Unlike makeup trends, 2020 skincare trends aren’t really about the latest look but the latest technology. Scientists and skincare brands spend millions of dollars researching on the best products and techniques to fight everything from acne to ageing, and sometimes they find a star ingredient or they discover a new way of improving the way our skin absorbs it. Either way, the consumers win: our products work better, and our skin looks amazing.

Here are some of the top 2020 skincare trends and how to incorporate them into your daily skincare routine.

Eco-friendly skincare products

With climate change and the growing movement for Clean, Green Living, it’s not surprising that customers are actively looking for beauty products that won’t hurt the environment. We’ll see more brands that use minimal packaging, refilling counters, and beauty tools like reusable cotton pads.

By the way: most sheet masks, makeup remover wipes and exfoliating pads are not biodegradable. We hope we see more brands that use sustainable or recyclable materials! (Check out our list of eco-friendly makeup wipes in Singapore, and shop for beauty tools from the Sustainability Project.)

Streamlined beauty routines

The minimalist trend is sweeping into skincare, with more women looking for shorter routines and less steps (like Orbis U — read our thorough review!) or products with less ingredients and no-frills packaging (like The Ordinary and Huxley).

Ampoules

Many skincare ingredients are sensitive to sun and heat. This includes Vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid, and natural products that don’t contain preservatives. Their effectivity drops when they’re not stored properly — and most of us leave them in moist bathroom counters where they deteriorate really quickly.

Single-use ampoules are only exposed to air and light when you’re ready to use them, and you always get the recommended amount each time.

Blue light protection

The last few years, skincare brands have been paying a lot of attention to skin damage caused by environmental hazards like pollution. But new research has revealed another skin hazard: Blue Light.

Blue light is emitted by the sun and gadgets like phones, computer screens, and even light bulbs. Recent research has found that it can damage collagen and speed up ageing.

Some of the best sunscreens already offer Blue Light protection, like Beyond Sun Protection sunscreen, Murad City Age Defense sunscreen, and Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Defense. Beyond Sun Protection blocks 54% of blue light — the highest protection currently available.

Cream skin

Charlotte Cho, founder of Sokoglam, says one of the big Korean skincare trends is “cream skin”. This refers to products with a light, milky texture that acts as both a toner and a moisturizer.

“It is watery, but it’s enough to moisturize your skin,” she says. Some of the biggest Kbeauty brands like Hanskin and Laneige have launched cream skin products that balance the skin PH and hydrate without clogging pores. Sounds like a 2020 skincare trend that’s perfect for the Singapore climate!

Electrolytes

Yup, the stuff in your sports drinks may be one of the biggest 2020 skincare trends. Cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson says that calcium, potassium, and magnesium can work together to hydrate your skin. New York dermatologist Dendy Engelmen also says that magnesium can even help acne and skin disorders, and improve cell functions. There’s also research that it can help acne!

Drunk Elephant has just launched an electrolyte skincare product, F Balm, which helps skin look dewy and radiant.

Centella Asiatica / Cica

Remember when everyone got obsessed about snail mucus? Well, there may be a similar buzz around centella asiatica (called cica in South Korea).

This year we saw the popularity of ingredients such as centella asciatica (known in South Korea as cica) boom. “I think ingredients that can help take care of people’s skin — which tends to weaken due to increased stress and frequent skin irritations caused by modern lifestyles and the modern environment — will continue to attract attention,” says Kate Kwon, Director of Amorepacific Brand Science Lab. (AmorePacific is one of Korea’s biggest beauty giants, with brands like Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Mamonde, and Hera.)  

According to Kwon, “The Cica ingredient, which helps regenerate the skin, will continue to be a big focus, and so will adaptogens (such as ginseng) which help adapt to and boost immunity in stressful environments.” The ingredient is already in their Mamonde Red Energy serum.