IT’S PERSONAL
The beauty industry, like everything, is ripe for AI domination, as technological advances enable brands to offer tailored products that address your unique needs. We’re already seeing 3D-printed foundations (DCYPHER Cosmetics can ‘read’ your complexion and whip up a match in a matter of minutes), and this desire for ‘bespoke’ has inspired a swathe of exciting new product development. Clé de Peau Beauté is spearheading pioneering research into how genes affect our skin’s characteristics which in turn, will unlock a wealth of personalisation possibilities (think: ‘made to measure’ formulas that meet your unique needs. We’re also predicting a flurry of medical-adjacent wellness innovation that gives real-time advice on pretty much everything — from what you should snack on to when you should go for a run to help counteract stress and offset any monthly emotional hurdles.
DIGITOPIA
And with AI influences seeping into mainstream culture, beauty is embracing anime and avatar aesthetics with exaggerated features, wacky colour combinations and shade-shifting finishes. The beauty space is leaning in to the creative possibilities that AI brings and, as fantasy beomes reality, we’re seeing a rise in doll-like manga eyes, pastel and acid-wash hues, stylised wigs and comic-inspired nail art. This ‘gamification’ of the beauty space is ripe for innovation, as SFX make up, temperature-sensitive pigments and cyborg-esque, opalescent finishes grow ever more desirable. It’s all about translating a filtered, animated aesthetic into everyday life, whether via subtle nods (like outsize hair accessories) and naive nail art, or more eccentric, grand-scale transformations with the help of prosthetics and theatrical make up trickery.
SO SOLID CREW
We’ve watched the world fall back in love with the humble soap bar and now, in the interests of sustainability, the race is on to innovate new solid formulations that not only minimise waste but have knock-on climate benefits due to being lighter and easier to transport. By switching from liquids to solid or powder formulations, brands will extend the shelf lives of their stock and open the door to an heirloom approach, where you buy once and refill for life — elevating packaging and granting scope for craftsmanship (à la French make up brand La Bouche Rouge). From beautifully housed solid fragrances to cake mascaras and convenient toothpaste tablets, the possibilities are endless.