- Many buzzy 2025 skincare and aesthetic trends—like DIY skincare, overcomplicated routines, and thread lifts—are falling out of favor due to lack of efficacy, safety concerns, or unnatural results.
- 2026 is about smarter, more natural-looking skin solutions: Expect pared-back routines, personalization, and regenerative aesthetics (PRP, PDRN/salmon sperm, exosomes) that work at a cellular level to restore skin function rather than mask issues.
- AI-driven personalization, hormone-synced routines, and younger patients embracing preventative treatments signal a shift toward proactive, biology-informed skincare.
Every December, when I’m tasked with predicting the next big thing in the world of skincare and cosmetic treatments, I take a deep breath and sift through the noise—PR pitches, mounting research, and the innovations my doctor friends swear will shape the future. But what actually gives a skincare trend staying power? Science, proven results, and real consumer demand. While some trends earn their place as long-term staples, others amount to little more than empty promises.
In 2025, plenty of once-can’t-live-without-it products and treatments quietly faded into the beauty graveyard. There was the brief obsession with defining “clean” beauty (which, for the record, is still unregulated), the era of overconsumption, and the moment BeautyTok declared fillers dead.
So, what’s next for 2026? Expect a shift toward natural-looking enhancements, pared-back skincare routines, deeper personalization, and a stronger focus on regenerative aesthetics inspired therapies. To get a clearer picture of what’s ahead, I spoke with three beauty experts about the skincare and aesthetic trends set to dominate next year. Many of their predictions align with what I believe will define a new era of skincare. Consider this your definitive guide to what everyone will be talking about in beauty in 2026.
Skincare Trends That Are Out for 2026
1. DIY skincare
Make-it-yourself skincare products—from basic yogurt face masks to more extreme kitchen-sink sunscreen—are falling out of favor and being replaced with solid, science-backed solutions. “Many people who tried DIY skincare found these treatments to be inconsistent or ineffective,” says board-certified plastic surgeon John Diaz, MD. “At the end of the day, consumers want efficacy, which drives them towards products formulated with scientifically proven ingredients,” he adds. Plus, DIY skincare often involves blindly mixing ingredients and using them at unknown concentrations, which can unexpectedly damage the skin and end up doing more harm than good.
2. Overdone routines in the pursuit of glass skin are
I’m all for a glowy complexion—don’t get me wrong. But at what cost? Celebrity aesthetician Ildi Pekar says that in 2025, she saw a huge increase in compromised skin barriers—resulting in redness, rosacea breakouts, sensitivity, and even premature aging—all in the name of achieving the ultra-dewy, glass skin trend. Overloading the skin with too many active ingredients can make them counteractive or, on the flip side, overly active. “A lot of people overuse products and layer on too many active ingredients because of trends. That’s when irritation, breakouts, and sensitivity show up. The skin is not meant to handle that many layers,” says Pekar. The bottom line: More products do not equal better, or in this case, glass skin.
3. Thread lifts
If there’s one in-office procedure that has always scared the hell out of me (despite reporting on it repeatedly), it’s the thread lift. This nonsurgical treatment uses tiny, barbed sutures to hoist saggy skin back into place, stimulating new collagen formation in the process. “Threads were a great idea on paper, but in reality, techniques like these don't work well,” Dr. Diaz says. “The bigger problem is that the facial tissues are subject to strong forces pulling them in different directions, and to overcome that, multiple threads need to be placed in different directions. But the face has two sides, which means all the threads need to have the same amount of force and be placed in the same directions on both sides, which is incredibly difficult to do, and why asymmetry is a common problem.”
Second-generation threads were popular for years, but with repeat treatments came unwanted side effects like threadaches, temporary skin puckering and dimpling, and visible threads under the skin. As aesthetic trends lean more towards subtle enhancement, certain styles that threads were known for accomplishing, like the cat eye and fox tail brow, are past their peak. Most plastic surgeons have traded in their thread lifts for more reliable surgical techniques, energy-based skin-tightening devices, and strategically placed injectable.
Skincare Trends That Are In for 2026
1. Regenerative aesthetics will become more mainstream
At the intersection of medicine and beauty, regenerative aeshtiecs are the next evolution in anti-aging and nonsurgical alternatives, says dermatologist Nathan Newman, MD. “Traditional aesthetic treatments address surface symptoms and disrupt the barrier or create temporary optical effects, but they do not correct underlying cellular deficiencies caused by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, or repeated exposure to strong exfoliants and irritants,” Dr. Newman explains. “Regenerative medicine, on the other hand, corrects underlying dysfunctions and works at the level of dermal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, immune cells, and stem cell niches to reduce inflammation, improve extracellular matrix integrity, and increase collagen and elastin density,” he explains.
Encompassing everything from PRP and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) to stem cells, platelet- and stem cell-derived growth factors, exosomes, biomimetic peptides, and even bio-signal therapy (which harnesses specific molecular signals to direct cell behavior), Dr. Newman expects these therapies to become mainstream in the coming years. “As the science behind regenerative aesthetics continues to advance, 2026 will mark a major shift toward the wider use of regenerative therapies to restore structure and function in the skin," he adds.
