12 minute read

5 Game-Changing Skincare Trends Every Formulator Should Know in 2026

Skincare is evolving faster than ever, with fresh ideas transforming how we care for our skin. From personalised formulations to nature-inspired actives, exciting shifts are creating new possibilities for brands and independent formulators alike.

What's driving these trends? Sometimes it's scientific breakthroughs or traditional beauty rituals gaining global attention. Other times, it's innovators like you – small-batch creators experimenting with unique botanicals and listening closely to their customers.

The best part? As a formulator, you're not just watching these trends unfold. You're in a powerful position to harness them, creating products that feel fresh, meaningful, and deeply aligned with your customers' needs.

Today, we're exploring five game-changing trends shaping skincare right now – and how you can use them to craft distinctive products that stand out in 2026.

1. Waterless Wonders: Concentrated Innovation

The waterless beauty movement is perhaps the most exciting trend for DIY & business formulators. Traditional skincare products are often 70–80% water, which brings challenges such as shorter shelf life, bulky packaging, and the need for stronger preservatives.

The innovation opportunity is that waterless formulations eliminate these limitations entirely. Think of concentrated cleansing tablets that transform into gentle cleansers when mixed with water, or solid shampoo bars that deliver the same performance as liquid versions.

Benefits for your formulations:

• Extended shelf life without harsh preservatives
• Reduced packaging and shipping costs
• Higher concentration of active ingredients
• Sustainable appeal for eco-conscious consumers

Getting started: Begin with simple anhydrous formulations like body butters, cleansing balms, or solid moisturiser bars. These teach you the fundamentals of working without water while creating products your customers will love.

2. Local Botanicals: Your Backyard Luxury

Here's a formulation secret: what's local to you is luxurious to others. The trend towards local ingredients isn't just about sustainability. It's about harnessing the unique properties of plants that have adapted to your specific environment.

Why local ingredients work: Australian herbs like Kakadu plum, desert lime, and native pepperberry have evolved in harsh conditions, developing powerful protective compounds. When you incorporate these into your formulations, you are offering something truly unique.

Your body and local plants share the same environment. They face the same UV exposure, humidity levels, and seasonal changes. This means local botanicals often provide exactly what your skin needs to thrive in your climate.

Trending Australian botanicals to explore:

• Kakadu Plum: Highest natural source of Vitamin C globally
• Desert Lime: Natural AHA properties for gentle exfoliation
• Native Pepperberry: Antioxidant-rich with conditioning properties
• Lemon Myrtle: Natural antimicrobial properties for cleansing formulations
• Wattle Seed: Rich in proteins and minerals for nourishing treatments

Formulation tip: Create regional signature blends. A "Daintree Forrest" face mist or "Blue Mountains" body oil tells a story while delivering genuine benefits.

3. Nature-Inspired Actives: Gentle Power from Plants

The trend towards plant-based alternatives and away from synthetic actives is growing rapidly. As a formulator, this is your sweet spot: creating effective products using gentle, natural ingredients.

Understanding the shift: Many popular skincare actives are isolated compounds found naturally in plants. Instead of using harsh synthetic versions, you can harness the whole plant's wisdom.

Smart substitutions for DIY and Business formulators:

• Instead of Retinol: Use Rosehip oil or Buckthorn oil
• Instead of Salicylic Acid: Try Willow bark extract
• Instead of Glycolic Acid: Explore fruit enzymes from papaya or pineapple
• Instead of Hyaluronic Acid: Use Tremella mushroom extract, aloe vera gel or glycerine

The herbal advantage: Whole plant extracts are typically gentler than isolated compounds because they contain natural buffering compounds that work synergistically with the active ingredients.

4. K-Beauty and Cultural Influences: A Global Skincare Revolution

Korean beauty, or K-Beauty, has transformed the global skincare landscape, introducing innovative ingredients and multi-step routines that prioritise skin health over quick fixes. As a DIY formulator, you can draw inspiration from these cultural approaches to create products that reflect this holistic philosophy.

What makes K-Beauty special: The focus isn't just on treating problems. It's about preventing them. K-Beauty emphasises gentle, consistent care with products that work together harmoniously. This approach perfectly aligns with DIY formulation principles.

K-Beauty inspired ingredients to explore:

• Ginseng
• Green Tea
• Rice Water
• Snail Secretion Filtrate (challenging for DIY)
• Fermented Ingredients

Cultural beauty wisdom from around the world:

• Japanese: Sake, seaweed
• French Pharmacy: Thermal spring water
• Ayurvedic: Turmeric, neem, herb-oil combos
• Mediterranean: Olive oil, honey, sea salt

Adapting cultural trends: Understand the philosophy behind the trends. K-Beauty teaches that skincare should be a mindful ritual. Develop signature blends combining cultural wisdom and local ingredients.

Getting started: Start with rice water or green tea fermentations. Gradually explore more complex cultural formulations as your skills grow.

5. AI as a Trendy Tool: Your Digital Co-Founder

AI is rapidly becoming one of the hottest trends in skincare. From customising products based on skin types to helping with ingredient research, AI is changing the game. Big brands are investing in AI - and so can you.

How you can use AI: Tools like ChatGPT can serve as your brainstorming partner, marketing assistant, or ingredient researcher. Use it for dermal limits, formulation checks, or marketing ideas.

⚠️ Important note: Always verify AI-generated ideas. Perform thorough testing for safety and effectiveness before including AI-assisted recommendations in your products or advice.

Spotting the Next Big Trend: Your Formulator's Toolkit

Want to stay ahead of the curve? Here’s your insider strategy:

• Research traditional remedies: Look into what Indigenous cultures have used for centuries.
• Monitor scientific journals: Research often predicts trends years in advance.
• Listen to your customers: Their skincare concerns often point to new opportunities.
• Connect with local growers: Discover unique botanicals before they hit the mainstream.

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Your Innovation Journey Starts Now

The beauty of being a DIY formulator is your freedom to innovate. You can respond quickly to feedback, experiment boldly, and craft products that meet real needs.

Start small, think big, and always test thoroughly. The future of skincare is being written by you - one inspired formula at a time.

Important safety note: DIY skincare is for general wellbeing, not medical treatment. For serious conditions, always refer to a qualified healthcare professional.

Ready to bring these trends to life in your formulations?

Start your innovation journey with Craft360's comprehensive collection of raw materials and packaging solutions. We've sourced the ingredients that transform trend inspiration into breakthrough formulations.

What trend excites you most as a formulator? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear how you're bringing innovation to life!