And just like that, the end of 2024 is in sight. But the year's curtain call wouldn't be complete without a look back at its greatest moments. 2024 brought us the Paris Olympics, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, Brat Summer, and, best of all, a slew of industry-shifting beauty products on which we've increasingly come to rely. According to new search and sales data from high street juggernaut Boots, which stocks over 500 beauty and 600 healthcare brands, products encompassing superfood ingredients, blushers, lip balms and hyaluronic acid have been among the year's most in-demand buys.
Grace Vernon, head of global trends & cultural insights at Boots & No7 Beauty Company, explains, 'The lines between beauty and wellness certainly blurred this year, as we saw more product trends that spanned holistically across skincare, haircare, wellness and health. From supplements to skincare, shoppers are more conscious than ever with their purchases as consumers increasingly recognised that beauty is more than skin deep.'
As we became savvier shoppers, much of our purchases were ingredient-focused. In the arena of skin and body care, that meant an uptick in searches for products containing magnesium, a powerhouse mineral for bone health, muscle function and energy levels. In fact, Boots saw 50% YOY volume growth for products within the category, including supplements, lotions and mists. Likewise, hydration hero hyaluronic acid was the most searched skincare ingredient on boots.com, with products like The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, £8.80, earning a top spot. The increasing desire for superfood ingredient-led products allowed K-Beauty to reign supreme thanks to its penchant for innovative formulas and unique ingredients that range from ginseng to green tea and fermented beans. Having added 10 new Korean brands to its shelves this year, Beauty of Joseon's viral Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics, £15.50, emerged the best-selling K-Beauty buy at Boots.
And that's just skin we are talking about. We shopped copious blushers, lip balms, supplements and haircare, too. So much so, the enduring trend for hair skinification ensured Google searches for scalp serums averaged at 30k a month – that's up +99% in the past year alone. Given the search volumes, despite its hefty price tag, it was OUAI's Scalp Serum, £48, that was crowned one of the best-selling premium scalp care products at Boots. And that's just some of the very best products of the year, keep scrolling for more...
Shop: Boots' Best-Selling Beauty Products Of 2024
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With shoppers looking for powerhouse ingredients in their products, mushrooms and super-greens fast-became breakout search categories at Boots and this superfood blend of baobab, apple, kiwi and ginger was a top pick for those focusing on gut health.
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Viral for good reason, this well-loved SPF from breakout K-Beauty brand Beauty of Joseon offers optimal SPF 50+ and PA protection with a lightweight formula (so no greasy feel) and calming ingredients that are perfect for sensitive skin types. You'll be pleased to know it doesn't leave a cast either.
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Its miracle mineral credentials make sense when you consider this single ingredient has been known to work wonders on bone health, muscle function, energy levels as well as skin health. It's no wonder this affordable, one-month supply of supplements has been flying off shelves.
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Lip salves may have become the ultimate flex this year with countless luxurious iterations dropping like hot cakes and Google searches averaging 240k a month (up +38% in the past year), but Boot's take on the must-have accessory went viral and one balm sold every 30 seconds at launch, not bad for £3.
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Hyaluronic acid remained the go-to skin hydrator for 2024, unsurprisingly given its ability to bind and retain water in the skin. But it was The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 30ml Serum that became one of the most sought after hyaluronic acid serums thanks to its inclusion of five forms of hyaluronic acid, which provides hydration at multiple layers to leave skin plump and soft.
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£48 is by no means the cheapest thing to shop at Boots, but this serum has been a best-seller for good reason. The skincare-inspired serum is packed with a cocktail of Siberian ginseng, red clover flower extract and peptides to help balance scalps, prevent shedding and promote thicker, fuller hair.
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia UK's Beauty Writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
