What ingredients are trending in the cosmetics industry?

The beauty industry is constantly evolving and advancing by leaps and bounds. So is society, with 45% of consumers globally aware of skin health (Euromonitor) and Europeans using an average of seven different products a day and almost 13 a week (Cosmetics Europe).The latest innovations, in this case, in ingredients and raw materials for cosmetics development often set the trends in the industry, a concept known as ingredient led-beauty.What are these trends in cosmetic ingredients and what attributes do consumers demand and expect?Which ingredients are winning in 2023?In 2023, the trend known as led-beauty has conquered the consumer. This type of beauty highlights the benefits of specific ingredients and encourages consumers to seek out specific actives to treat or prevent skin problems.Consumers now expect more benefits from cosmetic ingredients. Benefits for their health and well-being. Cosmetics is no longer seen as purely superficial. Of course you want to feel good on the outside, but you also want to feel good on the inside. This is why nutricosmetics have become increasingly popular in recent years. According to various studies, superfoods are becoming the ingredient of choice for consumers. These 'superfoods' are ingredients rich in nutrients and antioxidants, such as kale, blueberries and turmeric, which are used for a wide range of benefits in beauty products.In addition to these, there are those known as adaptogens, which, in the pursuit of these benefits, help the body adapt to stress, promoting general wellbeing. Examples include ingredients such as ashwagandha and ginseng which are used to soothe and balance the skin.With just over two months to go before the end of the year, the microbiota and microbiome has become one of the most relevant topics in the industry and one that has aroused the most excitement in terms of research and innovation. The relationship between cosmetics and the microbiome has become a fascinating field of dermatology and skin science. These microorganisms that make up the microbiome play a crucial role in the health and balance of the skin. Therefore, products containing prebiotics and probiotics are gaining popularity as they support a healthy microbiome and have become one of the leading ingredient innovations.On the other hand, although CBD has not had a major impact on the Spanish industry, it has had a major impact globally. CBD is a neuroactive ingredient prominent in targeted beauty and has proven benefits for emotional wellbeing, and clinical research supports its impact on the skin's nervous system and hormone secretion mechanisms, which would support the consumer's quest for wellbeing.The future? There is a glimpse of the road ahead, as the ingredients to come are influenced by areas already under investigation, such as those mentioned above. Of course, we cannot ignore advanced technologies, and AI par excellence. Although the industry will also incorporate other aspects such as machine learning and quantum computing are being employed in the development of new ingredients and more personalised formulations.What does the consumer expect from cosmetics?The cosmetics and beauty industry must be aware that, thanks to the use of social media, literacy and access to the Internet and social networks, it is now facing a more informed and, consequently, more demanding consumer. Therefore, the industry must offer high-performance ingredients. Consumers now closely scrutinise ingredients to ensure they deliver the desired results and are looking for these ingredients to achieve specific skincare goals. Linked to this, personalisation is a challenge that the industry has faced in 2023 and one that cannot be ignored in the future. As is the fever for natural ingredients. In a society in which awareness and respect for the environment is gaining greater weight in different actions and is becoming a driver for consumers, it is an aspect that the industry must face up to. And even more so with the arrival of younger consumers, Generation Z and Alpha, who are concerned that the products they buy come from brands that are clean, conscious, respectful and, if possible, defend or support social and/or environmental causes.What trends are accompanying led-ingredient beauty?In a context of inflation, consumers are looking for more selective products and value investing in highly effective products. The "Dupes" trend has become popular as an affordable alternative. It is important to note that younger generations, with lower purchasing power, show a greater interest in the "Dupes" culture. At the same time, beauty and wellness companies are expanding their reach into adjacent categories, taking advantage of various ingredients. In addition, more and more beauty companies are showing a genuine interest in women's wellness, offering products that go beyond the superficial. With the growth of neuroscience and neuromarketing, companies are incorporating neuroactive ingredients that promote emotional well-being.All of the above without losing sight of some of the ingredient characteristics most desired by the consumer: natural ingredients, transparency, plant/botanical origin and sustainability.

What ingredients are trending in the cosmetics industry?

Led-ingredient beauty has won over consumers and encourages them to seek out specific active ingredients to treat or prevent skin problems