We do love a good prediction at the start of a new year, and diving into the 2023 beauty forecast is sure to be more upbeat than any Nostradamus doom-mongering. So what does the world have in store for our faces this year, and can it (please) be a little more sensible than hours spent “mewing” at the mirror?

Luckily the answer is yes, according to skincare guru and clinic founder Lesley Reynolds, aka the Queen of Harley Street. She’s picked out some of the biggest emerging trends, from game-changing formulas and filter-faking cosmetics to smart skincare products that give out the right messages to the world.

And while we’ll take gloomy mediaeval fortune-telling with a pinch of salt, these beauty predictions are all ones that can definitely come true. We've taken Lesley's forecast and picked out some hot new ways to jump on the trends, ensuring your regime is at the cutting edge for 2023.

We predict you'll want to invest in these hot beauty trends for 2023

Health signalling

This is a term we’ll be hearing a lot in 2023, says Lesley. “Skincare that creates a lit-from-within glow, indicating that we’re in good health, will be top of our wish-list. Central to this will be products to calm sensitivity caused by stress, whether that’s the ever-rising cost of living, overuse of aggressive skincare ingredients or escalating pollution.” So expect a boom in microbiome skincare using prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics to strengthen sensitive skin while boosting radiance.

OK! beauty team pick: Calming skincare specialist Avène has just introduced Tolerance Hydra-10 Hydrating Cream, £18 here, which boosts the microbiome while plumping with hyaluronic acid. Or for a luxury option, Avant has a new microbiome-focused Sensitive line (out 10 Jan) which includes a Probiotics Micro-Biota Fortifying Sensitive Face Serum, £92, with marshmallow root to increase moisture retention for a fresher look.

Skincare to make your complexion glow with health will be huge for 2023

The new naturals

2023 will be all about reconnecting with nature, says Lesley. “This is set to spill over into beauty, with a boom in waterless formulas, and more brands using reclaimed, plant-derived and refillable packaging. The ‘nature-identical’ trend is gaining momentum too. This involves creating synthetic ingredients that have the same makeup as natural products in a bid to respect and protect the environment.”

OK! beauty team pick: We Are Concentrate is a new eco hair brand that aims to use as little water as possible. Its waterless shampoo and conditioner, £14 each here, come in paste form, to which water is added from your own shower. The products are also lighter than those containing water and therefore more eco-friendly to transport, and are produced using a ‘closed-loop water system’ that saves 30,000 litres of water per year. And yes, they make hair look great too!

We Are Concentrate promises to make your haircare regime more planet-friendly

Blurring the lines

Lesley predicts that a crackdown on the use of over-the-top social media filters will see a resurgence in skin-blurring cosmetics. ‘Fake-looking face-distorting filters are out,” she says. “Instead we’ll be turning to make-up that mattifies skin, smooths lines and refines pores to give us better selfies.”

OK! beauty team pick: e.l.f.’s range of Putty Primers is an internet sensation, and the latest addition to the line-up – C-Bright Putty Primer, £12 here – has already racked up hundreds of five star reviews. The velvety formula blurs the look of pores and evens out skin tone, while niacinamide and 2% vitamin C gives a fresh-looking glow to the complexion.

Products like C-Bright Putty Primer give flattering, filter-like results for real

Hi-tech below the neck

The body care category will seriously up its game for 2023, using actives normally found in facial care. “Skin on the body suffers the same problems as the face – think falling collagen production, loss of elasticity, dryness and acne,” Lesley explains. “It makes sense that our bodies will benefit from key actives such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C to boost hydration and keep skin supple and toned. AHAs such as glycolic and salicylic acid will be built into body care to tackle spots and scaly patches, while body lotions with anti-ageing retinol will help restore a youthful plumpness.”

OK! beauty team pick: Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum, £34 here, uses this trending B vitamin to give a glow from top to toe. It tackles rough and uneven skin texture, and shores up the skin barrier, leaving 87% of testers agreeing their skin felt smoother and 83% noting a less tight and flaky feel.

Treat your body to skin tech usually reserved for the face

Salon at home

Home treatments are here to stay, and they’re now advanced enough to take on the salon, says Lesley. “Key innovations include ever-more powerful face and body LED masks, such as Cellreturn, that encourage cell renewal for younger-looking skin. Other trends to look out for include sonic body smoothing brushes such as Forea Luna4 (£129 here), devices that stimulate and tone facial muscles for a lifting effect, and smart skin-analysing gadgets that measure the effectiveness of your topical products.”

Skincare gadgets are becoming more and more advanced

OK! beauty team pick: We’ve heard good things about the ZIIP device, £425 here – a favourite with Jennifer Aniston – which sends tiny electrical currents into the skin to tone the facial muscles and encourage your cells to repair themselves. “After a month my jawline appeared more taut and my cheekbones seemed lifted,” remarked our tester. “The big result for me was the glow. My skin looked like it had had a professional facial every day.” Read the full review here.

For more information on Lesley and her team of doctors visit Harley Street Skin Clinic here.

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By Editor