3 DAYS OF DESIGN 2026 GUIDE - MAKING EVERY MOMENT MATTER

Coralie Arme June 8, 2026

Credits: Aarticles Archive / House of Finn Juhl / FRAMA

Copenhagen, June 17-19, 2026 - As anticipation builds for the upcoming edition of 3 Days of Design, Copenhagen once again prepares to become the epicentre of contemporary design. Over the past decade, the festival has evolved into one of the industry's most influential platforms, offering a more intimate and human-centred alternative to traditional design fairs. Through exhibitions, installations, and creative collaborations spread across the Danish capital, it provides a unique lens into the ideas, values, and sensibilities shaping the future of design.

This year's theme, "Make This Moment Matter," reflects a growing cultural desire for intentionality. It calls on designers, brands, and consumers alike to create with purpose, embrace meaningful experiences, and value objects that foster lasting emotional connections. From multisensory installations and explorations of wellbeing to reflections on heritage, ritual, and belonging, the 2026 programme promises a rich dialogue around what truly matters in our everyday lives.

Ahead of the event, we have selected a series of exhibitions that capture the spirit of this year's edition and reveal the emerging design directions set to influence not only interiors and furniture, but also beauty, wellness, and luxury industries in the years to come.

BREAD AND BUTTER - REIMAGINING THE RITUAL OF BATHING

Returning for its second edition, Bread and Butter expands beyond the dining table to explore the universal yet deeply personal act of bathing. Hosted in a former apartment in Copenhagen's historic centre, the exhibition brings together 16 international designers to examine bathing traditions across cultures, from Japanese onsens and Korean jjimjilbangs to Finnish saunas and Danish harbour baths.

Through objects inspired by memory, care, and ritual, designers reinterpret everyday bathing tools as emotional artefacts. Far from being purely functional, the exhibition positions bathing as a moment of transition, reflection, and restoration. It explores how design can elevate daily routines into meaningful rituals, transforming ordinary gestures into opportunities for presence and wellbeing.

COMPOSITIONS BY AARTICLES - THE BEAUTY OF LAYERED NARRATIVES

In a historic Copenhagen apartment transformed into a creative workspace, gallery-platform Aarticles presents Compositions, a thoughtful exploration of how objects accumulate meaning over time.

Rather than showcasing isolated pieces, the exhibition brings together works from different collections and periods, creating a dialogue between past and present. Wooden sculptures by Californian designer Vince Skelly, new Bizen from Sharlen Nozawa, hand-blown glass vessels by Jérémie St-Onge, ceramics by Juliette Pénélope Pépin, and metal works by Yeodong Yun (among others) form a rich landscape of materials, techniques, and stories.

The exhibition proposes an alternative vision of design: one where value emerges not from novelty alone, but through continuity, layering, and interaction. Objects become participants in an evolving conversation, illustrating how meaning is constantly reshaped through context and coexistence.

THE DEVIATION IS IN THE DETAIL - HERITAGE REIMAGINED

At the House of Finn Juhl flagship showroom, The Deviation is in the Detail, curated by Mentze Ottenstein, explores the transformative power of subtle interventions.

Drawing inspiration from Finn Juhl's iconic Japan Series, the exhibition introduces embroidered textiles developed in collaboration with New York fashion label Sea New York. These delicate additions offer a fresh perspective on the celebrated furniture collection while preserving its original spirit.

The project reflects a growing movement within contemporary design: the reinterpretation of heritage through craft. Rather than radically reinventing classic forms, designers increasingly seek emotional depth through texture, ornamentation, and nuanced details that create new narratives while honouring the past.

ECHOES OF SPACE - WHEN CONTEXT BECOMES EMOTION

Presented by Openhouse Magazine at The Conary, Echoes of Space explores the profound influence of environment on our perception of objects.

Styled by Henriette Schou and developed in collaboration with Expormim, Saba Italia, JOV, Japan Form, and Mike Hausmann, the exhibition unfolds through a sequence of carefully orchestrated interiors. Furniture, lighting, textiles, and architectural elements interact to reveal how scale, atmosphere, and light fundamentally alter the emotional resonance of design.

Rather than focusing solely on the objects themselves, the exhibition examines the spaces between them, the invisible conditions that shape experience. It offers a compelling reflection on how context acts as an emotional lens through which design is perceived, interpreted, and understood.

THE MECHANICS OF SCENT - DESIGNING THROUGH INVISIBLE MATERIALS

One of the most anticipated sensory installations of this year's festival comes from Copenhagen-based brand FRAMA. Following presentations in Paris, Los Angeles, and New York, The Mechanics of Scent returns home to explore fragrance as a design medium in its own right.

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Apothecary, FRAMA's signature scent, the exhibition transforms scent from an atmospheric element into a sculptural and spatial experience. New scent sculptures, immersive environments, and a limited-edition beverage created in collaboration with ÅBEN invite visitors to engage with fragrance through multiple sensory channels.

By placing scent at the centre of the design experience, FRAMA challenges traditional hierarchies that privilege visual perception. The exhibition explores how invisible materials can shape memory, identity, and emotional connection just as powerfully as physical objects.

I, BELONG - REDISCOVERING THE POWER OF FIRE

At The Conary, Swedish brand Eldvarm presents I, Belong, an exhibition investigating the ancient relationship between fire, wellbeing, and human connection.

Developed by founder Louise Varré, the project draws on neuroscience, anthropology, and design to explore why fire continues to hold such a powerful psychological influence. Featuring works by Emma Olbers, Daniel Rybakken, and Guillaume Delvigne, the exhibition examines the rituals that have historically unfolded around fire: storytelling, communal meals, reflection, and togetherness.

The installation suggests that our attraction to fire is deeply embedded within human evolution. More than a source of warmth, it remains a symbol of belonging, comfort, and collective experience. In a world increasingly mediated by screens and digital interactions, the exhibition proposes a return to elemental experiences that regulate the nervous system and foster genuine connection.

THE COSMETICS IC TAKE

At Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation, we see the 2026 edition of 3 Days of Design as a signal that consumers are, again, seeking experiences that feel more intentional, immersive, and emotionally grounding. For beauty, wellness, and luxury brands, four key opportunities stand out:

Rituals as everyday luxury: From bathing culture at Bread and Butter to Eldvarm's exploration of fire, everyday practices are being elevated into intentional moments of wellbeing. Brands have an opportunity to create products and services that support these meaningful daily rituals.

Invisible sensoriality: Fragrance, warmth, acoustics, and atmosphere are emerging as powerful tools for creating memorable brand experiences beyond visual aesthetics.

The need for belonging: Design increasingly responds to a desire for comfort, togetherness, and emotional safety, opening new territories for community-driven experiences.

Meaning through context: Exhibitions such as Echoes of Space remind us that objects never exist in isolation. Creating cohesive ecosystems across products, packaging, retail, and digital touchpoints are key to building stronger emotional resonance.

FRENCH TOUCH - 3 CULTURAL PILLARS & INNOVATION DRIVERS IN BEAUTY

Enora Le Roux June 3, 2026

Unsplash - Photo by Victoria Krivchenkova

Between terroir, pharmacy culture and freedom of expression, French beauty draws from deeply rooted cultural references. These key pillars, among others, are shaping a new generation of products and rituals: more grounded, more expert-led and more emotional. Three dynamics that are contributing to the renewed global influence of French Beauty today, as France once again confirms its status as the world’s leading cosmetics exporter, with €22.4 billion in exports in 2025 (FEBEA, February 2026).

TERROIR - ROOTED INGREDIENTS

French beauty is deeply connected to terroir, herbal traditions and a strong attachment to the land. Rooted in a rural imagination and local craftsmanship, this vision celebrates endemic resources, made-in-France expertise and a form of naturality anchored in specific territories, an imaginary that strongly resonates with consumers, as 64% of French people say they prefer natural ingredients (Mintel, 2025). Responsible harvesting, French biodiversity and short supply chains are fueling a new generation of rooted formulas, where terroir becomes a true territory of innovation.

ODEN - Local traceability as a new beauty narrative
Founded by an agronomy engineer and her daughter, ODEN develops oils and skincare exclusively from plants cultivated and processed in France, in direct partnership with local producers. The brand highlights French agricultural sectors, seasonal harvesting and endemic ingredients through a logic of traceability and proximity. Through this relocalization of botanical resources, ODEN contributes to redefining naturality as something deeply rooted in territory and agricultural sovereignty.

Eclo - Cosmetics as a tool for regenerating living ecosystems
From Brittany, Eclo creates 100% natural-origin formulas using ingredients sourced from regenerative agricultural sectors, such as rye from Haute-Loire, Breton hemp and French seaweed. The brand moves beyond traditional clean beauty codes by integrating formulation, sourcing and compostable packaging into a single logic focused on ecosystem restoration and the valorization of living systems.

ON THE WILD SIDE - Wilderness as an active and sensory resource
With organic skincare formulated from wild plants hand-harvested in preserved French ecosystems, ON THE WILD SIDE places wild harvesting back at the center of the beauty narrative. Birch sap, beech buds and actives derived from uncultivated plants support an approach where spontaneous biodiversity, harvesting expertise and regenerative naturality converge. Wild plants become both cosmetic resources, botanical heritage and expressions of territory.

FRENCH PHARMACY - MAGISTRAL PREPARATIONS

In France, the pharmacy is an integral part of beauty culture: a “white coat” approach built on safety, prescription and trust in pharmaceutical expertise. Today, this model is gaining global traction, driven by the rise of French pharmacy hauls on TikTok. The result is a skincare philosophy centered on long-term skin health, skin barrier protection and more disciplined, almost medicinal formulas and rituals, shaped by a culture of accessible expertise.

Mimétique - Biomimicry serving the skin barrier
Inspired by regenerative medicine and microbiome science, Mimétique develops skincare focused on repairing the skin barrier and supporting the skin’s natural regeneration mechanisms. Biomimicry structures the brand’s formulations, designed to reproduce essential biological functions through life-inspired actives. Combining clinical aesthetics with accessible scientific discourse, the brand reflects the evolution of dermocosmetics toward more technical, health-oriented routines.

Cénée - Dermo-active makeup inspired by pharmacy standards
Cénée develops a skincare approach inspired by pharmaceutical standards, focused on repairing weakened skin and supporting sensitive skin types. The brand formulates products around actives recognized for both efficacy and tolerance, within a reassuring minimalist approach. Through clinical aesthetics, educational storytelling and a strong focus on the skin barrier, Cénée embodies a more disciplined and expert vision of beauty, where cosmetics borrow the codes of prescription while remaining accessible for everyday use.

Quinque - The convergence of pharmacy and active cosmetics
Founded by Mercedes Marcos, a pharmacist specialized in cosmetic formulation and skin biology, Quinque places inflammatory mechanisms at the center of its skincare philosophy. The brand favors short routines and minimalist formulas designed for sensitive and reactive skin. Through an educational approach to skin health, Quinque brings together active cosmetics, pharmaceutical expertise and a preventive vision of skincare.

THE NEW WAVE - THE ART OF INSOLENCE

French beauty has always cultivated a certain impertinence: freedom in gestures, a taste for playful audacity and an instinctive way of bending the rules. This new beauty wave is becoming more expressive, emotional and joyful. Makeup is no longer about transformation, but about conveying an attitude, a mood, a presence: a bold lip, an unexpected pop of color on the eyes, blush applied with fingertips. A spontaneous sophistication — free-spirited, effortless and deeply alive.

Violette_FR - Spontaneity of gesture and color as a beauty signature
Created by French makeup artist Violette Serrat, Violette_FR sees makeup as a tool for personal and emotional expression. Bold colors, finger-friendly textures and intuitive routines encourage a more spontaneous relationship to beauty gestures. Blending artistic culture, Parisian aesthetics and creative freedom, the brand celebrates a living beauty where makeup is less about correction and more about expressing an attitude or a mood.

Les Filles en Rouje - Makeup as the expression of a free femininity
Within Jeanne Damas’ Rouje universe, makeup extends a certain idea of Parisian allure: spontaneous, sensual and slightly imperfect. Les Filles en Rouje favors easy-to-wear textures, instinctive gestures and intentionally blurred finishes that evoke an everyday beauty that feels more emotional than sophisticated. Makeup becomes an extension of personal style, shaped by a free and nonchalant femininity.

Le Rouge Français - Botanical pigments for a more expressive beauty
Using pigments derived from dye plants such as madder, woad and hibiscus, Le Rouge Français places color back at the center of the makeup experience. Sensory textures and botanical shades support a more instinctive and expressive approach to beauty gestures. Between botanical heritage, emotional color experiences and freedom of application, the brand develops a vision of makeup where allure emerges as much from the pleasure of the gesture as from self-expression.

THE COSMETICS IC TAKE

The enduring influence of French Beauty lies not only in its products, but in the cultural foundations that shape them. From terroir and pharmacy culture to creative self-expression, these deeply rooted references create distinctive beauty narratives that resonate both locally and globally.

As consumers increasingly seek authenticity, expertise, and emotional connection, cultural anchoring is becoming a powerful driver of innovation and international desirability. French Beauty demonstrates how strong cultural codes can transform local heritage into global influence.

