I recently attended a Priceline media event where we were treated to a preview of what was coming to Australia’s leading health and beauty store in the next 6 months. Here’s what caught my eye…

Trend 1: Really Nifty Packaging

I love a good product, and that includes the packaging, which I think is really, really underrated as part of the whole experience. Luckily a bunch of new products also take this approach! Some of these innovations are so simple yet so handy that I’m surprised they’re new at all.

I’m particularly impressed by Bourjois Paris, a French brand under the Coty umbrella that I’ve tended to overlook in the past. Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara ($23) has a triangular barrel that won’t roll off your table, with a magnifying mirror on the side. If you place it just below your eye, you can see exactly how much mascara you’ve applied to every single upper lash. The mascara itself is pretty awesome at holding a curl (though I’ve only tried it once so far so I’m withholding my verdict), but this mirror is the bomb. I’m going to be using this mirror with every mascara from now on.

Bourjois are also launching Palette Les Nudes ($28), a pretty eyeshadow palette, but the drawcard for me is that it has a large swivelling mirror that stays at whatever angle you put it at. Why don’t more palettes do this? I’m sick of mirrors flopping around flaccidly!

There’s also Blistex Pearl ($5.95), a lip balm with an eos-like dome that you can apply to both lips at once. The cool thing is that the flip lid swivels around the rest of the balm and stays attached, so theoretically you can open it with one hand if you’re really coordinated. If you’re not, it means you won’t drop the lid (or at least you’ll drop the whole thing instead).

I’ve already reviewed Cinch Face Cheat ($39.95), a moisturiser/primer/serum in a handy spray format that I’m still finding really handy for when I’m feeling too lazy for multiple steps/. Hask Greek Yogurt shampoo ($19.99) has what seems to me like cool packaging for the sake of cool packaging – the inner white tube dispenses “yogurt” while the outer clear tube dispenses “blueberry sauce”, which looks really cool coming out but I’m not sure it contributes much else.

Another simple but nifty product that isn’t really packaging, but didn’t really belong anywhere else, is the new Real Techniques Bold Metals Diamond Sponge. Yes, it’s a makeup sponge cut into a slightly different shape, but hear me out. The flat facets are great for quickly applying makeup to flat areas like your cheeks, while the pointy tip is good for getting into nooks and crannies. I’d love a round surface as well for blending, but I’m not sure how they’d make that aesthetically pleasing.

Yet another simple but game-changing innovation: Waxaway’s Salon Pro Mini Roller Wax Heater comes with a micro USB port! No more worrying about special cables going missing or breaking. I wish I could impose this on every rechargeable product from now on.

Trend 2: High-Tech Nerdy Skincare and More

Cosmeceuticals have been a buzzword for about 20 years, but these high-tech innovations have moved out of clinics to become the top skincare sub-category at Priceline. Anti-aging peptides are everywhere in brands like Dr LeWinn’s, FreezeFrame, Neostrata, RemeScar and Nip+Fab, and even pop up in a Models Prefer primer. I’m particularly excited about more Deciem products hitting Priceline. New products are joining the Hylamide and Chemistry ranges, but more importantly, The Ordinary is finally landing in April! This brand is famous overseas for their high-tech products at low prices – in Australia, they’ll be very affordably priced between $8.80 and $24.90. Reviews coming soon.

Korean-inspired skincare is also going to be big, with overnight masks and sheet masks getting more shelf space (although the more exotic ingredients seem to be missing!). Schwarzkopf are also launching their Omegaplex-containing hair products for salon results at home. This is one of the latest in the Olaplex-inspired ingredients ranges. I haven’t looked closely at how it works yet, but I believe the active ingredient is  amodimethicone/morpholinomethyl silsesquioxane copolymer.

Trend 3: Glow, Illumination, Strobing, Brightness…

Makeup-wise, it’s all about glowing, luminous skin. Australis have a range of strobing powders ($14.95) and liquids ($19.95) coming out this month to match any complexion, while NYX as always have you covered with any makeup trend. Essence also have a pretty illuminating trio ($8.20) if you want to try out the look on a budget. More foundations and BB creams with shimmer already in them are popping up as well, like Nude by Nature’s Sheer Glow BB ($29.95). On the flip side, matte lipstick is still going strong.

Trend 4: Micellar Water Is Here to Stay

Micellar water, which essentially turns any tissue or cotton pad into a makeup cleansing wipe, isn’t going anywhere. More brands are bringing them out, including A’kin (14.95 for 100 mL). La Roche-Posay are launching 3, designed for different skin types ($25.95 for 200 mL). These will be joining the micellar waters already in Priceline, such as those from Swisse, Garnier, Simple, Sukin, and the original from Bioderma.

What beauty trends are you excited about in 2017? Share your thoughts below!

These products were provided for editorial consideration. Lab Muffin was invited to this event, but was not obliged to post about it (though she got too excited about it not to). This post also contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.