2. Salmon sperm will be ingredient #1
2025 may have sparked interest in polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), or DNA fragments of salmon sperm, but that was just the beginning. Initially, PDRN gained traction as microinjections and as step two in microneedling to help repair the skin’s pathways, promote new cell growth, improve hydration, and strengthen the barrier and collagen. Pekar expects the collagen-supporting molecule to be skincare’s big breakout star ingredient in 2026. “PDRN is known for supporting tissue repair, boosting hydration, and improving the skin’s microenvironment,” she says. “It works by promoting cellular turnover and helping the skin recover from inflammation and daily stress.”
Pekar says that PDRN isn’t just another trending ingredient but rather a new generation of skincare that encourages the skin to work smarter, heal faster, and rebuild stronger. “Clients love it because the results feel natural, plump, and healthy, and the skin is more resilient without that overdone look.” While the Korean import Rejuran is one of the first PDRN-based skincare products to gain a cult following, more PDRN-infused serums, boosters, and post-treatment healing products, as well as vegan phyto-PDRN, wll be everywhere in 2026.
3. AI will enhance our skincare routines
AI seems to be coming for literally everything, and skincare routines aren’t exempt. Dr. Newman says personalization via AI-enhanced skincare routines will soon become the norm, especially to help identify subtle changes and determine individualized skincare routines. “AI essentially functions as an externalized form of biological intelligence, and patients can use it to detect early signs of barrier decline, dehydration, or inflammatory flare-ups before they become visible.” According to Dr. Newman, from a clinical standpoint, AI tools quantify parameters such as barrier function, erythema patterns, pore architecture, and microtextural irregularities to correlate directly with cellular activity, particularly inflammatory cytokine expression and fibroblast performance. “By analyzing these patterns, AI reveals how a patient’s skin responds to specific treatments or ingredients so that we can refine protocols and determine which therapies align with the patient’s biological profile. AI does not replace clinical judgment, but it enhances our ability to personalize regenerative regimens at a cellular level.”
4. Skincare will sync up with our hormonal shifts
It’s well known that hormonal shifts influence the skin; some cause increased oil production and breakouts, while others lead to dryness and collagen breakdown. “Hormonal fluctuations alter sebum production, immune function, barrier stability, and inflammatory pathways,” Dr. Newman says. “Formulas developed to support the skin during predictable hormonal phases may help modulate biological shifts and prevent downstream issues such as breakouts, sensitivity, and dryness.” Because hormonal shifts can vary from week to week and month to month, using skincare that’s dialed into what the skin needs at any given time is crucial. And that’s where brands like Muhza, which is designed to sync up with the different phases of the menstrual cycle, come in. The goal? To address the skin’s shifting needs from the follicular phase through ovulation and the luteal phase to menstruation. Dr. Newman calls this overall approach beneficial, “because it respects the skin as an evolving, hormone-responsive organ and treats the cause rather than just reacting to symptoms. Aligning specific actives with the phase in which the skin needs them can stabilize the skin and reduce the severity of flare-ups.”
5. Plastic surgery patients will continue to get younger
It’s become mainstream for 20-somethings to take the plunge on Botox, 30-somethings to do tightening and lifting treatments, and 40-year-olds to consider going under the knife. Younger patients are becoming the norm today, and invasive cosmetic treatments and surgeries aren’t off the table as the prejuvenation movement continues to track. “Younger clients in their 20s and early 30s are no longer waiting for signs of aging to appear, and instead, they are thinking ahead,” Pekar says. “They care about prevention and jump straight into stacking Botox and fillers and downtime-free skin-tightening ultrasound treatments like Sofwave, which took over in 2025. I’ve been seeing a huge shift in who’s getting it.”
“Patients are starting preventative treatments, like injectables, fillers, chemical peels, lasers, and even nonsurgical lifting treatments, younger than ever,” says Dr. Diaz. And there’s a reason why. “It’s a way to prevent the formation of deep lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation changes while also enhancing their features to beautify their faces.” In someone older, these same treatments are used to replace lost volume from aging, but Dr. Diaz shares that the younger subset uses them to enhance their features. “For example, a young patient may not have prominent cheekbones or full lips, but fillers can make these features more attractive.” And what about the younger facelift and blepharoplasty patient? “It’s kind of the same with surgery being used to make specific features more attractive.”
Meet the experts:
- John Diaz, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and award-winning aesthetic visionary based in Beverly Hills, CA. Dr. Diaz has over 24 years of experience and has performed more than 10,000 successful procedures.
- Ildi Pekar is a celebrity aesthetician with over 20 years of experience in face and body care. She combines traditional remedies with modern technologies to provide a deep, nurturing experience. Pekar focuses on manifestations of cellular damage and accelerated aging, providing measurable results in appearance and well-being while promoting her philosophy: skincare is health care.
- Nathan Newman, MD, is a board certified dermatologist who specializes in cosmetic surgery and is an expert in the field of regenerative medicine. He is the innovator of numerous skin care and wellness stem cell products. To date, Dr. Newman has treated over 120,000 patients from all over the world.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and expert with 20 years of experience. A prolific content creator and trendspotter, Elise always knows what’s new, what works, and who’s the best to go to for treatments and procedures.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and expert with 20 years of experience. She started her career in public relations before shifting to editorial. Elise rose the ranks at NewBeauty magazine from an editorial assistant to Executive Beauty Editor, overseeing and reporting on all things beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health, and wellness. A prolific content creator and trendspotter, Elise always knows what’s new, what works, and who’s the best to go to for treatments and procedures. She contributes to media outlets including InStyle, NewBeauty, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Beauty Independent, The Aesthetic Guide, Bazaar, and more.
