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Last year, on a whim, I quit caffeine. I don’t remember the exact reason, but I remember the first few days of headaches and fatigue sans matcha. Thankfully, my cravings are long behind me, and when reflecting on the last year, I thought—what small change can I make this year that could shift everything? It makes sense that my word for 2024 is curiosity, and I’m excited to see what I’ll love, grow out of, and fall into in the year ahead. Of course, as a beauty editor, I’m also curious about the 2024 beauty trends that will impact our daily routines and rituals in the year ahead.

2024 Beauty Trends You’re About to See Everywhere

From 90s grunge to Y2K kitsch, trends often influence how we understand and reflect on different periods in our lives. We associate certain aesthetic choices with our life experiences. Looking through old pictures can be like watching our own personal eras tour. We remember who we were with different hair, a different makeup routine, or when we (all) inevitably over-plucked our eyebrows.

We can’t predict what this year will bring, but we can pinpoint the 2024 beauty trends you’ll be seeing everywhere. Curious? Read on.

Trending Skincare Products

You’d think skincare routines are a constant. Sure, some treat theirs like a predictable ritual immune to the influence of the trend cycle. But that’s far from the truth. Skincare trends are among the most volatile. With new discoveries, technologies, and even application methods constantly circulating the internet, it can be difficult to cut out the noise.

As a beauty editor, I’m eager to try every new product I can get my hands on. I’ve discovered niche ingredients I can’t live without, but I’ve also made a slew of mistakes so you don’t have to. With this year’s latest skincare innovations vying for space in your vanity, these are the trends worth trying out.

Science-Backed Skincare

Is 2024 the year we sever our attachment to social media skincare trends? As trust wanes on heavily-produced before and after skincare videos, many people are going back to basics—and trusting their dermatologists. Skincare made or backed by science and experts is going to outshine pretty packaging this year.

Skin Streaming

A new take on skin minimalism (aka ‘skinimalism‘), skin streaming refers to streamlining your routine to its essentials. The basics according to skin streaming include a cleanser, an antioxidant serum, a moisturizer, and a sunscreen. Though I’m all for whimsical products like my skin milks and hydrogel face masks, skin streaming is more attainable and affordable. Whether you pare down permanently or try it when your skin is irritated, this is a TikTok trend we can get behind.

Gentle Exfoliation

Over-exfoliation is over. The 2024 beauty trends forecast favors a protected skin barrier. But this doesn’t mean you have to throw out all your peels and tonics—just rethink your approach. Instead of reaching for the formulas with the highest acid percentage, evaluate which formulations are best for your skin and skincare concerns. Choose between AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs discerningly and practice gentle exfoliation a few times a week instead of every night. Your skin barrier will thank you.

Facial Massages

The best beauty routines are the ones that feel like a wellness ritual instead of a chore. Some days I can barely muster up the energy to wash my face, let alone go through the motions of a tedious routine. But no matter how tired I am, I always feel better after giving myself a facial massage.

The simple ritual helps with lymphatic drainage and facial sculpting while also relaxing my muscles (who else holds all their tension in their jaw?) and reminding me to be more present. This year, facial massages you can do with just your hands will be all the rage. I still love all my gadgets and gua sha, but a quick massage with warm hands is so much more accessible.

Hand and Neck Care

Your hands and neck are the first places to show signs of aging. So even if you apply skincare and sunscreen to your face diligently, you’re probably forgetting these key areas. Good news: there’s a new class of skincare products made to protect your hands and neck with powerful ingredients like collagen and retinol. And this year, you’ll be seeing them everywhere.

SPF Reapplication

Speaking of protecting your skin, there’s no better force against the elements than SPF. But even if you lather yourself with SPF50 before leaving the house, remember to reapply. Let 2024 be the year you top up your sun protection every two hours. From SPF makeup powders to sunscreen sticks, there are options for all lifestyles. Remember, the best sun protection is the one you’ll actually wear— and reapply.

The Makeup Looks You’ll Love

Whether you’re switching up your daily look or wanting to experiment with something bold, makeup trends are the place to showcase your creativity.

Over the past few years, makeup has seen a shift. Instead of using it to cover up our insecurities, makeup has become an exciting form of self-expression. In this spirit, celebrity makeup artists and runway looks have encouraged creativity—adding a pop of color here and a new shade there. These are the 2024 beauty trends the makeup industry can’t get enough of.

