Allergan

The Western beauty world often has its head turned toward the East, and for good reason. When it comes to beauty technology and skincare advancements, Asia is approximately 12 years ahead of the United States. For example, they were the first to introduce eyelash extensions — which is now a booming business — and were way ahead of the game in terms of natural brighteners. As you may know, they also brought us all those alphabet creams (BB, CC and DD).

Naturally, beauty companies based in the West are eager to see what Eastern gurus come up with next. To answer that very question, we went to Dr. Craig Kraffert, president of Korean skincare line Amarte and founder of DermStore.com. Dr. Kraffert is a practicing dermatologist based in California who’s always trying and researching new products and, as a result, has a strong pulse on how Eastern trends manifest stateside.

Here are six trends Dr. Kraffert says to be on the lookout for.

1. Mixologiste — AKA Extreme Multi-functionality

No matter how excellent the product, it’s no longer chic or efficient to have a product that only serves one purpose. Think eye creams or plain old cleansers or moisturizers. “Multi-functionality may have started with BB and CC creams, but now we are seeing Asian manufacturers take inspiration from completely different categories when creating new products,” said Dr. Kraffert. “Think hydrators that address five skin concerns in one, or makeup that’s designed for the face, neck, hands and body.”

2. New Antioxidants

Remember traditional antioxidants such as blueberries and acai? Forget about them. “New, proven antioxidants like gingko nut and bloodroot are emerging on the skin care scene,” said Dr. Kraffert. “Bloodroot has approximately four times the antioxidant capacity of vitamin E.” He also said that ginkgo nut is an uber-exclusive ingredient originally prescribed in The Dongui Bogam — 17th century Korean medicinal text — rich in vitamins C and E with anti-inflammatory properties, that aids fibroblast production of collagen and elastin.” If you’re interested in trying a product with gingko nut extract, check out Amarte’s Eyeconic Eye Cream.

3. Wash and Wear Deep Dermal Fillers

The quest for youthful, radiant skin is a long one. Some products miss the mark, but skincare companies are getting better and better at helping consumers achieve that ageless complexion. According to Dr. Kraffert, the buzz around deep dermal fillers — a big trend in Asia at the moment — is gaining momentum here in the United States. “Allergan has just released Voluma, a thicker and longer lasting hyaluronic acid filler for facial plumping,” he said. “The appeal behind these deep facial fillers is that they correct many signs of aging in an almost undetectable “wash and wear” manner. By replacing facial volume, the face looks much more youthful. Also, as the skin gets gently pulled out it creates a slightly lifted look.”

4. Liquid Free Cleansers

If you’re shaking your head at the thought of a dry cleanser, hear us out. “The newest, most innovative ways to cleanse include powder activated by water and solid sponges made of the Asian-cultivated Konjac root to clean pores sans soap,” said Dr. Kraffert. For example, Amarte’s Daily ExfoliPowder is a refined, daily use exfoliant cleanser that’s completely dry. To use it, all you do is wet your hands and face, shake a little bit of the powder into your hand and then work up a creamy lather. “These unconventional formulas are gaining momentum in the U.S. largely because of their convenience factor. No more worrying about TSA’s three fluid ounce rule.”

5. The Daily Ritual

“Korean women embrace a ritualistic approach to skin care, taking pleasure in a multi-step routine designed to cleanse, hydrate, rejuvenate and protect,” said Dr. Kraffert. To mimic this routine, he said that Korean skin care is sometimes sold as a multi-piece system with each product working harmoniously with the others for the best, combined result. “After a hectic day, many Americans may find that a daily ritual is calming and soothing, and that skin care systems are easier than experimenting with self-made mashups of cleansers, toners, serums and creams.”

6. Double Chin Removal via…Injection

Yep — injections in the chin may very well become a “thing” in the United States sooner than you may think. “The new ATX-101 will likely land in America this year,” said Dr. Kraffert. He explained that ATX-101 is an injection used to treat sub mental fat, which most commonly manifests itself as a double chin. “It could be the latest non-invasive trend in the lineup of no-knife fixes Americans are so crazy about.”

By Wendy Rose Gould