Shaved heads, no eyebrows and messy makeup are some of the latest visuals popping up in beauty as Generation Z emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic looking to flip the lid on dated, traditional narratives.
Cosmetics contribute more to Middle Eastern women’s sense of attractiveness and self-confidence than ever, but not in the ways typical of social media-shaped Western trends, according to research.
A round-up of CosmeticsDesign-Europe’s most-read news from May 2022 shows interest in big beauty’s take on the future of the metaverse, predictions on the future of beauty and fragrances, and brand action on green cosmetic analysis.
The beauty industry has waded through a tough two years but come out stronger and more resilient as it edges deeper into a very different consumer landscape, says the executive editor of market insights firm Beautystreams.
Everybody is talking about the metaverse - a new, mysterious and still largely undefined space, but one that is brimming with beauty opportunities, says a marketing expert.
The next two years will see a range of beauty cohorts take centre stage – lazy skinimalists, beautyversals, protopians and universals – carrying with them an increased focus on self-care, the environment and diversity, says a WGSN exec.
African-Beauty will soar in the coming months and years, as the diverse and ancient rituals and ingredients across the region draw in consumer curiosity, says WGSN’s head of beauty.
A round-up of CosmeticsDesign-Europe’s most-read news from December 2021 shows interest in L’Oréal acquisition plans and global beauty trends across skin care and male grooming.
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 ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shaped and accelerated consumer priorities in beauty, and self-care, skin nourishment and playful colour have gained ground as key movements industry must consider, says Avon’s global trend forecaster.
The next two years will see five cohorts of beauty consumers take centre stage - skinimalists, refillutionaries, beautopians, super basics and skillusionists - drawing a sharper focus on core desires around frugality, sustainability, gender fluidity and...
![The COVID-19 crisis has fuelled important shifts among Gen Z beauty consumers around gender, image and mental health [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/08/25/beauty-trends-gen-z-post-covid-show-unconventional-gender-fluid-escapism-important-says-verve/15710946-1-eng-GB/Beauty-trends-Gen-Z-post-COVID-show-unconventional-gender-fluid-escapism-important-says-Verve.jpg)
![Self-confidence-boosting beauty products are popular amongst Arab women in the Middle East, but multinational marketing campaigns don't always hold appeal [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/08/11/middle-east-beauty-trends-see-attractiveness-pigment-and-ageing-key-finds-study/15671709-1-eng-GB/Middle-East-beauty-trends-see-attractiveness-pigment-and-ageing-key-finds-study.jpg)
![Despite a very different post-pandemic landscape, there are key consumer and planetary needs driving trends in beauty [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/05/31/beauty-trends-after-covid-19-feature-fun-sensory-personalised-and-eco-friendly-says-beautystreams/15459838-1-eng-GB/Beauty-trends-after-COVID-19-feature-fun-sensory-personalised-and-eco-friendly-says-Beautystreams.jpg)
![Three decades of gaming have proven that consumers want escapism, so beauty can and should follow suit [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/05/30/metaverse-beauty-marketing-promise-in-escapism-immersive-experiences-and-creativity-says-swipe-back/15457420-1-eng-GB/Metaverse-beauty-marketing-promise-in-escapism-immersive-experiences-and-creativity-says-Swipe-Back.jpg)
![These four beauty cohorts are globally relevant and driven by strong needs and beliefs around the environment, wellbeing and self [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/05/25/wgsn-beauty-personas-of-2024-feature-lazy-skinimalists-protopians-and-beautyversals/15445009-1-eng-GB/WGSN-beauty-personas-of-2024-feature-lazy-skinimalists-protopians-and-beautyversals.jpg)
![Africa - with its 54 countries - is a diverse and rich beauty movement very different from others [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/05/20/african-beauty-to-boom-with-interest-in-ancient-ingredients-and-rituals-says-wgsn/15435703-1-eng-GB/African-beauty-to-boom-with-interest-in-ancient-ingredients-and-rituals-says-WGSN.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)
![The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated many mass beauty movements, including the increased focus on self-care, skin health and joy in colour cosmetics [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2021/12/15/avon-global-trends-highlight-beauty-as-therapy-skin-health-and-return-of-colour-key-for-2022-and-beyond/13096701-1-eng-GB/Avon-global-trends-highlight-beauty-as-therapy-skin-health-and-return-of-colour-key-for-2022-and-beyond.jpg)
![These five future beauty cohorts cross geographies, age-groups and genders with very deep desires and needs in cosmetics and personal care that they will be looking to brands to fulfil [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2021/10/05/wgsn-beauty-personas-of-2023-include-skinimalists-refillutionaries-and-super-basics/12900807-1-eng-GB/WGSN-beauty-personas-of-2023-include-skinimalists-refillutionaries-and-super-basics.jpg)