Bring on the Blush

Whether you call this the Strawberry Girl aesthetic or the Sabrina Carpenter look, participating in this winter’s biggest makeup trend means piling on the blush. Exaggerate the apples of your cheeks and the top of your nose with a heavy wash of red or pink pigments. The dramatic contrast works even better if you keep the rest of the look natural. I’ve always said my ideal vacation makeup is nothing but sunscreen with a lip and cheek multi-stick, so I’m ready for this trend to take over and evolve throughout the year.

Spider Lashes

Spider lashes are the 2024 version of Twiggy’s signature 60s look. It’s achieved by using mascara to create distinct, spider-like lashes. Hot tip: high-quality mascara is the key to achieving this look without clumping.

Permanent Freckles

Faux freckles have been an increasingly popular makeup trend in recent years. Now, following other permanent makeup trends like lip blushing and micro-blading, you can get permanent freckles with a quick trip to the salon instead of laying out in the sun. While I’ve been seeing this online everywhere, I’ll be keeping tabs to see if this one takes off in real life—or if people will stick to drawing on freckles with liquid liner.

Lots of Lip

Lip plumpers, lip filler, lip stains, oh my! The beauty industry can’t get enough of lip trends. In 2024, expect more fun takes on lip looks this year. “Hyaluronic acid lips” (using hyaluronic acid under your favorite lip balm) is the trending natural alternative to lip plumpers. And new shades of lip gloss and lip oils keep hitting the shelves. Right now, everyone is wearing berry-toned lips and the brown “latte makeup” trend also seems to be holding strong.

Trends to Keep Hair Healthy in 2024

We all know the feeling of looking in the mirror and asking ourselves: Should I get bangs? Should I cut off all my hair? While taking a big risk with your hair can sometimes pay off, I’ve found it’s usually better to consult my hair stylist before making any rash decision. So when approaching 2024 beauty trends, we’re sticking to smaller shifts and focusing on making our hair as healthy as it can be.

Two-Tone Hair

A step down from 2023’s Gemini hair, two-tone hair refers to different ways of incorporating another shade into your hair. This can be highlights, ombre, or shattered roots, and it’s often a more natural contrast that gives your hair dimension without risking too much regret.

Nighttime Hair Rituals

Your haircare routine doesn’t end after you rinse and repeat. The truth is, healthy hair is made in your sleep. 2024 is the year of incorporating hair rituals into our nighttime routines. Using natural ingredients like hair oiling or rice water sprays is one option, so is wrapping your hair in silk or using a satin pillow.

Side Part

Will 2024 be the end of the middle part? Side parts are the most surprising comeback of the year. Over the past few years, middle parts reigned with sleek, low-maintenance hairstyles. But blowouts are back, and with bouncier hair comes the dramatic side part. Now the ultimate question: do you part your hair on the right or left?

Whimsical Accessories

Call it a symptom of the pandemic, but hair accessories over the past few years have been very functional. Don’t get me wrong. I love the practicality of a claw clip and a headband. But the recent surge in ribbons and bows reminded me of a time when hair trends were just pretty. Pretty and impractical. Whimsical and over the top. That’s the vibe for hair accessories in 2024.

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared an update about what’s happening over at Casa Zuma. The reason? Well, turns out that running a direct-to-consumer products brand while also running this website makes for a really busy schedule. It doesn’t leave as much time as I’d like for reflection—but so much has been happening behind the scenes that I had to pop in and share a few summer updates with you guys.

First, a quick recap of the last 8 months since launch—it’s been a whirlwind. I’ve met countless incredible makers and artists, packed hundreds of orders with our team, designed packaging, acted as product designer/chief marketing officer/customer service rep—it’s been a crazy busy time but so inspiring and fun. I dove in headfirst, and though it sometimes feels like a lot, I also feel like I’m right where I need to be.

Do we have it all figured out? Not even close—but my intention for this brand is to bring you guys the most special, inspiring, creative pieces that elevate your everyday. And that pursuit has meant that, at times, I’ve had to let go of perfection, knowing that we’ll keep dialing it in as we go. As with any new business, it’s required a lot of patience and learning to trust the process. One of the biggest challenges of working with handmade goods from countries around the world is that lead times can be long—we’re working directly with our artisans to design and develop new pieces that are exclusive to Casa Zuma, so the journey from concept to actually having the product in hand is a months-long process.

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SO, the products in our summer collection are items I’ve been working on and waiting for for months, and I can’t wait to finally show you! Here are my top 7 picks from our spring collection. Head over to CasaZuma.com to shop them all today.

