Your 2023 Summer Beauty Forecast

There's nothing quite like summer... warmer weather, an excuse to count gelato as a meal – and the chance to switch up our beauty to match the season. Think of it like you do your wardrobe; out with the heavy layers and moody tones, in with the lightweight staples and pops of colour.

So, to find out what the hottest trends of SS23/24 will be, we consulted our finest experts – including MECCA Beauty Board members and the founders behind some of our most summer-forward brands, including Samantha Brett of Naked Sundays and Elle Ferguson of ELEFFECT.

Ready to hear their predictions? Dive in…

TikTok’s made them massive this year, and the subtle coverage and skin-improving benefits of tints are basically made for warm weather. As Naked Sundays Founder Samantha Brett says, “People are looking for less layers in their routine, so one product that does it all goes a long way. The go-to summer look will be skin tints, SPF, liquid blush and subtle mascara.”

MECCA Beauty Board member Shivan (who has a sneak peak into all things trending on the MECCA website) agrees: “Horace has been my new obsession. They make skincare easy for all guys, and their new Healthy Glow Fluid is the perfect tint for that instant sunkissed look.

2023 is the year for innovative SPFs so good, you'll actually want to wear them. Number one in our beach bag? Naked Sundays' SPF50+ Hydrating Glow Mist. Not only will it make topping up your sun protection easier than ever (especially over makeup), it will also deliver that coveted J.Lo glow.

Then, change the way you think about body sunscreen with MECCA COSMETICA’s latest launch – the SPF30 Radiant Sun Mousse. An easy (and fun) to apply whipped formula sinks in quickly and delivers a reflective glow.

*Always remember: follow directions for SPF use. Reapply as directed. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. SPF is only one form of sun protection – use in conjunction with protective clothing, hat and eyewear.

For weightless hydration and a long-lasting fragrace, you can't go past a scented body oil. Byredo and Susanne Kaufmann were ahead of the curve; the limited-edition Bregenzerwald Body Oil bottles the former's invigorating fragrance offering with the latter's spa-level body care and instantly made its way onto our wishlist. 

Sangeetha says oils are the next stage of Sol de Janeiro obsession, too: “For a golden hour glow on balmy summer evenings, I like to reach for a body oil like the Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil. It helps to firm skin and it features the scent of the summer!" Or, if you're quick, you might be able to get your hands on this year's most coveted holiday edition: Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540 Shimmering Oil – infused with the iconic fragrance and 24-carat gold (yes, really).

According to Samantha, “We’re seeing a huge trend at Naked Sundays for dewy, hydrated skin with rosy cheeks.” That rosiness is thanks to what might just be the beauty product of the year: blush. This summer, reddish-pink hues are set to take over from bronzer, delivering that accidentally-sat-in-the-sun-too-long look – think: the NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush in 'Insatiable'.

ELEFFECT Founder Elle Ferguson is on board, predicting, “We'll be adding a little blush not only to our cheeks, but also wherever the sun hits – and self-tanning our faces!" That's right, it's the perfect time to embrace TikTok's self-tan contouring hack. So, pick up a bottle of ELLEFECT's The Tan, then read Elle’s full guide on how to do it here!

In a recent brainstorm at MECCA HQ, the lazy girls amongst us (me) were shocked to hear more than one team member describe how they always pack a hair oil in their beach bag to run through their strands before a swim. 

Fragrance, Hair and Education Lead Sangeetha is ahead of the trend: "I pop ARKIVE’s The Good Habit Hybrid Oil into my hair as a pre-swim treatment to protect it from salt and chlorine."