Staying on top of innovative skincare ingredient trends helps you connect with your customers and offer them new and exciting products. From sourcing locations to new product categories, there is much to be inspired by this year. Check out some of our favorite skincare trends in 2022.
Globally Inspired Ingredients
Consumers are looking for ways to tap into ancient medicinal ingredients from different cultures all around the world. Explore these regional ingredients to inspire your next product line.
From the MediterraneanConsumers have long taken lifestyle cues from this Blue Zone area, where residents enjoy optimized health and longevity. Skincare ingredients from this region are trending for adding nutrient-rich properties to formulations. Herbs like
sage,
ginger or
turmeric can be used in soap and bath products.
Olive Leaf Powder packs a beneficial punch thanks to antioxidants and exfoliating features, which is largely why it has played a central role in Mediterranean culture and skincare for thousands of years.
From China Consumers are looking to China for time-honored, culturally-rooted skincare ingredients. Rice water surges in popularity for its nutrient-dense qualities for hair and skin by reducing aging, treating dandruff, and more. Similarly,
rice bran oil is full of vitamin E and also contains anti-aging qualities.
From Southeast AsiaThis is a new hot spot for ingredient sourcing, with options like:
- Candlenut: Has both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
- Monk fruit: Treats acne, rosacea, and other skin conditions.
- Lychee: Hydrates skin and heals wounds.
From the DesertDesert ingredients add an element of escapism to any product. Ingredients like
aloe, agave, and
jojoba all have excellent hydrating and nutritional properties as topicals.
Nutrient Infusions
Infusing skincare products with beneficial, health-boosting ingredients is another 2022 skincare trend that can make your products stand out. Ingredients from nature, like herbs, botanicals, and fruits, are especially popular. Here are some of our top picks.
Botanicals & HerbsBotanicals are rich in nutrient properties and very easy to incorporate into skincare products. You can utilize botanical extracts or use infusions by steeping herb buds directly into your skincare formulation (like a tea).
Popular ingredients for skincare are
arnica,
lavender,
chamomile Popular herbs include
rosemary and
sage but even lesser known herbs are gaining popularity.
Alfalfa, for instance, is packed with vitamins C, D, E, and K.
FruitsFruits add tons of boosting properties to skincare formulations, and are increasingly easy to incorporate into products. Fruit ingredients in the form of
powders, freeze-dried ingredients,
extracts and even
hydrosols can be used depending on your recipe.
Antimicrobial PropertiesOne of the top skincare trends emerging from the pandemic is the push for antimicrobial effects added to products of all kinds. Even antimicrobial packaging is becoming more sought after by today's consumer.
There are many natural ingredients that provide antimicrobial benefits, including:
- Honey
- Ginger
- Echinacea
- Clove
- Cinnamon
- Turmeric
- Thyme
- Chamomile
- Eucalyptus
Product Trends
In addition to ingredient trends, certain product categories have also gained favor throughout 2022 so far. Check out these top picks to consider adding to your beauty and skincare lines.
Planet-first Products Sustainability remains top-of-mind for many consumers. There are a number of ways you can incorporate sustainability in your business, including packaging upcycled ingredients, and renewable manufacturing processes.
Consumers are even becoming more comfortable with lab-based formulations that create efficiency for humans and the environment by replicating natural processes in a lab, without depleting natural resources. Whether you do these things already or start incorporating more planet-friendly features into your business processes, start communicating these steps to attract more customers.
Solid Skincare Solid skincare products are still leading the pack for skincare products. These products melt into the skin on impact and are very popular for their ease of use. Additionally, they have a ritualistic-format; in fact, many people feel that the sensory experience of using a bar is more relaxing than a liquid lotion formulation.
These products also lend themselves to more
sustainable packaging or no packaging at all. Facial “stones” that come without any labels or packaging, for example, are extremely trendy and can be a great add-on product.
Handcrafted Consumers are looking for more conscious, elevated options than what they can find mass-produced on big-retail shelves. Creating products with an artisanal look and feel to capture your audience, while still prioritizing natural ingredients