Top of the Trends: hair and beauty for 2023

Get the scoop on our must-have skincare, make-up, and hair treatments for spring

The new season welcomes in a raft of new hair and beauty trends that put a wholesome, healthy glow front and centre. Here’s our round-up of 10 essential styles, techniques and treatments to get your skin and hair glossy, gleaming and ready for spring.

a collection of 2023 beauty trend led products by Cerave; Pixi & Paula's Choice — Clockwise from left: CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50, £15.99 at Superdrug; Pixi Glow Tonic, £18 at Marks & Spencer; Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment, from £13 at SpaceNK

Skin cycling

The skin cycling technique – a rotation of exfoliants, retinoids and barrier recovery products – allows skin to rest in between active treatments, for optimum results. Start slow and steady with chemical exfoliation on night one, retinoid treatment on night two and gentle hydration on nights three and four. Don't forget your SPF come morning.

an image of a Kristin Ess Working Texture Spray — Kristin Ess Dry Finish Working Texture Spray, £12 at Boots

Messy layers

The grown-out shag cut has enjoyed many guises over the past few seasons – wolf, octopus, butterfly – and its evolution shows no signs of waning. Texture is key to this forgiving, face-framing style, so add weightless oomph with a matte-finish texture spray.

an image of a Mac Lavender Eye shadow palette — M.A.C Dazzleshadow in Shine De-Light, £18.50

Purple haze

Lavender is having a moment, lauded by Etro, Genny, Emporio Armani et al at their SS23 presentations, with hazy washes swept over lids and brows. MAC's creamy powder formula makes for a smooth, multi-dimensional finish – one to file under universally flattering.

An image of Clinique Moisture Spray; Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream; Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser — Clockwise from left: Clinique Moisture Surge™ Face Spray Thirsty Skin Relief, £27 at Marks & Spencer; Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, from £32; Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, from £14 at SpaceNK

Glycerin

TikTok has seen a deluge of skin-flooding tutorials – a technique that involves layering water-based moisturisers and serums onto damp skin with no drying in between, to lock in hydration. The result? Plump, dewy-looking skin upon waking. Glycerin is especially good for those with dry skin, and an ideal ingredient to work into your skin flooding routine.

an image of a Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask — Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care in Warm Chestnut, £39 at SpaceNK

Hot hair hues

The promise of warmer weather brings with it a definite lean towards richer, deeper tones for all colours of hair. Sandy blondes, mushroom and chestnut browns and rich russets are set to dominate, with the focus on natural, low-maintenance shades.

an image of a Nails Inc Nail Polish and a Glaze Super Colour Conditioning Gloss — Clockwise from left: Glaze Super Color Conditioning Gloss, £15.99 at Superdrug; Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish, £15 at John Lewis & Partners

Glazing

Our desire for dewy skin has stepped up a gear with glazing now de rigueur (thanks, Hailey Bieber) – a technique that cultivates glistening but not greasy skin with a meticulous regime of layered-up moisturisers locked in with a barrier protector. This quenched aesthetic isn't reserved for complexions alone: nails and hair can get the glazed treatment, too.

An image of lip pencils and glosses by No7; Kiko and Nars — Clockwise from left: Kiko Lasting Precision Automatic Eyeliner and Khôl, £8.99; Nars Precision Lip Liner in Port Grimaud, £22; No7 Stay Perfect Lip Stain in Truffle, £11.95 at Boots

Soft goth make-up

Muted, smoky eyes and bitten lips are a thing, praise be to Jenny Ortega's turn as Wednesday Addams. This is an altogether more sophisticated and subtle take on gothic beauty, with lip stains favoured over lipsticks and plum, damson and charcoal stealing the crown from traditional black kohl.

an image of concealers by Sephora; No7 and Bobbi Brown — Clockwise from left: Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Concealer, £14.99; No7 Lift & Luminate Serum Concealer, £13.95 at Boots; Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Concealer, £32 at John Lewis & Partners

Serum concealers

Hybrid products that boast both a beauty and a skincare benefit have been a hit since BB creams stepped into the UK cosmetics spotlight in the early 2010s. Nowadays it’s all about serum concealers, which tackle fine lines and pigmentation, boost circulation and sweep away dark circles in one deft swipe.