Download the full 2026 Skincare Industry Trends Report here.

This free industry report outlines industry perspectives and expert advice from our team of health and beauty industry consultants. You can view an excerpt of the report below, and if you’d like to discuss any of the above trends or other challenges in the skincare space, connect with our team today.

Key Skincare Industry Trends

The skincare landscape of 2026 reflects a broader transition in how consumers define and relate to their health. Innovation depends on trust and personalization as much as it does on product performance. AI and eco-design approaches will continue to reshape the category, rewarding companies that balance scientific progress with ethical and environmental purposes.

The most successful brands will view skincare not as a product category but as a platform for wellbeing and education. Connecting data-driven insights with authenticity and measurable outcomes will set the direction for the next year of growth.

Clarkston’s health and beauty industry consultants have highlighted the top skincare trends that businesses should consider and keep top-of-mind throughout the year:

1. Skin Health as Overall Health
2. Personalized and Predictive Health
3. Science-Backed Beauty and Dermatologist Partnerships
4. Eco-Design and the “Refill Everything” Economy
5. Expansion of Influencer-Led Brands

Trend 1: 

Skin Health as Overall Health

Skin health is being redefined as an extension of total wellness. The line between beauty and health continues to fade as consumers connect their skin with diet, sleep, emotional well-being, and stress management.  

Collagen and probiotic blends now appear in both topical and ingestible formats, reflecting the growing connection between inner health and outer results. The edible beauty infusions market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 12.6% through 2035, with collagen support representing more than half of the segment. 

This approach has reshaped consumer behavior. Shoppers are moving away from instant cosmetic fixes and prioritizing lasting vitality and microbiome balance. Language and messaging are also evolving. Brands are replacing superficial claims with education on the microbiome and ingredient transparency. Scientific literacy has become a driver of trust as consumers seek to understand not just what products contain but how they work. 

Companies that merge skincare with wellness principles and data-backed efficacy will strengthen their relevance in 2026. Success in the skincare industry will depend on translating health science into accessible, results-oriented routines that reflect the consumer’s broader wellbeing goals. 

Trend 2:

Personalized and Predictive Health

Advances in technology are making personalization a defining feature of skincare. Smart devices and AI-driven diagnostics can create routines that respond to each user’s skin, environment, and habits. These tools apply machine learning to analyze imaging data and recommend adaptive formulations that change with time and lifestyle. 

Data analytics is equally important in shaping product design. Insights on climate, region, and skin diversity allow brands to refine formulations and deliver precision-based solutions. One-third of beauty companies now offer skin or color matching, an increase since 2024.  

La Mer’s AI skin diagnostic system and Kylie Cosmetics’ digital shade finder illustrate how personalization is moving from luxury to mainstream adoption, as 74% of consumers seek products tailored to their individual needs. Genetic profiling is also helping brands move one step further by mapping specific single nucleotide polymorphisms to anti-aging ingredients and compatibility profiles.  

Even packaging reflects this shift toward clinical precision. Brands are embracing clean, minimal aesthetics with dosage-style labels and neutral color palettes to signal science-backed design. As personalization becomes central to skincare, the ability to responsibly manage consumer data and deliver measurable improvement will determine which brands lead the market. 

Continue reading by downloading the full report below.

Download the Full 2026 Skincare Industry Trends Report Here

Read last year’s Skincare Industry Trends Report here.

Contributions from Hannah Yang