We ask the pros to give us their predictions for what’s going to be big in beauty this year. Notebooks at the ready…
Clean colour
‘2025 beauty is the year minimalism meets colour. The current “less is more” trend will continue to evolve, but brighter colours will make a return alongside the clean lines. We’ll see bold colours paired with simple designs, creating a fresh and balanced look. This fusion will be a colourful twist on the classic minimalism we all know and love.’
Leanna Zaman, Boots beauty specialist
‘The effortless, barely there, natural, dewy and radiant skin is here to stay. However, on the runway for spring/summer 2025 we’ve seen the addition of an unexpected twist by incorporating hues such as frosted pinks, washes of lilacs or touches of metallics onto lips or eyes to provide a minimalistic but futuristic finish.’
Nina Sagri, make-up artist and regular H&B contributor
‘The full range of nude nail colours are still having their moment. We’re seeing more twists on the French manicure, too, elevating a classic style with dark colours and metallics.’
Maddy Ayers (@maadnails), nail artist for our ‘Romanticise your life’ shoot
Tailored to you
‘It’s about learning which ingredients you like and creating a fragrance wardrobe that expresses you each day to match your mood or your outfit. I also see the rise of the “super gourmands”, integrating foodie notes and ingredients into fragrance. The Floral Street scent Ylang Ylang Espresso is an example of this.’
Michelle Feeney, Floral Street founder
‘My specialty is blondes and what I’m seeing happening is a lot of tailored blondes. People want to experiment for a more personalised blonde. I’m seeing a lot more warm, golden-hour blonde and honeycomb blonde, as well as sand dune blonde. Gone are the days when white blondes were the blueprint.’
Linus Johansson, hairstylist at Laundry London
Skincare everywhere
‘Something I am expecting to see more of in the coming year is body skincare. Facial skincare is essential, but our bodies have been somewhat neglected in comparison. Whether it’s smoothing out those stubborn under-skin bumps, helping to fade dark spots, or blitzing troublesome body blemishes, there are now some incredible products to try.’
Allison Kersey, Boots beauty specialist
‘We expect that the trends seen within skincare will be mirrored in hair care, such as “hair cycling” – where you alternate between two hair care products throughout the week to help tackle specific hair and scalp concerns. For example, alternating use of our Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment (to tackle dryness) and Bond Builder Restructuring Treatment (to tackle bond repair).’
Anabel Kingsley, Philip Kingsley brand president and senior consultant trichologist
Simpler times
‘The era of overflowing make-up bags is behind us, as people now prioritise simplicity, but with the same gorgeous finish. There’s a clear move towards multifunctional beauty and multitasking products, like our Beauty Base Primer, which can be used on its own to protect the skin as it features SPF50 or can be mixed into foundation, to help simplify routines.’
Aimee Connolly, make-up artist and founder of Sculpted by Aimee
‘Clean make-up is here to stay for 2025. Make-up looks will remain fresh, and skin will look clean and glossy with blush staying a key focus for youthful-looking make-up.’
Emma Tillman, UK and Global Pro make-up artist at Estée Lauder
‘It’s about products that elevate simplicity into something extraordinary: advanced skincare-infused ingredients, clean formulations and cutting-edge technologies that work in harmony with your skin. People are searching for those subtle moments of luxury in their everyday routines – whether it’s a velvety powder blush that gives a “just-pinched” flush or a defined brow that lifts and shapes the face.’
Terry de Gunzburg, make-up artist and brand founder
Hot in hair
‘We’re seeing a shift towards effortless, lived-in textures – think messy, undone looks with playful pieces framing the face or falling out of loose ponytails and buns. For 2025, it’s all about embracing your hair’s natural texture with a laidback twist.’
Lee Stafford, founder of Lee Stafford Hair
‘The bob haircut, in its many incarnations, is here to stay for a while. It’s a true classic haircut seen in many forms, from the runway to the pavement. When it comes to style, it’s all about ‘hairbedashery’ – accessorise with ribbons, bows, brooches, buttons, braids and buns, maximalise not minimise. Too much is never enough.’
Adam Reed, founder of Arkive Headcare
‘We’re seeing even more celebrations of natural coils and curls, with short- to medium-length afros taking centre stage. Natural hair, cropped close to the head, emphasises texture, offering a classic, low-maintenance style that compliments most face shapes. Short afros exude confidence and require minimal styling effort, making them perfect for busy days.’
Charlotte Mensah, Afro hair artist
