The Biggest Beauty Trends of 2022, According to Ulta

Embracing beauty trends is a perfect, low-pressure way to harness some of that “new year, new you” energy. From adding some helpful tools to your skin care routine to experimenting with new makeup techniques, these beauty trends are going to be a big deal in 2022, according to the experts.

We spoke with two pros from Ulta Beauty—Denny Adam, makeup artist, and Enrique Torres, skin expert—to find out which trends are set to be the hottest in beauty and skin care this year. So, grab your application brush and exfoliator, and pull up a chair.

Freckle Flush

When it comes to your complexion, 2022 is all about a fresh face. Full-coverage foundations and heavy contours aren’t the way to go this year. According to Ulta, natural, glowing skin, flushed cheeks, and freckles are the new norm.

Overall, the trend is about embracing youth and approaching makeup with a more carefree attitude.

Thanks to its emphasis on natural beauty, this trend is easy even if you’re a makeup novice. For a glowing complexion, skin tints and tinted moisturizers you can apply with your hands are perfect, as well as cream blushes to add some color to your cheeks.

But what if you don’t have a natural smattering of freckles? Adam advises creating your own with specifically-designed products, like Lime Crime’s Freckle Pen, or precision brow pencils and liners. The real trick, though, is just ensuring they look natural.

“Create different sizes of freckles and stay concentrated on certain areas of the face, like the nose, cheeks, and some parts of your forehead,” Adam said. “I recommend using multiple shades from dark to light for a natural finish and pattern.”

At-Home Skin Care Treatments

You might already have a facial roller you use at home. However, skin care tools are now taking a turn into preventative care via high-tech gadgets. Many of these mimic treatments you would normally have to get at the dermatologist or esthetician’s office.

One tool, in particular, stands out for Torres: the DermaFlash Luxe.

“It’s truly the holy grail of exfoliation because it consistently and safely delivers on the desire to have fresh, vibrant, smooth, and dewy skin instantly,” said Torres. “It also works fast to provide results after one use without the need for harsh scrubs and potentially expensive chemical peels, that could take multiple rounds of treatment to show improvement.”

The DermaFlash runs what is essentially a sharp razor over your face. While that sounds scary, the tool has a specially created guard to prevent any knicks or cuts. To use it, just wash your face as usual and let it completely dry.

Then, starting in front of your ear, hold your skin taut, and position the device at a 45-degree angle. Use short strokes and run the device all over your face (except for your brows, of course). It will remove any dead skin cells and peach fuzz. Afterward, just moisturize as you normally would, and you’re all done!

Brow Expression

The days of the overplucked, extremely groomed brows are gone, and you can go ahead and say farewell to the ultra-sculpted look beauty influencers made popular in the 2010s, too.

Instead, 2022 is all about natural brows and embracing your own arch. Whether you were born with bold, fluffy brows or a pair that are a bit sparse, the trend is all about rocking your brows as they are. In fact, Adam advises that you don’t “go against the natural growth pattern of your brows.”

Ingredient Powerhouses

When it comes to the powerhouse skin care ingredients of 2022, Torres mentioned the following three, which you’re probably already quite familiar with:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Retinol
• Niacinamide

However. Torres singled retinol out as the ingredient set to be the most popular this year, thanks to its ability to combat dark spots, dullness, texture, wrinkles, and acne.

Niacinamide helps prevent breakouts, reduce redness, and balance oil, while hyaluronic acid can hydrate the skin without heavy oil or cream, making it ideal for all skin types. Peach and Lily’s Glass Skin Refining Serum contains both of the latter.

Imaginative Eyes

Yes, natural, glowing skin and freckles are in, but when it comes to eyes, it’s all about going bold. Inspired by popular shows like Euphoria, bright and attention-grabbing eyes are set to be a major trend in 2022. From pops of color to graphic eyeliners, it’s all about expressing yourself in unapologetic ways.

If wading into blue eyeshadows and rhinestone adhesives is overwhelming for you, Adam recommends a gradual approach.

“Start by using them as accents,” Adam said. “For example, instead of doing a full blue eyeshadow look, use the eyeshadow as a liner, a pop of color on the inner corner of the eyes, or blended out all over the lid.”

The most important part about this trend is to have fun with it! These eyeliner pencils from NYX are a fantastic place to start. The color selection is huge, so choose a few that are a bit more daring than your normal liner, and start experimenting.

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There’s a much easier way to change your look in 2022 than counting calories and carbs; just switch up your makeup or skin care routine instead! These Ulta-approved suggestions will ensure your look is on-trend all year.