Glycolic Acid is Driving Skincare Trends in 2018
If you’re looking for some of the hottest trends in skincare and anti-aging for 2018, look no further than this list. What do they all have in common? Glycolic acid is a key ingredient in every single one of them.
Masks are huge – and Google can prove it!
What was the most-Googled skincare product search in 2017?
Masks. With the rising popularity of wet sheet masks, dry sheet masks, and other skincare mask applications, experts at Google predict masks will continue to rise in popularity and sales in the cosmetic and personal care markets in 2018. Globally, consumers most searched for acne-treatment masks and masks for blackheads and oily skin.
Moving forward into 2018, the hunt for acne, blemish and oil treatment products will make ingredients like glycolic acid, that powerhouse ingredient that combats all three of consumers’ top concerns – acne, spots, and oiliness – a continued popular addition to masks of all kinds.
A powerhouse ingredient that combats consumers' top concerns
Vegan is on the rise
Google also reported an astonishing 83% spike in users hunting for “vegan skincare products.” A vegan product does not include any animal ingredients, animal-derived ingredients, or use animal testing. Many current popular skincare and personal care products are not vegan, as they contain typical additives honey, beeswax, collagen, gelatin, and more.
With this increased interest in vegan personal care products from consumers, formulating new vegan products that still deliver results, will be a driving trend for the industry in 2018. The desire for vegan personal care products will especially make ingredients like (you guessed it!) glycolic acid, which is 100% vegan, even more important role in new product formulations.
Western consumers want Korean products
Another cosmetic industry trend in 2017? The continued desire for imported Korean skincare and beauty products by U.S. and European consumers. New K-Beauty launches in 2017 overwhelmingly focused on “multi-functional skincare claims such as moisturizing, anti-aging, and UV protection,” according to new research from Mintel.
The consumer demand for multi-functional product formulations will also make equally multi-functional ingredients like glycolic acid – which combats signs of aging and dullness in skin – even more desirable to consumers on the hunt for the latest skin and personal care products.
Glycolic acid and other ingredients will maintain a “natural” advantage
The other big cosmetic industry trend predicted for 2018 is one we’ve mentioned before, the surge in consumer’s desire for more natural personal care products. The natural beauty movement is almost a billion-dollar industry, and consumers are currently most concerned about seeking out personal care products free of harsh chemicals. However, many consumers aren’t willing to lose the effectiveness of their current or favored products just for a natural claim.
This is where time-tested and naturally occurring ingredients like glycolic acid (sourced from sugar cane, after all!) will continue to play important roles in new, natural claims beauty and cosmetic products.
2018 promises to be an exciting year. Innovation will be driving growth and change, as multi-functional products reach the market that can also deliver on consumers demands for natural claims, vegan personal care items, and a touch of at-home luxury. Glycolic acid isn’t simply rising the wave, or along for the ride: in many cases, it’s the ingredient that’s steering these products toward success.
