Mintel has announced three key trends that will impact the global beauty and personal care (BPC) industry in 2025 and beyond.
In the future, expect AR glasses to become integral to daily routines while innovative ingredients like glycoproteins will be derived from lobsters. Skincare that adjusts to varying climate conditions or deodorants that release odour-neutralising molecules based on body temperature.
(My) Knowledge is Power
In 2025, consumers will no longer work hard on their beauty routines but rather work smarter, repurposing products like self-tanners as bronzers or using Vaseline for skin ‘slugging’, maximising their effectiveness with minimal effort.
Expect a surge in devices that offer on-the-spot analysis and results, empowering users to make informed decisions instantly. As Gen Alphas (born 2010-25) reach adulthood, their comfort with AI and virtual experiences will transform the beauty industry. AR glasses will become integral to daily routines, offering real-time guidance for makeup application.
Beauty brands will begin to market products as health-focused, addressing concerns from parents and institutions over younger generations’ beauty obsessions. As medical aesthetics (invasive and noninvasive procedures) become mainstream, products will be designed for pre-and post-procedure care, ensuring consumers achieve optimal results in a rapidly ageing society.
Consumers will take control of their routines by hacking traditional practices, embracing biotech innovations and leveraging AI for tailored, results-oriented beauty, emphasising individuality and long-term skin health.
Turning the Tide
Consumers are demanding products that deliver on performance and prioritise environmental responsibility. The beauty industry is heading towards groundbreaking sustainability initiatives. Brands will explore solutions rooted in the soil, leveraging regenerative farming and sustainable fishing practices.
Innovative ingredients like glycoproteins derived from lobsters will become more common, offering high-performance benefits while supporting marine conservation.
As precision fermentation and vertical farming become mainstream, beauty brands will adopt these technologies to produce bio-synthetic ingredients with minimal environmental impact.
Future beauty products will be designed to adapt to environmental and physiological changes in real time. These climate-adaptive products will offer highly personalised experiences, blending technology with nature.
Think Slow, Move Fast
In 2025, beauty will increasingly emphasise comfort and emotional well-being, much like the comfort food movement. Ingredients, textures and products will evoke simpler times, focusing on sensory experiences that soothe and nourish.
Brands must also adapt to the growing slow-living trend by aligning their innovation cycles with more sustainable and mindful consumption patterns. This means creating products that are not only effective but also designed for underconsumption, catering to budget-conscious consumers.
To build credibility, companies will highlight the efficacy of their products through scientific testing and innovative ingredients.
Regenerative beauty will emerge as a critical concept, blending sustainability, mental wellbeing and longevity. Brands like Acorn Labs might lead the way by offering innovative services like cryo-preserving cells, allowing consumers to regenerate their beauty from within as part of a long-term wellness strategy.
