The top 3 beauty trends you need to know from New York, London, Paris and Milan Fashion Week 2014

Now that New York, Paris, London and Milan fashion weeks have come to a close, Mintel – in collaboration with make-up artist Jeyanney – have identified the new beauty trends moving into mainstream, with a strong season expected for face and nail products in particular.

Bare faced beauty: Seen at D&G, Michael Kors, Alexander Wang

“This look is described as a ‘no make-up’ look as the key area of focus is the skin; making it appear hydrated, shine-free and well-conditioned. Well-conditioned lips with little or no colour paired with groomed brows and a touch of warmth on the cheeks. Less is more with this look which makes it more of a wearable trend. CC or BB creams are great for barely-there perfected skin, applied with a blending brush or sponge to really work the product into the skin for a minimal and ultra-flawless appearance.” Jeyanney, make-up artist said.

The popularity of BB and CC creams has boomed over recent years, with one in five women using such products and the BB cream segment valued at an estimated £45 million in 2012. With the trend for facial make-up moving toward a softer look, the proportion of women using BB creams can be expected to continue to rise.

Double decker lashes: Seen at Jean Pierre Braganza, Rochas

“The look seen on the runways was retro 60’s doe eyes with a modern update. Lashes are applied to the upper lid and lower lid to give lower lashes extra flutter and width. For lower lashes, dome shaped styles are the most flattering, making the middle the fullest part of the lash; clusters of individual lashes are also ideal for this look. Compliment this look with a nude eye pencil on the lower lash line for ultimate bambi eyes.” Jeyanney, make-up artist said.

False eye-lashes have the lowest penetration among the colour cosmetics segments, standing at 7% in 2013, with the lower usage rate attributed to their trickier application and more dramatic look. However as bolder lashes move into the mainstream, more women can be encouraged to use these products.

Bold colour pop: seen at Holly Fulton, Burberry, Rag & Bone

“Colour was seen all over the catwalks at LFW. The key looks were bold neon lips, the textures varied from matt to satin and sometimes glossy. The key to this look is the bolder the better. It is more about colour, keeping the rest of the makeup understated, however matching with your skin tone is essential for bolder colours. Blue was also seen making a comeback on the eyes, but those not feeling that daring can try to recreate these colours on the nails.” Jeyanney, make-up artist said.

Younger women are more comfortable experimenting with new colours and styles (20% of 16-24s agree compared to an average of 16%). However, while not all women are comfortable experimenting with bright colours on lips or eyes, nail colour cosmetics are perfectly positioned to harness this trend. In 2013 nail colour cosmetic sales inched above that of lips for the first time (£233 million compared to £232 million). Nail art continues to be a driving factor in sales with an explosion of new textures and application methods emerging to allow young women in particular to easily personalise their nail look and stay on-trend.

For more information please see Mintel’s Colour Cosmetics UK 2013 report.

Charlotte Libby is Senior Beauty Analyst at Mintel. Charlotte has a great deal of experience analysing consumer behaviours and identifying key trends, having worked extensively in beauty and personal care research for Mintel and previously in the Insight & Research team at publisher Bauer Media.