![Many precursors of the metaverse already exist - the likes of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) - but the true potential remains some years off [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/09/13/meta-and-instagram-talk-metaverse-beauty-potential-over-next-10-15-years/15765246-2-eng-GB/Meta-and-Instagram-talk-metaverse-beauty-potential-over-next-10-15-years.jpg)
![Almost three-quarters (72%) of women worldwide are now focused on looking healthy rather than young after the pandemic [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/market-trends/avon-power-in-ageing-report-finds-women-want-to-look-healthy-not-young/15637269-1-eng-GB/Avon-Power-In-Ageing-report-finds-women-want-to-look-healthy-not-young.jpg)
![The COVID-19 crisis has fuelled important shifts among Gen Z beauty consumers around gender, image and mental health [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/08/25/beauty-trends-gen-z-post-covid-show-unconventional-gender-fluid-escapism-important-says-verve/15710946-1-eng-GB/Beauty-trends-Gen-Z-post-COVID-show-unconventional-gender-fluid-escapism-important-says-Verve.jpg)
![Unilever wants to develop scalp, oral and underarm care products using 'skin-identical' lipid precursor technology that stimulates natural ceramide production in skin [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/07/20/unilever-to-develop-skin-microbiome-products-in-scalp-oral-and-underarm-care-with-ceramide-technology/15613431-1-eng-GB/Unilever-to-develop-skin-microbiome-products-in-scalp-oral-and-underarm-care-with-ceramide-technology.jpg)
![LVMH-owned Parfums Christian Dior is focusing sustainability efforts on regenerative agriculture and slashing carbon emissions, among other goals [Image: Parfums Christian Dior]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/07/19/lvmh-parfums-christian-dior-beauty-as-a-legacy-2030-sustainability-plan-highlights-flowers-collaboration/15610679-1-eng-GB/LVMH-Parfums-Christian-Dior-Beauty-as-a-Legacy-2030-sustainability-plan-highlights-flowers-collaboration.jpg)
![Interest and engagement has risen in fragrances globally as consumers look to target wellbeing, mood and seduction [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/market-trends/l-oreal-ceo-says-fragrances-soaring-globally-with-new-consumer-appetite-for-category/15649890-2-eng-GB/L-Oreal-CEO-says-fragrances-soaring-globally-with-new-consumer-appetite-for-category.jpg)
![[Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/article/2021/12/15/watch-beauty-trends-2022-global-cosmetic-insights-from-cosmeticsdesign/13094848-1-eng-GB/WATCH-Beauty-trends-2022-Global-cosmetic-insights-from-CosmeticsDesign.jpg)
![Despite a very different post-pandemic landscape, there are key consumer and planetary needs driving trends in beauty [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/05/31/beauty-trends-after-covid-19-feature-fun-sensory-personalised-and-eco-friendly-says-beautystreams/15459838-1-eng-GB/Beauty-trends-after-COVID-19-feature-fun-sensory-personalised-and-eco-friendly-says-Beautystreams.jpg)
![Colgate remains the most-chosen beauty and personal care brand in the world, entering into the 'brands of the decade' because of its successful growth [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/08/03/top-50-brands-2022-kantar-worldpanel-brand-footprint-spotlights-colgate-lifebuoy-dove-and-sunsilk/15653286-1-eng-GB/Top-50-brands-2022-Kantar-Worldpanel-Brand-Footprint-spotlights-Colgate-Lifebuoy-Dove-and-Sunsilk.jpg)
![There are huge numbers of brands and manufacturers offering super-smart beauty products, tools and services as technology continues to evolve rapidly [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/07/05/beauty-tech-2022-trends-see-tinder-style-apps-jewellery-nfts-and-printable-temporary-tattoos/15572879-1-eng-GB/Beauty-tech-2022-trends-see-Tinder-style-apps-jewellery-NFTs-and-printable-temporary-tattoos.jpg)
![Africa - with its 54 countries - is a diverse and rich beauty movement very different from others [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/05/20/african-beauty-to-boom-with-interest-in-ancient-ingredients-and-rituals-says-wgsn/15435703-1-eng-GB/African-beauty-to-boom-with-interest-in-ancient-ingredients-and-rituals-says-WGSN.jpg)
![[Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/packaging-design/beiersdorf-borealis-siegwerk-and-clariant-collaborate-to-deliver-first-in-circular-cosmetics-packaging/15538541-2-eng-GB/Beiersdorf-Borealis-Siegwerk-and-Clariant-collaborate-to-deliver-first-in-circular-cosmetics-packaging.jpg)
![Genderless beauty is shifting gears into gender freedom, a broader movement pivoting around authenticity and new fluid identities [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_tiny/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/05/24/genderless-beauty-shift-into-gender-freedom-sparks-joy-and-authenticity-says-coty-l-oreal-estee-lauder/15442705-1-eng-GB/Genderless-beauty-shift-into-gender-freedom-sparks-joy-and-authenticity-says-Coty-L-Oreal-Estee-Lauder.jpg)