2020 was the year of self-care and skin care. With Covid-19 keeping people indoors, people found ways to de-stress, and skin care routines became a source of comfort. It also became more elaborate with multiple steps. Allure reports that according to Neilsen data, online sales of skincare products increased by a whopping 42 percent during the first half of 2020, and as the year progressed, skin care habits become more elevated that many skincare ingredients most people have never heard of have come to light.

This year has also brought about skin issues that only added to the stress of a worldwide pandemic. Aside from stress-related and hormone-induced breakouts, Covid-19 also brought about "maskne" or mask acne. Over-sensitized skin related to constant mask-wearing and obsessive handwashing is an ongoing concern as well. From those fortunate enough to work from home, exposure to High-energy Visible light (HEV), also known as "blue light," from mobile phones and computers prompted health-related questions, too.

As 2020 comes to a close, 2021 will be a quest for better and protective skin care, possibly even more celebrity skincare or makeup launches, and other hopeful possibilities. Here are 2021 skin care trends foreseen by beauty editors from Allure, Glamour, Real Simple, and Popsugar.  

More skincare products that target inflammation.

Board-certified dermatopathologist Dr. Gretchen Frieling confirms that pandemic-related stress has affected our skin in many ways. Aside from stress and anxiety, other common inflammation triggers are pollution, smoking, poor diet, and sun exposure. As expected, maskne, redness, breakouts, and irritation have been widespread. She also adds that stress also triggers rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, fever blisters, cold sores, hives, and other rashes. Cosmetic chemist David Petrillo tells Allure that skin-soothing ingredients will play a large part in 2021, and we'll be seeing more of colloidal oatmeal in skincare products for its anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and soothing benefits. Other ingredients with similar properties to look out for are cica and willowherb.

Also read: How to Get Rid of Dark Marks from Acne Breakouts

More types of hand care.

Obviously, handwashing has become more crucial than ever. Even major beauty brands have ventured into producing hand sanitizers, and those have been welcome skin saviors since they contain more moisturizing ingredients than others. For instance, Vaseline and Dove have created germ-fighting but more nourishing sanitizers. Specialty hand soaps and hand creams are also trying to repair and restore dry and over-sanitized hands. Allure says that consumer data also showed an increased interest in hand masks.

Barrier repair skincare products.

As we have been left on our own devices without the usual dermatologist visits, experimenting with skincare products such as retinol, AHAs and BHAs have also resulted in compromised skin barriers. Symptoms of this include redness, irritation, dryness, and itchiness. Give your chemical exfoliants a break and look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to repair the damage.

Blue light skincare products.

The primary source of blue light is still the sun, but it is also emitted from our mobile phones, laptops, and desktops. While research on the effects of blue light on skin is still ongoing, one of the supposed effects is hyperpigmentation, similar to what you'd get from prolonged sun exposure. Skincare brand GoodHabitlaunched a blue light shielding line of products earlier this year with marine extracts as the hero ingredient. Other ingredients that can block blue light are iron oxide, zinc oxide, and niacinamide. Allure consultants recommend the use of mineral sunscreens.

Refillable skincare products.

Sustainability is still very much a concern in the beauty industry. With more brands such as Pharrell Williams' Humanrace and Rihanna's Fenty Skin leading by example, expect more brands to transition to refillable containers or 100 percent recyclable packaging. Hopefully, this trend will soon become a norm in the near future.

Related article: Dermatologists Teach You How to Repair and Protect Your Skin's Moisture Barrier