FACE THE FUTURE

FROM TRENDING INGREDIENTS TO FORWARD-THINKING FORMULAS, HERE'S WHAT'S NEW IN THE SKINCARE WORLD

- LAURA MULLEY

September feels like a time for new beginnings: schools have started again, the next series of Strictly is just around the corner – and there are plenty of new beauty products on the shelves to get excited about.

Of course, the classic skincare staples still remain. You should still wear SPF every day, and hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and retinol aren’t going anywhere. Your current products aren’t now irrelevant, and please do stick with what’s working well for your skin.

This is more to highlight what you’ll be seeing more of in the shops, decipher some complicated words and maybe impress your skincare-savvy pals with your beauty knowledge. Here’s what you need to know…

MELANIN IN MIND

Lots of products claim to be suitable for all, but most clinical trials are still only done on light skin tones, even though darker skin has physiological differences that should be taken into account.

“Skin phototypes IV, V and VI on the Fitzpatrick scale have a denser stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis) and a less stable skin barrier, causing sensitivity and moisture loss. This means skin needs deeper hydration,” says Noelly Michoux, founder of 4.5.6 Skin. “Also, when darker skin is irritated it produces extra melanin to protect these areas, leading to hyperpigmentation.”

We’ve recently seen the welcome introduction of more skincare brands specifically taking the needs of melanin-rich skin into consideration (like the below), so when shopping, look for evidence of product testing carried out on a range of skin tones.