Trends

Jade Kisnorbo’s top 5 discoveries from Asia’s biggest beauty expo

10 April, 2023 . 0

Beauty expert Jade Kisnorbo shares her top insights from Cosmoprof Asia, one of the industry’s biggest trade shows.

Beauty trends come and go, but what stays the same is the passion of those in the business to keep exploring new ways to help people look and feel their best.

Beauty trade shows like Cosmoprof Asia bring together thousands of experts, innovators, game-changing products and emerging trends under one roof – and I was lucky enough to attend the 2022 event in Singapore.

My biggest takeaway from the event? There’s so much more to the industry than beauty products.

Here are five eye-opening things I discovered at Cosmoprof Asia:

Plump skin is where it’s at

I love a glowy skin finish, so it was great to learn plump, supple skin is predicted to trend this year.

Unlike other skin finish trends, plump skin is less focused on make-up and centres more on skincare and using nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

Not only does ultra-hydrated skin give a more youthful glow, it can also help to protect and repair the skin barrier – almost mimicking the effects of fillers and injectables.

As global beauty analyst Heloise Lefebvre Du Prey says: “Asian beauty is becoming increasingly focused on dermatologist-backed skincare because more and more consumers have extremely sensitive skin and they are looking for a very efficient result.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Melbourne Hair & Makeup Artist (@claire_imakeup)

Dopamine colours have found a place in beauty

Post-pandemic fashion trends have embraced vibrant colour and patterns, and now we’re seeing the maximalist trend trickle into beauty.

I met Michael Nolte, the ultimate beauty insider who creates “beauty streams” to help connect the dots between consumer behaviour and what’s happening in art and design.

“After seasons of muted, soft colours, we’re now shifting to dopamine shades that are vibrant, colourful and make you happy,” Michael says.

“We’ve seen this trend happen in interior design and fashion, and now we’re seeing it in beauty.”

Sustainability is beautiful in the beauty world

Sustainability was a prominent theme at Cosmoprof Asia. Fitting, given it was held in the greenest, cleanest city in the world.

Product innovation is helping to not only make sustainability the norm, but also fun.

One of the most popular sustainable concepts at the expo was refillable mascara, which is already taking off in Asian markets.

There’s also been an increase in plant-based products such as 100 per cent biodegradable false lashes.

Re-Sources.co founder Eva Lagarde says there are other ways the beauty industry can become more sustainable.

“Originally the beauty industry didn’t really factor in sustainability, but now consumers and brands realise that it requires effort from both sides,” Eva says.

Eva says most carbon emissions from the average beauty product actually come from the consumer, so the onus really falls on all of us to take a more active role in off-setting our beauty carbon footprint.

Traditional and science-based skincare work together beautifully

Beauty lovers in Asia have always valued traditional Chinese medicine in skincare and now emerging brands are incorporating that with science-based ingredients to reap the benefits of both.

“It’s great to see traditional beauty combined with scientific innovation,” Heloise says.

“More brands are incorporating traditional Chinese medicine practices with dermatologist-backed skincare.”

There’s now a mask for everything – yes, everything

Self-care has shifted to the body, with a variety of exfoliating scrubs and hydrating mask treatments on show.

No area of the body is forgotten, with sheet masks for the chest and butt regions becoming surprisingly common.

I’ve always appreciated a good sheet mask in my self-care routine as they allow ingredients to penetrate the skin quicker and more effectively, but who would have thought you could get masks for your belly or even your butt?

More from Jade Kisnorbo:

Written by Jade Kisnorbo with Charlotte Brundrett.