The Skin Nerd: From blue eye makeup to hormonal skincare - the trends worth investing in

Time for a refresh? There’s no better time for a spring switch-up!

Pic: iStock

Mob Wife

The ‘Mob Wife’ aesthetic is not just a makeup trend, it’s a whole attitude. 

A complete U-turn from the less is more ‘clean girl’ trend we saw for the latter half of last year, it’s time to leave the minimalist look behind with this look that sees smoky eyes, blow-out curls and ‘makeup makeup’ with an unapologetic bang. 

This isn’t a completely new look; with some clear references taken from glamorous 90s supermodels and the maximalist elements of the 70s and 80s. 

Despite the lack of natural-looking skin on show, I love the ‘over-the-topness’ and fun factor of embracing full-on glamour that this trend provides us with - just remember to double cleanse afterwards!

Try: Doll 10 Squad V3 Palette (€41, theskinnerd.com) for a highly pigmented palette of 12 smoky shades just perfect for bringing back the drama to your eyes. 

When you are ready to take it all off, cleanse just as indulgently with Doctrine Skincare Divinity Cleansing Balm (€42, doctrineskincare.com). 

Containing spirulina and yarrow extracts, this creamy cleansing butter swiftly dissolves makeup, SPF and impurities, whilst keeping your skin supple and nourished.

Old Money Bob

Described as a progression of the ‘quiet luxury’ trend, it’s time for your hair to get fancy as the glamour level is ramped up to champion expensive-looking hair with that 'just out of the salon' edge. 

To ace this look, you need a bob, and that bob needs to be full and lustrous looking. Forget air-drying, your hair dryer is integral to a style that screams a million dollars. 

Together with a large ceramic barrel brush, the aim is to get your locks looking voluminous but under control, with a professional, polished finish. 

Not one for the wash and goers of us, but it can look stunning if you are prepared to put in the maintenance and keep the gloss levels to the max.

Try: Joico Dream Blowout Creme (€23.45, joico.eu) which is formulated with vitamin E-rich Safflower Seed Oil to protect the hair from heat damage and environmental aggressors. 

It also includes Arginine - a natural amino acid, which plays a key role in maintaining strength and helps to reduce the risk of breakage by 75% while brushing and styling.

SPF hybrids

This is a trend I suggest avoiding completely. Although the increased focus on sun protection is needed and applauded, we should always be paying attention to the type of protection we are safeguarding our skin with and ensure that we apply a standalone SPF and reapply it every two hours during the day as recommended by the Irish Cancer Society for maximum benefits. 

Standalone SPFs will always be superior when it comes to the level of protection a product provides, as these products are not blended with other ingredients with another skincare or makeup goal in mind. 

Hybrids are great for adding over the top, but you should ensure you have your primary protection first to stay safe.

Try: Skingredients Skin Shield Moisturising + Priming SPF50 PA+++ (€57, skingredients.com). 

This award-winning sunscreen is an SPF first and foremost but comes with countless additional complexion benefits that have made it a hit with skinfluencers, makeup artists and consumers worldwide.

Blue eye makeup

Blue eyeshadow – you either love it or hate it but either way, it is back with its usual disregard for subtlety. In my opinion, blue eyeshadow is something to play with. 

It’s not for the faint-hearted or someone trying to blend into the background, but it can be surprisingly flattering if you are looking to freshen up your look and leave the rest of your face low-key.

Try: Huda Beauty Color Block Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette Blue & Green (€30, boots.ie). 

This bold collection of runway-inspired blues and aquas comes in a mix of matte, metallic, bake-flaked and cake liners to allow you to experiment with a playful wash of colour or build up a more striking look.

Hormonal Skincare

Trend forecasters WGSN have predicted that hormonal skincare will be trending this year, indicating a rise in demand for skincare aimed at supporting us during hormonal changes including periods, teenage acne, pregnancy and menopause. 

Our hormones impact everything including how our skin looks and feels, and often we see spots, dry patches or general irritation as a result of a fluctuation. 

Simple skincare that works alongside your hormones rather than against them is a welcome trend that I hope will become a mainstream category of skincare as people become more in tune with their bodies and how they align with their skin.

Try: 40% of people experience increased dryness during menopause, making replenishing skincare a key goal. 

Menopause Faace Daily Face Cream (€37.95, wearefaace.com) has been formulated to support parched skin with rehydrating safflower seed oil and hyaluronic acid. 

It also works to tackle loss of elasticity and collagen and reboot the skin’s circulation, which can also get sluggish during perimenopause and menopause. For the best results, use it twice daily and always follow with SPF during the day.

The Kitty Cut

We’ve had the ‘wolf,’ the ‘butterfly’ and even the ‘cub’ but there’s a new animal-inspired haircut in town – the Kitty Cut. 

Another layered, mid-length ‘do, this style is sleeker, less shaggy and more sophisticated than its predecessors, which makes it more flattering and easier to style. 

The key here is to ask for subtle, longer layers to avoid it becoming too choppy. I particularly like this style accompanied by face-framing curtain bangs.

Try: ghd Curve Soft Curl Tong (€169, millies.ie) is ideal for creating soft volume at the roots. 

As keeping hair smooth and hydrated is also key for this look, OUAI Hair Oil (€33.99, boots.ie) is a great investment. Infused with borage oil and baobab seed oil, this multi-tasking oil works to smooth frizz and seal dry, split ends for a high gloss finish.

Hyper-personalised beauty

Thanks to advancements in technology and AI, both skincare and fragrance have the potential to become increasingly tailored to individual needs, goals and preferences. 

This year has seen many exciting launches including L’Oréal Perso - a device that creates personalised cosmetics and skincare using the power of Artificial Intelligence, whilst in the fragrance sector, Procter & Gamble recently teamed up with Moodify, a scent tech company to help aid the development of future perfume creations.

Lymphatic drainage massages

Looking for a pre-holiday treatment that leaves you feeling lighter mentally and physically? 

Currently viral on TikTok, lymphatic drainage massage is more than your average massage. 

Incorporating a mix of sculpting and depuffing techniques, the aim is to boost the lymphatic system, which has many benefits including reducing water retention – it’s also surprisingly relaxing too!