Next-generation sun care, thinking local, the value of waste, menopause wellness and the importance of clinical proof-points are the top five beauty trends this year, being driven by an era of intentional consumption, says trend forecaster Beautystreams.
The beauty industry can contribute to shifting the discourse on menopause, away from a very one-dimensional white and privileged representation of women, says a media expert.
Human health was the central focus at this year’s CES tradeshow, with swathes of medical tech innovators focused on pain relief, nutrition, sleep and hormones – all of which could ultimately lead to beauty, but only indirectly, says a tech expert.
The notion that beauty consumers have a fresh appetite for hyperrealist standards and tackling taboo topics head-on continues to gain ground in 2023. But what exactly does this mean for industry?
The return of in-store shopping, growth for ‘taboo’ products and demand for at-home salon treatments are just some of the industry trends we can expect to see this year, says NielsenIQ.
Menopausal beauty is a space with huge untapped opportunity, but one that brands should approach in a credible and science-backed manner, caution female beauty experts.
Menopause is shifting out of taboo and into the spotlight as women worldwide seek a deeper understanding on changes during this time, carving out plenty of opportunity for beauty and wellness industries to support, educate and empower.
The probiotics category continues to soar, with e-commerce fiercely fuelling growth and presenting plentiful opportunities for cosmetics, particularly products targeting mood, stress and overall wellbeing, says Lumina Intelligence.
Increased focus on self-care and wellbeing, a desire to find back joy and push forward with the green agenda are just some of the key trends set to shape the European, Middle East & African beauty market next year – here are our Top 5 EMEA trends...
The multinational beauty maker has been previewing the Adapt Sync product line since 2019; and now Avon has published a study on what women worldwide know and how they think about menopause.
![Consumers are shopping with more intention, impacting desires, needs and expectations in the beauty category in 2023 [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/03/21/beautystreams-cosmotrends-2023-report-highlights-sun-care-waste-menopause-and-more-as-beauty-trends/16267621-1-eng-GB/Beautystreams-Cosmotrends-2023-report-highlights-sun-care-waste-menopause-and-more-as-beauty-trends.jpg)
![Brands and retailers can diversify imagery around the menopause - depicting more women of colour, different body types and queer and non-binary people, says a media expert [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/23/menopause-beauty-can-help-shift-media-stereotypes-and-create-more-inclusive-category-says-expert/16193494-1-eng-GB/Menopause-beauty-can-help-shift-media-stereotypes-and-create-more-inclusive-category-says-expert.jpg)
![Some medical tech innovations, like smart mirrors or watches, can ultimately and indirectly lead to beauty through routine or product recommendations [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/02/medical-tech-versus-beauty-tech-the-innovative-focus-at-ces-2023-says-robin-raskin/16139546-1-eng-GB/Medical-tech-versus-beauty-tech-the-innovative-focus-at-CES-2023-says-Robin-Raskin.jpg)
![Underboob sweat, pimple popping, shaved heads and sexual health are just some of the topics consumers are diving into head-first this year as traditional beauty ideals unravel [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/market-trends/wgsn-beauty-trends-2023-highlights-unsexy-beauty-as-movement-to-watch-adding-to-mintel-nielseniq-and-verve/16077779-1-eng-GB/WGSN-beauty-trends-2023-highlights-unsexy-beauty-as-movement-to-watch-adding-to-Mintel-NielsenIQ-and-Verve.jpg)
![Beauty for 'taboo' topics like acne, menopause and sexual wellness will be one important trend to watch in 2023 [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign.com/article/2023/01/04/nielseniq-beauty-trends-2023-highlight-retail-shift-taboo-beauty-and-at-home-salon-treatments-as-key/16054634-1-eng-GB/NielsenIQ-beauty-trends-2023-highlight-retail-shift-taboo-beauty-and-at-home-salon-treatments-as-key.jpg)
![Beauty products targeting menopausal women have to be based on sound science and not just marketing chatter [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/market-trends/menopause-beauty-and-wellbeing-needs-open-source-science-r-d-say-experts/15897479-1-eng-GB/Menopause-beauty-and-wellbeing-needs-open-source-science-R-D-say-experts.jpg)
![Women want a more open discourse about the menopause, presenting beauty and wellbeing companies an important opportunity to engage in this space and better understand consumer needs [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/10/10/menopause-beauty-and-wellbeing-cosmeticsdesign-europe-nutraingredients-expert-webinar-future-brainstorm/15837311-1-eng-GB/Menopause-beauty-and-wellbeing-CosmeticsDesign-Europe-NutraIngredients-expert-webinar-future-brainstorm.jpg)
