6 Slow Beauty Trends In 2022

As we enter the new year, you may be surprised to hear that we actually are looking FORWARD to 2022! Slow beauty shows no sign of stopping as we go into the new year, and as we say goodbye to 2021, we’re excited for the slow beauty trends breaking out onto the scene for 2022. 

Waterless formulas

Let’s be honest: no one wants a watered-down product. Why can’t we just focus on the good stuff? 

Waterless beauty products  opt for cream, wax, or jelly-based formulas that are more concentrated (and therefore, last way longer!). Not only do you get MORE product in a smaller, sleeker package, but you can also save on copious shipping and packaging costs. (As it turns out, water can be pretty heavy!) 

Waterless beauty products give back to the environment, as well. Having a smaller, more efficient product lowers the product’s overall carbon footprint. Manufacturers can also rely on more eco-friendly preservatives that keep bacteria at bay without water in the mix. 

Zero-waste packaging

If you’re like us, tossing out a plastic bottle probably breaks your heart. Think of all the plastic (or even glass!) bottles that you’ve thrown out in your lifetime. Multiply that by a few billion people, and it’s not hard to see how all those beauty packaging materials add up fast. 

In the slow beauty industry, zero-waste packaging is quickly becoming a fan favorite. This means using recyclable, biodegradable, reusable, and no-frill packaging that ultimately leaves no trace. Zero-waste packaging helps close that nasty, wasteful loop that so many companies fall into in the name of convenience. 

When you order a product, the first thing you see is the packaging. What does that packaging say about that product (and that brand) as a whole? For brands that embrace zero-waste packaging, they’re telling customers “we think of the details, and we believe they matter.” 

Multi-use products

Skincare has stepped more into the spotlight this year, but a lot of people get stuck on those 1o to 12 step routines. They’re expensive, complicated, and hard to keep track of. 

In 2022, we’ll see some love for simplified skincare routines that are nice on your skin, your schedule, AND your wallet. The easiest way to simplify your routine is to incorporate products that serve multiple functions at once. You can find products that tone, tighten, brighten, clarify, cleanse, hydrate, and more! 

Zero tolerance for greenwashing antics 

Of all the things we’re leaving behind in 2021, greenwashing is definitely at the top of the list. We don’t want cheap placations from our beauty brands: we want real, effective change. 

This year, consumers are cutting to the chase: we don’t want vague “made with recycled materials” or “green” or “naturally-based”. We want the kind of change that matters, which can be uncomfortable. 2022 is the year where brands need to put their money—and their messaging—where their mouth is. 

Diverse and inclusive brands

We’ll be frank here: you simply CAN’T be eco-friendly without also being inclusive. Caring for our environment is a community-centric endeavor, so if we’re not helping everyone, we’re not helping anyone. 

This is an especially contentious topic in the beauty industry due to manufacturers’ aggravating exclusion of people of color from their marketing focus. 

Sometimes, these companies start in product development (for example, including a variety of darker foundation shades). Other times, it starts in production by focusing on locally-sourced materials and anti-exploitation labor laws. And finally, sometimes beauty brands make the most difference by representing all body types and cultures in their marketing. Customers want to be seen and heard!

Artisanal creation

In a consumerist market where bigger ends up not being better, some slow beauty brands are making the radical shift away from large batch manufacturing (kettles that hold thousands of pounds of mass product!). Large batch manufacturing leads to more variability (and with it, lower quality standards) in the resulting product.

Some sow beauty brands have embraced the artisanal approach instead. They focus on creating small batches, laborious but handmade processes, and lovingly crafted products that use the cleanest, ethically-sourced ingredients). 

Under this model, each batch is slowly created similar to that of couture fashion. Artisans spend years perfecting their artwork, and it was no different for the creation of BLOOM and products to come!

More to come?

How does the Dew Mighty team know about these 2022 trends? Simple: we’re living them! Slow beauty doesn’t need to be behind the times; if anything, we should be leading the way for people to find easier, accessible, affordable self-care while still being good stewards to our planet. 

Call us optimists, but we think these trends are only the beginning. 2022 has just begun, and that means there’s plenty of time for the slow beauty industry to show the world what we got.