Fresh looks to inspire makeup innovation in 2022

As we enter 2022, the world continues to be surrounded by uncertainty as a result of overwhelming issues such as the ongoing pandemic and climate change. It’s not surprising that disharmony exists across many aspects of our existence. The overarching theme for the upcoming autumn/winter season is therefore quite aptly identified as “the clash”. After a summer of bright, intense and radiant regeneration we now envisage a winter electrified and revitalised by powerful energy. The desire to change the world and the emergence of innovative solutions are going to heat things up, create consensus and challenge the status quo. Confrontation, dissonance and more intense clashes of opinion will lead to inspiring avenues and a clearer, bolder, uncompromising way of getting to the heart of the matter.

Sensitive clash

The theme of our first beauty look is the sensitive clash, featuring a palette of tender shades and reassuring textures. In these tense times this gentle and romantic look inspires the sensitive woman to weave a protective cocoon of delicacy and introspection around herself. With soft pastel hues and powdery textures reminiscent of childhood memories, this look immerses us in watercolour dreams – think lilac and pink, or the soft blue shade of a reflective pond, gentle ginger and the colour of a field of ripening wheat. Team these colours up with caring actives and floral fragrances, and they will envelop the wearer in an ethereal, ephemeral veil.

Audacious clash

In direct contrast to the sensitive clash look, we are confronted with the audacious clash – composed of radical, bold true colours. There are no half measures here; self-confidence is conveyed through striking forms and expressive hues which assert a strong personality. Graphic black lines are juxtaposed with bold, electrifyingly red lips. These red lips can be glossy or matte.

Achieving a matte look is effortless when formulating with Ronastar Red Allure, a luminous matte burgundy-red pigment. All the pigments in the Ronastar Allure range glide onto the skin with a touch of velvet, giving any formulation a luxurious feel and sense of elegance.

No red formulation is ever complete without the presence of Xirona Le Rouge; red is the most iconic colour in colour cosmetics and Xirona Le Rouge is the ultimate tool in achieving red perfection. It is a deep shade of vermilion wrapped up in pearlescence, offering a subtle colour travel effect from red to orange-red and, due to its platy structure and composition, this pigment makes for more homogenous and stable red formulations.

Keep the faith

With spring comes renewal and a new sense of optimism. In the middle of all the turmoil, one certitude has emerged – everyone of us wants to keep faith. Faith in our capacity for solidarity and resilience. Faith in the possibility of a better tomorrow. Faith in ourselves and the human race. And this is the theme of spring/summer 2022 – the colours of the season will reflect this faith, we will see pinks and glitters, a celebration of femininity and optimism, and glorifying art and nature in our choice of colours.

An empowering, ultra-glam look with its sexy insolence is faithful majesty; this woman is an urban adventurer who only applies sophisticated products to her face and body and chooses a mix of elegant darks and flashy metallised effects. She lacquers her hair and body in gold and silver, with silver wax creating a modern helmet effect on her hair, while enhancing her body with iridescent oil-textured serum infused with gold. The colour travel pigment Xirona Moonlight Sparks creates a lunar experience with brilliant silvery-golden glitter to spark consumer interest. This offers the most sophisticated colour travel effect from metallic gold to subtle silver and creates pure luxury.

Ronastar Golden Jewel is another ace up the sleeve. This pigment creates outstanding intense, glittery gold effects without the negative impact on the environment micro-plastics leave in their wake. As with all Ronastar Glass Flake pigments, it is possible to achieve huge impact at an exceptionally low addition rate.

Cosmetic pigments blend library

In a sustainable future, where nature and science fuse for the better, the modern mermaid sets off to conquer the earth’s oceans, where the power of algae and magical waters conceal a myriad of beauty secrets. This is the story of the faithful prophecy look. Avant-garde allure is inspired by the changing, iridescent light of the waves and the fascinating strangeness of marine organisms. On her lips she wears translucent, watery-textured gloss with a holographic gleam, while on her eyes jelly eyeshadow in dazzling turquoise hues complete the picture. Recreating these colours presents certain challenges for even the most experienced formulator, as effect pigment palettes, although extensive, do not have an endless range of colours.

The application and innovation team at Merck now offers the ultimate solution to this dilemma with the launch of the Vivid Muse cosmetic pigments blend library. The team has taken Merck’s range of over 100 effect pigments and created a library of 900 blends. This is easily accessible and can be used to formulate the colours needed to ensure that your brand is on trend in 2022.

A prime example is the blend Cotton Candy, comprising 60% Ronastar Blue Lights and 40% Colorona SynBerry Pink, a colour completely on point for the upcoming spring/summer season. It is a pretty pastel pink shade, featuring a beautiful blue sparkle which plays in the light and creates exactly the level of sparkle and holographic effect consumers will be demanding this year.

There will always be challenges but there will also always be joy to be found and colour has been one of the most powerful elements in bringing joy to the world over millennia. As formulators, we can enhance the feeling of wellbeing and wellness of countless consumers by providing safe, effective and, above all, beautiful products. •