This analysis is part of our French Beauty report. Contact us if you would like to learn more.

You can also explore French Beauty and meet the Cosmetics IC team at MakeUp in Paris, June 17–18, at Booth T1 (in front of J30), and join our sessions:

• June 17 – Beauty Talk #1
• June 18, 12:30 pm – Conference with Spate
• June 18 – Beauty Talk #2

SOCIAL MEDIA TREND INSPIRATION: S1 2026

Coralie Arme May 1, 2026

Sources: @nani_s_makeup /@kaylee.marina /@_toribaker

Every month, the Cosmetics IC social media team scours TikTok and Instagram to spotlight the latest beauty trends, viral techniques, and must-have products. So far this year, the beauty community has embraced renewed artistry, cultural references, and a growing demand for non-invasive lifting solutions. Here are the top three social media trends shaping the conversation at the start of the year.

1. MAXIMALISM REPLACES the Clean Girl Era

The first half of 2026 signaled a move away from clean girl-inspired makeup, which had dominated beauty through polished minimalism and the idea of using as few products as possible. In its place, color, maximalism and visible artistry gained traction, bringing makeup back closer to experimentation and self-expression with #maximalistmakeup up +184.1% YoY in TikTok US views.

This was notably seen through the Palm Color Mix trend on Instagram, where creators apply two contrasting shades onto their palm, blend them together, and use the resulting hue as the starting point for a bold eye look. By encouraging unexpected color associations, the trend turns makeup into a more creative and experiential process.

Gucci Milan Fashion Week 26 also unexpectedly echoed this anti-conformist appetite. The viral dark, smudged smokey eye, intentionally messy and intense, was quickly used on TikTok as a beauty statement associated with freedom, imperfection and a refusal of overly controlled aesthetics.

Beauty has always been tied to identity, but in a cultural context where appearance is increasingly scrutinized, makeup now carries a more political dimension. Against the controlled naturalness of the clean girl movement, these trends reflect a desire to reclaim beauty as a space for personality and visible self-expression, supported by the rise of Creative Makeup looks, up +61.3% YoY in TikTok US views, and Colorful Makeup, up +52.9% QoQ on Instagram US. Color, imperfection and intensity become more than aesthetic choices, they signal a broader resistance to uniformity.

2. From Global Glam to Cultural Specificity

This desire to express identity also took a more cultural form, as makeup trends increasingly drew from the beauty codes, symbols and aesthetics of specific communities and countries.

The first example emerged around Chinese New Year with the Red Horse Makeup trend. Inspired by the Year of the Fire Horse, the look blends symbolic references with bold red glam. Creators usually start with a white base before painting a red horse motif across the center of the face, turning makeup into a direct embodiment of the Fire Horse spirit.

This rise of culturally rooted aesthetics was also visible through Bebot Makeup, a trend celebrating Filipina Y2K glam. “Bebot,” a Filipino slang term often associated with a baddie attitude, became a beauty reference through glowing skin, charcoal smokey eyes, ultra-thin brows and overlined glossy lips. While many creators engaging with the trend were not Filipino, its popularity still helped bring a more specific cultural beauty language into mainstream visibility, with #filipinamakeup reaching 7M views on TikTok.

Together, these trends show that self-expression is no longer only about personal creativity, but also about making cultural identity more visible. By drawing from symbolic celebrations and community-rooted aesthetics, makeup becomes a way to affirm heritage, representation and belonging. This also reflects a broader demand for inclusion in a beauty industry still largely centered around American glam and Western standards.

3. Non-Invasive Lifting Solutions

In skincare, the first quarter of the year was marked by a growing interest in non-invasive lifting solutions, with consumers looking for visible firming effects without turning to clinical procedures.

This was first reflected in the rise of Japanese Face Tape, a technique inspired by Japanese kinesiology and integrated into overnight firming routines. The method consists of applying tape to targeted wrinkle-prone areas to create a subtle lifting effect by morning. Beyond the result itself, the trend reflects the growing appeal of at-home treatments that promise visible improvement without needles or downtime, with #facetapeforwrinkles reaching 1.8M views on TikTok.

From another angle, Retinal also gained traction as a stronger alternative to Retinol, often presented by creators as a way to achieve a smoother, almost botox-like skin appearance. Its momentum is reflected in #retinal, which rose +155.5% MoM in TikTok views, and was especially visible through targeted application methods, with creators recommending small dots of product on expression lines.

Together, these trends point to a more optimized approach to youthful skin. The goal is to achieve prevention, firmness, and facial structure. By combining overnight tools with more potent actives, skincare is increasingly positioned as an at-home alternative to aesthetic procedures, especially among younger consumers adopting anti-aging routines earlier.

THE CIC TAKE

Our social media team brings you an indispensable guide to all things viral, listening in to the trending beauty conversations on TikTok and Instagram. A monthly edit filled with data from our social media data partners, Spate and Tribe Dynamics.

To go further, join our team at Makeup In Paris for the Beauty Talk #1 – The Viral Beauty Economy, a conference dedicated to the viral dynamics shaping beauty in 2026.

For more information on our Social Books, Inspiration Reports, and consultancy services, contact us.

Source: Spate - YoY Tiktok US views from May 4, 2025 to May 3, 2026 vs. May 5, 2024 to May 4, 2025 - QoQ Instagram US views - from Feb 8, 2026 to May 3, 2026 vs. Nov 16, 2025 to Feb 8, 2026 - Tiktok US views - MoM Tiktok US views from Feb 1, 2026 to Mar 1, 2026 vs. Jan 4, 2026 to Feb 1, 2026

INGREDIENT INNOVATION - Trend Hunting at in-cosmetics Global 2026

Coralie Arme April 21, 2026

From exposome defense to neuro-aging: the new frontiers of skin longevity

At in-cosmetics Global 2026 (April 14–16), our team explored the innovations shaping the next era of beauty. Across the show floor, a clear shift emerged: skincare is moving from corrective approaches toward anticipatory, system-level strategies that optimize skin function over time.

The industry is now embracing a more systemic vision of skin health, integrating environmental exposure, cellular longevity, neurobiology, and advanced delivery systems.

Climate intelligence: tackling the exposome and inflammaging

As environmental instability accelerates, ingredient companies are evolving their approach to protection, developing solutions that respond to increasingly complex external stressors. Heat, UV radiation, pollution, and humidity fluctuations are no longer peripheral factors, they are now central to formulation strategies. New ingredients reflect this shift toward exposome-aware skincare, combining antioxidant protection with cellular resilience:

Readline Biotech - Photo by Cosmetics IC

Repigard-SAL™ (Readline Biotech) draws inspiration from Rhodiola crenulata, a resilient alpine plant traditionally used to combat fatigue and stress. It acts as a bioengineered adaptogen to improve cellular stress defense, supporting mitochondrial function and autophagy while oxidative damage and protein carbonylation caused by blue light exposure.

Coffea Regenera™ (SAES Chemicals) is an upcycled extract derived from Coffea arabica Silver Skin, a naturally bioactive fraction rich in hydroxycinnamoyl-quinic acids. Suitable for skincare and makeup formulation, it supports to skin longevity pathways and anti-hyaluronidase activity and provides anti-exposome shield, reinforcing urban defense against pollution and blue light.

A clear trajectory is emerging: cosmetics are evolving into daily environmental defense systems, designed to anticipate chronic stressors rather than repair damage.

Cellular health span: longevity moves to the core of skincare

One of the strongest signals at the show is the rise of cellular longevity science. The focus is shifting from visible signs of aging to the mechanisms that drive them: senescence, mitochondrial decline, and genomic instability. This new generation of actives targets the functional lifespan of skin:

BioCalix™ (QVerse) supports long-term skin vitality by addressing pathways associated with senescence to support skin function, helping preserve vitality and comfort.

Designed with a longevity-driven approach, Chronolea (Robertet) acts on four key biological hallmarks of skin longevity: loss of proteostasis, cellular senescence, genomic instability, and extracellular matrix alteration. By protecting skin proteins from oxidative damage, Chronolea supports long-term skin resilience and preserves skin structure.

Developed under Normactive’s Longevity-Driven Cellular Programming™ framework, AST-4™ (Normactive) supports coordinated cellular resilience through the modulation of FOXO3-associated longevity signaling, autophagic flux, oxidative balance, ECM-related gene expression, and controlled senescence pathways.

This reflects a broader paradigm: aging is no longer treated as a symptom, but as a system to regulate.

Neuro-aging: the rise of the brain-skin axis

Beyond cellular biology, another frontier is emerging: neuro-aging. In a context of chronic stress, overstimulation, and cognitive fatigue, aging is increasingly understood as a neurobiological process that directly impacts the skin. Calm, balance, and sensory function become measurable dimensions of skin health. Innovations now target this brain-skin dialogue:

Bloomlight® (Solabia Group) is a brightening active inspired by plant exosomes communication, focusing on neuro-ppigmentation. Acting at the root cause of pigmentation, it targets stress-affected signaling within the neuro-cutaneous axis, demonstrating the link between stress, pigmentation, and skin longevity.
PrimalHyal™ NeuroYouth (Givaudan Active Beauty) pioneers the science of Neuro Skin Ageing, by restoring communication between neurons and skin cells for perfect balance and revived touch. It combines low molecular weight hyaluronic acid with selected amino acids to activate the skin’s neurorejuvenation.

The implication is significant: skincare is evolving into a neuro-cosmetic category, where emotional well-being and skin aging are deeply interconnected.

Advanced delivery systems: from ingredients to intelligent performance

Another major shift lies not in what is formulated, but in how it is delivered. The industry is moving toward precision delivery systems that enhance bioavailability while minimizing irritation, enabling more efficient and targeted action. Key innovations include:

Ionicsome™ Retinol (Samyang KCI) uses proprietary ionicsome delivery to stabilize retinol through ionic interactions, delivering resistance to light, heat, and oxidative degradation while maintaining active potency. The nanovesicle encapsulation improves water dispersibility and significantly enhances skin permeation, while minimizing irritation and maximizing anti-wrinkle efficacy.

SilCare™ GHK-Cu 1001 (Spec-Chem) uses corneosphere microencapsulation technology to encapsulate a high concentration of Copper Tripeptide-1 with ceramide NP, offering increased stability, controlled release, and enhanced safety.
VectorHyal™ (Givaudan Active Beauty) leverages a hyaluronic acid–based micro-encapsulation platform, designed for customization and to optimize penetration and controlled release of actives within the skin. Its structure, based on an HA structural backbone, enables deep & homogeneous penetration of actives, enhancing stability, solubility & performance of encapsulated actives.

This marks the transition toward formulation intelligence, where efficacy depends as much on delivery architecture as on active ingredients themselves.

THE CIC TAKE

Across all categories, a consistent vision emerges: from reactive care to preventive and adaptive systems, from surface correction to biological regulation, from isolated ingredients to integrated ecosystems. Cosmetics are no longer just about improving appearance; they are becoming tools to actively manage skin health across time, environment, and physiology.

in-cosmetics Global 2026 confirms a deeper transformation: longevity is redefining the role of beauty, shifting it from aesthetic enhancement to functional performance. In this new landscape, skincare is designed not only to preserve youth, but to sustain skin integrity in an increasingly unstable and demanding environment.

Beauty Brands Scaling Sport Partnerships as Strategy

Coralie Arme April 15, 2026

Credits: Mouthwash Studios via Deathtostock

Beauty and luxury brands are entering sport with a new level of intent. No longer limited to image-driven partnerships, these collaborations are becoming structural, rooted in long-term engagement, particularly around women’s sports.

This acceleration echoes a shift we anticipated in our 2025 predictions with the “Life in Movement” trend - a celebration of bodies in action, where beauty moves beyond static ideals to embrace fluidity, strength, and grace in motion. This paradigm repositioned athletes and sports figures as new cultural icons of beauty, not for how they look, but for what their bodies can do.

Today, this vision is materializing at scale, as brands invest in sport not just as a platform for visibility, but as a space for legitimacy, performance, and transformation.

1. Chanel Beauté ans Performance-Led Femininity

Chanel Beauté’s CC League reflects this shift. Built as a two-year mentorship program, it supports a collective of international athletes through coaching, workshops, and personal development. Beyond visibility, the initiative positions Chanel as a contributor to evolving representations of femininity in sport, where performance, resilience, and diversity are central. By engaging directly with high-level athletes, the program mirrors the brand’s own pursuit of excellence while fostering female empowerment in a tangible and sustained way.

2. Sephora’s Activation in Competitive Sport

Sephora’s partnership with the F1 Academy continues this trajectory, albeit with a different activation approach. Through immersive experiences such as trackside “Glam Bars,” Sephora moves from observation to participation, engaging audiences directly in the live environment of the sport. This approach translates brand presence into experiential interaction, while reinforcing its alignment with the rising visibility and dynamism of women’s competitive platforms.

3. La Roche-Posay Under Extreme Conditions

With La Roche-Posay’s role in the America’s Cup, the partnership model becomes even more functional. Here, sport serves as a testing ground, allowing the brand to co-develop products under extreme conditions alongside athletes. Performance is no longer metaphorical, it becomes measurable, tested, and proven, reinforcing scientific credibility and product efficacy.

