Data-driven research defines 2026 beauty trends

As the industry looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, the brands that will succeed are those equipped to anticipate what’s coming – not simply react to what has already happened.

In a beauty landscape evolving at remarkable speed, being trend-forward and data-driven has become essential for securing future relevance. Consumer expectations, ingredient innovations and competitive dynamics are no longer just diverse; they are increasingly documented and measurable, with data volumes continuing to grow across every touchpoint. Those that learn to harness and interpret this wealth of information stand to gain significant advantages over competitors still relying primarily on intuition or legacy experience.^¹

One way brands can strengthen this capability is by partnering with suppliers who embed data intelligence into the development process, ensuring that innovation is informed, strategic and future-ready.

Meiyume is one such example, offering support through its proprietary Beauty Intelligence Platform (BIP), which analyses trends in ingredients, packaging, consumer sentiment and competitive activity.^² By leveraging insight-led collaboration like this, beauty brands are better positioned to create products that resonate today – while staying ahead of what’s next.

What’s emerging for 2026: Early signals of beauty’s next chapter

With the year drawing to a close, the trends shaping 2026 are beginning to reveal themselves. Across innovations in ingredients, sensorial design, hybrid formats and wellness-driven beauty, early signals are emerging of where the industry is headed next.

One of the clearest reflections of this momentum was seen at recently Cosmopack Asia, held from 11 to 13 November, where exhibitors showcased forward-thinking concepts – from regenerative actives and emotional wellbeing formats to inventive textures and sustainable packaging – that offered a glimpse into beauty’s future direction.

A standout presence at the show was Meiyume’s dual-booth experience, presented under the unifying theme ‘Seeded’, which reflects how intelligence, ethical sourcing, inventive formulations and sustainable packaging are interconnected across Meiyume’s beauty ecosystem.

‘Seeded for Beauty’, created in collaboration with Cosmolab and Intercos, spotlighted how intelligence and multifunctionality can sprout into cutting-edge skincare, personal care and cosmetics solutions. ‘Seeded to Last’ highlighted Meiyume’s commitment to sustainability, breakthrough packaging and future-ready design. Together, the booths showcased Meiyume’s expertise while offering a glimpse into what the company envisions for 2026 and beyond.^³

The renaissance of emotional beauty: Rise of sensorial wellness

The mind-body connection in beauty continues to strengthen, with consumers increasingly recognising the link between emotional wellbeing and physical appearance. Sensory elements – once considered secondary to efficacy – are now becoming essential drivers of product experience, transforming daily routines into moments of pleasure, grounding and emotional support.^⁴ As consumers embrace self-care routines that go beyond appearance, wellness and ritual-based products have expanded the beauty industry’s value opportunity by 64%.^⁵

This shift is reflected in what exhibitors showcased at Cosmoprof and Cosmopack Asia in November, where more products are formulated to offer calming benefits, ignite feel-good hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin and elevate mood via aromatherapy, often supported by scientifically validated results.^⁶

This evolution aligns closely with Meiyume’s Skin Therapy range from its UK ODM collection – a sensorial mask collection inspired by the Neuro Beauty movement. Designed to elevate both skin and mind, the collection blends neuro-cosmetic actives, transformative textures and clinically proven mood-enhancing scents to support emotional wellbeing, with each mask offering a distinct self-care ritual tailored to individual moods.^⁷

Ageing redefined: The era of skin renewal and resilience

The skin renewal and resilience movement is shaping one of the most influential beauty directions for 2026. The global healthy ageing movement has already demonstrated that skincare is no longer about fighting time, but about preservation, prevention and regeneration – strengthening the skin’s natural ability to repair, renew and resist stress.^⁴

This shift is driving interest in next-generation ingredients that support cellular vitality, particularly NAD+, known for boosting cellular energy, and polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), valued for its regenerative properties.

At Cosmopack Asia, PDRN emerged as one of the hottest trending actives, showcased across multiple brands in both plant-based and biotech-enhanced formats, signalling its rising importance in future skin-repair innovation.^⁶ One example already gaining traction in the market is a formula designed to repair the skin barrier, boost resilience and support a stronger, healthier-looking complexion – highlighting how PDRN is being positioned as a key driver of renewal-driven skincare.

Meiyume’s 2025 ODM Longevity range aligns strongly with this direction. Inspired by the science behind the 12 hallmarks of ageing, the range is designed to target multiple hallmarks simultaneously, helping reinforce the skin’s natural functions so it can perform better for longer.^⁷

Several formulas are also infused with NAD+, further supporting cellular renewal and positioning the collection at the forefront of the healthy ageing and resilience-focused beauty movement.

The world turns east: The ascendance of Asian beauty

Asian beauty is gaining unprecedented global traction, driven by the growing cultural influence, product innovation and export strength of key markets such as Korea and China. The Asia-Pacific region already accounts for over 30% of global beauty and personal care market value, and is projected to grow a further 3% from 2024 to 2029.^⁸

In Korea, K-beauty exports to the US is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2025 to 2035.^⁹ This rise is influenced by the growing global appetite for Korean beauty philosophies – especially trends like glass skin, which promote gentle, hydration-led routines and barrier-supportive skincare that resonate strongly with today’s preference for skin-friendly solutions.^⁹ The momentum was further reflected at Cosmopack Asia, which saw an 18% increase in Korean exhibitors, highlighting Korea’s expanding footprint on the international beauty stage.^¹⁰

Meanwhile, China’s global presence continues to grow, with cosmetics and personal care exports reaching 51.2bn yuan ($7.2bn) in 2024, an 11.9% year-on-year increase. This surge is driven by the rising international interest in Eastern aesthetics, herbal wellness and modernised traditional ingredients that offer both authenticity and efficacy to global consumers.^¹¹

For brands looking to integrate these Asian beauty principles into their portfolios, partnering with suppliers such as Meiyume can help ensure these concepts are thoughtfully localised for diverse markets, enabling brands to stay trend-forward while remaining true to their identity and consumer expectations.

The path forward: Turning insight into future-ready innovation

As the beauty industry moves into 2026, one thing is clear: the brands that will thrive are those that stay informed, adaptable and aligned with the evolving expectations of consumers and the wider regulatory landscape. From regenerative actives and emotional wellness to hybrid innovations and sustainability-driven design, the future of beauty is rooted in intelligence, intention and interconnectedness.

Events like Cosmopack Asia offer an early glimpse into this future, while data-led platforms – such as Meiyume’s BIP – help translate these emerging signals into clear, actionable direction for innovation. By combining forward-looking insight with responsible development and creative excellence, beauty brands can not only meet the demands of the next era but secure their place within it. Looking ahead, Meiyume’s upcoming 2026 ODM collection will continue to build on these emerging directions, offering brands fresh opportunities to stay at the forefront of beauty’s evolving landscape.

As a global beauty partner with strong localisation capabilities, Meiyume brings together end-to-end expertise across insights, formulation, packaging, design and manufacturing – tailored to the needs and expectations of each brand’s target market. With its data-driven intelligence, deep industry knowledge and commitment to innovation and sustainability, Meiyume helps brands turn emerging trends into real-world solutions, supporting the creation of products that are future-ready, consumer-focused and built to last.

Whether a brand is preparing for its first launch or ready to scale across markets, Meiyume provides the flexible, full-spectrum support needed to bring innovation to life with confidence and agility.

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