Trends Shaping the Future of the Skincare Industry

Unlike other BPC categories, the UK skincare industry remained resilient throughout the pandemic. However, as the new normal unfolds, shoppers are undeniably adopting price-conscious behaviours in response to the rising cost of living.

The women’s facial skincare industry saw 6.7% growth in value to £1.6 billion in 2023, yet this growth was largely driven by price rises due to high inflation and without it, the skincare industry would likely have seen only moderate growth. These price rises are causing consumers to reconsider what value means to them.

Trading-down behaviours are accelerating among women and men in the skincare industry, while this poses an opportunity for mass-market and private-label brands, it places pressure on prestige alternatives to prove the benefit of premium products. Shoppers are demanding proven value, convenience and efficacy from their skincare routines and are willing to defy brand loyalty to acquire it.

We’ve handpicked the latest consumer demands, emerging skincare industry trends and innovations that will help brands keep consumers captivated and demonstrate value beyond price.

Multifunctionality Movement

Skincare shoppers are saying goodbye to complicated routines and opting for the ‘less-is-more’ approach. The onset of COVID-19 triggered this skincare industry trend as 29% of women switched to multifunctional products since the start of the pandemic as they were spending less time on their skincare regimes. Mintel forecasts how these cutback behaviours are set to intensify in the face of inflation, paving the way for ‘skinimalism’, skip-care and skin cycling trends.

The usage of day cream has seen a downward trend since 2021, which can be partially attributed to the rising media attention on suncare products and their ability to prevent skin ageing. To combat this decline, brands are blurring the lines between skincare and colour cosmetics. For example, Garnier reformulated its Classic All-in-1 Perfector BB Cream which can be used as a foundation, a moisturising cream and an SPF. Garnier has observed consumers’ desire for multifunctionality in skincare and has provided value beyond low prices.

The trend of multifunctional products is also becoming increasingly popular in the men’s skincare market. As incomes are squeezed, people seek long-lasting results and products that will do more than one job. A third of male skincare buyers claim that multipurpose products affect their shopping decisions.

The desire for streamlined skincare routines doesn’t mean that consumers are willing to compromise on efficacy or performance. Consumers in this space are calling on brands to provide education on ingredient potency and application techniques, to communicate the added benefits of products and help users to reduce their environmental impact, heal their skin barriers, and save time and money.

Active Ingredients in Skincare

A focus on general skin health persists, with 67% of female skincare users opting for products that help improve their overall skin health, rather than targeting specific issues. The rising number of consumers who consider higher-quality active ingredients as a top priority when shopping for skincare products creates an opportunity for prestige brands to prove their value and tempt consumers away from mass-market or private-label alternatives. There’s room to encourage shoppers to trade up and drive purchase frequency by highlighting patented ingredients and leading with information about the required concentration and molecular weight needed for an active ingredient.

With climate change on the rise, there’s an increased need for protective products that go beyond sun damage. Shifts in the environment have amplified the need to protect skin from pollution, blue light and ultra-fine dust. The rising interest in skin barrier support will fuel additional product claims, as consumers increasingly look to prevent future skin issues.

It’s a similar story for the men’s skincare market – over half of men agree it is important to use products that improve their overall skin health. There is an opening to drive repertoires and frequent usage among male consumers by leading with health messaging and providing scientific explanations about how products specifically enhance skin health.

Skin Type Personalisation

There is a growing consensus that skin type personalisation is a right, not a privilege. 61% of female facial skincare users agree it’s better to shop according to skin type which spotlights the relevance of ensuring women are accurate when self-diagnosing their skin type. But what happens if women are misinformed about their skin type? Well, they’re less likely to see results and may abandon a brand or product as a result.

To combat this, brands are investing in online tools to help shoppers determine their skin type from the comfort of their own homes. AI tools are guiding shoppers through questions to help them distinguish their skin type, and brands are even sending patch tests ahead of carrying out the test to improve accuracy. We’ve seen this in action from the Amorepacific and their Cosmechip device that uses microfluidic channel technology to monitor skin changes over long periods of time. This technology places control in the user’s hands, offering brands the opportunity to leverage AI and a data-driven approach to establish a long-term relationship between consumers and bespoke products that complement personalised skin needs.

Personalisation in skincare is also necessary as women transition through different life stages. Mintel’s analysis reveals that female facial skincare users aged 25-44 are the most engaged in researching products that are suitable for their life stage, which could be due to a variety of factors, such as menstrual or pregnancy-related concerns. This signals that there is an opportunity for skincare brands to partner with period and pregnancy apps to provide product-based recommendations for life-stage-based skincare.

Waterless Beauty

Women are getting more experiential with their cleansing formats. Mintel analysis observes how women are switching from traditional face wash and wipes to no-water application options like micellar water; which 38% of female consumers use. This shift towards waterless solutions highlights the importance of convenience and also suggests that consumers are making a conscious effort to reduce water usage. Within the soap, bath and shower market, almost half of female users claim that the rising cost of living has meant they’d be willing to shower or bathe less frequently. A preference for rinse-free cleansing products likely signals that these behaviours are filtering through into the facial skincare industry too.

Demand for Longer-Lasting Results

Influenced by convenience and a cost-conscious mindset, a rising proportion of female facial skincare buyers claim that long-lasting results are one of the top three most important factors when shopping for products. Prestige brands can work to ensure the value of the category is not eroded by trading down behaviours by leading with messaging that provides proof of longer-lasting results to instil purchase confidence.

But it’s not just about long-term results; people are also wanting to see instant results. If an individual doesn’t see some form of change within a certain time frame, they’re likely to stop using the product and won’t achieve the desired long-lasting results. Biossance has found a balance between the two. Their Omega Repair Cream is formulated with squalane, omega-rich oils and ceramides which help to repair and nourish the skin while providing immediate hydration. It also contains probiotics which help to support a healthy microbiome, leading to long-term skin health benefits. This demonstrates the importance of incorporating ingredients that offer both long-lasting and instant results to ensure continued usage and spending on a product.

Social media is an important part of the path to purchase within the beauty category; 69% of Gen Z consumers turn to TikTok to research beauty products before purchasing. This indicates that consumers want more authentic, trustworthy reviews from user-generated content which has not been influenced by brands. Skincare brands can therefore encourage social media users to share how they’ve found using the product and reward them with loyalty points for doing so. This will help to generate a conversation across social platforms.

The skincare industry is saturated with choice. Gaining and retaining loyal customers is proving more challenging. To combat this, there’s an opportunity to create sample-size products or trial kits to encourage shoppers to invest in a brand without having to buy a full product. There’s also room to support the passing on of samples to family or friends to ensure that new brands can reach a broader range of shoppers.

Low price is a priority. The current economic squeeze creates the potential for innovation in price comparison tools to compare products across multiple retailers. Typically, female facial skincare users know which product they want to buy, so online-only retailers could encourage them to shop online to compare prices. Best price guarantees could further instil purchase confidence.

It’s imperative for brands to recognise the influence the cost of living crisis is having on the skincare industry. Moving forward, consumers demand efficacious, professional-level results that satisfy this new prioritisation of convenience and value.

Is your business responding to the evolving attitudes and preferences of skincare shoppers? With Mintel’s leading independent market and consumer research, you can focus your strategies to align with the latest trends and developments in the UK skincare industry. Explore our Facial Skincare Market Research, or fill out the form below to sign up to Spotlight, Mintel’s free newsletter for exclusive insights.