THE CIC TAKE

Sport is emerging as a strategic territory where brands can assert purpose, credibility, and innovation. What began as a cultural shift toward “beauty in movement” is now evolving into a full-scale repositioning of the industry.

As consumers increasingly value experience, authenticity, and emotional engagement, sport offers a powerful convergence point - blending performance, storytelling, and community. For beauty and luxury brands, it is no longer just about entering the conversation, but about embedding themselves within it, shaping a new definition of beauty that is active, resilient, and in constant motion.

The Age of Flow: 5 Key Trends for 2026 and Beyond

Coralie Arme February 10, 2026

Credits: Shauna Summers via Deathtostock

In our 2026 White Book, the Cosmetics IC team decodes the societal shifts and breakthrough beauty innovations that will transform the shape of the industry for the years ahead in 2026 and beyond.

The beauty industry is entering a new phase of transformation - one shaped by constant movement, uncertainty, and acceleration, but also by a growing desire for control, grounding, and intention. In a world marked by technological intensity, AI-driven systems, climate instability, and shifting social norms, consumers are recalibrating. Age, categories, and rigid frameworks are losing relevance, replaced by fluid identities, expert knowledge, and deeply personal choices. Beauty is no longer static or purely aesthetic: it has become adaptive, experiential, and emotionally strategic.

The Age of Flow reflects this moment. It describes a cultural shift where consumers learn to navigate extremes: between performance and care, indulgence and discipline, technology and humanity. Flow is about movement with purpose - choosing when to accelerate, when to protect, when to indulge, and when to return to what feels essential.

“Beauty now operates as a tool for alignment. From amplified physical performance and medi-wellness to protective rituals, sensorial pleasure, human expertise, and radical self-expression, brands are responding to a consumer who is more informed, more demanding, and more intentional than ever.” said Leïla Rochet, Chief Inspiration Officer of Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation.

Discover 5 inspiration territories to fuel your future innovation:

1. Superhuman Future: The optimization era

Across sport, wellness and beauty, performance is no longer instinctive or episodic. It is becoming structured, intentional and system-led. Consumers are replacing routines with protocols: calibrated sequences designed to regulate the body, improve efficiency and deliver measurable outcomes. Strength is no longer about appearance, but about functional capability, durability and long-term autonomy.

This philosophy is embodied by the rise of fitness-as-a-sport formats such as HYROX, which reward consistency, endurance and functional strength rather than elite specialization. Luxury fitness brands reinforce this mindset. Equinox’s It’s Not Fitness, It’s Life platform reframes physical mastery as a lifelong philosophy, positioning commitment and bodily ownership as expressions of identity.

Performance values increasingly extend into fashion and beauty: YSL Beauty’s Lash Latex Mascara borrows the language of training, framing lashes through repetition, endurance and lift rather than instant enhancement.

Recovery itself becomes a performance strategy. Nike x Hyperice’s Hyperboot integrates warm-up and recovery directly into footwear, while beauty adopts tech-enabled protocols such as Vagheggi x Nuon Medical’s 75.25 Longevity Day Cream, where professional treatment logic is translated into controlled at-home use.

In the future, beauty will operate as a system of optimization, balancing performance, recovery and longevity.

2. HUSH STATE: Protective harmony

In an age of intensity and extremes, calm is no longer passive. It becomes regulated, designed and strategic. As environmental stress, climate volatility and mental overload intensify, consumers are no longer seeking escape, but equilibrium, a way to protect internal balance while navigating external instability.

This shift is reflected in a new aesthetic language built on softness, restraint and visual breathing space. Pantone’s Cloud Dancer, described as “a discreet hue offering a promise of clarity,” embodies this desire for simplification and sensory relief. In culture, Rosalía’s latest album explores spirituality through vulnerability and contradiction, signalling quieter, more introspective forms of transcendence.

Protective harmony extends into physical environments. Hospitality increasingly prioritises silence, slowness and nervous-system regulation, positioning calm as a core luxury value. Aman pioneered this approach by redefining the hotel as a place of retreat rather than stimulation, where architecture and pacing support introspection and recovery.

In beauty, protection begins with real-time regulation. Cooling is reframed as active defence through products such as TIRTIR’s Ice-Cooling Cloud Cream. Skincare also addresses stress-induced responses directly, with Beekman 1802’s Magnesium Milk Barrier Reset Jelly Mist targeting cortisol-related irritation.

In the future, calm will function as a form of sustained flow, maintaining balance without stopping movement.

3. LIBERATING REWARDS: Pleasure by design

Under growing conditions of control and optimization, pleasure becomes purposeful. Sensation is no longer ornamental, but a driver of engagement, efficiency and momentum. As daily life becomes increasingly disciplined, consumers actively seek moments of release that fuel desire rather than disrupt performance.

Hyper-specific pleasure cues now trigger instant emotional response. The resurgence of banana as a sensory obsession illustrates this logic. Prada’s viral Banana Yellow Lip Balm transforms a familiar motif into a refined beauty object, while AMUSE’s Banana Lip Oil amplifies tactility through texture, scent and oversized applicators, extending pleasure into immersive retail experiences.

Beauty increasingly draws from collective food culture, turning everyday indulgence into emotional capital. Lidl’s Eau de Croissant elevates a mass-market icon into a sensorial object, while collaborations with pastry chefs such as Nina Métayer for Burberry Goddess translate taste into scent, texture and narrative.

Pleasure also becomes functional. Fel Beauty’s Kissylips Cushy Shine Lip and Cheek Balm positions emotional uplift as a measurable benefit, while brands such as Tree Hut place sensory excess at the core of their identity.

In the future, pleasure will be deliberately designed as a performance accelerator, sustaining engagement and motivation.

4. HANDS OF MASTERY: Human expertise, elevated authority

As automation, algorithms and AI accelerate production, human expertise becomes increasingly valuable. Speed and flawless outputs are no longer sufficient. What gains value instead is mastery: the visible mark of skill, intention and trained judgment.

Craft and process regain cultural significance. Erewhon’s expansion illustrates how artisanal food culture and curated craftsmanship function as luxury markers, while growing interest in cooking and grocery tourism reflects a broader desire for discernment and know-how.

In luxury, intellectual authority becomes aspirational. Miu Miu’s Making of Old campaign reframes aged leather as intentional, positioning time and process as authorship rather than flaw. Objects are increasingly evaluated through knowledge of materials, methods and expertise.

In beauty, trust is rebuilt through expert-led propositions. DUA by AB foregrounds Augustinus Bader’s TFC5™ technology, while The Ordinary’s Ingredients Book reinforces consumer literacy. At the same time, makeup artistry regains authority through artist-founded brands (m.ph, Hung Vanngo Beauty…) and figures such as Nina Park.

In the future, beauty will privilege human mastery over automation, positioning expertise as its ultimate form of authority.

5. REBEL IDENTITY: Rule-breaking reinvention

As social norms fracture and traditional authority erodes, identity becomes an act of disobedience. Age, gender, aesthetics and usage conventions are increasingly rejected in favor of self-authored expression. Neutrality is refused, and polish gives way to provocation.

Fashion reclaims its role as cultural resistance. Rick Owens’ Tower collection at Paris Men’s FW26 exaggerates symbols of authority to strip them of power, while Dilara Findikoglu’s Cage of Innocence dismantles ideas of virtue and restraint through deconstruction and symbolism.

This rejection of refinement extends to beauty. The rise of the “messy girl” mindset embraces imperfection as authenticity, echoed in Dior Men FW26’s punk-inflected hair and exaggerated textures. Beauty becomes a language of tension, excess and visibility.

Brands increasingly encourage amplified self-expression. MAC’s collaboration with Chappell Roan sharpens makeup as spectacle, while experimental formats like Zara Hair’s Chromatic Gel or About Face’s Shimmerstick invite users to embrace the unconventional.

In the future, beauty will operate as a tool for rule-breaking self-invention: fluid, expressive and unapologetic.

The CIC Take

For an up-close look at our 5 Key Trends for 2026 and Beyond visit our booth (K48) at the upcoming MakeUp in Los Angeles (March 4 & 5) where our CIO Leila Rochet will personally talk you through a selection of international products at our Inspiration Bar, curated to illustrate many of the themes above. More information here.

The full version of our 2026 White Book: The Age of Flow is available now, contact us for more information.

MEN FALL/WINTER 2026 - Between rupture, preservation and emotional function

Coralie Arme January 26, 2026

Dries Van Noten / Zegna / Prada - Men Fall/Winter 2026

At Men’s Fall/Winter 2026, a number of designers leaned back into conservative dress codes (and casting), traditional silhouettes, and established masculine markers. Yet within this context, others carved out a necessary rupture, reminding us that masculinity can still be theatrical, fluid and defiantly expressive.

Rather than chasing novelty, the season focused on reworking the familiar: questioning class structures, destabilising good taste, and navigating the tension between comfort and discomfort. Clothes became tools for reflection on identity, power, preservation and the very real emotional and physical needs of an uncertain future.

Here are five defining themes that shaped Men’s FW26.

1. MAKING NEW FROM THE FAMILIAR - Beauty, ugliness and the search for new beginnings

Dries Van Noten / Dior / Prada - Men Fall/Winter 2026

At the core of FW26 was a desire to rework the known: silhouettes, archetypes, textures… into something emotionally and culturally relevant. Designers leaned into contrast: comfort versus discomfort, refinement versus decay, beauty versus awkwardness.

At Dries Van Noten, this took the form of a coming-of-age narrative. Knitwear became the emotional anchor of the collection: sweaters as memory-holders, offering warmth, safety and nostalgia at a time when the world itself feels unstable. Patterned, striped, patchworked and colour-blocked knits layered familiarity with experimentation. Archetypal silhouettes were loosened from their boundaries, suggesting growth, self-expression and the uncertainty of adolescence.

At Dior, Jonathan Anderson pushed familiarity into eccentricity. Aristocracy was reimagined, not as polished privilege, but as something fractured, theatrical and deliberately uncomfortable. Punk-inflected references to Paul Poiret, exaggerated silhouettes, degraded textures and rejected polish created character-driven looks that thrived in unease. This was escapism through excess: a refusal of what modern “refinement” should look like.

Prada approached the familiar through tension and contradiction. Broken boundaries, working-class decadence and a deliberate questioning of good taste defined the collection. The mismatched marble fireplaces and fractured interiors of the set felt like metaphors for a destabilised world. Across the looks, signs of wear and distress appeared repeatedly: peeling fabrics, frayed edges left raw, creased leathers, materials seemingly in states of fatigue. Yet these elements were always held within Prada’s clarity and refinement.

Across these collections, a fundamental question was asked: what happens when we stop idealising the familiar and start degrading it instead?

2. DECONSTRUCTION AS SOFT POWER - Acts of disobedience and the mocking of authority

Sacai / Rick Owens / Willy Chavarria - Men Fall/Winter 2026

Men FW26 saw deconstruction evolve from a design technique into a method of protest. Rather than overt slogans, designers employed symbolism, hybridisation and irony to challenge established power structures.

At Sacai, Chitose Abe’s signature hybridisation took on new urgency. Garments were engineered to challenge structure itself: jackets reworked so that different sections moved independently yet remained connected: a visual and technical metaphor for coexistence and tension. This dismantling of order echoed the global unrest beyond the runway. The soundtrack, Queen’s I Want to Break Free, left little ambiguity. The set itself, a drywall partition punched through, referenced strength and liberation. Chitose Abe described it as expressing “the power to break through the wall, to be free.”

Willy Chavarria continued to position fashion as a space for visibility, dignity and emotional truth. Eterno was rooted in representation and love as acts of resistance. The casting conveyed presence and humanity, bodies asserting their right to exist, be seen and take up space. Colour became a key instrument: deep purples, mustard, lipstick red, pool blue and canary yellow clashed unapologetically.

At Rick Owens, political parody took center stage. In Tower, the designer subverted symbols of authority, mocking them through exaggeration and theatricality. Watchtowers, cell towers and tower blocks, all symbols of surveillance, control and isolation, were reinterpreted as hollow monuments. By ridiculing power, Rick Owens stripped it of its dominance.

Together, these designers reframed deconstruction as cultural resistance: subtle, symbolic, and emotionally charged.

3. CLOTHING AS HEIRLOOM - Preservation, simplicity and the wardrobe as legacy

Zegna / Hermès / Auralie - Men Fall/Winter 2026

In contrast to excess and protest, this season’s runways also made space for quiet permanence. Several designers reasserted the wardrobe as a site of preservation, a place where garments hold history, not trends.

At Zegna, clothing was positioned as heirloom. The idea of passing down garments, not just buying them, reinforced a philosophy of buy less but better. The closet became a physical vessel of family memory, where quality, durability and emotional value outweighed novelty.

This sense of continuity was especially poignant at Hermès, marking Véronique Nichanian’s farewell after 37 years as artistic director. Her approach has always been rooted in longevity and cyclical fashion: designing not for seasons, but for lives. In a moment when AI and automation increasingly encroach on creativity, her departure felt like a reminder of the irreplaceable human touch. Hermès once again resisted trends, focusing instead on garments as meaningful, long-term companions.

