The 2023 Beauty Trends We Can’t Wait to Ditch in the New Year

What does a reset mean to you? Maybe it’s a clean slate or a chance to start fresh. Or perhaps it’s an opportunity to step into the best version of yourself. With 2024 quickly approaching, we’re motivated to craft our vision boards, make sweeping habit changes, and transform our lives. But the key to lasting, meaningful change starts before the clock strikes midnight on NYE. From Camille, I’ve learned that meaningful goal-setting starts with an intention. Who do we want to be in the new year? And to discover that, we have to be clear on who we are now. What are the things that serve us, and what are the things that don’t?

In the final days of 2023, I’ve been carrying this mindset into everything I do. It’s inspiring to see every task as a possible entry point for change. Decluttering my wardrobe is a promise to be a more stylish and sustainable person. Scavenging for leftovers in the fridge reminds me that my first grocery haul in 2024 will be a healthier one. And going through the motions of my skincare ritual begs the question: what 2023 beauty trends do I want to take with me into the new year—and which am I leaving behind?

Featured image from our interview with Babba Rivera by Belathée Photography.

2023 Beauty Trends: What We’re Taking Into the New Year

Beauty is such a fickle industry. Yet, it’s a significant part of many of our lives. I’ll always be navigating my relationship with my skin, hair, and overall wellness through the lens of ever-evolving beauty standards—but this doesn’t mean remaining at the mercy of the trend cycle. Some beauty trends offer inspiration while others provide fleeting entertainment before fading into obscurity. These are the 2023 beauty trends worth keeping—and those we’re leaving behind

Beauty Trends to Ditch

Barbiecore

Call it controversial, but it’s time to say “bye, Barbie.” It’s hard to think of any trend that defined 2023 more than this one. Barbie was a pop culture phenomenon that crossed into literally every sphere of our lives—fashion, beauty, nail trends, and even home decor. And while this fun, femme film will always be close to my heart, the trend has run its course. Pantone named Peach Fuzz 2024’s color of the year, and I’m excited to see this more subdued, retro hue take the crown from Barbie pink.

Concealer Lips

This millennial makeup trend has reared its head again thanks to Sofia Richie. And while some sources call the trend “chic,” the style guru’s beauty influence has raised red flags in the past. (Yes, styling your wet hair into a slick-backed bun will cause breakage.) Even though we’ve come a long way from the caked-on concealer lips of the early aughts, we’re still in favor of other lip trends—like brownie glazed lips and lip stains—that seem to be holding strong.

TikTok Microtrends

Speaking of viral beauty looks, I vote we let them have less influence in 2024. Beauty trends move too quickly to keep up with these days. Tomato girl? Cold girl? Cinnamon cookie butter? The hyper-specific beauty “cores” and food-likened trends are inspiring fodder for experimenting with different aesthetics, but keeping up with each new trend is exhausting. I vow to only try the trends that truly speak to me, instead of buying every viral product that comes across my feed.

Laminated Brows

Laminated brows offer an accessible alternative to expensive microblading treatments. They’ve been described as a longer-lasting version of soap brows. And here’s the thing: I actually still like these. But I’ve been burned by brow trends before. Whether it’s thick or thin brows, somehow we always look back on them with regret. So I say, keep it simple and ditch the brow trends in 2024.

Snail Mucin

Snail mucin has been a popular ingredient in K-beauty products for over a decade and it has finally reached the mainstream. Especially with the nascent popularity of slugging. But in the K-beauty landscape, snail mucin is out and vegan alternatives like bean essence and wild yam are in. Maybe these will make their way into the zeitgeist this year.

DIY Skincare

I’ve gotten into sea moss in my smoothies this year. (Thanks, Erewhon.) But, I’m so sorry, nothing will convince me to put it on my face, despite the alleged skin benefits. This is true for pretty much any potent ingredient. It’s time to put DIY skincare behind us. Luckily, you can get natural ingredients like probiotics, vitamin C, and even olive oil in skincare products instead of your pantry.

Buccal Fat Removal

You know a beauty trend is already dated when you can barely remember it. But no, you didn’t dream it—everyone really was obsessed with buccal fat removal this time last year. While this treatment might have inspired much talk and many headlines, we’ve pretty much already put it to bed. But we can carry the natural facial sculpting trend into 2024.

Beauty Trends to Embrace

All the Hydration

Slugging, skin milk, shea butter—this year was all about hydration. No matter your skin type, everyone is at risk for dehydrated skin. So topping up on hydrating ingredients is always a good idea. In 2023, there was a hydrating product for pretty much every step of your routine. And since adequate hydration leads to faster skin recovery, slower signs of aging, and smoother texture, I’m excited to see what 2024 brings.

Oils in Abundance

For too long, people with oily skin were afraid to delve into the world of facial oils. We were also told that oil products were bad for our hair. But 2023 normalized using oils everywhere. Hair oiling, oil cleansing, body oils, and facial oils should all be part of your routine—no matter your skin or hair type.

Retinol, Everywhere

Retinol is not as intimidating as it once was. And it’s creeping into more and more beauty products. Of course, I will always swear by tretinoin to improve skin texture and reduce inflammation. But now, there are so many options to help you start your retinol journey in 2024. Bakuchiol is a fave clean-beauty retinol alternative. And over-the-counter retinol creams make vitamin A easy on your skin. Even retinol body products are having a moment. If you didn’t start retinol this year, make it happen in 2024.

Baby Botox

Baby Botox, aka bite-sized Botox, is the practice of getting smaller injections of Botox for a more natural look. It’s also a good way for Botox beginners to ease into the process. With the rise of preventative Botox and Botox for wellness reasons like muscle tension, small doses of Botox have surprising uses. We’ll see more of them come to light in the new year.

Skinimalism

One of the buzziest skincare trends of 2023 wasn’t a product or a particular look. It was skinimalism: the art of doing less with your skin. After the ubiquity of 10-step skincare routines and the pressure to purchase every so-called miracle product, skinimalism is about slowing down and being intentional about what you put on your skin. The best skincare routine for you isn’t the same as anyone else’s, and skinimalism encourages a personalized, less but better mindset that we see continuing in 2024.

Embracing Aging

For so long, beauty products and treatments have been packaged up as a way for us to delay the inevitable. With that, came an element of shame—that if our skin showed any fine lines, wrinkles, or crow’s feet, we were doing it wrong. Thankfully, the conversation surrounding aging is in the process of shifting, and we’re beginning to see more skincare and makeup brands catering toward highlighting our features and helping us feel best in our own skin.

But rather than canceling our Botox appointments or skipping the eye cream, we’re connecting with the tools available to us in a way that’s empowering and dependent solely on how we want to show up in the world. Continuing into 2024, we’re trying the trends and products that resonate, and leaving whatever doesn’t. After all, what it means to age well is entirely up to you.