The pandemic made profound, not to mention lasting, changes in how we consume beauty— staying home meant that our makeup routines were getting pared down while our skincare routines grew more extensive and stringent. This heightened skincare awareness was further fuelled by the unique concerns that the pandemic brought us – such as the much-dreaded mask-induced acne, or ‘maskne’. As actives made their way to the front label of bestselling products, consumers, with more time to spare, grew increasingly informed of good skincare practices. Prolonged screen exposure also made us rethink how we protect our skin from both UV rays and blue light. All of these contributed to the growth and subsequent popularity of a new kind of offering - hybrid cosmetics.
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In the pink of health
Post-pandemic, we’re seeing a new pillar of beauty re-emerge. Good health, or at least the appearance of it, has become a priority when it comes to skincare and even makeup. Trends like ‘clean girl’ makeup or a ‘glazed’ finish all have the same idea at their core – that it is in to have healthy, radiant, and ultra-hydrated skin. As any makeup expert would tell you, almost all makeup looks appear more elevated, professional and long-lasting when applied over healthy, moisturised skin. Nearly all of these looks relied heavily on skin prep to create that hydrated, smooth canvas upon which the makeup could truly shine.
The best of both worlds with hybrid cosmetics
The category of ‘cross-metics’, the lovechild of makeup and skincare, is a winning combination that delivers the best of both worlds. With this, a new range of multitasking products has cropped up — hybrid beauty products that sit anywhere on this spectrum. These innovative formulations act just like makeup, except that they are infused with skin-loving ingredients and actives, in some cases, nourish your skin while you put it on.
For instance, Clinique’s new Even Better Clinical ™ Serum Foundation is designed to leave ‘bare skin looking even better’. The serum foundation offers buildable coverage in a satin matte finish. It comes enriched with vitamin C, salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and keep excess oil at bay.
Or the Nourishing Lip And Cheek Tint by Just Herbs promises to deliver an intense yet natural-looking flush of colour to your lips and cheeks. The key ingredients include moisturising agents like jojoba oil, shea butter, and javitri, which enhance skin texture with their antioxidant and anti-ageing properties. A true win-win, if you ask us.
What’s truly remarkable about hybrid cosmetics is that they can be worn in many ways and played up or down depending on your mood. The Smashbox Halo Plumping Dew + Hyaluronic Acid can be worn alone for a quick boost of radiance as a primer beneath your foundation, or dabbed over your cheekbones as a subtle highlighter. It boasts of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide that work together to hydrate the skin and minimise fine lines, all while delivering a peachy, shimmery finish.
Where hybrid makeup truly shines, though, is quite literally on your lips. Notice your IG feed flooded with a range of tinted lip glosses, balms, and volumisers that add a tinted sheen of gloss while delivering hydration and battling hyperpigmentation of your lips. The Simply Nam Lip Oil in Juicy looks like a clear, high-shine gloss on your lips. Critical ingredients like avocado, sweet almond oil, and macadamia oil add intense moisture and deliver a subtle plumping effect.
I woke up like this
These new-generation skincare/makeup hybrid products offer lightweight, comfortable wear and provide a great segue into the makeup world for any beginner. These can become your everyday go-to picks, especially if you want to channel that ‘woke up like this’ energy. Plus, these makeup looks need almost no time to execute and require minimal tools. Here’s a quick 3 product routine for you:
- Apply a tinted moisturiser (pick a sparkly one if you want to get that extra glow),
- Follow up with a nourishing mascara that lengthens your lashes instantly
- Finish with a lip and cheek tint to add a healthy flush of colour, and you’re good to go!