Auralee distilled this philosophy into desirable simplicity. Ryota Iwai’s “Pure Silhouettes” used colour as the primary storytelling tool. Referencing Bauhaus colour theory, Lego-like modularity and architectural experiments such as the Reversible Destiny Lofts, the collection treated wardrobe-building as intuitive and playful. Primary brights stacked effortlessly, turning dressing into a calm, almost meditative act.

4. DRESSING FOR THE IMMINENT FUTURE - Function, adaptation and emotional resilience

Louis Vuitton / Pronounce - Men Fall/Winter 2026

Designers also addressed the near future, not speculative or distant, but immediate. They considered what consumers will need to endure, adapt and feel supported in challenging times.

At Louis Vuitton, Pharrell explored Timeless Living through the lens of function and human need. The collection reflected on the imminent future and the realities the Louis Vuitton customer may face: uncertainty, acceleration and constant adaptation. Technical innovation was woven directly into garments, with functionality guiding design choices rather than following them. Set within a glass house, the show acknowledged how luxury has expanded to offer solutions for every aspect of modern life, from clothing to environment.

Pronounce offered a quieter, more introspective vision of technicality. The collection encouraged garments to reveal themselves over time, athletic materials were absorbed into tailoring, utilitarian elements softened by proportion and layering. Function existed, but never at the expense of emotion. Movement replaced control, intelligence replaced severity.

Technology in menswear is no longer about performance alone, but about emotional sustainability.

The CIC Take

Men’s Fall/Winter 2026 reveals a menswear landscape shaped less by trend cycles than by emotional, cultural and functional recalibration. Designers are no longer choosing between expression and restraint, or innovation and heritage, they are learning how to hold these tensions simultaneously.

The season points towards a future where value is created through meaningful transformation: reworking the familiar, preserving what matters, and designing with real human needs in mind and garments that feel relevant not just to the moment, but to the lives consumers are navigating.

How Gen Z & Gen Alpha Are Rewriting the Rules of Fragrance

Coralie Arme December 3, 2025

At this year’s Fragrance Innovation Summit in Paris, Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation explored a crucial question: why is fragrance undergoing such a profound transformation, and what does this shift reveal about the future of beauty?

Our talk, “How Gen Z & Alpha Redefine Perfume and Its Use” unpacked the cultural, emotional, and behavioral shifts that are pushing fragrance far beyond its traditional codes.
Today, only 6% of 18-34 y.o. consumers do not wear perfume, compared to 26% of 55+ y.o. consumers (Circana - Fragrance Innovation Summit 2025). What emerges today is clear: younger generations are not just buying perfume, they are reinventing its meaning, its use, and its value.

Below are the three major transformation engines shaping the next era of fragrance.

1. Personal Layers - Fragrance as a Language of Identity

For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, fragrance is no longer a finishing touch. It has become a core tool of self-expression, a modular language through which they articulate their moods, aesthetics, and evolving identities.

This generation has abandoned the traditional “signature scent” in favor of fragrance wardrobes: flexible scent portfolios designed to shift with context, emotion, and persona. On TikTok communities like PerfumeTok or Smellmaxxing, perfume is framed as a daily emotional code: “What scent matches my mood today?”

This drive for personal authorship fuels a new wave of innovation focused on augmentation, modulation, and co-creation:

Rare Beauty introduced Fragrance Layering Balms, allowing users to build their own olfactive “score” by adding amber, floral, woody, or fresh layers. As Selena Gomez puts it, “I wanted a perfume that evolves with me.”
Glossier continues to push its “skin-scent” ethos with You Fleur, a fragrance designed to adapt differently to every wearer, encouraging layering as a personal signature.
New gestural formats are multiplying: gels, body & hair mists, mood mists, enabling users to adjust texture and intensity.
In Japan, IPSA’s Skin Fragrance Gels blur the line between scent and skincare for a more intimate, subtle expression.

Across markets, one shift stands out:
Fragrance is becoming a writable space, a canvas for identity, emotion, and self-narration.

2. Wellness Scents - The Rise of Emotional Fragrance

As stress and emotional volatility rise, especially among younger consumers, fragrance is increasingly perceived as a tool for emotional regulation, clarity, and reconnection.

What was once a beauty gesture is transforming into a micro-ritual of psychological support. Nearly 80% of UK consumers now believe fragrance can improve mental well-being (Mintel - Make Sense of Scents - July 2025).

This shift fuels an emerging hybrid territory between perfumery, neuroscience, and self-care, illustrated by a new generation of functional, mood-responsive scents:

Moods, launched this year, reimagines aromatherapy through clinically validated blends. Its “MoodSwings” duo, a double roller designed for on-the-go regulation, delivers measurable emotional impact, with 76% of users reporting improved mood and harmony.
Orebella (by Bella Hadid) brings bi-phased scent rituals combining skincare actives, mushrooms, and aromatherapeutic components, turning fragrance into a meditative, sensorial practice.
The Nue Co uses neuroscience and nostalgia with First Milk, formulated to trigger the brain’s comfort response.
The multisensory trend expands through edible fragrances such as Amorecco, merging taste, touch, and scent.
Everyday beauty also shifts: Being Frenshe transforms lip wellness into a mood-boosting centering ritual through scent science.

What we witness here is a status shift:
Fragrance is evolving from aesthetic pleasure to emotional utility, a new form of self-soothing and regenerative care.

3. Cultural Anchors - Fragrance as a Cultural Dialogue

For Gen Z, identity is cultural as much as personal. Fragrance, therefore, becomes a medium of heritage, storytelling, and collective meaning.

Brands increasingly lean into culture, art, craft, history, symbolism, to create fragrances that resonate emotionally and intellectually:

In China, Documents blends Guochao cultural revival with modern perfumery. Products reinterpret traditional lucky charms, rituals, and olfactive philosophies, turning perfume into a living cultural artefact.
Miu Miu Miutine becomes a manifesto of “soft rebellion,” merging literature, youth culture, and feminine narratives into an olfactive attitude.
Diptyque curates its experiences like exhibitions, as seen in its Shanghai installation Un Air de Paris in October, an educational and immersive scent journey designed for younger audiences.
In Korea, Borntostandout pushes cultural hybridization to the extreme: Onggi clay pot maceration, gallery-like boutiques, and ultra-concentrated juices redefine fragrance as contemporary art.
Balenciaga’s revival of Le Dix shows how heritage can be reimagined for a new generation seeking roots, authenticity, and symbolism.

Across these initiatives lies a powerful insight:
Fragrance is becoming a cultural language, a place where identity, memory, aesthetics, and heritage meet.

The CIC Take - What This Transformation Means for the Future of Fragrance

Younger generations are rewriting the expectations of fragrance at every level.
They fluidly navigate between self-expression, emotional functionality, cultural meaning, and expect scent to evolve with them.

We are entering a new paradigm where fragrance becomes care and culture, performance and identity, a sensorial ecosystem rather than a single product.

For brands, the opportunity is bold and clear: Don’t just create new scents. Create new meanings, new rituals, and new ways for consumers to connect to themselves, to others, and to the world.

Check our website for our latest Trend Books, Inspiration Tours or Retail Forecasting Books. Don’t hesitate to contact us for a tailored Fragrance Report.

Beauty's charms offensive

Coralie Arme October 3, 2025

If 2024 was our Brat summer, 2025 has undoubtedly been the summer of the Labubu. In a flash, the furry, fiendish charm from Chinese toy manufacturer Pop Mart has gone from cult collectible to cultural craze, adorning the bags and TikTok feeds of everyone from Blackpink’s Lisa to Marc Jacobs and Madonna.

However, Labubu’s meteoric rise on the consumer radar is down to more than just celebrity endorsement - it represents the recognition of adult play as a key source of well-being in a high-stress world. In the US, it is adults who are driving growth in the toy category, with sales to this demographic up 18% YoY (Circana, August 2025).

While we first highlighted the charm trend last year in our What’s Up #21 report, love for accessorizing your accessories with cute collectibles continues to gain momentum as consumers look to inject their daily routines with a shot of personalized playfulness. The desire to decorate, customise and play isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about identity. Research reveals that 67% of US adults believe self-expression is important (Mintel, 2025), underscoring why customization is proving so powerful. And if recent beauty and lifestyle launches are anything to go by, we’ve still not reached peak charmcore, as brands lean further into the craze.

Recent launches highlight the expanding scope of this dynamic. 818 Spirits is bringing the charm economy into lifestyle with its Tequila Minis Charms, reframing bottles not as pure function but as collectible accessories, complete with a wink of playful luxury. Beauty too is doubling down: Odele Beauty tapped cult accessories designer Susan Alexandra for a beaded bag charm collab that pairs clean haircare with Y2K-coded whimsy. Hourglass Cosmetics has gone more elevated with its Charms Edition palette, fusing fine jewelry design with customizable makeup, empowering consumers to curate compacts as unique as their signature looks.

Mass brands aren’t missing a beat either. H&M Beauty’s July drop with Chupa Chups fuses foodcore with charmcore in a sweetly irreverent collection, while ColourPop’s PopSockets Grip reinvents multifunctionality with a 3-in-1 lip holder, grip and phone stand.

Retail spaces are amplifying the experience too, responding to consumers' desire for more interactive and playful shopping environments (Westfield Rise, 2024). In August, Space NK joined forces with Jellycat to celebrate the opening of its new Oxford Street flagship with a limited-edition Amuseables bag charm, while Crocs’s new Icon store in Soho, NYC, features a customization playground where shoppers can curate their own Jibbitz™ charm collection, turning each purchase into a self-expression canvas.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Charm culture is thriving in a world shaped by stress and frugality; these micro-treats bring instant joy, while allowing consumers to engage in a small act of creative self-expression. However, the next chapter for charms will head beyond cute: expect sustainability and multifunctionality to come to the fore, as brands meet the need for objects that are not only collectible but also purposeful and enduring.

Read more about the charm trend in our latest Beauty Foresight report, The New Unfolding - Makeup.

Recession Beauty: How economic pressure is redefining beauty culture

CATRIN DAVIES August 26, 2025

Economic uncertainty and the ongoing tariff turbulence are reshaping the beauty industry, prompting a shift toward value-driven consumer behavior. The Cosmetics IC team decodes consumers’ responses to the current economic climate and explores how financial pressure is redefining beauty culture.

“As consumers watch their spending, holding back becomes more than just a financial statement - it’s an act of empowerment.”

— Leila Rochet, Chief Inspiration Officer, Cosmetics IC.

The Beauty of Less – Smart Restraint

Gone are the days of overflowing vanities and impulsive beauty splurges; today’s consumers are embracing restraint as a form of empowerment. Movements like Project Pan are leading the charge, encouraging users to use up every last drop of their products before replacing them, turning visible empties into badges of honor for social media (Google searches for these videos have surged by +91% YoY1). The trend has reached haircare too: recession blonde - a low-maintenance, budget-friendly shade - has gained popularity as people cut back on salon visits. It's a clear example of how financial caution is directly shaping beauty aesthetics.

The Value Recalibration - Dupe Economy

As cost-of-living concerns grow, consumers aren’t just spending less, they’re spending smarter. Against this backdrop, the dupe economy continues to thrive. Far from being seen as a compromise, dupes are now symbols of clever consumerism.

With a BoF x McKinsey report finding that 1 in 3 U.S. adults intentionally buy dupes, it is no wonder brands are now centering their entire identity around duping. MCoBeauty is a prime example, with its $14.99 Flawless Glow Luminous Skin Filter being a clear nod to Charlotte Tilbury’s $49 version. And it's a strategy that is paying off - the brand has experienced a +595% YoY increase on U.S. TikTok views.2 As a counterpoint, legacy brands are trying to reassert their value - Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary. For a Reason. campaign is an open attempt to reinforce edge by emphasising expertise and innovation.

Bargain Culture – The Treasure Hunt Economy

Today’s beauty consumers aren't just looking for lower prices, they’re seeking the thrill of the find. Bargain culture has transformed beauty shopping into a treasure hunt, fueled by social media, peer recommendations, and gamified retail experiences.

TikTok’s #affordablemakeup hashtag saw a +11.4% YoY spike2, while The Ordinary’s Choose a Price campaign, letting shoppers pay what they could, earned respect for its inclusive, community-driven pricing model. In February, L’Oréal Paris sponsored multiple influencers for a campaign that championed the affordability of its products. Creator @bethennyfrankel posted a video praising the Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil as being better than expensive alternatives, generating an Earned Media Value of $185K.3

On platforms like TikTok Shop, affordability is met with immediacy, as consumers seamlessly switch from livestreams to shopping. During Black Friday 2024, TikTok Shop sales hit $100 million, overtaking platforms like Shein and Temu (Reuters). Brands like BPerfect are excelling in this social commerce space, with a record-setting livestream in March 2025 generating over $325,000 in sales (TikTok).

In today’s value-led beauty landscape, TikTok Shop is proving to be a platform with real clout - driving sales, shaping trends, and turning influencer content into powerful, purchase-ready moments.

THE CIC TAKE

Today’s beauty culture embraces strategic restraint, celebrates smart substitutes, and prizes authenticity over excess. The future of beauty isn’t necessarily less - it’s leaner, smarter, and far more intentional. Value is more than a price tag; it's a new aesthetic ideal.

