Nobody wants to be a lemming, but when it comes to skincare trends, it sometimes pays off to chase trends. Think about when hyaluronic acid hit the scene a few decades ago or when probiotics were suddenly everywhere in the last few years. If you hopped on those trains, you’re probably lookin’ more glowy than last year.

As we enter 2023 and see new trends on the horizon, it’s time to say hello to some of the most popular stars in skincare. Some of these have been around for a while and are now starting to trend in the mainstream skincare market.

Here are the five most popular 2023 skincare trends to look out for—as well as some products that are already ahead of the game.

1. Peptides for Firm and Plump Skin

Peptides have been around for a while in skincare, but they have been slowly making their way to more common products. They can exist naturally in your skin as amino acids. These amino acids are actually part of proteins that help keep skin firm and plump. 

In fact, peptides can even support collagen production to reduce the effects of aging. Research shows that peptides “significantly reduced the total surface of wrinkles” when topically applied, as well as the average length and depth of wrinkles. 

Other studies describe the effects of peptides as “Botox-like” because of their wrinkle-smoothing qualities. Now that’s a trend we can get behind! 

You can find peptides in just about any skincare product. They are most commonly found in creams and serums, but you can also find them in masks and cleansers as well.

Get ahead of the trend: Juice Beauty Signal Peptides Firming Serum

2. Mushrooms in Your Skincare Products

In case you haven’t already been seeing them, skincare products with mushrooms are going to be among the major 2023 skincare trends—and for excellent reasons. 

Mushrooms contain bioactive compounds that are surprisingly beneficial for the skin. For example, chaga mushroom shows significant cellular protection against DNA damage and has antioxidant properties that can help protect against free radicals (read: anti-aging power). 

You may know Reishi mushroom to help improve skin quality. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Reishi can also help promote wound healing, prevent sun damage, and may even help prevent atopic dermatitis with its protective effects on the skin. 

Other shrooms you can expect to make an appearance include shiitake, oyster, and button mushrooms. All of these varieties have “strong antioxidant activity which suggests that they have the ability to cope with oxidative stress,” which can support skin anti-aging. They even have antibacterial activity, which may help those who are prone to acne and breakouts.

Cordyceps mushroom also has a photoprotective effect and can even help reduce collagen breakdown in the skin. So we say yes to mushrooms!

You can find mushrooms in serums, creams, and cleansers in your skincare products.

Get ahead of the trend: EarthTonics Immortelle Mushroom Mylk

3. Formulas Specifically for Your Skin Barrier

Protecting the skin barrier is crucial to reducing irritation, maintaining your glow, and reducing damage such as photoaging and wrinkles in the skin.

Protecting your skin barrier is one of the most important things you can do for your skin, which makes sense given that among the top 2023 skincare trends will be more formulas made specifically for this reason.

The skin barrier helps maintain healthy skin, reduce moisture loss and support a healthy skin texture and elasticity. It also helps protect the skin against toxins and can even help prevent sensitive skin and skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. 

Using harsh soaps that remove the protective oils from your skin is one of the most common ways people damage their skin barrier. As such, expect to see more emollients and creams designed for skin barrier protection on the market this year.

Get ahead of the trend: Kate Somerville DELIKATE® RECOVERY CREAM

4. Mineral-Based Skincare

Mineral-based skincare is also taking center stage in 2023. Although ideally, you would get enough minerals in your diet to support healthy skin, applying them topically through your skincare products may also help nurture your best complexion.

For example, copper, zinc, selenium, and silicon have all been shown to support skin health and reduce the effects of aging. To be more specific, zinc helps protect against UV damage, copper peptides have an antioxidant effect against free radicals (and can stimulate collagen production), and selenium also protects against oxidative stress and may help those with psoriasis. 

Look for minerals in serums and creams to help support your skin health and keep that glow going with nutrient-rich products.

Get ahead of the trend: Biossance Squalene + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum

5. Algae for the Win

Algae is full of minerals and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, which makes it a potentially powerful player in skin anti-aging. As a result, algae is growing in popularity in all types of skincare products.

Thanks to its protective effects, algae may help prevent sun damage and reduce the effects of aging. Algae is considered to be safe in skincare products, even for sensitive skin, making it one of the most popular 2023 skincare trends. 

There are different types of algae used in skincare products, including blue-green algae (such as spirulina), red algae, and brown algae. While algae for skincare is still being studied, so far, marine algae have been shown to reduce inflammation, help repair damaged skin and support skin moisture. 

You can find algae in many different types of skincare products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, oils, and face masks.

Get ahead of the trend: Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum 

Get Some Help With Your Skincare Shopping

Have YOU heard of any of these 2023 skincare trends yet? Have fun exploring new products and trying different formulas for your best skin in the New Year—but before you do, be sure to download our list of skincare ingredients to avoid when you’re looking for new products!