Back-to-School Beauty & Trend Forecasting with Gen Z Expert Casey Lewis
Sep 8, 2023
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Casey Lewis, author of the Substack newsletter "After School," dives into the dynamic world of Gen Z beauty trends. She discusses the viral nature of quirky trends like pumpkin-spice makeup and shares how social media, especially TikTok, shapes young people's fashion choices. The conversation explores the nostalgia that influences today’s beauty landscape and the importance of authentic representation. Casey also reveals her personal beauty obsessions, highlighting top products for back-to-school season.
Casey Lewis emphasizes the rapid evolution of teen media from traditional magazines to social platforms, reshaping youth cultural expression.
The impact of social media on beauty standards is profound, often leading to detrimental comparisons while highlighting the acceptance of imperfections.
Nostalgia plays a pivotal role in current beauty trends, with past styles being reimagined to resonate with today's Gen Z consumers.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Youth Culture and Media
The discussion focuses on the transformative changes in youth culture and media, particularly for Gen Z, emphasizing the evolution from traditional teen magazines to digital platforms. The guest, Casey Lewis, highlights her background from working at Teen Vogue to creating her Substack newsletter, After School, which tracks contemporary trends affecting young people. She notes that while the essence of teen identity formation remains, the mediums through which young people express and discover culture have shifted dramatically. With platforms like TikTok fueling trends, the immediacy and reach of youth media has accelerated, prompting brands to adapt quickly to maintain relevance amongst young consumers.
The Impact of Social Media on Beauty Standards
The conversation acknowledges the overwhelming influence of social media on beauty standards among today’s youth, particularly through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Younger generations now find themselves bombarded with deeply curated images of beauty, leading to comparisons that can be detrimental to self-esteem. The guests discuss how youth today may turn to platforms for information about beauty products and trends, while also touching on the psychological toll that image-centric culture can impose. This discussion includes the growing acceptance of imperfections and the recognition of beauty brands that address the diverse needs of Gen Z's skincare and makeup routines.
Nostalgia's Role in Contemporary Trends
A significant aspect of the dialogue centers on nostalgia, exploring its role in shaping current youth trends and product preferences. The guest reflects on the appeal of vintage beauty products and the resurgence of styles from previous decades, explaining how nostalgia can provide comfort amidst modern pressures. The mention of nostalgic items like Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers highlights how past trends are repackaged to fit today's marketplace while resonating with consumers. This cyclical nature of fashion and beauty indicates a longing for simpler times, driven by the fast-paced environment of current youth culture.
How Brands Engage with Gen Z Consumers
The discussion sheds light on the unique strategies brands are employing to connect with Gen Z, emphasizing community building and authenticity in marketing approaches. For example, beauty brands are leveraging social media influencers to create relatable content that resonates with young audiences adequately. The guest outlines how brands like Bubble Skincare and Rare Beauty build strong connections with their consumers by responding to their feedback and aspirations, showcasing products that feel personalized and community-oriented. This insight underlines the importance of understanding and adapting to the shifting preferences of a generation that values real connections over traditional advertising.
The Continuous Cycle of Beauty Trends
The cyclical nature of beauty trends is a major theme, emphasizing how styles and products often re-emerge every few years. The guests discuss how seemingly new concepts, like 'clean girl' aesthetics or faux freckles, are often rebranded iterations of past styles rather than entirely fresh ideas. In this context, they highlight the importance of recognizing how these trends reflect broader cultural sentiments and consumer behavior patterns. As beauty media continues to evolve, understanding the origins and adaptations of these trends can provide insights into what products resonate with current youth and the narrative behind them.
Casey Lewis, author of After School, a Substack newsletter about youth culture and Gen Z trends, has made a career of talking to (and about) teens and young adults. She’s here to explain why those ridiculously named beauty trends (pumpkin-spice makeup anyone?) go viral and the larger cultural implications of micro-trends; which brands and products everyone wants this back-to-school season; the speed of today’s trend cycle; how teen media has evolved in the past 20 years; the draw of nostalgia—and the beauty products she’s personally obsessed with.