Find out more about Recession Beauty in our latest What’s Up report. Join Cosmetic IC at MakeUp in New York (September 17- 18, 2025), at the agency’s booth - A48.

Sources:

1. Spate NY Tool – U.S. Google searches - from Apr 2024 to Mar 2025 vs. Apr 2023 to Mar 2024

2. Spate NY Tool – U.S. TikTok views - from Apr 21, 2024 to Apr 20, 2025 vs. Apr 23, 2023 to Apr 21, 2024

3. Tribe Dynamics – EMV (Earn Media Value) in February 2025

Beauty Rewired: Adaptive Beauty Systems

CATRIN DAVIES August 20, 2025

In our upcoming Beauty Talk for MakeUp in New York (September 17), Beauty Rewired: Adaptive Beauty Systems, our CIO Leila Rochet will unpack how the alliance of technology, science and beauty is reshaping the industry - from sourcing to selling.

“In this era of accelerated innovation, beauty becomes a dynamic, future-ready force that combines the microscopic scale of biotechnology innovations with the expansive opportunities of virtual realities.”

— Leila Rochet, Chief Inspiration Officer, Cosmetics IC

NEXT-LEVEL INTERACTIONS

As consumers increasingly embrace AI-driven creativity, with 65% believing it will enhance artistic expression and progress (Vox), beauty brands have a unique opportunity to leverage the current enthusiasm for tech-powered innovation. The consensus amongst consumers seems to be that if AI can simplify their lives, then it is worth embracing - over half of U.S. Gen Zers support brands using generative AI for personalization (Statista).

New product launches demonstrate the potential for technology to transform how consumers engage with and experience beauty, whether it is through embarking on a ChatGPT-authored glow-up, booking in for an Aescape robotic massage, or by leaning into AI-powered diagnostics with SmartSKN’s Muilli AI Dermascope and L’Oréal’s Cell BioPrint. These innovations demonstrate the power of AI to offer incredibly nuanced experiences, hyper-attuned to individual needs, from health diagnostics to skin analysis to empowering bold makeup looks.

Technology is also powering a new wave of co-created products and experiences, acting as a conduit for deepening consumer engagement and collaboration. NFC-enabled beauty brand Kiki World raised $5 million in 2024 to build on its proposition of offering a blockchain platform that allows users to vote on product designs, earn loyalty points, and unlock discounts. NFC-enabled products further enhance the engagement experience, rewarding community interaction beyond purchases.

BIOTECH FUTURES: SUSTAINABILITY MEETS SCIENCE

As beauty brands seek future resilience, biotechnology and AI-driven formulations are emerging as industry game-changers. Lab-grown ingredients and AI-enhanced product development tools, such as Debut’s BeautyORB, which utilizes AI to scan over 50 billion ingredients, are paving the way for sustainable, high-performance beauty solutions.

In this context, AI-controlled farm environments will become a critical asset to brands focused on ring-fencing their sustainability. Odacité’s Derm-Restore Super Serum (May 2024) showcases the power of AI farming, using lab-grown Edelweiss, an otherwise rare and difficult-to-source botanical ingredient. Beauty brand Jillian Dempsey works with the AI-powered platform Provenance to provide detailed information on the sourcing and composition of its products as it makes ingredient transparency a core part of the brand experience.

THE CIC TAKE

The future of beauty lies in adaptive, tech-driven innovations that merge biotechnology, AI, and self-expression. The industry must embrace this transformation to remain relevant in a world where digital and physical beauty seamlessly converge. This means prioritizing investment in AI-controlled environments or lab-grown alternatives to ensure long-term viability and differentiation; harnessing AI as a facilitator of self-expression; and investigating ways to bring hyper-personalization at scale.

To discover the latest trends shaping the future of beauty, meet the Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation team at the trends area of MakeUp in New York on September 17-18, booth A48.

Our Beauty Talk, Beauty Rewired: Adaptive Beauty Systems, will be held on September 17, 2025, 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm in The Beauty Agora, where Leila will be joined by Alex Rawitz (Director of Research and Insights of CreatorIQ) and Sarah Jindal ( Mintel). The panel will explore how new technologies, from biotech and skin diagnostics to AI and sensorial interfaces, are converging to transform beauty’s potential, fueling groundbreaking innovation, redefining performance and expectations around efficacy and personalization.

TIKTOK TREND INSPIRATION: S1 2025

Pierre-Louis Biondi May 29, 2025

Sources: @mvrychen / @melisekrem / @kayli.boyle

Every month, the Cosmetics IC social media team scours TikTok and Instagram to spotlight the latest beauty trends, viral techniques, and must-have products. So far this year, the beauty community has embraced minimalism, playful color correcting experimentation, and a renewed focus on hair. Here are the top three TikTok trends shaping the conversation at the start of the year:

1/ No Mascara Makeup

The #FullFaceNoMascara trend is making waves across TikTok and Instagram, as beauty lovers embrace makeup looks that skip mascara entirely. This minimalist approach shifts the focus to radiant skin, sculpted brows, and statement lips, moving away from the traditional emphasis on dramatic lashes. Instead of volumizing mascaras, creators are enhancing their lash lines with tightlining, subtle false lashes, or simply brushing clear brow gel through their natural lashes for lift and separation.

This trend reflects a broader shift toward pared-back, “undone” aesthetics, where healthy, glowing skin takes center stage. For a feminine and youthful vibe, many pair bare lashes with vibrant lips and cheeks - with sheer berry stains and diffused blush for a modern, effortless finish. A bold red lip worn with bare lashes also features prominently in videos, offering a fresh and edgy twist.

Key Products:

- Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara

- SEPHORA COLLECTION Eyelash Curler

- Glossier Boy Brow (transparent)

Influencers: @kensnation, @avashaw.ty, @oliviadaytonn

Hashtags: #nomascara – 74.1M views, #nomascaramakeup – 24.5M views

2/ Pink vs Peach Concealer

A new wave of color-correcting content is taking over TikTok, with creators splitting their faces in half to compare the effects of pink versus peach concealers. This trend is also meant to be helping viewers choose the right corrector for their unique complexion.

Pink correctors are recommended for those with fair skin, brightening under-eyes and neutralizing green and blue undertones for a fresh, illuminated look. On the other side, peach and orange correctors are often used for medium to deep skin tones, counteracting bluish hues and camouflaging dark circles or spots. Peach shades are also seen working well for fair to medium skin, while deeper oranges suit richer skin tones.

In their TikTok videos, creators apply a small amount of the corrector to dark circles or spots, blend gently, and layer with their usual concealer.

Key Products:

- Huda Beauty #FAUXFILTER Under Eye Color Corrector

- Kosas Revealer Extra Bright Serum-Powered Color Corrector

- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser

Influencers: @selcanguerel, @velabeauty, @christxiee

Hashtags: #peachcolorcorrector – 6.5M, #orangecolorcorrector – 8.6M, #pinkconcealer – 76.6M

3/ Victoria’s Secret Blowout

The iconic “Victoria’s Secret Blowout” is back this year, with TikTokers recreating the bouncy, voluminous hair made famous by 90s and early 2000s supermodels. Whether using hot tools like the Dyson Airwrap or Shark FlexStyle, or opting for heatless methods with overnight rollers or even socks, creators are looking to achieve that signature bombshell bounce.

TikTok creators often follow a specific set of steps to achieve this popular blowout look. They begin by applying a heat protectant to damp hair to shield it from damage, then rough dry the hair until it is about 70% dry. Next, they use a round brush to blow out one-inch sections of hair. After blow-drying, each section is secured in velcro rollers to maximize volume, and the rollers are left in place for at least 20 minutes to set the style. To finish, a volumizing spray or styling cream is applied to lock in body and shine.

Key Products:

- Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant

- Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment

- Olaplex Bonding Oil No. 7

Influencers: @carogracesmith, @angelsign_, @sophiebarkleyy

Hashtags: #victoriasecrethair – 20.3M, #blowout – 5.3B, #overnightblowout – 500.5M

The CIC Take

For more information on our Social Books, Inspiration Reports and consultancy services, contact us.

Sources: Cosmetics IC - S1 2025 (January to May 2025)

Spate NYC - TikTok US until Week of May 25, 2025

The New Well 2025: Where Innovation Meets Beauty

Pierre-Louis Biondi May 22, 2025

From May 16 to 18, 2025, the Carreau du Temple in Paris hosted the third edition of The New Well, a festival dedicated to the future of beauty and well-being. Our team attended the three-day event to explore emerging trends and innovations firsthand. Gathering over 100 pioneering brands and industry leaders, the experience offered masterclasses, product demos, and networking across beauty, wellness, nutrition, and lifestyle.

The New Well Festival - *Photo By Cosmetics IC*

The Next Step in Asian Beauty: A Tech-Driven Revolution

Bijo: The Essence of Japanese Beauty Tools

Founded by beauty expert Keiko Suyama, Bijo is Paris’s premier destination for cutting-edge Japanese beauty technology. The boutique features advanced tools such as the YA-MAN MediLift EMS Lifting Mask, which uses electrical muscle stimulation to tone and sculpt the lower face, specifically targeting the Masseter and Zygomaticus muscles.

Another highlight is the CoreFit Face-Pointer II, a precision device for targeted lymphatic drainage and muscle relaxation. It includes two attachments: a Single Rod for focused pressure and a Triple Rod for gentle, distributed stimulation across broader areas like the cheeks and forehead. These professional-grade tools allow users to achieve salon-quality results at home, improving skin texture, firmness, and radiance with regular use.

Maison Kōzane: The Parisian Home of High-Tech K-Beauty

While much of the K-Beauty wave centers on affordable, youth-focused products, Maison Kōzane curates high-end, niche brands and advanced tools that replicate professional facial treatments at home.

Among the innovations showcased was the Korean Air Brush Lift using Ruby-Cell technology, a patented device that blends airbrush application with lifting massage techniques for facial contouring and enhanced glow. Another standout was La Nouvelle Peau The Lift Pro, which uses near-infrared light to reduce inflammation, tighten pores, and enhance skin texture, offering an alternative to traditional clinical treatments.

Science Meets Skincare: The Rise of Medical-Grade Beauty

Skin Diligent: Epigenetic Skincare for Cellular Longevity

Skin Diligent stands at the forefront of a new wave in skincare, leveraging the science of epigenetics to influence skin health at the cellular level. Their products are powered by epigenetic ingredients, antioxidants, and microbiome-friendly actives, targeting the eight hallmarks of cellular skin health, from telomere protection and melanin regulation to regenerative capacity and hydration. The brand's technology is designed to optimize the skin's ability to repair and renew itself.

Among their product range, the Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil stands out. Unlike traditional water-soluble Ascorbic Acid, this serum uses a stable, oil-soluble form of Vitamin C that penetrates deeply without causing irritation or oxidation, delivering potent antioxidant protection directly at the cellular level.

Clarté Laboratoire: Ophthalmology-Inspired Precision for Skin Longevity

Clarté Laboratoire, born from over 20 years of expertise at Horus Pharma in preservative-free ophthalmic care, brings a unique medical perspective to skincare. The brand's mission is to optimize cellular resilience and prolong skin longevity by applying the strictest medical standards to every product.

Clarté's formulas are sterilized using UHT technology, preservative and fragrance-free, and contain a maximum of 15 rigorously selected ingredients to minimize the risk of irritation and maximize efficacy. The innovation extends to packaging, with airless, patented glass bottles that protect formulas from oxidation and contamination, ensuring the integrity of each active ingredient over time.

Breaking the Mold: Disruptive Formats & Unconventional Innovations

Lyfta: Facial Kinesiotape - A New Era of Non-Invasive Skin Lifting

Lyfta introduces pre-cut kinesiotape patches, specifically engineered for the delicate skin of the face. Inspired by medical kinesiology, these patches are designed to increase blood circulation, stimulate lymphatic drainage, and support facial muscles, without releasing any active ingredients. These patches facilitate oxygen and nutrient delivery, support collagen and elastin production, and promote skin lifting and toning.

The Cheek and Mouth Kit features two shaped tapes, each tailored to target areas like marionette lines, nasolabial folds, cheekbones, and mouth corners.

Ozza: Fresh Skincare Powered by High Pressure Processing (HPP)

Ozza uses High Pressure Processing (HPP), a technique from the nutrition world, now applied to cosmetics. Unlike conventional methods that rely on heat or preservatives (which can degrade active ingredients), HPP preserves nutrients in their purest, most bioactive form. Through this process, the formulas maintain their potency and absorption properties, supporting the skin's natural functions. All products in this line come in single-use sachets to guarantee freshness.

Maison Kosé: Japanese Heritage Meets Scientific Precision

Maison Kosé brings Japanese beauty expertise to France through its Decorté and Sekkisei Blue product lines. Sekkisei Blue applies the Kampo philosophy's three fundamental elements to skincare: Ki (vital energy), Ketsu (blood circulation), and Sui (water balance). The brand's diagnostic approach determines a personalized serum-oil formulation based on these elements.

Each component serves a specific function: Ki supports vital processes, Ketsu ensures nutrient transport and skin radiance, while Sui maintains hydration levels. Through this system, Sekkisei Blue aims to restore balance among these elements for optimal skin health.

