Why quiet luxury is this year’s most exciting beauty mood

Quiet luxury has been gently guiding our sartorial choices for some time now – be it that soft cashmere sweater (nonchalantly slung just-so) to how you spruce up your sitting room (with a tactically placed burnt sienna cushion or two) – from classic silhouettes to sustainable craftsmanship, muted opulence is very much en and in Vogue. 

But what of beauty? While stealth wealth may have reigned supreme in fashion and decor circles, the beauty mood had felt comparatively showy – until now. 

Heralding a new, low-key approach to luxury beauty (think simplified skincare, single scents and minimalist makeup, all draped in timeless, elegant designs) 2024's biggest beauty trend embodies quality over quantity. Elegant basics – and the right products, used in the right way. Put simply:

Say goodbye to that 10-step skincare routine – minimalist skin is in. Keep it simple with single ingredients and multitasking moisturisers from prescriptive brands that work. From a stripped-back, 3-step (cleanse/treat/spf) routine by day, to a more mindful evening wind down routine, quiet luxury is ageless – prioritising skin health from brands who deliver minimalist design, and maximum results.

With a slew of multi-use skin-scalp-hair oils, multi-styling products and 4-in-1 treatments hitting the market – all of them promising happier, healthier-looking hair – it’s fair to say quiet luxury is big news in hair care too. Longing for a less-is-more approach? These expert-approved hair care heroes promise high-impact, luxurious-looking locks, with minimal fuss: 

Multi-taskers rejoice! Be it a blush, bronze, conceal or highlight, 3-in-1 ‘It’ sticks are having a moment – great news for those looking to Marie Kondo their makeup routine. Want to look (and feel) a little fancy? Keep makeup simple with barely-there bronze, a natural feathered brow, a bitten lip and a curl of berry-brown mascara. And if you love colour? Think earthy and opulent, plus a red lip that’ll complement your complexion year-round. When it comes to quiet beauty makeup, the trick is to enhance your natural self – you, on your best day.

Perfumes that whisper quiet luxury are sophisticated in trail, refined in form and feel undeniably decadent with every spray. These are the ones to make you feel – and smell – powerful and pulled together, stat – on big days, and those days when you want to feel a lil’ luxe. Tip: add a spritz to your bath too, for a seriously swanky soak.

Quiet luxury is a mood – an opportunity to get more holistic with your self-care moments. For a more fulfilling routine, ditch the loud labels and shouty brands in favour of Sunday strolls, decadent diffusers and sound baths – washed down with an indulgent bedtime routine that's packed with premium products designed to still a busy mind.