It used to be that beauty trends were mostly dictated by the all-powerful cosmetics industry, but no longer. Thanks to social media – especially Instagram and TikTok – its beauty influencers who dictate the trends of tomorrow, and in 2022, they are at the forefront of the industry-wide drive towards healthy skin, aesthetic inclusivity, and sustainable products.

Beauty in 2022 is all about self-expression. Bold makeup, bright colours, and striking geometric patterns dominate, as the beauty world emerges from lockdown with a bang. If you want to follow current beauty trends, here are a few to explore.

Statement eyes

The trend for bold, powerful eye makeup emerged with the onset of COVID, to make the most of the area of the face visible above a mask. It’s a testament to the strength of the trend that it shows no signs of slowing even as we leave lockdown behind.

This trend is not for the faint of heart. Dramatic eyeliner in all colours of the rainbow – from chunky black to neon blue and green – combined with the brightest shadows are used to express a shameless individuality.

Experiment with different shapes and shades. Perhaps you favour mixed pastels, or a rebellious asymmetry. Combining a bold eye with another growing trend for bleached eyebrows could create an even more dramatic, extra-terrestrial look.

Bold lips

If bold eyes are dominating the beauty world, our lips are following suit.

After years of hiding our mouths behind masks, its time to take joy in making your lips as big, bold and juicy as possible. Overly sticky lip-gloss lips, a vampy red pout, or a grunge-inspired burgundy smear are just a few ways to show your lips some love, whether you’re headed to a nightclub or a morning meeting.

Work with the undertones of your skin to discover whether you favour warmer or cooler tones.

Redefined masculinity

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a gradual broadening in how masculinity is defined and perceived, with the male-marketed beauty industry expected to generate over $81 billion in 2024.

Male celebrities are at the forefront of this hopefully long-term trend, with everyone from Harry Styles to Daniel Kaluuya to Machine Gun Kelly openly wearing nail polish, foundation, and eyeshadow.

More brands are now offering makeup and beauty ranges specifically for men, which are expected to become staples of the average man’s beauty regime, including products for removing dead skin cells, and matte foundation for a natural-looking, radiant glow.

Organic beauty

Clean, healthy skin never goes out of style, and a growing awareness of what chemicals are used in our beauty products has led to a dramatic increase in demand for organic, microbiome skincare.

Serums and cleaners featuring pre- and pro-biotic additions intended to rebalance and strengthen the skin are set to play a big part in the beauty industry in the coming months and years.

The market for ‘Clean Beauty’ is already huge in Korea (the trendsetter for skincare), and innovative start ups working with organic materials like coffee extract, maple tree bark, and blueberry extract are opening across Europe.

Cosmetic treatment

Cosmetic treatment is not a trend that has suddenly sprung up in the last few years, but as beauty in 2022 is all about shameless self-expression, conversations around cosmetic procedures, both non-invasive and surgical, have become more commonplace and less taboo.

No longer is getting laser treatment, fillers, a nip here, or a tuck there, seen as a dirty secret, or as somehow cheating. If you want a cosmetic procedure, such as those offered by London’s Centre for Surgery, then book a consultation.

You can be beautiful and fashionable without cosmetic treatment, but it may provide you with the confidence to embrace the bold beauty trends of the future.