Solstice Mugs (online today!)

Aaah I have been waiting to share our newest mug with you guys! Our first mug sold out incredibly fast, so I couldn’t be more excited to share the newest in our collection, The Solstice Mug. Thrown by hand in Los Angeles by our friends at LA Clay, this is the cozy, no-handle mug I reach for to start (or end) my day—it’s just perfect. I even use the large size as a pen holder on my desk. They’re online today, so grab yours before this first drop sells out.

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Found Dough Bowls

I’ve collected vintage wooden dough bowls myself for years, and they’re one of the items in my home you guys ask me about all the time. So, I’m thrilled to finally bring you these one-of-a-kind hand-carved dough bowls made of reclaimed wood. I use this as a catch-all for keys in the entryway, or I fill it with citrus for a simple centerpiece. This is the time to embrace a wabi-sabi aesthetic—every single one of these is different, so embrace the element of surprise!

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Sharing Bowl (online today!)

Our new ceramic serving bowl was inspired by the one I use almost every night on the dinner table for grains or roasted veggies, served family-style. Handmade in Los Angeles by our friends at LA Clay, it’s perfectly sized for sharing any side dish. These are really special with a beautiful speckling in the glaze that I just adore.

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Casa Zuma Linen Apron

We’ve been working on our signature linen apron for awhile, and now—I basically live in this one. Oversized front pockets house tongs and towels, and the Japanese-style crossback keeps it simple—no ties or buckles to deal with. Handmade by artisans in Lithuania, this 100% linen crossback apron is thick enough to fully protect from stains and spills while keeping you breezy enough for summer nights.

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Sharing Platter (Online Today!)

Our new handmade ceramic serving platter is made in Los Angeles by our friends at LA Clay, and it’s probably the most versatile serving piece in my kitchen. It’s perfectly sized for roast chicken, grilled fish, and veggies—and it also happens to make a great platter for warm chocolate chip cookies. The three muted colors are all pretty perfect, but the robin’s egg blue especially makes me swoon.

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Linen Table Throw in “Natural Sand”

Meet the newest color in our incredibly popular linen table throw: Natural Sand (aka my new favorite!) It’s ethically-made in Lithuania of heavyweight linen, and we designed it to toss casually over any-sized table. I usually embrace the linen’s natural wrinkles for a look that’s laid back and not at all fussy.

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Sabré Flatware in Ivory

Since you guys love our teak flatware as much as I do, I’ve been dying to introduce a new color to the collection—meet our new Ivory Sabré Flatware! These are made in France, and for those of you who can’t quite get on board with a wood-handle silverware set, this durable acrylic handle is for you. They come in a set of four (one full place setting), and embody the casual approach to setting the table that is so my vibe.

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Emily Post’s presence was felt throughout my childhood home (my mom displayed her etiquette bible proudly on our bookshelf). From how we set the table to dinner party etiquette to the respect we showed one another—these “rules” guided much of my younger life. They’ve also played a key role in who I’ve grown up to be. Yes, while you might be rolling your eyes at the idea of etiquette—and an elementary-age girl taking so much interest in the subject—it’s back in a big way. And because we’re all craving more gatherings, connection, and togetherness in 2023, knowing your dinner party etiquette is more important now than ever.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

Dinner Party Etiquette: Everything You Need to Know for 2023

In the words of etiquette expert Heather Wiese, etiquette “is a path to compassion, consideration, and even empathy.” When posited that way, how could you not see the need for more etiquette in our world today?

To get a better idea of what’s expected of us (both as guests and as hosts), I chatted with Heather about all things etiquette. We spoke about what the concept means in 2023, how to navigate hostess gifts for every occasion, and the complex matter of dietary preferences. Be sure to read to the end—Heather’s sharing what’s in and what’s out for perfecting your dinner party etiquette.

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“Etiquette” in this day and age can seem outdated. What does it mean for you in 2023?

This is a great question. What’s outdated about etiquette is the idea that etiquette is outdated. I love that there’s a new buzz around reformatting our ideas and ideals of protocol. Behavior is the elephant in the room no one can avoid. We all might as well harness it and learn to handle it well. Modern etiquette guidelines are the tools you need to realize what isn’t typically obvious to you. Frankly, these revelations make the difference between being perceived as gracious and impressive or possibly lacking in an ability to relate or conduct yourself well in a given situation.

