Cosmetics Consumer Insights

Trend - Brands in the skincare space are launching products designed to be refilled with sustainable pods. These pods both enhance sustainability by reducing single-use plastics, while also reducing costs for repeat customers, as they only need to purchase the main product once.

Insight - Consumers with daily skincare routines are continually seeking ways to reduce the costs and environmental impact of their routines without compromising on quality. While many such consumers take advantage of recurring product subscriptions or loyalty programs, not all may feel they use the products enough to get full value out of these systems. Additionally, recurring deliveries of products have large environmental impacts. Brands are addressing these concerns with refillable, sustainable pods.

Trend - Brands across the skinscare industry are releasing products with inherently calming or stress-reducing ingredients. While still only applied to the skin, neuro-active ingredients such as CBD or Neurophroline, reduce mental stresses demonstrably when applied regularly.

Insight - Consumers who engage daily with health and beauty products are acutely aware of the effects of each cream, serum, and moisturizer. These consumers use combinations of products to reduce blemishes, invigorate skin, and boost their confidence in turn. However, these consumers are becoming increasingly aware of products that boast both aesthetic benefits and tangible benefits to physical or mental health. As a result, brands are increasingly investing in multifunctional health-skincare products.

Trend - The concept of psychodermatology has gained traction in the skincare industry, resulting in products that address skin health and mental well-being. This has led to the inclusion of journals alongside skincare products, helping address potential psychological factors contributing to skin concerns.

Insight - Consumers who embrace holistic health practices are often fascinated by the mind-body connection and its effects on skin health. Recognizing this trend, skincare brands are prioritizing the creation of integrated wellness solutions that allow users to seamlessly incorporate these practices into their daily routines. Businesses that cater to the demand for holistic wellness products can appeal to consumers who value products that address both physical and mental well-being.

Trend - Brands across the personal care industry are creating both edible and applied supplements with Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) or Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), which is a precursor to the coenzyme. These chemicals fight cellular decline, promote cell health, and increase metabolism.

Insight - In the health and beauty industry, anti-aging claims and metabolism-boosting claims appear on everything from daily supplements to haircare products. However, with so many products claiming these benefits, it is difficult for consumers to find those that definitively offer these benefits. As a result, many brands across the beauty and personal care industries are turning to chemistry to show that the chemicals in their products are backed by science and demonstrably effective.

Trend - Skincare brands are combining multiple products into single, premium sunscreens to streamline daily routines. These sunscreens double as concealers, and moisturizers, and are often manufactured with organic ingredients, creating a clear value-add for consumers willing to pay a premium.

Insight - Consumers in the beauty space are increasingly prioritizing products with health benefits, particularly those that align with environmentally-conscious values. As awareness of the risks associated with chemical sunscreens increases, so does the preference for products containing non-toxic, reef-friendly components. Brands are adapting by offering multifunctional sunscreens that cater to diverse skin types and provide additional skincare benefits, aligning with such consumer desires.

Trend - Brands are launching products influenced by the "skinimalism" trend, which advocates that a few well-formulated products can be more beneficial than numerous ones with redundant or unnecessary functions. This approach claims to promote radiant skin by preventing skin irritation and product overload.

Insight - With the surge of social media content highlighting "skinimalism" and the adverse effects of excessive skincare, consumers are looking for ways to streamline their routines without compromising skin health. In response, brands are developing products marketed as "multi-use" and "all-in-one," appealing to those who seek alternatives to the myriad products promoted on social media. By emphasizing simplicity and effectiveness, brands can meet the needs of shoppers who reject excessive consumerism.

Trend - Personal care companies are creating haircare products with a larger focus on unique, strong fragrances. The companies aim to increase fragrance customization and variety without compromising on function or price, thus further enabling personal expression through scent

Insight - Consumers that participate in daily health and beauty routines, particularly across the Asia-Pacific regions, are increasingly prioritizing unique fragrances in products. These consumers desire strong fragrances that last throughout the day and complement their personality, as prolonged exposure to the fragrances improves their moods and makes regular tasks more enjoyable. The ideal product for these consumers features a strong fragrance and does not compromise on function or affordability.

Trend - Brands in the personal care space are creating organic sunscreens designed for infant use. These sunscreens are devoid of harmful ingredients and are easy to wash off. These sunscreens are designed to reduce sun damage for infants, preventing skin irritations and ensuring healthy development.

Insight - While sunscreen has always been a popular part of consumers' daily skincare routines in the summer, social media platforms have drawn attention to the damaging effects of the sun, with such videos going viral. Consumers are now more actively wearing sunscreens, while parents ensure their children do the same. With a focus on regions with more sun exposure throughout the year, brands are now releasing specially formulated infant sunscreens for year-round daily use, even outside of the summer.

Trend - Personal care brands are creating leave-in hair treatments designed to detangle, protect, and vitalize hair. The key ingredient is soy protein which has been shown to produce more resilient and healthy hair, resulting in fewer split ends or breakages, particularly for consumers with longer, thicker hair.

Insight - The ever-growing popularity of the self-care and haircare industries has led to products becoming refined and mature, with consumers becoming intimately knowledgeable of commonly-used ingredients and their specific effects, whether in general or to their specific bodies. The sophistication of the industry leads consumers to opt for more organic ingredients with proven positive benefits. Brands are recognizing these desires and are turning to natural inclusions such as soy protein.

Trend - Cosmetics brands are creating haircare products with microbiome-supporting formulas. By including probiotics, prebiotics, and stem-cell supporting ingredients, these products are designed to provide both a balanced pH level and a natural protective barrier for the scalp.

Insight - Health and beauty consumers, particularly from younger generations, are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of preventative care. This leads to practices such as wearing sunscreen, moisturizing, and using organic products, to get ahead of skin imperfections. This has led to these consumers recognizing the importance of scalp care in terms of healthy hair development. Brands are addressing the needs of these groups with scalp microbiome-supporting care products.