2013 has been a year filled with buzzwords, beauty innovations and most of all, do-it-yourself products that make grooming and taking part in trends much, much easier.
RELATED: The beauty inventions we wish existed
So which products made the biggest impact and will go down in the history books as 2013’s most innovative beauty products? Check them out for yourself…
#1: CC creams
After the success of BB creams in 2012, we knew it wouldn’t be long until something even greater came along. The ‘CC’ part stands for ‘colour correcting’, which means that they take care of an uneven skin tone, while doing for your skin all of the great things a BB cream does, too. We recommend: L’Oreal Paris Nude Magique Anti-Dullness CC Cream and Ultraceuticals Complete Correction Cream Mineral Tint.
(P.s. Models Prefer even have a DD cream! A daily detox cream to be precise. This little beauty has highly purified water content and delivers an immediate moisture boost to the skin. We smell a trend for 2014…)
#2: In-shower moisturiser
NIVEA successfully filled a gap in the market this year when they brought out an In-Shower Moisturiser. Essentially, this product is designed for those who don’t have time to moisturise, as it allows you to get the job done during your daily shower. Genius, I say.
#3: Do-it-for-you curlers
The very opposite of do-it-yourself, do-it-for-you curlers are tools that effectively do the hard work for you. Can’t curl your own hair? No problem – the VS Sassoon Curl Secret will do it for you. Simply clamp an inch of your hair with the barrel, wait for the hair to be sucked in then keep holding it until you hear the beeps and release to find a perfect curl – like magic!
#4: Forward-thinking feminine products
The more time that goes on, the more we realise that we should be using products that are specifically for our lady parts – this has been an exceptionally big in 2013 with brands like amele releasing forward-thinking products. We love amele Quick Fix Shave Cream ($15, amelewomen.com) as it means that it’s safe to use on the go without water and is paraben and fragrance free! We also recommend Vagisil Gentle & Soothing Wipes, as they provide instant soothing relief and freshness for women.
#5: Skin blurring
Skin blurring is a late trend, with the majority of blurring products being released in early 2014 – but they still rank highly among the most innovative beauty products of 2013. Skin blurring products use various technologies to blur lines and imperfections on the skin instantly. They also minimise the appearance of pores – woo hoo! We recommend trying nanoblur by indeed labs.
#6: At-home balayage kits
If the thought of paying to get in on a hair trend like balayage doesn’t appeal to you, you can now pick up an at-home kit that will allow you to achieve salon-quality results at home. We recommend L’Oréal Paris Préférence Wild Ombrés, as it’s been designed to lighten the ends of your hair with ease, creating an ombré look.
#7: Hair chalks
Pastel-tinted ends may have been made famous by Lauren Conrad last year, but it was 2013 that saw the release of a number of different, easy-to-use hair chalks. The best thing about these beauty innovations is that they provide a bright, pigmented colour and can be washed out! We recommendVIXEN Hair Grafitti Coloured Chalks, Lady Jayne Colour Bomb Hair Chalk and Fudge URBAN Hair Chalk.
#8: Touch-ups products
Following the popularity of dry shampoo, 2013 saw a surge in touch-up products that meant you could cut even more grooming corners, like treating and colouring your hair less. We recommend Schwarzkopf Extra Care Dry Conditioner for when your hair feels dry and brittle, and Ambiance Blonde Tinted Volume Styling Dry Shampoo, which freshens your hair, adds volume and covers up regrowth in a flash.
#9: Hair perfume
Yep, you read right. Hair perfume launched into the market late in 2013, but will definitely find its feet in 2014. Herra Hair Care was the first brand to release a hair perfume (50ml, $39.95, hera.com) and salons around the world are snatching it up – fast. The reason it’s so great? A few spritzes a couple of times a day will protect your hair from UV damage, environmental elements and harmful things like air conditioning. Better still, the product’s scent combines notes from all five of the fragrance families, so every woman is bound to resonate with a certain note.
#10: Scalp care
In 2013, people have made the connection between poor hair growth and a less-than-healthy scalp. As the scalp is the foundation for your hair, great scalp health means the production of stronger hair. Makes sense, eh? We recommend Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Total Nourishing Care Shampoo and Conditioner and Kerastasé Sensidote Dermo-Calm Soothing Calming Masque and NIOXIN System 1 Scalp Treatment.
Which trend would you most like to try? Which innovation is most exciting to you?
