The glass skin trend may still be going strong in 2026, but there is a lot more going on in skin care than just the desire for shine. glass skin trend going strong in skin care than desire for shine
Shift Toward Long-Term Skin Investment
People are more and more skipping over short-lived trends and seeing their routines as a “skinvestment,” focusing on results and long-term benefits, and using gentle but effective formulas. skipping over short-lived seeing their routines focusing on results gentle but effective
A strong skin barrier is important as skin health below the surface becomes more important. strong skin barrier skin health below surface becomes more more important
This change is being called “post-glass skin” or “glass skin 2.0” in 2026. It shows a bigger shift in what people want from skin care and where the industry is going: toward repair, resilience, longevity, and regeneration. post-glass skin or glass skin 2.0 bigger shift in repair resilience longevity
Consumer Behavior and Market Growth
According to Boots’ 2026 Beauty & Wellness Trends Report, 80% of adults are taking a preventative approach to their beauty routines, focusing on consistent, long-term care and maintenance instead of reactive solutions. preventative approach to beauty routines focusing consistent long-term care instead of reactive
In the context of wider beauty and wellness routines that are changing to help people build mental, physical, and skin resilience, it also says that “skin stability is front of mind.” 47% of consumers have changed their routine because of environmental factors and flare-ups. wider beauty and build mental physical skin stability is environmental factors and
According to Euromonitor International, the skin care market grew by 4.5% to US$169.9 billion in 2025. This wasn’t a big deal for the overall category. skin care market grew by 4.5% US$169.9 billion overall category
According to Circana, skin care sales in Europe as a whole showed a similar trend, with a 4.6% increase. However, there were some big differences between regions: France’s sales fell by 4% and the UK’s sales rose by 11%. sales in Europe similar trend with big differences between UK’s sales rose
Mass vs Prestige Skin Care
But if you look more closely at what is causing growth, you will see that mass market skin care is growing much faster than prestige skin care. look more closely causing growth you mass market skin faster than prestige
According to Kantar (52 w/e 4 January 2026), mass skin care sales in the UK went up by 21% and premium skin care sales went up by 7%. mass skin care sales in the went up by premium skin care
Maxwell says that mass brands like Nivea, Garnier, and Simple have been doing very well in the UK over the past year. This is because their science-backed formulas make hero ingredients like peptides, ceramides, and vitamin C much easier for customers to find, and they also cost more than regular mass skin care. mass brands like science-backed formulas make hero ingredients like vitamin C much
Innovation and Prestige Differentiation
With so many brands in the mid- and mass-price range using high-performance ingredients and cutting-edge technologies, prestige brands have to do more to stand out. mid- and mass-price high-performance ingredients and cutting-edge technologies prestige stand out
This is where technologies like L’Oréal’s Wheel of Longevity for Beauty come in. They focus on targeting the root cellular causes of aging to extend the skin cellular health span. The Wheel of Longevity for Beauty uses its proprietary Longevity AI Cloud to analyze over 260 skin longevity biomarkers. This leads to the creation of new products like Lancôme’s Absolue Longevity Soft Cream. technologies like L’Oréal’s root cellular causes Longevity AI Cloud skin longevity biomarkers
Trend 1: Spicules
Exosomes and PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) have become popular ingredients in beauty products over the past year. But in 2026, there will be a new thing on the market that looks like it will take beauty by storm: spicules. popular ingredients in beauty products over new thing on take beauty by
As always, Korea is at the forefront, with a wave of beauty products coming out of the country that contain this ingredient, which comes from marine sponges. Korea is at wave of beauty contain this ingredient marine sponges
People are talking about them on social media because they have effects similar to microneedling. They are often called “microneedling in a bottle” or “liquid microneedling.” talking about them effects similar to microneedling in a liquid microneedling
Trend 2: Skin care that follows a set of rules
The demand for cosmetic surgery and treatments is through the roof, which means that new skin care products and services are becoming available before and after the procedure. demand for cosmetic through the roof new skin care before and after
In 2026, aesthetic medicine is focusing on treatments that work with the body’s own repair systems to make the skin healthier and better at doing its job. aesthetic medicine is body’s own repair make the skin better at doing
Trend 3: Beta-glucan
Along with the general trend toward skin care that focuses on long-lasting effects, people are also putting barrier-supporting and moisturizing formulas at the top of their lists. general trend toward long-lasting effects people barrier-supporting and moisturizing top of their
Beta-glucan is a natural polysaccharide that is found in many fungi, bacteria, and algae. In the medical world, it is known for helping the heart and boosting the immune system. natural polysaccharide that found in many helping the heart boosting the immune
Research shows that this new ingredient could be very useful in skin care for things like reducing inflammation, repairing the skin barrier, moisturizing, and protecting against UV damage. Research shows that new ingredient could repairing the skin protecting against UV
Trend 4: Heroes of optimized ingredients
Beauty lovers love new ingredients, especially for skin care. Beauty lovers love new ingredients especially for skin care love new ingredients
This article talks about how and why the big five hero ingredients—retinol, peptides, vitamin C, ceramides, and niacinamide—are being improved for the newest products. big five hero retinol peptides vitamin being improved for newest products
Trend 5: Skin care based on medicine
Medical science has been a source of new ideas for skin care brands for a long time. Medical science has source of new skin care brands long time
But this is going to the next level in 2026. Medical and surgical technology is inspiring brands like Mantle and Kyomi Skin to make skin care that is better than ever. next level in Medical and surgical inspiring brands like better than ever
