<\/p>\n
Brands like Est\u00e9e Lauder and La Prairie have already been heavily investing in the field, and in 2026, the sector is set to explode. \u201cThe biggest shift will be toward true regenerative skin care,\u201d says Ivan Pol, facialist and founder of The Beauty Sandwich, who adds that consumers want skin care with benefits beyond hydration and resurfacing. \u201cThey want treatments that create real structural change, and technology is finally catching up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lanc\u00f4me signed a partnership with True Diagnostic, an Australian-based company that sells kits that tell you your cellular age. In April 2026, they\u2019ll roll out Cell Bioprints at the Lanc\u00f4me counter, which measure your \u201cproteomics\u201d (the analysis of the structure of proteins, in this case, in your skin). \u201cYou\u2019ll get your protein biomarker, and it will not only tell you where your skin is today, but also the biology of your cells and what it means for tomorrow,\u201d says Guive Balooch, global vice president of tech and open innovation at L\u2019Or\u00e9al. \u201cWe\u2019re also working on an at-home version [of the test].\u201d Balooch adds that he believes we\u2019ll see lots of companies and startups bringing diagnostics for skin to market next year.<\/p>\n
Besides diagnostic testing, get ready to see formulas featuring NAD+, the coenzyme in our body that\u2019s responsible for cellular energy production and cellular and DNA repair.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, though, this is another example of marketing getting ahead of the science. \u201cNAD+ is a large, hydrophilic molecule, which makes skin penetration difficult,\u201d says Dr. King. \u201cSome products may use precursors like NMN or NR, which may penetrate better and convert to NAD+ inside the cell, but there’s not much data, just limited human studies and no large, peer-reviewed clinical trials in humans.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a lack of data surrounding the application of topical NAD+, \u201csome brands are finding other ways of diving into the skin-longevity trend,\u201d says Dr. King. They\u2019re doing so with peptides and growth factors, which every expert we spoke to says are becoming smarter, more sophisticated, and remain extremely popular among consumers.<\/p>\n
Says Dr. Goldminz, \u201cPeptides and growth factors are wonderful because they can truly make your skin act younger, activating fibroblasts [which help facilitate the production of collagen and other proteins], increasing the rate of skin-cell turnover, and helping you respond better to UV or environmental damage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to 2026, Dr. King highlights peauforia and peauvita\u2014two synthetic growth factors from French biotech company Core Biogenesis\u2014as standout innovations with \u201cgreat data to back them up,\u201d she says. As for peptides, Dr. Gohara points out three next-gen options to know: copper tripeptide-1 (now stabilized in advanced systems for improved wound healing and collagen support); oligopeptide-68 (a modern brightening peptide that reduces pigmentation pathways without irritation), and microbiome-targeting peptides (an emerging class that helps balance redness, acne, and overall skin tolerance).<\/p>\n
This trend is also driven by the fact that people are really clued in on these two ingredients. Peptides, in particular, \u201care instrumental for the growth of large brands,\u201d says Strauser, pointing to SkinCeuticals\u2019 P-Tiox, which is the reason behind the brand\u2019s recent growth. For Dermstore, Allies of Skin growth factor serum is \u201cnumber one, by and large, for the brand,\u201d she adds. That momentum will certainly continue in 2026.<\/p>\n
ZO Skin Health<\/p>\n
Bioelements<\/p>\n
Allies of Skin<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve been talking a lot about science, but dermatologists are eager to point out that they\u2019re seeing more and more patients looking for skin care with a feel-good factor. \u201cThey want to enjoy what they’re doing, and that it’s not just this perfunctory, medicinal routine,\u201d says Dr. Gohara. \u201cThey want to like everything about the experience, from buying it to the way it feels on their skin to the way it smells.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n