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How can etiquette be used as a tool to help us act more respectfully and thoughtfully toward others?

Reprogram your idea of etiquette. It’s a word many of us need to reconsider and redefine in our minds in order to see its real value. If you use etiquette to feel more elite or one-up someone, you’ve missed the boat completely (and you can assume everyone saw the big splash into a self-absorbed abyss). Etiquette is a path to compassion, consideration, and even empathy when used as intended.

Reprogram your idea of etiquette. It’s a word many of us need to reconsider and redefine in our minds in order to see its real value.

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What are some good examples of host gifts to bring to a dinner party? Do you always have to bring a gift?

The key phrase here was “dinner party.” Yes—always contribute. If you’re helping with the dinner itself, there might be something small in addition you can bring that says, “I appreciate you hosting.” However, when you’re arriving as a carefree guest being served, a modest but thoughtful gift is a big YES.

I’ll give you a few scenarios from my past few weeks. Over the holiday, I was invited to my parents’ friends for a casual dinner and football-watching. They made dinner. He has a wine collection I’d be intimidated to grace with my last-minute local purchase. Instead, I brought a pretty desk calendar from my collection.

There really are only two rules: consider the host, contribute something material in some way.

I’ve picked up some funny cocktail napkins, a nice candle, and some gourmet chocolates on different occasions for similar parties. Last week I was invited to the home of someone I don’t know well. I had no idea of their style. I grabbed a gift tag from my stash and a fresh orchid on the way to the dinner party. Last night I headed out last-minute to a friend’s house for an impromptu dinner. I grabbed a bottle of wine from my stash so I didn’t show up empty-handed. There really are only two rules: consider the host, contribute something material in some way.

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Dietary preferences are so common these days. What are some ways to navigate this as a guest? What about if you’re the host?

If you’re the guest and you have true dietary restrictions, you’ve been doing this dance far longer than any of us have been commenting on the subject. I commend you for showing up and doing what you can to be social and relatively discrete with a difficult situation. Everyone I’ve encountered with these issues has always handled it so well. They contact the host ahead, sometimes bring their own food, and put everyone at ease as they navigate their critical musts. Seeing this done graciously is truly impressive.

Hosts, it’s always good to ask if anyone has any dietary limitations and if you’re feeling accommodating if anyone has any preferences—although the latter is not necessary. If you do have someone who requires special food handling, ask their advice and take it. Take it as a chance to learn from someone’s experiences.

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It’s 2023—what’s in and what’s out in the world of dinner party etiquette?

What’s in:

1. Good manners and thoughtfulness. Knowing how to set the table isn’t out of style by any means. If you’re truly into entertaining, knowing some modern trends to offer up is always good.
2. Know the source. Growing sustainably, responsibly, locally—these are all growing in popularity and they are great dinner party conversation. Be ready for interesting meals that bring conversation to the table.
3. Mocktails. That’s right! They aren’t just for moms-to-be anymore. Creative juices and flavor are flowing and so fun to make. There’s now a trendy take on being healthier, pacing yourself better, or simply avoiding alcohol altogether.
4. Mushrooms, roots, and foraging. Unique fruits aren’t out altogether, but the earthy elements and backwoods fare are having their day.
5. Experiences. Maybe it’s because we’re all out of our cages with a new view on life and friends and celebrating. Whatever the reason, planning out themes, bringing in a pro, or creating an experiential environment is definitely having a moment.
6. Etiquette! No, really. People are arming themselves with civility and modern manners for no other reason, just to have an enjoyable night away from the norm. Come looking educated in this little movement with questions to make conversation like: How do you know the host? How do you like to spend your free time? Do you get to travel or if you could, where would you love to go? Are you watching a good series or reading a good book?

What’s out:

In general, a dinner party is about people gathering and having a great time. These are the buzz-kills you should always avoid, especially now.

1. Bringing bought food when everyone else has contributed a homemade dish.
2. Bringing your complaints or divisive conversations to the party.
3. Cooking with canned, preservative-loaded foods.
4. Talking to only the people you know and not asking questions to learn about new subjects or people (it’s just a few hours, you can do it!).
5. Bringing up how much something costs or how much someone, including yourself, makes.
6. Arriving early. Give your hosts time to do their thing. Don’t show up early and cut their timeline short.
7. Arriving fashionably rudely late. Let’s be real, dinner parties aren’t business meetings—unless they sort-of are. A good guideline is 5-10 min grace from the host’s recommended start time.