The CIC Take

The New Well 2025 demonstrated the convergence of scientific innovation, sustainability, and experiential beauty. Drawing from Asian beauty traditions, medical advances, and emerging brand innovations, the skincare industry is evolving. This transformation points to a future where skincare solutions become increasingly personalized, technologically advanced, and adaptable to individual needs.

Our team of experts is available to work on your latest innovations or tailor an inspiration report specific to your need.

Contact the team for more details.

NYCxDESIGN 2025 Guide: Emerging Design Codes

Coralie Arme May 15, 2025

@audocph - @kikigoti - Les Collection by @lisaluvsit

From May 15 to 21, New York City will once again become the stage for NYCxDESIGN, the city’s annual festival of design innovation. Stretching across all five boroughs, from Manhattan’s galleries to Brooklyn’s studios and Ridgewood’s creative hubs, the event celebrates a pluralistic vision of design rooted in identity, independence, and social engagement.

This year’s edition reveals a distinct shift in tone. Unlike the theatrical opulence seen in Milan, NYCxDESIGN 2025 centers emerging voices and independent studios, foregrounding design as both a functional discipline and a cultural message.

Shelter - Vol.1: Mart Nouveau

A debut fair curated by Afternoon Light, Shelter gathers over 100 brands and studios. From names like Les Collection or Audo Copenhagen to Atelier Ollin, it creates a hybrid landscape where collectibility, market-readiness, and storytelling converge. A democratic showcase for design in the post-retail age.

Biome by Lichen Studio

In Ridgewood, design shop and studio Lichen curates a show shaped by ecological thinking. Biome explores the relationship between physical environment and creative identity, featuring work by artists such as Yuxuan Huang, Vy Voi, Malcom Ransome and Reginald Sylvester II. It’s a meditation on material memory and the porous boundary between past and present.

Outside/In - Lyle Gallery

At Lyle Gallery on the Lower East Side, Outside/In draws inspiration from the Outsider Art movement. This multidisciplinary exhibition, led by queer and women founders Lin and Magdalena Tyrpien, amplifies experimental, self-determined voices such as Soft Geometry, Kawabi and Monica Curiel. The result is a community-rooted exploration of design as resistance and personal mythology.

Forced Perspective

@sahrajajarmikhayat - Office of Tangible Space

A timely, two-day exhibition, Forced Perspective examines how design responds to misinformation and fragmented narratives. Curated by NJ Roseti, Kiki Goti, Caleb Ferris, and The House Special Studio, the show presents collectible works by 15 New York-based talents, including Office of Tangible Space and Heechan Kim. Furniture and objects become vessels for political critique and collective memory.

ICFF x WANTED – Designing in Harmony

At the Javits Center, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair returns with a renewed focus: sustainability, inclusivity, and emotional connectivity. Under the theme Designing in Harmony, the fair spotlights emerging voices through the WANTED platform, such as Ah Um Design Studio and Daniel Gruetter, while installations by Grohe and Juniper point toward a softer, sensory future of space-making.

THE CIC TAKE

NYCxDESIGN 2025 highlights a clear shift: design is becoming more intentional, contextual, and community-driven. For brands, this means moving beyond aesthetics to engage with creators who embody cultural relevance and ethical resonance. This design week offers not only a glimpse into tomorrow’s aesthetics, but into the ethics, values, and systems that will define the next decade of design.

For more cultural decoding and insights, check our other articles.

Decoding the Met Gala 2025: Tailoring, Glam & Heritage

CATRIN DAVIES May 8, 2025

Teyana Taylor - Doechii - Zendaya - Getty Images

On May 5, 2025, the fashion world converged for the 2025 Met Gala to celebrate the opening of The Costume Institute’s new exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. This year's dress code, "Tailored for You," invited attendees to explore the rich history and artistry of Black dandyism and bespoke tailoring, resulting in a red carpet filled with bold statements and sartorial excellence. Guiding the night's festivities were co-chairs Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour.

The Cosmetics IC team turned a critical eye to the red carpet, spotlighting standout moments and the most compelling interpretations of this year’s theme:

Statement Heritage

Lewis Hamilton - Photo by Miranda Barnes

Superfine: Tailoring Black Style is an appreciation, cultural critique, and reclamation of Black designers who’ve been sidelined from larger fashion conversations. Celebrities reimagined classic tailoring codes with rich cultural references, paying homage to unsung designers, historic style icons, and the radical power of dandyism. These weren’t just clothes, they were layered narratives.

Colman Domingo embodied Black elegance and cultural depth with a layered Valentino look that was both regal and radical. Draped in a cobalt blue cape embroidered with jewels and sequins, he evoked a modern-day monarch. Underneath, he revealed Zoot Suit-inspired separates, windowpane plaid, a polka-dot necktie and boutonniere, and a crisply tailored vest that paid homage to the dandy archetype and the Zoot Suit Riots. Domingo’s stylists, Wayman + Micah, cited art history and Civil Rights references, using fashion to uplift underrepresented heritage. Accessories, from his Boucheron ear cuffs to custom Persol shades, deepened the storytelling. His grooming, a dewy, glowing skin and subtle smoky eye, was a quiet nod to timeless grace.

Actress Laura Harrier delivered a romantic take on classic menswear, reinterpreted through the lens of Black dandyism. Her ensemble, crafted by Gap Studio under Zac Posen’s direction, combined a sharply cinched waistcoat with billowing sleeves and voluminous wide-leg trousers. The contrast between tailored structure and flowing silhouettes created a poetic tension, strength softened by elegance.
This look whispered royalty while nodding to Harlem style codes. Her glowing, minimalist makeup by L’Oréal Paris let the clothes speak volumes, bringing modern femininity into this conversation on gendered tailoring and power.

Lewis Hamilton collaborated with designer Grace Wales Bonner to create a look rich with symbolism and historical resonance. His ivory ensemble featuring a cropped jacket, smoking-stripe high-waist trousers, tails, and a white bow tie, was finished with a sculptural beret and a delicately embroidered waistband. Wales Bonner infused the outfit with storytelling: baobab flower patterns, cowrie shells, and mother-of-pearl buttons referenced African heritage and spiritual traditions. Artistic influences ranged from Barkley L. Hendricks to Cab Calloway, grounding Hamilton’s modern dandyism in ancestral memory and quiet defiance.

Burgundy and Gloss

While tailoring reigned supreme on the carpet, beauty looks added a layer of bold sensuality, none more striking than the return of the glossy lip. This high-shine statement wasn’t just a nostalgic nod to Y2K beauty; it became a power move, a finish that amplified confidence, femininity, and polish across diverse expressions of Black glamour.

For her first Met Gala, Doechii delivered a beauty look that was as fearless as her fashion. Styled in a Louis Vuitton short suit by Pharrell, she elevated the look with a voluminous afro, styled by Malcolm Marquez, and bold, graphic makeup by makeup artist Dee Carrion. Her lips were sharply lined in deep burgundy matching her oversized bowtie, then glossed to perfection, creating a sculptural effect that balanced precision with shine. The bold lip was paired with a cheek stamped with the LV monogram, as well as custom LV grillz designed by Gabby Elan Jewelry.

Zendaya embodied the theme in an immaculately tailored custom Louis Vuitton suit, designed by Pharrell Williams and styled by Law Roach. MUA Ernesto Casillas achieved her signature radiance using Charlotte Tilbury products, including the Sensual Sunset eye palette for a bronzed, defined eye, and the Lip Cheat Contour Duo paired with Big Lip Plumpgasm in Nudegasm Diamonds for a sculpted, glossy pout.

Teyana Taylor arrived in a custom Marc Jacobs creation, a powerful burgundy ensemble highlighting traditional men's tailoring, complete with an impactful hat and a red durag. Her beauty look featured burgundy smoky eyes, power brows, dramatic lashes, a chiseled face, and gradient glossy brown lips. Her hair, styled in glossy waves by hairstylist Chris Appleton, utilized Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray and tools from Shark Beauty FlexFusion for a sleek finish.

Kiss Curls Take the Spotlight

Bad Bunny - Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris

Coco Jones - Photo by Gilbert Flores for Getty Images

Popularized in the 1920s by performers like Josephine Baker, kiss curls reemerged on the 2025 Met Gala red carpet as a subtle but intentional beauty detail. Unlike fully laid edges, kiss curls involve one or a few strands styled into delicate, sculptural shapes on the forehead. Their versatility, compatible with a wide range of hairstyles, made them a popular choice for a number of attendees, offering a refined, retro-inspired accent.

Bad Bunny walked the carpet in a chocolate Prada suit and two very meaningful accessories that honored his native Puerto Rico. One was a brown woven hat made to look like the straw pavas often worn in the PR countryside; the other was a diamond brooch shaped like his island’s national flower, the Flor de Maga. Bad Bunny paired his chocolate Prada suit with a minimalist grooming moment, yet it was a kiss curl that subtly elevated the entire look. Just one perfectly swooped strand on his forehead added softness to his sharp tailoring, echoing the vintage influences woven throughout the night.

Sydney Sweeney channeled a retro aesthetic with a look defined by sharp lines and a playful, vintage-inspired silhouette. MUA Melissa Hernandez for Armani Beauty emphasized Sweeney’s '60s style with a sharp, smoked-out cat-eye, dramatically accented by a swipe of white eyeliner (Armani Smooth Silk Eyeliner) on the waterline, and a subtle flush was achieved with Armani's Luminous Silk Cheek Tint. While her graphic white eyeliner and smoked-out cat-eye were showstoppers, two kiss curls were styled just above her browlines. Nestled against her polished updo, the curls served as a whisper of vintage coquetterie, delicate and deliberate.

Making her Met Gala debut, Coco Jones wore a cream-colored Manish Malhotra suit, dripping in pearls and lace embroidery, complemented by a slicked-back ultra-long braid nearly touching the floor, with one single kiss curl arcing gracefully onto her forehead. The contrast between the sleek styling and the softness of the curl captured the elegance and edge of this year’s glam direction.

The CIC Take

As always, the Met Gala proved a pivotal platform for beauty, where makeup and hair became powerful storytelling tools. From Doechii’s cheek monogram to the rise of sculptural circular afros, self-expression took center stage. For brands, these visual statements offer rich inspiration and reminders that beauty isn’t just about enhancement but narrative.

Superfine: Tailoring Black Style runs until October 26, 2025

Explore more fashion and social events influencing beauty trends and reshaping the future of self-expression in our latest What’s Up report.

TREND INSPIRATION: 5 FALL/WINTER 2025 FASHION WEEK TRENDS

CATRIN DAVIES March 12, 2025

Khaite Fall/Winter 2025 - The Impression

Fashion Week is in flux - both structurally, as calendars shift, and culturally, amid a rapidly changing political landscape. This season, designers embraced this feeling of bold contrasts: reference-heavy maximalism clashed with sharp ’90s minimalism, while fashion became a tool for resistance, with brands using the runway to make powerful political and social statements.

Here are highlighted five key trends we spotted during this season’s Fashion weeks.

Corpcore: Back in the boardroom

Calvin Klein Fall/Winter 2025 / Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2025 / Jane Wade Fall/Winter 2025 - The Impression

Corporate dressing is making a comeback. Sharp tailoring, crisp collars, mannish overcoats and perfectly fitted trousers offer a palette cleanser to the years of work-from-home sweats. This new iteration is not just a Gen Z interpretation of corporate culture, served up in the stylised aesthetic of Severance, but a real status-defining look. In this new vision, even the humble lanyard is a coveted accessory.

Calvin Klein (NYFW) defined the "corporate chic" look in the ’90s, and now Veronica Leoni reinvents it for a new generation, blending sharp silhouettes with a modern, understated sensuality.

Gliding through the sleek corridors of "Stella Corp", models embody a modern working wardrobe that effortlessly shifts from day to night. Stella McCartney (PFW) reinvents power dressing with confidence, blending masculine precision with feminine allure.
At Jane Wade (NYFW), officewear is reimagined through the lens of employer-employee surveillance culture. Work badges, phones and folders become statement accessories, blurring the line between function and fashion.

Fur: Commanding style

Khaite Fall/Winter 2025 / Prada Fall/Winter 2025 / Gucci Fall/Winter 2025 - The Impression

In the spirit of excess, fur returned as a grand symbol of power and unapologetic luxury. Faux and vintage styles also made an appearance, as designers embraced the texture to craft looks that exude drama and confidence.

Featuring 90s-style waterfall overcoats and cropped trenches, Khaite’s (NYFW) tonal, tactile collection is inspired by the aesthetic of David Lynch and the streets of New York.
Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons (MFW) continue their bold experimentation with fur, extending themes from the menswear collection. Oversized faux fur collars envelop structured overcoats worn as dresses, while blazers are reimagined with striking patchwork fur details across the body and lapels, blurring the line between classic tailoring and avant-garde texture play.
Gucci (MFW) revisits its heritage, drawing inspiration from the brand’s early ready-to-wear era with a distinctly vintage aesthetic. Paying tribute to founder Guccio Gucci, the collection embraces nostalgia through opulent, chunky faux furs, blending past elegance with a modern, theatrical edge.

