In a polarised society, the meaning of gender is in flux. People want to be liberated from outdated norms – but many hold on to the gender binary as a source of stability in an uncertain world. How can brands navigate the changing gender landscape without leaning on stereotypes?

Diverse representation is an expectation, but as individuals no longer allow themselves to be defined in singular terms, there's mounting pressure on brands to understand and sensitively reflect how the intersections between race, gender, class, and ability impact people's everyday lives.

Harry Styles has made a foray into the beauty industry with his own make-up brand, Pleasing. It offers gender-neutral and sustainable products that aim to enhance an individual’s natural self – in keeping with the inclusivity and diversity that many people now expect from the beauty industry.

According to the annual Pinterest Trends report, maximalist beauty is slated to boom in 2022. This uptick in maximalism is a subset of an indulgent mindset, resulting in people gravitating toward more expressive forms of beauty as a result of rejecting minimalism's popularity.

How is skincare helping people destress? What’s driving the mass shift towards clean and ethical beauty? How is the industry attempting to decolonise its practices? In this part of the 2022 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about how people are seeking new meaning in beauty rituals.

For luxury fashion brands that have long relied on their prestige and exclusivity to court new customers, change is afoot. As they face up to a pandemic-induced recession and young shoppers who are digitally-savvy and socially conscious, how are they adapting to earn and maintain loyalty?