Returning to campus after summer break may bring back many feelings of nostalgia. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, going to the mall with your parents to buy new clothes and sneakers, and showing off your new backpack in the hallways. Sadly as adults, we don’t receive two glorious months free from responsibilities, but the change from summer to autumn still presents an opportunity to transform. The fall brings beauty, hair, and wellness trends that provide a palette of inspiration to switch up your look, test something new and perhaps, reshape your outlook.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Adrienne O’Connell is the medical director and president of Laguna Beach Aesthetics.
Shawnda Dorantes MSN, APRN, FNP-C is a beauty nurse practitioner and the founder of Beauty Lounge Medical Spa.
Denise Prichard, is a Mindbody + ClassPass wellness council member and certified yoga instructor.
Kelly Harrison is the brand manager for BIOTOP Professional.
Natasha Moor is a global makeup artist and founder and chief empowerment officer of Natasha Moor Cosmetics.
Hillary Schoninger is a licensed social worker and wellness influencer.
Michael Van Clarke is a London hairstylist and the founder of 3” More Inches Haircare.
Hannah Metz is a beauty expert.
Here we spoke with the experts across each of these industries to share their predictions for fall 2022:
Skincare with niacinamide and caffeine.
This generation reads labels more than ever. From the foods they consume to the products they keep in their bathroom, finding trusted ingredients is vital, says Dr. Adrienne O’Connell. As a result, she’s seeing two popular ingredients taking center stage this fall: niacinamide and caffeine.
“Niacinamide works to improve overall skin texture by rebuilding a lipid layer, minimizing the appearance of pores, and preventing UV damage and inflammation,” she explains. “Another proven ingredient is caffeine. You can think of what caffeine does for your skin for your soul… wakes it up. This antioxidant constricts blood vessels giving your skin that perked-up look.”
B12 vitamin shots.
While B12 vitamin shots tend to be more popular and commonplace in parts of Europe and even South Africa, they haven’t been as trendy stateside until now. Shawnda Dorantes MSN, APRN, FNP-C has experienced an influx of patients looking to opt for the therapeutic B12 Vitamin injections.
“These injections are great for fall because they can help with seasonal depression and weight gain and improve sleep patterns. In addition, vitamin B12 injections also increase energy levels, promote concentration, and boost the immune system. These are all wonderful benefits for the fall back-to-school season, as late-night study sessions are sure to be on the horizon for many students,” she says.
Additionally, Dorantes says receiving vitamin B12 via injection, as opposed to in a supplement form, increases its efficacy as the body more readily absorbs injected B12. If you’re interested, she suggests speaking with your primary care physician or visiting a reputable medical spa in your area.
Scalp care is taking its tips from skin care.
Sure, you know how to keep your hair healthy — but what about the foundation that helps it grow? This fall will be the season of the scalp, particularly after the typically damaging summer season, predicts Isabel Lazo, a beauty and wellness expert and the co-founder of Isa Lazo. “Scalp care is a trend that I see quickly becoming a staple. After all, a healthy scalp creates a better environment for healthy hair. New scalp products address everything from dandruff to hair loss with targeted formulas designed specifically for scalp skin,” she says.
Fewer products that do more.
After an era of 10-15-20-steps skincare routines, this fall, the trend is to get back to the basics with ‘skinimalism’ products that pack in the power, says Katya Bychkova, a beauty and style expert.
“The minimalist trend is not only about avoiding skincare overuse but also about switching to multi-tasking products. For example, think facial cleansers also contain skin soothing or exfoliating ingredients. Or 2-in-1 moisturizers with sunscreen,” she shares.
Another way to approach ‘skinimalism’ is by cleaning your bathroom and vanity drawers. “Instead of having ten crusty jars of serum that may have already expired, it’s the era of a few trusted-and-beloved products that are perfect for your particular skin type. Decluttering your skincare routine is a great trend to hop on in preparation for the back-to-school season as it helps streamline your routine and save time picking between too many options,” she says.
Microneedling is in demand.
As Lazo puts it, unfortunately, even if we used SPF all hot-girl summer, our skin can still look and feel a little weathered. So to give your pores the deep clean they need, Lazo says one trend gaining tons of popularity is Morpheus8.
“Morpheus8 combines deep microneedling with radio frequency to reach the deeper layers of skin for profound rejuvenation. It helps to induce collagen production too, so you can expect to see a brighter and tighter complexion. Each treatment uses different modalities to target different layers of the skin, creating a rejuvenated complexion. They can be costly and have some downtime, but the results can be well worth it,” she says.
Bangs are back.
If you have been toying with jumping on the bang trend, this could be your time, says Kelly Harrison. Why? She explains bangs haven’t been so popular in years. “Start with a long layered ‘curtain’ bang — lightly framing the face, heavy layers in the bang area to create a look that can be versatile and easy to manage. This look will also be easy to wear up or down, with long enough layers that can be swept back or let loose. In addition, curtain bangs can be a great way to change it up without too much commitment, making for an easy grow out,” she says.