Poppy Red: Look-at-me colour

Issey Miyake Fall/Winter 2025 / Ferragamo Fall/Winter 2025 / Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2025 - The Impression

This season, Poppy Red dominated the runways as a bold and electrifying statement colour. Designers embraced its intensity through monochromatic, head-to-toe looks, reinforcing red’s undeniable presence as both powerful and provocative. Whether in sleek tailoring, fluid gowns or avant-garde outerwear, the striking hue radiated energy and defiance.

Issey Miyake (PFW) reimagines fluidity with a red-on-red knitwear set, expertly cut and knotted to shift and transform with each wear, creating an ever-evolving silhouette. An asymmetrical sculptural dress further explores movement, wrapping the body in dynamic folds.
Inspired by choreographer Pina Bausch, Ferragamo (MFW) designer Maximilian Davis explores the tension between romance and movement. Red takes center stage, symbolising passion, connection and the push-and-pull of relationships. Flowing silhouettes and structured tailoring mirror Bausch’s expressive choreography, blurring the lines between restraint and release, emotion and precision.
Tory Burch (NYFW) reinvents American sportswear with a functional yet elevated approach, punctuated with shocks of poppy red. A matching jacket and bag, accented with multi-pocket utility, embrace practicality, while a bold red hue injects energy and sophistication.

Precious Stones: Heavy metal revival

Givenchy Fall/Winter 2025 / Maison Sara Chraibi Fall/Winter 2025 / Alice+Olivia Fall/Winter 2025 - The Impression

From gem-encrusted tops to rhinestone-studded faces and gem-topped nails, the season embraced opulence and craftsmanship, with designers incorporating precious elements into both clothing and beauty, making bold, baroque statements.

Sarah Burton’s debut at Givenchy (PFW) was defined by a kind of discipline, a discipline where her artistry still shone through. A gem-encrusted top was reminiscent of a cascading necklace, showcasing her meticulous eye for craftsmanship.
Maison Sara Chraibi (LFW) adorned models’ faces with crystals and rhinestones, placing them under the eyes, along the cheekbones, and on the body, matching lavishly embellished hairpieces.
For Alice + Olivia (NYFW), nail artist Miss Pop elevated chrome Salon Perfect press-on nails by adorning them with sparkling gemstones and pearls, adding more than a touch of decadent glamour.

Bedhead: Untamed beauty

Prada Fall/Winter 2025 / Gucci Fall/Winter 2025 / Vettese Fall/Winter 2025 - The Impression

Loose, tousled waves and natural textures projected a relaxed and refined look - as if models had just stepped out of bed. The look exudes freedom, celebrating a relaxed, untamed aesthetic that's polished enough for the runway but effortlessly chic.

Prada's collection challenges traditional notions of beauty, exploring femininity in new ways, questioning gender, appearance and mannerisms. The show, freed from the male gaze, redefines beauty with intentionally frizzy hair, blending both polished and undone looks to reflect a more liberated and fluid interpretation of femininity.
Loose, disheveled and artfully unkempt, Gucci models sported hairstyles with frizzy textures, embracing an effortlessly undone, carefree aesthetic that contrasted with traditional polished looks.
Inspired by her Romanesque culture, designer Kari Vettese (NYFW) created a sensual aesthetic that was topped off by morning-after, slept-in hairstyles.

The CIC Take

Maturity and maximalism permeated Fall/Winter 25 collections, as designers embraced the reemergence of corporate culture and “boom boom” dressing – with out-there opulence challenging the recent dominance of Quiet Luxury. In this new era, a shifting political landscape is visibly influencing consumer behavior, fueling a resurgence of extravagant, bold looks reminiscent of the '80s and '90s.

This is just a snapshot of our analysis from Fashion Week - contact us for our latest in-depth NYFW Fall/Winter 2025/2026 report.

TIKTOK TREND INSPIRATION: MARCH 2025

CATRIN DAVIES March 6, 2025

Sources: @iamdoechii_ / @janelthebear / @mimiermakeup

Every month the Cosmetics IC social media team takes the pulse of TikTok to unearth the biggest beauty trends, viral hacks and buzzing products. In February, The Grammys red carpet encouraged fans to experiment with a bold new look, while others were inspired by the classic allure of feline energy. Discover the top three trends from March 2025:

1/ Proud Face Tape

Facelift tapes are having a moment and are turning from hidden accessories to proud ornaments. At The Grammys, rapper Doechii wore her signature face tape above her hairline, turning the face-lifting tool into a statement accessory. Rhinestones were also added to further draw attention to the tapes. We also saw apparent face tapes at Valentino Fall/Winter 2025 during Paris Fashion Week, elevating this TikTok trend as a luxury statement. With cosmetic procedures losing their taboo amongst Gen Z beauty fans, the choice to expose face tapes takes transparency one step further, with the embellishments adding an extra editorial spin.

Influencers: @charlottelooks, @natashajanewood, @pinknews, @itsurgrlaisha, @itsurgrlaisha

Hashtags: #facetape - 186.2M views

2/ Pink Undereye

Aiming for a bright and flawless look, TikTokkers are blending pink products (blush or lip oils) with their regular concealer, or directly appplying pink-toned concealers to the undereye. Instead of simply covering dark circles, the pink hue has an illuminating effect, delivering a subtle glow and natural flush. Key products include Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser in pink, the Kosas Revealer Extra Bright Serum-Powered Color Corrector in pink and the NYX Pro Fix Stick Corecting Concealer.

Influencers: @beautyybylucyy, @huda_gash, @mimiermakeup, @lizziebowker

Hashtags: #pinkundereye - 74.3M views, #pinkundereyetrend - 86.2M views, #pinkblush - 401.1M views, #kosasconcealer - 151M views

3/ Black Cat Energy

This sub trend of the #DarkFeminine aesthetic embodies the independent, detached and self-assured nature of black cats. Inspired by the personification of dark feline energy represented in characters like Morticia Adams or Cat Woman, beauty fans are creating bold and enigmatic looks that focus on the eyes with tight, elongated wings lined in black, with a soft and smokey lid.

Influencers: @janelthebear, @sarahnewsfx, @s.ophiegracee

Hashtags: #blackcatenergy - 220.4M views, #darkfemininemakeup - 58.3M views

The CIC Take

Includes: Monthly Top 10 brands in EMV, Top 10 brands by followers, the latest trending looks and viral products on TikTok. Also available as a monthly service.

For more information on our Social Books, Inspiration Reports and consultancy services, contact us.

Sources: Cosmetics IC – March 2025

Spate NYC - TikTok US until Week of March 2, 2025

BEAUTY TALK: ADAPTIVE FUTURES - THE VISIONARY ALIGNMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND BEAUTY

CATRIN DAVIES February 25, 2025

Photo by Makeup in Los Angeles 2025 - Alex Rawitz (Creator IQ), Leila Rochet (Cosmetics IC), Valérie Grandury (Odacité), Jana Bobosikova (KikiWorld)

At MakeUp in Los Angeles, key thought leaders, Alex Rawitz from CreatorIQ, founder of Odacite, Valérie Grandury, and co-founder of Kiki World, Jana Bobosikova, joined Leila Rochet in a Beauty Talk to discuss one of the agency’s Key Predictions for the years ahead - Adaptive Futures. The panel explored how consumers are leaning deeper into technical narratives and scientific storytelling as a culture of bold innovation sweeps through the industry.

“Beauty will become a dynamic, future-ready force that combines the microscopic scale of biotechnology innovations with the expansive opportunities of virtual realities.”

— Leila Rochet, Cosmetics IC

A New Reality

In this evolving territory, hyper-personalized products and experiences are made possible by the embrace of new technologies, while the ingredient space is transformed by novel AI processes and lab-grown innovations. As consumers increasingly embrace AI-driven creativity, with 65% believing it will enhance artistic expression and progress (Vox), beauty brands have a unique opportunity to leverage the current enthusiasm for tech-powered innovation. The consensus amongst consumers seems to be that if AI can simplify their lives then it is worth embracing - over half of U.S. Gen Zers support brands using generative AI for personalization (Statista).

“We are seeing that advanced technologies and devices are really influencing the beauty industry, alongside lab-grown ingredients. These facets are transforming how consumers experience beauty, creating a very dynamic market,” explained Leila.

New product launches demonstrate the potential for technology to further transform how consumers engage with, and experience beauty, whether it is through embarking on a ChatGPT-authored glow-up, booking in for an Aescape robotic massage, or leaning into AI-powered diagnostics with SmartSKN’s Muilli AI Dermascope and L’Oréal’s Cell BioPrint. These innovations demonstrate the power of AI to offer incredibly nuanced experiences, hyper-attuned to individual needs, from health diagnostics to skin analysis to empowering bold makeup looks.

Science-backed Beauty is Winning

What is clear, is that brands that are embracing consumers’ prioritization of scientific narratives are reaping the rewards. In his presentation, Alex Rawitz highlighted The Ordinary’s ongoing surge (a +59% uptick in EMV, and +36% growth in Community YoY), propelled by a number of viral product launches, including the Squalene + Amino Acids Lip Balm (June 2024). Likewise, healthy-aging brand One Skin has seen an incredible +450% increase in Engagement thanks to a narrative of biohacked skincare.

“In 2024 many of the top performers and many of the outlier performers when it comes to growth, were relatively new brands founded in the last five or ten years, which are taking a vegan and cruelty-free ethos to their product lines while also foregrounding science in their brand story” suggested Alex.

CreatorIQ data analysis also confirms the growing consumer appetite for the convergence of cosmetics and skincare, with Alex highlighting the increasingly central role science and scientists are playing in the makeup space. “There’s unquestionably dramatic momentum” behind this trend, according to Alex, as skincare-first brands invest in expanding their ranges to include cosmetics. Odacite is a good example of this evolution, with the French skincare brand, which is grounded in biotechnology and skin science, introducing tinted SPFs to its range.

AI-Enhanced Efficacy

As beauty brands seek future resilience, biotechnology, and AI-driven formulations are emerging as industry game-changers. Lab-grown ingredients and AI-enhanced product development tools, such as Debut’s BeautyORB, which utilizes AI to scan over 50 billion ingredients, are paving the way for sustainable, high-performance beauty solutions.

In this context, AI-controlled farms will become a critical asset to brands focused on ring-fencing their sustainability. Odacite’s combination of “natural luxury and clinical science” was inspired by founder Valérie Grandury’s personal health struggles, as she recovered from cancer treatment. Valérie discovered that “by choosing the best of science, which is Western medicine, with the therapeutic benefits of botanicals, you can actually have amazing results.”

This realization inspired Odacite’s approach to formulation, which is centered around biotechnology and AI-controlled farms to ensure the sustainable development of their key ingredient, Edelweiss. The brand utilizes an AI-controlled environment to grow the hardy botanical to the most potent outcomes. “There’s no element that we don’t control,” explained Grandury. A central computer regulates optimum growth conditions, providing a constant feed of data, which is then analyzed to improve the next growth cycle. “The beauty is that we can harvest every three months, we have no seasonality.”

Transforming Experience through Tech

Technology is also powering a new wave of co-created products and experiences, acting as a conduit for deepening consumer engagement and collaboration. NFC-enabled beauty brand Kiki World raised $5 million in 2024 to build on its proposition of offering a blockchain platform that allows users to vote on product designs, earn loyalty points, and unlock discounts. NFC-enabled products further enhance the engagement experience, rewarding community interaction beyond purchases.

Co-founder Jana Bobosikova explained the process behind the concept is, primarily, to foster loyalty in beauty fans by engaging them in the creation process but also the company is committed to being active participants in the future of the industry by investing in next-gen technologies. The aim is to create a commerce community of emotionally-invested stakeholders, connected by new technologies. “We’re not really a beauty company. We’re a technology company” stated Bobosikova.

THE CIC TAKE

In the future, advanced devices, lab-grown ingredients, and digital extensions will seamlessly blend to deliver new, boundary-pushing experiences. Here’s how brands can prepare for Adaptive Futures:

Invest in AI-controlled environments or lab-grown alternatives to ensure long-term viability and differentiation.
Use AI as a facilitator of self-expression. Blockchain-enabled co-creation platforms can foster deeper consumer loyalty and engagement.
Introduce hyper-personalization at scale. AI-driven diagnostics will dominate beauty consultations, empowering consumers with precision recommendations tailored to lifestyle and life-stage needs.

Our 2025 Key Predictions white book, The Age of Resonance, is out now. Contact the team today for more information.

The Age of Resonance: 5 Key Trends for 2025 and Beyond

CATRIN DAVIES February 9, 2025

The Age of Resonance marks a new phase for the beauty industry - one defined by curiosity, creativity, and conviction. In this emerging landscape, beauty evolves beyond aesthetics to become an immersive and emotionally charged experience, where well-being, inclusivity, and self-expression converge.

In our 2025 White Book, the Cosmetics IC team decodes the societal shifts and breakthrough beauty innovations that will transform the shape of the industry for the years ahead.