![CosmeticsDesign-Europe spotlights the top five beauty and personal care trends to watch in 2022 - think skin, menopause and innovative retail [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2021/12/21/beauty-trends-2022-emea-region-include-skin-health-menopause-and-refills-says-cosmeticsdesign-europe/13112961-1-eng-GB/Beauty-trends-2022-EMEA-region-include-skin-health-menopause-and-refills-says-CosmeticsDesign-Europe.jpg)
![Brands and retailers can diversify imagery around the menopause - depicting more women of colour, different body types and queer and non-binary people, says a media expert [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/23/menopause-beauty-can-help-shift-media-stereotypes-and-create-more-inclusive-category-says-expert/16193494-1-eng-GB/Menopause-beauty-can-help-shift-media-stereotypes-and-create-more-inclusive-category-says-expert.jpg)
![From staff training to digital diagnosis and data-based research, scientists in all related disciplines should collaborate to make the most of what the metaverse can offer the cosmetic dermatology world [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/15/metaverse-offers-cosmetic-dermatology-promise-for-diagnosis-doctor-patient-engagement-and-research/16171697-2-eng-GB/Metaverse-offers-cosmetic-dermatology-promise-for-diagnosis-doctor-patient-engagement-and-research.jpg)
![Today, the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) is made up of 35 beauty companies, suppliers, trade associations and NGOs, though many more are in final stages of becoming members [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/13/international-collaboration-on-cosmetics-safety-iccs-talks-funding-research-gaps-and-global-collaboration/16164881-1-eng-GB/International-Collaboration-on-Cosmetics-Safety-ICCS-talks-funding-research-gaps-and-global-collaboration.jpg)
![In 2023, two revised Directives on urban waste water treatment and packaging would become critical to follow closely, among other updates [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/regulation-safety/cosmetics-europe-director-general-discusses-unprecedented-2023-regulatory-change-for-beauty-personal-care/16107284-1-eng-GB/Cosmetics-Europe-director-general-discusses-unprecedented-2023-regulatory-change-for-beauty-personal-care.jpg)
![Recent advances enabling better characterization of the skin microbiome has led to important findings [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/01/20/la-roche-posay-reviews-skin-microbiome-wound-healing-link-identifying-promise-in-new-therapies/16102649-1-eng-GB/La-Roche-Posay-reviews-skin-microbiome-wound-healing-link-identifying-promise-in-new-therapies.jpg)
![Currently available in 14 languages, more will be added to the COSMILE Europe database next year, widening access even further for European consumers [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/21/cosmetics-europe-launches-cosmile-europe-database-for-information-on-30-000-ingredients-in-14-languages/16186577-1-eng-GB/Cosmetics-Europe-launches-COSMILE-Europe-database-for-information-on-30-000-ingredients-in-14-languages.jpg)
![There are a raft of theories available and ongoing research happening to identify the precise process behind blue light-induced skin damage [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/24/blue-light-skin-damage-science-must-focus-on-mechanisms-of-action-say-researchers/16198408-1-eng-GB/Blue-light-skin-damage-science-must-focus-on-mechanisms-of-action-say-researchers.jpg)
![The open letter says the current microplastics ban proposal doesn't go far enough, with 'exceptionally long transition periods' for some categories, including leave-on nail products [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/20/beauty-industry-writes-open-letter-to-european-commission-calling-for-swifter-microplastics-ban-in-cosmetics/16184813-1-eng-GB/Beauty-industry-writes-open-letter-to-European-Commission-calling-for-swifter-microplastics-ban-in-cosmetics.jpg)
![Some medical tech innovations, like smart mirrors or watches, can ultimately and indirectly lead to beauty through routine or product recommendations [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/02/02/medical-tech-versus-beauty-tech-the-innovative-focus-at-ces-2023-says-robin-raskin/16139546-1-eng-GB/Medical-tech-versus-beauty-tech-the-innovative-focus-at-CES-2023-says-Robin-Raskin.jpg)
![Researchers should be careful not to over-emphasise Euro-centric data, remembering that Africa has the highest level of genetic diversity in the world [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/01/12/dermatology-professor-discusses-skin-pigmentation-research-hurdles-and-opportunities-at-ifscc-2022/16077320-1-eng-GB/Dermatology-professor-discusses-skin-pigmentation-research-hurdles-and-opportunities-at-IFSCC-2022.jpg)