Skin Care Trends: What’s New and What To Avoid

Skin care continues to rise to the top of social media newsfeeds. But times are changing — and so are the trends. Aesthetician Ashlyn Yanke shares the latest noteworthy news around popular skin care strategies — and one behavior you should consider avoiding.

Skin brightening

When it comes to lightening and brightening dark spots, vitamin C serums remain supreme as a popular trend. Yanke suggests using a vitamin C serum during the day on your face and neck or as a spot-treatment for hyperpigmentation. It also works best after using an exfoliating cleanser. Just don’t expect an immediate change in skin tone.

“Exfoliating your skin is important because it’s going to take off the dead skin cells on your face that have that darker pigment in it,” explains Yanke. “Vitamin C also helps protect you from any more pigmentation, as well as lighten what’s currently there.”

Skin barrier repair

Skin care isn’t just about achieving smoother, brighter skin. There’s also been a big push to strengthen the health of your skin barrier (or your skin’s outermost layer). That’s because it’s your body’s first line of defense against infection. To do that, you can:

• Use gentle, fragrance-free products that won’t damage or irritate your skin.
• Moisturize your skin regularly to keep it hydrated.
• Protect your skin by using a broadband sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher daily.

“If you have a damaged skin barrier, you want to start with a gentle cleanser,” advises Yanke. “If you have dry skin, applying a moisturizer that contains a hydrating serum, like hyaluronic acid, can help revitalize your skin.”

Ceramides

People have started taking more notice of ceramides in skin care products, notably for their ability to strengthen the skin barrier. About 50% of your epidermis (the protective layer of your skin) is made up of these fats that bind skin cells together.

“Ceramides help protect your skin from environmental stressors and help prevent any moisture loss,” says Yanke. “The natural aging process and sun damage can break down collagen, which weakens the skin barrier. Ceramides help build that back up.”

Niacinamides

Niacinamides are great for strengthening your skin barrier, too. This type of vitamin B3 helps build keratin, a protein that makes your skin stronger and brighter. It’s been shown to:

• Reduce inflammation and skin irritation associated with acne and eczema
• Minimize the appearance of pores
• Prevent breakouts

“If you have more sensitive skin, niacinamide is a great option that helps the overall look and feel of your skin,” says Yanke.

Anti-aging treatments

If there’s one trend that isn’t going away anytime soon, it’s anti-aging treatments. Glycolic acid is one of the best facial acids that helps penetrate and exfoliate dead skin to reveal smoother, brighter skin underneath. Including it in your skin care routine, along with retinol in the evening, helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles. And in-office glycolic acid chemical peels can produce a wider range of improvements for issues like:

• Mild scarring
• Dark patches
• Age spots
• Acne

“A lot of people are concerned about aging,” notes Yanke. “It’s often the main issue people want to address and see the most results.”

Simple skin care

While there’s never been a shortage of skin care products and beauty regimens, there’s been a push to simplify the process across the board. Part of “skinimalism” revolves around the idea that the more products you use on your skin, the higher the chance you can irritate it or cause damage.

If you’re looking to start a simple skin care routine, Yanke recommends:

• Wearing sunscreen daily
• Using a mild cleanser in the morning and at night
• Using a daily moisturizer in the evening
• Avoiding harsh, irritating products that contain fragrances

The ‘skinification’ of products

Part of simplifying your skin care routine involves using fewer products. So, look for ones that contain more than one active ingredient to achieve multiple results. The trend of “skinification” has led to the creation of beauty products like primers and foundations that incorporate things like moisturizers and serums. The goal: to minimize the over-use of products while revitalizing your skin at the same time you maintain appearances.

“There are tinted moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid or sunscreen, so you get that two-in-one protection for your skin,” says Yanke. “If you’re going to use new products, though, I highly recommend doing a skin test first to make sure you don’t have a reaction to it.”

A skin test involves putting on just a small amount of product onto one area of your skin to see how well you tolerate it. If you break out in a rash or your skin gets irritated, you know the product isn’t right for you. But if you don’t show any negative signs or symptoms, it’s probably safe to scale up the amount you’re using until you reach a normal dose.

“It also helps to bring any new products you want to try to your dermatologist before using them,” suggests Yanke.

Probiotic and postbiotic skin care

The topical probiotic trend has been taking off for a few years now. Studies show probiotics can help balance the pH level of your skin by supporting healthy levels of “good” bacteria. The result: It may help manage certain skin conditions, like:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Acne
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea

There are also postbiotic skin care products on the market that rely on the use of:

• Enzymes
• Peptides
• Proteins
• Short-chain fatty acids

These byproducts left behind by bacteria are meant to strengthen your skin barrier and support your skin’s natural microbiome.

While there may be some usefulness to working these into your skin care routine, Yanke emphasizes that you shouldn’t put anything on your skin without a dermatologist’s approval — especially if you’re trying to treat a skin condition.

“It’s always good to consult your dermatologist if you have any skin care concerns, especially if you have a history of skin conditions or sensitive skin,” she says. “You don’t want to risk using a product that’s going to worsen your symptoms or create new symptoms.”

Avoiding AI and social media advice

ChatGPT and other AI tools can be helpful, but when it comes to providing skin care advice and beauty regimens, Yanke says it’s best to steer clear of them and social media influencers.

For starters, everyone’s skin reacts differently to a variety of products — and if you have a history of skin conditions, inflammation or irritation, it becomes ever more important to get your skin evaluated by a trained professional. Just like you should be cautious with anything you see on the internet, you should take online health advice for skin care and other health-related issues with a grain of salt.

“It’s important to really get to know and understand your skin type,” stresses Yanke. “We can help answer any questions you have and advise you on where you should take extra precautions.”