"In an era of transformation and growing societal consciousness, consumers are seeking more than just efficacy - they crave meaning, emotional engagement, and experiences that align with their evolving lifestyles. Beauty is becoming a space where science meets sensoriality, where ancestral knowledge informs innovation, and where self-expression transcends norms." Leïla Rochet, Chief Inspiration Officer of Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation

Discover 5 inspiration territories to fuel your future innovation:

1 - ADAPTIVE FUTURES: The Visionary Alignment of Technology and Beauty

Technology and biotechnology will seamlessly merge to create hyper-personalized, intelligent solutions. AI-driven tools and scientific advancements will redefine performance, pushing beauty toward a new era of adaptability and precision.

Technology is ushering in a new era of co-created products, enhancing consumer engagement through Web3, blockchain, and AI. In 2024, NFC-enabled beauty brand Kiki World raised $5 million to create a platform where users vote on designs, earn loyalty points, and unlock discounts, with NFC products driving community interaction beyond purchases.

AI is also unlocking new creative dimensions. Beauty brands are experimenting with generative AI and wearable tech to enable deeper self-expression. Studio Halia’s Alter Collection integrates NFC chips into sculptural jewelry, unlocking augmented reality beauty experiences.

In beauty, biotech advancements are transforming formulation processes. AI-powered ingredient platforms, like Debut’s BeautyORB, analyze billions of ingredient combinations to optimize both efficacy and sustainability. Lab-grown actives, such as Odacité’s AI-cultivated Edelweiss, are setting new standards for precision skincare.

In the future, beauty will evolve beyond aesthetics, meeting the needs of a dynamic, performance-driven consumer who seeks intelligent, responsive solutions.

2 - DEEP RECONNECTION: Honoring Nature, Culture, and Ancestral Roots to Redefine Sustainability

In an era of rapid change, consumers are seeking grounding experiences and ethical beauty solutions that enhance their connection to nature, heritage, and cultural traditions. Sustainability is evolving beyond environmental responsibility to incorporate ancestral wisdom and elemental purity, creating a more meaningful and holistic vision of beauty.

As awareness of climate change and biodiversity loss intensifies, brands are responding with emotionally resonant narratives. Issey Miyake’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection paid tribute to traditional papermaking, using delicate Japanese washi to reflect nature’s fragility. Meanwhile, Pavels Hedström’s Gaia Communication System translates plant signals into tactile sensations, deepening our emotional bond with the natural world.

Beauty is also turning to ancestral practices and indigenous ingredients to create authentic, culturally rich formulations. HYEJA’s Clarifying Lotus Hydrator combines Korean traditions with modern science, while Nordic and Japanese bathing rituals are inspiring self-care experiences that reconnect consumers with water’s elemental power.

Brands will also rethink materials and packaging, such as Attitude’s Oceanly Eyeshadow which introduced plastic-free, biodegradable packaging, while packaging for Credo’s new skincare line incorporates recycled ocean plastics, reinforcing the shift toward circular beauty.

In the future, beauty will not only honor nature and tradition but also inspire a deeper, more poetic connection with the world around us.

3 - LIFE IN MOVEMENT: Redefining Beauty Through Motion, Adaptability, and Strength

In a world that never stops moving, beauty is shifting to emphasize fluidity, adaptability, and strength, celebrating bodies in motion rather than static perfection. Athleticism and power become the new aesthetic ideal, redefining confidence through physical expression.

As the boundaries between fashion, sports, and beauty blur, brands are responding with designs that enhance both performance and aesthetics. Balenciaga’s collaboration with Under Armour fuses high fashion with functionality, while Loewe’s CloudTilt 2.0 sneaker merges sleek design with movement-enhancing technology. In beauty, innovation follows suit - Respire’s Solid Cleanser and NuFace’s FIX MicroWand are designed for efficiency and portability, catering to active lifestyles.

Strength and resilience will take center stage, with athletes and performers leading the way, like Ilona Maher, rugby Olympian who recently became Paula’s Choice’s first Skincare Coach. Products like Lemme Tone Gummies and Josie Maran’s Pro-Retinol Body Butter are emerging, celebrating the sculpted, powerful body.

Future beauty will be functional, empowering, and protective, designed to support movement, endurance, and self-expression in an ever-evolving world.

4 - THE CULTURE OF DELIGHT: Joyful Escapes and Sensory Delights as Anchors in a Chaotic World

In a world of constant chaos, beauty is evolving beyond appearance to become a tool for emotional well-being and joy. Delightful, sensory experiences provide a much-needed break from daily pressures. Beauty and luxury become vehicles for pleasure, engagement, and self-reconnection, turning mundane routines into moments of happiness.

Nostalgia plays a significant role in this shift, with iconic childhood figures making a comeback to evoke a sense of comfort and cultural connection. At Paris Fashion Week SS25, Coperni collaborated with Disney, creating whimsical designs that celebrate childhood magic. In beauty, collaborations like Dearcloud x Miffy reimagine beloved characters, linking nostalgia with modern self-care.

Brands will also increasingly embrace playfulness in packaging and experiences. The rise of collectible, toy-inspired products, such as Creer Beaute’s Tamagotchi Balms and Fwee's Pudding Pots, offer consumers a playful way to interact with beauty. In the realm of hedonism, consumers seek small, joyful experiences, reflected in pop-up environments like Louis Vuitton’s Murakami Wonderland, which redefines retail as a space for joyful, imaginative escape.

Beauty is now an opportunity for sensory pleasure. With an increasing demand for tactile products, brands like Pleasing and Fwee are creating beauty rituals that engage the sense of touch, turning skincare into an indulgent, playful experience.

In the future, beauty will continue to offer consumers joyful escapes, transforming everyday rituals into multisensory experiences that combine delight with connection.

5- AGELESS HORIZONS: Redefining Beauty Through Inclusivity and Longevity

Our perception of aging is transforming from a limitation to an ongoing narrative of self-expression and empowerment. The growing demand for personalized solutions, inclusive representation, and longevity-focused innovations reflects a broader, more nuanced understanding of beauty that embraces every stage of life. This trend is helping to redefine the narrative around age, celebrating wisdom, experience, and inclusivity across all generations.

In skincare and wellness, a unified language is emerging, with younger consumers adopting preventative routines and older generations focusing on well-aging. Brands are creating products and rituals that cater to diverse needs, responding to this demand for intergenerational dialogue.

At the same time, age representation is gaining traction in fashion and media, with mature models being celebrated for their experience and confidence. Campaigns from brands like Caudalie and beauty influencers such as Grece Ghanem and Fred Mécène show that ageless beauty is no longer a distant ideal but an attainable and empowering reality.

In the future, beauty will continue to innovate, prioritizing longevity and inclusivity, with advanced skincare technologies and doctor-led brands leading the way, merging beauty and wellness into a seamless, ageless experience.

The CIC Take

For an up-close look at our 5 Key Trends for 2025 and Beyond visit our booth (K49) at the upcoming MakeUp in Los Angeles (Feb 12 & 13) where our CIO Leila Rochet will personally talk you through a selection of international products at our Inspiration Bar, curated to illustrate many of the themes above.

The full version of our 2025 White Book: The Age of Resonance is available now, contact us for more information.

INNOVATION AT CES 2025

Coralie Arme January 15, 2025

This year’s CES 2025 showcased a captivating blend of innovation, emotion, and practicality, highlighting how technology continues to blur the line between functional utility and emotional connection. From robotics to personalized skincare, here are some standout innovations that inspired us and offer intriguing implications for the beauty and wellness industries.

Mirumi: A Futuristic Take on the Charm Trend

Charm trends are evolving in extraordinary ways, and Mirumi, the robotic companion, is a prime example. This clip-on creature is designed to evoke deep emotional connections by mimicking the behaviors of a shy baby. Responding to touch and sound, Mirumi redefines our interactions with technology by encouraging moments of bonding. It’s a fascinating exploration of how future-forward designs can tap into human emotions to create meaningful connections, even with machines.

Nékojita FuFu: The Minimalist COOLING Robot

Nékojita FuFu by Yukai Engineering brings simplicity and whimsy to the forefront of innovation. This tiny, cat-shaped robot blows air to cool down hot food or drinks using a randomized “Fu-ing” algorithm that mimics human behavior. At a hyper-competitive tech fair filled with groundbreaking advancements, this minimalist device stood out as a comforting reminder of how emotional connections, even with seemingly frivolous products, can resonate deeply in an increasingly complex world.

Therabody Coach: Personalized Wellness Through AI

Therabody, known for its popular massage guns, unveiled Coach, an AI-powered digital recovery platform that sets a new standard in wellness technology. Integrated into Therabody’s app, Coach analyzes user data and feedback to provide personalized recovery routines and wellness recommendations. For example, if you’ve just completed a 5K run, Coach will suggest recovery techniques tailored to your activity to reduce soreness and enhance performance. This innovation emphasizes how data-driven personalization can make wellness more accessible and impactful, offering exciting possibilities for beauty and self-care technologies.

L’Oréal Cell BioPrint: A Revolution in Skin Intelligence

One of the most groundbreaking unveilings was L’Oréal Cell BioPrint, a tabletop device rooted in longevity science and advanced proteomics. In just five minutes, this portable lab-on-a-chip analyzes the protein composition of a user’s skin to reveal its aging trajectory and provide personalized skincare insights. This innovation marks a significant leap forward in consumer skin intelligence, empowering users to make more informed choices about their skincare routines. It’s a clear indication of how the beauty industry is leveraging science and technology to push the boundaries of personalization.

THE CIC TAKE

CES 2025 reminded us that innovation isn’t just about advancing performance or features. The most impactful developments are those that combine cutting-edge technology with emotional resonance, simplicity, and a focus on human connection. Whether it’s bonding with a robotic charm, finding comfort in whimsical devices, or unlocking the secrets of personalized wellness and skincare, the future of innovation is as emotionally compelling as it is functional.

At Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation, we’re always on the lookout for transformative trends and innovations that shape the future of beauty and wellness. Visit our website to explore our latest reports on skincare, makeup, and emerging technologies that are set to redefine the industry.

COSMeTICSEEDS

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BREAD AND BUTTER - REIMAGINING THE RITUAL OF BATHING

COMPOSITIONS BY AARTICLES - THE BEAUTY OF LAYERED NARRATIVES

THE DEVIATION IS IN THE DETAIL - HERITAGE REIMAGINED

ECHOES OF SPACE - WHEN CONTEXT BECOMES EMOTION

THE MECHANICS OF SCENT - DESIGNING THROUGH INVISIBLE MATERIALS

I, BELONG - REDISCOVERING THE POWER OF FIRE

THE COSMETICS IC TAKE

TERROIR - ROOTED INGREDIENTS

FRENCH PHARMACY - MAGISTRAL PREPARATIONS

THE NEW WAVE - THE ART OF INSOLENCE

THE COSMETICS IC TAKE

1. MAXIMALISM REPLACES the Clean Girl Era

2. From Global Glam to Cultural Specificity

3. Non-Invasive Lifting Solutions

THE CIC TAKE

From exposome defense to neuro-aging: the new frontiers of skin longevity

Climate intelligence: tackling the exposome and inflammaging

Cellular health span: longevity moves to the core of skincare

Neuro-aging: the rise of the brain-skin axis

Advanced delivery systems: from ingredients to intelligent performance

THE CIC TAKE

1. Chanel Beauté ans Performance-Led Femininity

2. Sephora’s Activation in Competitive Sport

3. La Roche-Posay Under Extreme Conditions

THE CIC TAKE

1. Superhuman Future: The optimization era

2. HUSH STATE: Protective harmony

3. LIBERATING REWARDS: Pleasure by design

4. HANDS OF MASTERY: Human expertise, elevated authority

5. REBEL IDENTITY: Rule-breaking reinvention

1. MAKING NEW FROM THE FAMILIAR - Beauty, ugliness and the search for new beginnings

2. DECONSTRUCTION AS SOFT POWER - Acts of disobedience and the mocking of authority

3. CLOTHING AS HEIRLOOM - Preservation, simplicity and the wardrobe as legacy

4. DRESSING FOR THE IMMINENT FUTURE - Function, adaptation and emotional resilience

The CIC Take

1. Personal Layers - Fragrance as a Language of Identity

2. Wellness Scents - The Rise of Emotional Fragrance

3. Cultural Anchors - Fragrance as a Cultural Dialogue

The CIC Take - What This Transformation Means for the Future of Fragrance

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Next Step in Asian Beauty: A Tech-Driven Revolution

Science Meets Skincare: The Rise of Medical-Grade Beauty

Breaking the Mold: Disruptive Formats & Unconventional Innovations

Shelter - Vol.1: Mart Nouveau

Biome by Lichen Studio

Outside/In - Lyle Gallery

Forced Perspective

ICFF x WANTED – Designing in Harmony

THE CIC TAKE

Statement Heritage

Burgundy and Gloss

Kiss Curls Take the Spotlight

Corpcore: Back in the boardroom

Fur: Commanding style

Poppy Red: Look-at-me colour

Precious Stones: Heavy metal revival

Bedhead: Untamed beauty

The CIC Take

Mirumi: A Futuristic Take on the Charm Trend

Nékojita FuFu: The Minimalist COOLING Robot

Therabody Coach: Personalized Wellness Through AI

L’Oréal Cell BioPrint: A Revolution in Skin Intelligence

THE CIC TAKE

Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation

Forecasting and Consulting office specialized in Beauty Innovation