The beauty industry is entering a new phase where health, technology and personalization converge as products evolve into wellness tools, according to market research firm Mintel.
In its '2026 Global Beauty & Personal Care Predictions' report, Mintel says beauty brands are evolving into trusted health partners, offering diagnostics, biomarker tracking, and personalized routines.
Mintel outlines three headline beauty trends for 2026: ‘Metabolic Beauty’, ‘Sensorial Synergy’ and ‘Beyond the Algorithm: The Human Touch Revolution’.
The ‘Metabolic Beauty’ trend, it says, is seeing consumers move beyond surface-level aesthetics toward measurable, inside-out wellbeing.
Advances in biomarker testing, continuous metabolic monitoring, and bio-intelligent technologies are scaling from niche to mainstream, enabling personalized interventions that optimize cellular resilience and energy balance.
“The rise of ingestible beauty—captured by the Gastronomia trend—and the explosion of wellness culture have trained consumers to expect beauty products to deliver both inner and outer benefits, with collagen powders, adaptogenic blends, and probiotic skin care becoming mainstream,” says Mintel.
“At the same time, the Beauty Rx trend has brought the medicalization of beauty to the forefront, with diagnostics and personalized medicine reshaping expectations around precision,” it adds.
“Consumers now want proof, trackability, and routines that fit their unique biological needs.”
Mintel cited Black Swan Data analysis that predicts skin care’s holistic wellness movement to continue. Ingredients like NAD+ are gaining traction for biohacking cellular energy and skin health.
“Consumers are addressing the root causes of gut and hormone issues, as well as stress and bad sleep,” says Mintel.
Meanwhile, the ‘Sensorial Synergy’ trend is the growing need for emotional wellness that is driving a sensory evolution in beauty.
“With innovations in fragrance, sound, and touch, beauty is becoming less about outcomes and more about experiences. The beauty industry will be defined by products that make consumers feel and smell as good as they look.”
Finally, the ‘Beyond the Algorithm: The Human Touch Revolution’ trend is a shift toward raw, flawed, and creative human expression, as consumers tire of AI-driven perfection.
Next year will see consumers reframe imperfection as a source of value, says Mintel.
“Brands can drive deeper connections by embracing flaws and using technology to enhance creativity, not overshadow it.”
