My Skincare Hopes for 2024

PSST: This blog post is also in video format! www.youtube.com/@beautyinbalancebyjmb

2023 was a bit wild for me, especially as an aesthetician. Due to the clean girl aesthetic and glazed donut skin, many people were aiming for perfection with their skin, which just isn’t realistic. Don’t get me wrong, I think that the clean girl aesthetic can be fun and is something that most people can make work for them, but if you are aiming for that flawless look it isn’t necessarily doable for everyone. My hope for 2024 overall is that it is the year where we accept our skin again and love it at the place it is in. This doesn’t mean I don’t want to see proper skincare, but we can work towards our skincare goals while also being kind to ourselves.

Finding what works for you:

The rise of beauty influencers has really impacted the way people find skincare that works for them. Beauty influencers have been around for quite a while, however during 2020 there was what seems to be a steep increase in beauty influencers for obvious reasons. There has also been a shift in how brands are marketing their materials to consumers. Rather than using commercials there has been a shift towards influencer marketing, and all of this has made many beauty influencers move from relatable content to less relatable. This doesn’t mean that you need to stop following your favourite beauty influencer, just be aware of the fact that what they are doing for themselves may not be as accessible to you. Use influencers as a starting point to figuring out what works for you, don’t use them as the end goal! And don’t forget to give your skincare time to work, this often takes at least a month, however I typically recommend three months at the least.

Science based skincare:

In 2024 it would bee wonderful if we saw more skincare that was scientifically innovative rather than something that is following the trends. What do I mean by this? Often times brands will come out with products that are following the current skincare trends, which makes plenty of sense, a product is going to do better if it is something that is trending, however it would be nice if we also saw products that are uniquely developed, whether that is the feature ingredient, the delivery system, or just the combination of ingredients that is delivering a powerhouse product.

I would also really love to see more science backed treatments, but more specifically I want to see an increase in Health Canada/ FDA approved machines in treatment rooms. As far as finding an esthetician that is science based, make sure you are asking questions. Most estheticians should have a basic understanding of skincare science, so make sure to ask questions even if they are not marketing their websites towards science based treatments. The only time I would say there is potential for a red flag would be if the esthetician is not able to adequately answer any of your questions.

Less judgement:

There has been a lot of judgement around what people are choosing to use on their skin in the last year, I want to see that stop. The judgement that people are bringing towards skincare is going to make a lot of people not want to look into what is best for their skins needs purely because they are afraid of being judged or feel that they cost is way too high. We do not need to be dropping $200 on one product in order to have healthy skin! If you are looking to drastically change your skin, you will likely need the more expensive products, however if you are looking to just keep your skin healthy, you do not need to spend a small savings on your skincare every month.

Let’s stop judging everyone.

Skin Neutrality:

It started with body positivity and neutrality, let’s use this same concept for our skin! In The Skin Nerd by Jennifer Rock the concept of skin neutrality is discussed as a way to accept the state that your skin is currently in while also working towards your skincare goals. You don’t need to hate your skin in order to make changes to it. It would be lovely to see more people accepting the way that their skin currently is while working towards their skincare goals and removing the emotional aspect from it. In some cases emotions may always be there, especially if it is an insecurity other people have criticized, but learn to at least be kind to yourself when you look in the mirror.

Let’s make skincare a ritual!

In 2020 everyone learned how to slow down a bit and made rituals of everything from their morning coffee to their evening routines! As the world has started to speed back up many people have let those rituals go. In 2024 I would like to see some of those rituals come back, let’s make skincare enjoyable! It doesn’t have to take up hours of your time to be a ritual. Some of the best ways you can make skincare a ritual is in making it your you-time. No disturbances, and ensuring you love every part of the process. Light a candle, watch your favourite show, or listen to your favourite podcast while you wind down from your busy day!

Body care:

Your skin doesn’t stop at your neck and your skincare shouldn’t either! Many brands have come out with amazing body care products including exfoliators, body washes, and lotions that target specific skincare concerns. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money on your body care, but the next time you are shopping for skincare take a look at the body care items and see if there is anything that would work for you!

As always this list is not a do’s and don’ts list for 2024. Take what you want and leave the rest.

Have an amazing week!