The Age of Resonance marks a new phase for the beauty industry - one defined by curiosity, creativity, and conviction. In this emerging landscape, beauty evolves beyond aesthetics to become an immersive and emotionally charged experience, where well-being, inclusivity, and self-expression converge.

In our 2025 White Book, the Cosmetics IC team decodes the societal shifts and breakthrough beauty innovations that will transform the shape of the industry for the years ahead.

"In an era of transformation and growing societal consciousness, consumers are seeking more than just efficacy - they crave meaning, emotional engagement, and experiences that align with their evolving lifestyles. Beauty is becoming a space where science meets sensoriality, where ancestral knowledge informs innovation, and where self-expression transcends norms." Leïla Rochet, Chief Inspiration Officer of Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation

Discover 5 inspiration territories to fuel your future innovation:

1 - ADAPTIVE FUTURES: The Visionary Alignment of Technology and Beauty

Technology and biotechnology will seamlessly merge to create hyper-personalized, intelligent solutions. AI-driven tools and scientific advancements will redefine performance, pushing beauty toward a new era of adaptability and precision.

Technology is ushering in a new era of co-created products, enhancing consumer engagement through Web3, blockchain, and AI. In 2024, NFC-enabled beauty brand Kiki World raised $5 million to create a platform where users vote on designs, earn loyalty points, and unlock discounts, with NFC products driving community interaction beyond purchases.

AI is also unlocking new creative dimensions. Beauty brands are experimenting with generative AI and wearable tech to enable deeper self-expression. Studio Halia’s Alter Collection integrates NFC chips into sculptural jewelry, unlocking augmented reality beauty experiences.

In beauty, biotech advancements are transforming formulation processes. AI-powered ingredient platforms, like Debut’s BeautyORB, analyze billions of ingredient combinations to optimize both efficacy and sustainability. Lab-grown actives, such as Odacité’s AI-cultivated Edelweiss, are setting new standards for precision skincare.

In the future, beauty will evolve beyond aesthetics, meeting the needs of a dynamic, performance-driven consumer who seeks intelligent, responsive solutions.

2 - DEEP RECONNECTION: Honoring Nature, Culture, and Ancestral Roots to Redefine Sustainability

In an era of rapid change, consumers are seeking grounding experiences and ethical beauty solutions that enhance their connection to nature, heritage, and cultural traditions. Sustainability is evolving beyond environmental responsibility to incorporate ancestral wisdom and elemental purity, creating a more meaningful and holistic vision of beauty.

As awareness of climate change and biodiversity loss intensifies, brands are responding with emotionally resonant narratives. Issey Miyake’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection paid tribute to traditional papermaking, using delicate Japanese washi to reflect nature’s fragility. Meanwhile, Pavels Hedström’s Gaia Communication System translates plant signals into tactile sensations, deepening our emotional bond with the natural world.

Beauty is also turning to ancestral practices and indigenous ingredients to create authentic, culturally rich formulations. HYEJA’s Clarifying Lotus Hydrator combines Korean traditions with modern science, while Nordic and Japanese bathing rituals are inspiring self-care experiences that reconnect consumers with water’s elemental power.

Brands will also rethink materials and packaging, such as Attitude’s Oceanly Eyeshadow which introduced plastic-free, biodegradable packaging, while packaging for Credo’s new skincare line incorporates recycled ocean plastics, reinforcing the shift toward circular beauty.

In the future, beauty will not only honor nature and tradition but also inspire a deeper, more poetic connection with the world around us.

3 - LIFE IN MOVEMENT: Redefining Beauty Through Motion, Adaptability, and Strength

In a world that never stops moving, beauty is shifting to emphasize fluidity, adaptability, and strength, celebrating bodies in motion rather than static perfection. Athleticism and power become the new aesthetic ideal, redefining confidence through physical expression.

As the boundaries between fashion, sports, and beauty blur, brands are responding with designs that enhance both performance and aesthetics. Balenciaga’s collaboration with Under Armour fuses high fashion with functionality, while Loewe’s CloudTilt 2.0 sneaker merges sleek design with movement-enhancing technology. In beauty, innovation follows suit - Respire’s Solid Cleanser and NuFace’s FIX MicroWand are designed for efficiency and portability, catering to active lifestyles.

Strength and resilience will take center stage, with athletes and performers leading the way, like Ilona Maher, rugby Olympian who recently became Paula’s Choice’s first Skincare Coach. Products like Lemme Tone Gummies and Josie Maran’s Pro-Retinol Body Butter are emerging, celebrating the sculpted, powerful body.

Future beauty will be functional, empowering, and protective, designed to support movement, endurance, and self-expression in an ever-evolving world.

4 - THE CULTURE OF DELIGHT: Joyful Escapes and Sensory Delights as Anchors in a Chaotic World

In a world of constant chaos, beauty is evolving beyond appearance to become a tool for emotional well-being and joy. Delightful, sensory experiences provide a much-needed break from daily pressures. Beauty and luxury become vehicles for pleasure, engagement, and self-reconnection, turning mundane routines into moments of happiness.

Nostalgia plays a significant role in this shift, with iconic childhood figures making a comeback to evoke a sense of comfort and cultural connection. At Paris Fashion Week SS25, Coperni collaborated with Disney, creating whimsical designs that celebrate childhood magic. In beauty, collaborations like Dearcloud x Miffy reimagine beloved characters, linking nostalgia with modern self-care.

Brands will also increasingly embrace playfulness in packaging and experiences. The rise of collectible, toy-inspired products, such as Creer Beaute’s Tamagotchi Balms and Fwee's Pudding Pots, offer consumers a playful way to interact with beauty. In the realm of hedonism, consumers seek small, joyful experiences, reflected in pop-up environments like Louis Vuitton’s Murakami Wonderland, which redefines retail as a space for joyful, imaginative escape.

Beauty is now an opportunity for sensory pleasure. With an increasing demand for tactile products, brands like Pleasing and Fwee are creating beauty rituals that engage the sense of touch, turning skincare into an indulgent, playful experience.

In the future, beauty will continue to offer consumers joyful escapes, transforming everyday rituals into multisensory experiences that combine delight with connection.

5- AGELESS HORIZONS: Redefining Beauty Through Inclusivity and Longevity

Our perception of aging is transforming from a limitation to an ongoing narrative of self-expression and empowerment. The growing demand for personalized solutions, inclusive representation, and longevity-focused innovations reflects a broader, more nuanced understanding of beauty that embraces every stage of life. This trend is helping to redefine the narrative around age, celebrating wisdom, experience, and inclusivity across all generations.

In skincare and wellness, a unified language is emerging, with younger consumers adopting preventative routines and older generations focusing on well-aging. Brands are creating products and rituals that cater to diverse needs, responding to this demand for intergenerational dialogue.

At the same time, age representation is gaining traction in fashion and media, with mature models being celebrated for their experience and confidence. Campaigns from brands like Caudalie and beauty influencers such as Grece Ghanem and Fred Mécène show that ageless beauty is no longer a distant ideal but an attainable and empowering reality.

In the future, beauty will continue to innovate, prioritizing longevity and inclusivity, with advanced skincare technologies and doctor-led brands leading the way, merging beauty and wellness into a seamless, ageless experience.

The CIC Take

For an up-close look at our 5 Key Trends for 2025 and Beyond visit our booth (K49) at the upcoming MakeUp in Los Angeles (Feb 12 & 13) where our CIO Leila Rochet will personally talk you through a selection of international products at our Inspiration Bar, curated to illustrate many of the themes above.

The full version of our 2025 White Book: The Age of Resonance is available now, contact us for more information.