The Death of the Naked Palette
Urban Decay held a funeral for its seminal Naked Palette this year and in a way that was symbolic of the end of the neutral eyeshadow's long reign. In 2018, some of the buzziest eyeshadow palettes were quite colorful, from the Fenty Beauty Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette, $59, to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Eyeshadow Palette, $42, to Urban Decay's own Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette, $49.
Image via @urbandecaycosmetics
Adaptogens on the Rise
Along with the gradual movement towards clean beauty and natural ingredients, adaptogenic ingredients have become increasingly popular. Defined loosely as natural, stress-reducing plant extracts, adaptogens are being used with more and more frequency in different skin care products, such as Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream, $58, and Moon Juice Beauty Shroom Plumping Jelly Serum, $58.
Image via @youthtothepeople
Hawaii Bans Reef-Killing Sunscreens
This spring, Hawaii passed a bill to ban all sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate due to their reef-harming effects. Good mineral sunscreens have been on the market for a while, but thanks to increased awareness around the dangers of certain chemical formulations, lots of brands are coming out with new mineral formulas lately, including Supergoop! 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte Screen SPF 40, $38, and Biossance Squalane + Mineral SPF 45, $39.
Image via @supergoop
Bakuchiol Takes Center Stage
Bakuchiol, or "bio-retinol", gained a lot of traction this year as a gentle and natural retinol alternative. Its retinol-like skin-firming effects has scientific research to back it up and we have to say, we've been big fans of all the bakuchiol-containing products we've tried so far, especially Ole Henriksen Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Serum, $58, and Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum, $78.
Image via @olehenriksen
The Return of Body Shimmer
It's your favorite early 2000s trend, back for 2018 with a chic new update. Can we attribute this to the Fenty Effect once again? Rihanna launched the Fenty Beauty Body Lavas and the Fairy Bomb Shimmering Pom Pom, $42, this spring and many other brands followed. We also quite enjoyed Sol de Janeiro's Glow Oils, $35, and Hydropeptide's Nourishing Glow Shimmering Body Oil, $78.
Image via @badgalriri
