound - Rachel Rigler
SPF Staples
SPF might not be a cure-all for eliminating fine lines and wrinkles, but it does help to protect the skin from sun damage in the longterm. Besides SPF-infused moisturizers and other beauty products, a solid SPF or sunscreen is a must-have in any daily skincare routine for spring and beyond.
Lightweight Moisturizers
After a long winter season (likely chock-full of heavy creams and extra-nourishing serums that target dry, cracked skin) the return of more airy, delicate and lightweight moisturizers is a very exciting prospect. Moisturizers are essential in any spring skincare routine for extra nourishment and, of course, moisture.
"Moisturizers are emulsions of humectants, which attract water to hydrate skin; emollients, which create a smooth surface providing cohesion; and occlusives, which form a physical barrier to reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL)," says Dr. Anar Mikailov, MD, FAAD. "Lightweight moisturizers are formulated with more humectants than occlusives to give it that lightweight, hydrating feeling while still hydrating and moisturizing the skin effectively."
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