# Cosmetic Obscurity As consumers covet unique goods, bizarre personal products rise in popularity. By [Michael Hemsworth](https://www.trendhunter.com/Michael.Hemsworth), Contributing Researcher | Published Oct 29, 2014 | Category: [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/style-and-fashion-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/cosmetic-obscurity ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.0/10 - Evidence articles: 5 ## What is the Cosmetic Obscurity trend? **Cosmetic Obscurity:** Consumers are looking to broaden their horizons when it comes to products, which is being acknowledged by brands with obscure cosmetics. This shift towards strange or unappealing products denotes a preference for status over experience for consumers who want to show off originality with their unusual products. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 5 featured examples - Articles from: Sep 27, 2013 to Oct 30, 2014 - Published: Oct 29, 2014 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Tribalism](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/tribalism), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Themes within the Cosmetic Obscurity trend ### Obscure and Bizarre Products Consumers are looking for products that are unusual and strange, denoting a preference for status over experience, creating an opportunity to develop more edgy, off-beat and unique items. ### Food-Based Care Products Using natural and food-based ingredients in skincare and beauty products, such as pomegranates and egg, offers customers a new holistic and organic way to nourish the body and provides companies with an opening to create cruelty-free, vegan beauty lines. ### Unusual Flavors and Ingredients Incorporating unique ingredients in everyday kinds of products, like using alcoholic beverages in hair products and wasabi in toothpaste, provides businesses the chance to create disruptive and eye-catching marketing concepts, enticing and appealing to consumers. ## What the Cosmetic Obscurity trend means for industry ### For Beauty and Personal Care Industry As the trend towards products containing unlikely and exciting ingredients like fleshy fruits, vegetables, and fragrant spices continues, the industry demands innovative and natural personal care and beauty products with appealing, unique marketing claims. ### For Consumer Packaged Goods Industry Consumers are looking for unique consumer packaged goods (CPG) products that offers something that they have never seen before, opening up new avenues for CPG brands to market niche products. ### For Food and Beverage Industry Applying unusual and unexpected ingredients to simple food and beverage items shows the potential to a surge in innovation in the food and beverage industry, with an emphasis on the creation of gourmet and exotic products. ## Trend signals for Cosmetic Obscurity Trend score 4.0 out of 10, from popularity 63%, activity 50%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 63% - Activity: 50% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Cosmetic Obscurity trend 5 featured examples from Sep 27, 2013 to Oct 30, 2014. - [Peculiar Plasticine Perfumes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playdoh): The Demeter Play-Doh Cologne Spray Has a Unique Scent (Category: Fashion) Implication: Creating unconventional scents can tap into niche markets and attract consumers with distinctive tastes. - [Spicy Wasabi Toothpastes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flavored-toothpastes): Wasabi-Flavored Toothpaste Will Definitely Wake You Up in the Morning (Category: Unique) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity to develop new, bold flavors for toothpaste and expand product offerings beyond traditional mint variations. - [Alcoholic Shampoo Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weizen-bier-wheat-shampoo-packaging): Weizen Bier Wheat Shampoo Packaging is Dressed Like Your Favorite Drink (Category: Fashion) Implication: Opportunity for beauty and personal care companies to tap into the trend of using unconventional ingredients in hair grooming products, attracting consumers looking for unique and… - [Bizarre Beer Shampoos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hair-shampoos): The BRÖÖ Hair Shampoos are Infused with Handcrafted Ale (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: There is an opportunity for haircare companies to experiment with new, unique ingredients and develop their own beer-infused hair products to tap into this market. - [Food-Based Skincare](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skinfood-skincare): The Skinfood Skincare Brand Uses Natural Food Items in its Products (Category: Fashion) Implication: Companies in the beauty industry should consider incorporating natural food items into their products to create a new line of organic and food-based skincare. ## Recent trend clusters - [Scaled Restraint](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/small-luxury-watches) (Fashion) - [Sneaker Theater](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sneaker-theater) (Fashion) - [Ritual Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ritual-systems) (Fashion) - [Athletic Styling](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/athletic-styling) (Fashion) ## Trending in Fashion - [Paisley-Shelled Collector Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paisley-shelled-collector-sneakers) - [Fruit-Inspired Digital Watches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/themed-wristwatches) - [Deluxe Beauty Advent Calendars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/classic-and-prestige) - [Modular Winter Wardrobes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moose-knuckles-fallwinter-2026) All articles: [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion)