The team here at Simporter used our White Space AI tool to analyze 30 colors to forecast which luxury cosmetics colors will be trending in 2022. After many months spent indoors with minimal beauty routines, consumers will be looking for cosmetic products and colors that complement their skin tone and enhance their natural beauty. Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty has set a new bar for diversity, so brands looking to achieve similar success should focus on incorporating inclusive colors and finishes into their new development pipelines to meet the needs of a wider audience.
2022’s Color Forecast
The graphic below breaks down the 7 colors we believe possess the highest potential for growth in 2022. Color opportunity scores are determined by looking at both share of voice (a leading indicator of market share) as well as year-over-year growth rate.
Sheer
Sheer colors will have a significant run in 2022, predicted to have the most robust performance on our list with an impressive 192.17 percent growth potential. Consumers will be looking for products that enhance and emphasize their natural skin tones, so Sheer colors are a perfect solution.
In particular, Sheer lipsticks and tints will see a rise in popularity because they’re low maintenance — even when the gloss or cream wears off, the lips stay tinted. This is ideal for consumers who need minimal and effortless products that last and can carry them from day to night.
Less is more will be the name of the game. Brands should take note of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Sheer Lipstick lineup, which gives customers a solid range of Sheer color options that fit every skin tone and require minimal effort.
Glitter
Glitter has ebbed and flowed the past few years, but our team predicts triple-digit growth for this fun and festive color. With an anticipated 152.17 percent expected growth rate, 2022 is set to be an excellent year for this fun and cheerful color.
Festivals were a pandemic casualty, but they’re coming back, and consumers are ready to break out their best Glitter-coated looks (Coachella, anyone?). Plus, with the holidays approaching, Glitter products like this Charlotte Tilbury Lip & Eye Kit are a given, and we don’t expect its popularity to drop off when the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.
Many consumers will be attending significant events like weddings, birthday parties, and holiday parties for the first time in nearly two years. What better way to stand out and make an entrance than Glitter?
Satin
Satin’s 0.38 percent share of voice won’t be a barrier to this color’s success in 2022. The team here at Simporter predicts Satin will grow 118.84 percent in 2022 — and for good reason.
Satin is a happy medium between Matte and Glitter; it’s more fun than Matte but less adventurous than Glitter. From a benefits standpoint, it provides users with just the right touch of moisture. Consumers will be looking for Stain products like this Benefit Satin Pink Highlighter that offers a balance between shimmer and moisturizing impact.
Metallic
Glitter’s distant cousin Metallic sits in the middle of our predicted winner’s list. The color’s tiny 0.33 percent share of voice won’t stand in the way of this color’s predicted 85.50 percent growth potential.
Metallic colors have underlying metal tones (gold, silver, copper, bronze, etc.), which pairs well with younger, darker skin tones. This shouldn’t be a surprise, given Gen Z will hold the majority of the buying power in 2022. And, with inclusivity at the forefront of consumer conversations, brands with dark-skin friendly colors will be positively received and sought after in 2022.
Matte
Kylie Jenner is paving the way for Matte colors in 2022, having just relaunched her record-breaking beauty brand under the name Kylie Cosmetics. In a way, it’s 2015 all over again, and Matte is back.
Matte colors will have a great 2022, predicted to grow 21.71 percent. Matte products are typically easy to apply, low maintenance, require fewer reapplications, and are perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle (No mirror? No problem). Consumers love Matte lipsticks in particular because they enhance the lip’s natural appearance and look good on any skin tone, something every luxury cosmetic brand should be aiming for.
Plus, as consumers look to find products that keep them feeling moisturized and fresh all day, they’ll want matte products that wear comfortably and don’t dry out their skin.
Nude
Nude takes our penultimate spot, holding a 1.31 percent share of voice and predicted to grow 28.17 percent in 2022. As consumers adjust to pre-pandemic norms, they will be looking for products like this Nude Kylie Lip Kit that fit into their everyday routines. Nude colors are practical, comfortable, and approachable for the typical consumer, and they’re not just limited to beige and light brown!
Nude colors are diverse and come in various shades and finishes, making them suitable for all skin tones. Brands looking to get ahead in 2022 should ensure their product lineups capitalize on consumer interest in finding colors that match or complement their natural skin tones.
However, the palette is diverse. It has components from almost all color shades and tints. For instance, light pink, peach, light brown, light blue, light coral, and so much more give consumers a variety of options.
Red
It’s no surprise to see Red round out the bottom of our predicted winner’s list. There’s really no sizeable competition to the iconic Red lipstick, which holds a massive 40.44 percent share of voice. However, the team here at Simporter predicts the color will experience a modest 4.24 percent growth rate in 2022.
Red may have a stronghold on older generations, but younger consumers prefer a stripped-back look and will be looking for subtler colors and finishes for their daily beauty routines. So, they’ll choose softer, versatile reds like this Benefit Gogotint Cheek & Lip Stain that can be applied to the lips or the cheeks for the perfect rosy glow.
For more insights on luxury cosmetics trends, check out our recent webinar here. If you’re ready to see Simporter AI in action and learn what it can do for you, request a demo on our website.
