Music festival season has officially begun and it seems that the attention is equally split between music and beauty. Festival beauty trends range from neon hair to glitter, with launches of glitter beauty increasing around this time of year. However, most consumers don’t know the alarming truth about chunky glitter featured on the endcaps of retailers and endlessly promoted on Instagram. Glitter is essentially a flattened microbead, a material banned in the U.S. in 2015.
Like the outlawed microbeads, glitter is considered a microplastic, which poses a genuine threat to the environment. However, for festival goers and brands looking to play in the trendy space, there are alternatives. I sat down with Mintel’s Global Beauty Analyst Lauren Goodsitt to discuss beauty trends that forgo glitter without losing the fun.
Kristin Ess Temporary Hair Tint in Rose Gold & Amethyst
These temporary color tints are the first of their kind. They are applied to wet hair and can last one to three washes depending on the color saturation and are intended for blonde or highlighted hair. According to Mintel US research on home hair color, nearly half of women aged 18-34 agree that it is becoming more socially acceptable to wear bold hair colors, viewing bold colors as less controversial than their older counterparts.
L’Oréal Colorista Hair Makeup
Blondes aren’t the only ones having fun with temporary hair color. This temporary hair paint is intended for brunettes, and is applied to dry hair. The texture is similar to a classic hair gel, and once dry, it doesn’t stain skin or clothing. A quarter of 18-34-year-olds would be interested in trying a neon or bright hair color, and the temporary nature of this product allows consumers to try color without the commitment.
Briogeo Sea Goddess Hair + Body Shimmer Mist
This mist is for the clean consumer. The product is sulfate-free, silicone-free, and paraben-free, featuring Sephora’s clean beauty approval seal. It uses ocean-safe mica in the formulation to provide shimmer sans plastic. More than half of natural and organic personal care consumers agree that “clean” indicates a natural product. Free-from claims also resonate with nearly half of consumers who avoid parabens.
Fenty Beauty Body Lava
Shimmer is a wearable, less abrasive alternative to chunky, plastic glitter. This formula is essentially a body highlighter, and mimics the glow of facial highlighters. The product is cruelty-free, and touts hydration benefits as well. Nearly half of women are interested in creating strobing looks, which is when highlighter or shimmer is applied to the high points of the face and body to give skin the appearance of a healthy glow.
