Skincare is evolving, and you may be asking how and why?
There used to be a time when the latest skincare trends weren’t high on everyone’s agenda – only true advocates would have the “time to invest”. This category is now evolving on a daily basis. No longer is your skincare regime just a necessity; instead, it’s an opportunity to indulge in self-care, and explore the latest innovations.
Influencer and social platforms – Even if you consider yourself resistant to trends and you prefer to stick to what you know, it’s hard to ignore the hype that products achieve on TikTok and Instagram or to bypass wider cultural shifts that influence everything from the ingredients in your skincare products to the packaging they’re made from.
With more than 155 billon views on #skincare on TikTok, this is a subject that numerous consumers are connoisseurs in. Traditionally we would rely on in-store consultations to trial out the latest products and to collect product samples, the rise in influencer marketing ensures that consumers are far better informed, before they enter a store. Beauty and skincare influencers are typically compensated for affiliate marketing, and some of the most successful influencers are achieving a celebrity status, positioning themselves as opinion leaders.
The pandemic skyrocketed Gen Z‘s engagement with skincare, and this has continued following the pandemic, with 90% stating they would rather invest in skincare versus makeup. They are far savvier when it comes to skincare than previous generations: avidly researching the benefits of ingredients, sustainability and SPF.
Skinmalism – Whilst makeup sales suffered during 2020, the pandemic boosted sales of skincare, hair-care and bathing products, however the focus changed from a lavish 10-step Korean inspired skincare regime, to ‘skinmalism’ noted for ‘less is more’. This continues to prevail, now more than ever, due to the cost-of-living crisis, fueled by a far greater awareness of the benefits of skincare ingredients, with consumers reaching out to products that provide multi-tasking benefits, saving them both time and money. Investing in the latest skincare products is a fine balance, between quality over quantity, with consumers reaching out products that provide value – not just in terms of cost saving, but also added value – which encompasses an array of factors from sustainability to science backed results, and ingredients that deliver what they promise.
Trending ingredients – like Niacinamide and Ceramide have taken centre stage. Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a form of Vitamin B3. It is water-soluble, meaning that it is not stored in the body, so it’s crucial to replenish our niacinamide reserves orally via the food we eat (poultry, green vegetables and eggs are good sources), and topically with targeted skincare products. Ceramides help support the skin’s barrier layer for moisture retention and help hold healthy cells together, ensuring the skin is hydrated, smooth, and healthy.
Several product launches have heralded the benefits of mushrooms, with Tremella mushrooms offering an effective alternative to hyaluronic acid. Mushrooms will be very visible throughout beauty and wellness this year. Bakuchiol is being substituted as an alternative to Retinol, delivering impressive results without irritation. Witch Hazel, a well-known skincare ingredient, that acts as a natural astringent to stop oil and prevent acne, has fallen back in favour.
Sustainability – environmental consciousness is now mainstream, with more and more people understanding the impact of their purchasing decisions. The beauty industry has faced backlash for ingredient toxicity, unsustainable practices, environmental impact, and is a major contributor to ocean plastic pollution.
Suppliers and manufacturers are addressing this, with innovation reaching the marketplace daily – from post-consumer recyclable plastic for packaging, to designing bottles that are easier to recycle through the addition of more biodegradable materials, mindfully sourcing ingredients that help to minimize incidental damage to nature, whilst delivering product efficacy and results.
Bespoke Advantage is a consultancy working with clients across the beauty and wellness sector, to develop and grow your brands. If you are looking for support in developing a brand, in repositioning or rebranding, or in developing a strategy to enter new markets, GET IN TOUCH, we would love to hear from you.
As a beauty and wellness consultancy, we develop a comprehensive strategy for your business by understanding your vision (and the marketplace) and then delving into the details to create order and structure neatly packaged up to deliver you commercial results. We design brand identities and visual elements, manage your product development, build your go-to-market strategies to help you to engage with your ideal customers.
We are proud to support our clients from different regions of the world – from Saudi Arabia, to Dubai, Sri Lanka, Africa, Australia, the US, Canada, Europe and the UK – from entrepreneurs, to multi-award-winning beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors, distributors, embassies and trade bodies. And we work with you across the retail sector, and the professional sector, including the hair care market, professional nail care market, spas, salons, hotels and the aesthetics market – here’s a snapshot.
If you would like to discuss your ideas with us, get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
As an international beauty and wellness consultancy, we are proud to work alongside clients from different regions of the world – Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Africa, Australia, Canada, US, Europe and the UK . We love collaborating with entrepreneurs, multi-award-winning beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors, distributors, embassies and trade bodies across the retail sector, and the professional sector, including those selling into the hair care market, hotels, spas, professional nail care market and aesthetics market.
If you need support with devising a new strategy, developing a new product range, designing your packaging or rebranding your current product range, managing your PR, or with planning your market-entry into international markets, get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
Bespoke is a brand management expert with deep industry knowledge, extensive experience and a comprehensive understanding of the beauty and personal industry in the UK and Europe, complemented by an extensive network of contacts in the relevant market segments. Bespoke’s expertise, experience and contacts significantly contributed the success of the UK/Europe project with the companies that Bespoke assisted successfully entering or well on track to enter the UK and European markets. The Bespoke team was very professional, responsive and obliging and always delivered within timeframes. It was a pleasure to work with them.
Working with Janet over the past year has been a real pleasure, she has fantastic industry experience and knowledge of the UK beauty market. She has delivered a number of webinars for my clients looking at how to enter the UK market, providing an overview of the market and how to build a strategy. She took the briefs we provided and added real value to them, included key insights and information that my clients have found incredibly useful. Feedback on these sessions has been very positive. Janet is a clear communicator and has always delivered as agreed and on time. We are continuing to work together on other projects and I very much value the conversations we share.
‘Janet has a wealth of experience across retail, buying and marketing. She conducted a full strategic review of our cross functional business and the travel retail market to develop a comprehensive buying and quality control strategy that was signed off at board level. I highly recommend her as an asset to any business.’
‘As a Queensland-based company, we were determined to tap into the European market and establish a strong presence. From the very beginning, Bespoke Advantage demonstrated a deep understanding of our export goals and objectives. Their comprehensive knowledge of the European market, coupled with their extensive network of contacts, enabled them to connect us with key decision-makers and influential stakeholders in our target countries. Their strategic guidance and insights were invaluable in shaping our export strategy and positioning us for long-term success.’
‘Through Janet’s management skills, expertise and proven track record on the job she successfully managed the purchasing of our retail operations and ensured the integrity of our brands in-stores. Her enthusiasm and total dedication, delivered results in any project she was involved in.’
‘Janet has excellent beauty market knowledge. Level headed with clear vision, direction and the ability to drive business forward, Janet led the teams through a complete product design change advising on what the key marketing messages should be, incorporating her technical knowledge and beauty expertise.’
‘Absolutely fantastic course. Condensed learning from Janet, an expert in developing beauty brands. Also, valuable introductions to expert professionals, in the Masterclass sessions. In 12 weeks, you will learn from Janet, what would take years to learn by yourself. A very worthwhile investment’