5 health & beauty trends predictions for 2022!

As 2021 is coming to an end and 2022 is looming on the horizon, it’s time to dust off our good old Booksy crystal ball and predict some health & beauty trends that will dominate the new year. 2021 was all about at-home skincare, religiously applied sunscreen, middle parts, soap brows and huge amounts of blush. What can we expect from 2022? Well, we spy with our little eye…

70s Blow Dry

Yes, Farah Fawcett was an icon. Yes, you probably best remember her image from Charlie’s Angels. Yes, her hair defied gravity. All of the above is true. In 2020 we’ve seen the rise of voluminous, shagged, layered hairstyles, inspired by either the 80s mullets or 90s shaggy bobs. Now there is a new hairstyle star rising – the 70s-inspired bouffant blowdry.

The middle part is absolutely necessary here, so if you did not hop on this trend earlier, this is your last call. The key to perfect 70s blowdry is pronounced, heavy curtain bangs and a lot of volume. If you want to recreate this look at home, you will need roller brushes, a lot of clips to clip every single curl up and even more patience. However, you can also ask your favourite stylist to provide you with the most fitting cut and then do the perfect 70s blow dry on your hair – Booksy, as always, is here to ensure that you can find the best hairstylists in your area ready to take your retro obsession to the next level!

Blue light skin protectors

Now you may say: whoa, hold your horses. Is blue light skin protection really a thing? Are we actually doing this? Is this an actual scientifically proven issue or are we just fueling fear-mongering marketing over something that has no definitive confirmation in science?

Blue light is part of the visible part of the light spectrum, similar in wavelength and intensity to ultraviolet. Its most common source in our lives is, well, the sun, but we also get some exposure from light bulbs and devices such as smartphones and computers. And while we actually know quite a bit about how ultraviolet light affects our skin (to make a long story short, can cause damage to its density and lead to hyperpigmentation, and in the worst-case scenario lead to skin cancer), there is no conclusive evidence that blue light is similarly damaging. What we know for sure is that even if it is proven that blue light is not the best for us, it’s not our daily usage of screens that is the real enemy here, but our good old friend the sun. The dose is completely incomparable – a casual walk on an average sunny day provides around 1000x more blue light exposure than sitting in front of a screen.

With all of that being said, many brands are already hopping on the bandwagon of promoting “digital protectors” or, at the very least, sunscreens that are advertised as not only protecting you from the UVA and UVB rays, but also from blue light and pollution damage. It’s up to you to decide whether or not to participate in this movement. It’s always good to do your own research and not follow any skincare trend blindly. The Booksy team recommends taking care of your sunscreen protection first and foremost… and taking a break from Instagram every now and then – not because of the blue light concerns, though!

A big comeback of in-salon facial treatments

As mentioned before, 2020 was most definitely a year of intensive at-home skincare. Depending on the person the effect varied – some of us found their perfect skincare routines and their skin condition is now better than ever, others fell victim to excessive usage of harsh products and are in need of professional help. Overuse of retinol and potent exfoliating acids is quite a common side effect of the skincare boom from the last two years. Pair it with a plague (forgive us this bit of black humour) of maskne and a longing to visit beauty salons and here you have it – a perfect environment for beauticians to thrive.

What kind of treatments are going to rule? Most definitely gentle, professional-grade peels that will help to rejuvenate the skin, micro-needling, microdermabrasion (a classic!) and a wide range of trendy services such as oxygen infusions, vitamin mesotherapy, collagen boosters or neuromodulators. If now you feel like you would really appreciate a nice session of relaxing facials, check out the best beauty salons in your area and enjoy the experience!

Pastel eye looks

Some makeup styles are classics that never go out of style – a neutral smokey eye is one example, cat-eye being another. They may come in different flavours, periodically changing shape, tone or intensity, but the baseline stays pretty consistent throughout the years. However, there are also makeup trends that are very distinct and characteristic for a particular period. When you think about the 90s, you picture brown lips lined with a darker shade and thin eyebrows. When you think about the 80s, you picture intense blush and cobalt eyeshadow. And when you think about the 60s, your mind goes straight to Twiggy, prominent bottom lashes, peppermint shades and graphic cut creases.

In 2022 eye looks are going to be heavily inspired by the 60s “mod makeup”, with the biggest emphasis on pastel colours. We are stepping back from the “foxy eye” trend to celebrate a more round and doll-like shape. The modern take on “mod makeup” is all about floating pastel colours contrasted with dark, wispy lashes and graphic lines. White, peppermint, turquoise and light blue are not your only shade options – everything pastel-y is approved, from blushed pinks to electric yellows. The idea for a truly outstanding eye look to welcome the New Year in? Pair the mod makeup shape with a fresh twist of an intensely glittery eyeshadow!

Thin eyebrows

Last, but most definitely not the least – some predict a big comeback of the 90s-inspired thin eyebrows. All of us who overplucked our own arches during the first round of this trend may be shaking in fear now, but worry not – no one will encourage you to do it again! Extremely thin brows fit very few faces so this time we are not going so far. However, it’s also a fact that big, bushy soap brows are also not a perfect choice for everyone. This is why in 2022 we are looking for perfect fits for us all individually, with no unified answers. And for some, a slender, sculpted brow is a very desirable look! If you always liked this shape but the harsh critique of this trend stopped you from styling your arches this way, it’s finally time for you to shine – but we encourage you to play with pencils, liners, shadows and pomades instead of reaching for the tweezers! Who knows where your imagination will lead you next? It’s best to leave yourself some space for experimenting next time!