Lipstick is a must-have again.
After two years of wearing a mask, lipstick sales are starting to rise again — and the shades are becoming more bold and colorful this fall, says Natasha Moor.
“Last year, when we wore lip colors, they were more muted in the orangey and brown families. But this year, coming out of summer, the trend will be bright pinks and deep reds. This trend will grow stronger and stronger from now into the holidays, and I see ombré lips on the horizon,” she says.
@bexcxmpbell Viral Ombré lip hack #liphack #makeuptiktok ♬ Talkin’ Bout (feat. Saweetie) – Loui
Unfollow what doesn’t bring you joy.
Going back to school (or work) is challenging, no matter what age. This is true for parents, children, and professionals who are meeting new people, going to the physical office for the first time in a while or even picking up a new hobby. And while it might seem like the time to welcome social media and ramp it up, the trend is actually to scale back this fall, says Hillary Schoninger. This year, it’s all about unfollowing what doesn’t bring you joy and filling your feed with people and accounts that boost your confidence and make you feel like yourself.
She suggests these habits this fall:
- Avoid comparison scrolling: your success is all that matters; focus on how great you can make this year for you.
- Seek posts that make you smile and laugh.
- Put your phone, iPad, etc., away at least an hour before bedtime and rest.
The ‘clean girl’ aesthetic.
Originated on TikTok and brought to the masses thanks to YouTube, the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic beauty trend is here to stay for the back-to-school season, Bychkova says. If you’re unfamiliar, this style looks like a model ‘off duty’: glowing skin, sleek hair, barely-there (but certainly there!) makeup, and minimalistic nails. “We’ve heard about these tricks before, but thanks to social media, this look has an official name,” she says.
To recreate this look, Bychkova says to consider these essential elements:
- Start with sleek hair: This could look brushed into a low bun or a ponytail and secured with a minimalist hair tie. “Finish with a light-hold hairspray to secure the look,” she adds.
- Lamination effect brows: Bychkova says this is the staple for creating the ‘clean girl’ look. “The trick is to brush your brows up first and then flatten the top line of your brow to create a more natural look with gel,” she says.
- Nude lipstick: Mandatory lip liner is the last essential. Find a hue that looks natural with your lip color, and get the matching liner.
Baby braids and half-up pigtails.
Baby braids are trending on TikTok — and one that many celebrities have worn recently, like Hailey Bieber, FKA Twigs, and Margot Robbie. Luckily, it’s an effortless hairstyle to wear with any color you have if you’re trying to keep it natural or emphasize lighter tones from balayage, says Michael Van Clarke.
“Typically, you do two braids but could do as many as you like. First, section the hair in a triangle from the part to the hairline — one inch and a half of hair — then do a classic braid to the cheekbone and tie with a clear band,” he says.
Another hit is any version of a half up half down style, but in particular, pigtails have really trended and are here to stay, Van Clarke says. “It’s the perfect effortless hair for the return to school. Just take a clean section from the top of the ear to the part and then repeat on the other side,” he continues. “Try versions where it turns into a bun or simply hangs down into a classic pigtail.”
Jewelry for the eyes.
Pops of metallic and embellishments are making the eyes the center of attention this fall. After the popularity of the show Euphoria, and the beautiful, trendy looks created on the cast, we’ve seen some of those trends make their way to both the fashion world and street style, explains Hannah Metz.
“This trend is what I like to call ‘jewelry for the eyes,’” she says. “For fun special events, such as a party, or music festival, you can recreate this look by using adhesive gemstones in the inner and outer corners of the eyes or across the crease for an embellished cut crease look. For every day, you can tone this down by doing pops of metallic shadows in the inner corner or on the center of the lid for some extra bling.”
Yoga and meditation are regaining momentum.
Each year, Mindbody presents its annual Wellness Index, a comprehensive study that surveys Americans on their current approach to self-care. This year, their research revealed that mental health was ranked as the most critical dimension of wellness. Because of the onus on balance and clarity, they predict meditation and yoga will rise in popularity again this fall.
Denise Prichard says we will continue to see an uptick in people seeking guided meditation experiences and related breath-work techniques to improve their overall mental health. “New practitioners will seek established teachers who can guide them or initiate them into a meditation practice, in-person or virtually,” she says.
Prichard also adds that practitioners will want to prioritize mental health again once the vacations and summer holidays are over. “In many ways, people will want to re-invent themselves, so we will see an uptick in practitioners trying out classes that they have not tried before. Practitioners will seek out traditional styles of yoga, like Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Vinyasa type yoga classes to establish a foundational practice. First-time practitioners will seek community with similar-minded individuals through their classes and aspire to integrate their lives with a steady yoga practice,” she says.
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