‘Skin First, Makeup Second’: The New Beauty Trend

It’s not uncommon for many of us, intentionally or incidentally, to spend an entire Saturday in workout gear—racing from a yoga class to meet a friend before running errands or dropping kids off at sport. If this scenario feels familiar, then you’ll probably agree the thought of applying anything approaching Kardashian-like contours to your face couldn’t be further from your mind. If makeup enters the equation, it’s akin to Glossier’s “skin first, makeup second” approach; a smear of sunscreen, a quick swoop of mascara and a swipe of tinted lip balm and you’re on your way.

For many of us, this light-touch makeup mantra is no longer merely a Saturday ritual. It’s our new normal. We’re after healthier skin that doesn’t need to be covered up with makeup. Could it be the proliferation of Lululemon has positively impacted how we approach our skin? While our increasingly casual lifestyles are changing grooming habits, Australians currently have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. An estimated 90 per cent of skin damage (and ageing) is caused by the sun so it’s no wonder the behemoth skincare industry – expected to be worth $135 billion globally by 2021, according to global marketing consultancy Lucintel – is pivoting towards products and treatments that look to skin health more holistically.