In the world of skincare, trends move fast fueled by TikTok virality, influencer unboxings, and flashy marketing campaigns. But when you’re behind the scenes of skincare development every day, you start to see a different story.
Spoiler alert: not every trend is worth the hype.
Some are marketing gold but fall flat in formulation. Others sound promising in theory, but never make it past the sample stage. And then there are those trends that dominate headlines but offer zero real-world results.
Let’s break down a few of the most overhyped trends making the rounds right now:
👀 Single-Ingredient Serums
There’s a time and place for focused actives, but the idea that every skin concern can be solved with a single-ingredient product? Not realistic. Skin is complex, and so is the science. Overloading your routine with multiple serums often leads to irritation—not transformation.
👀 15-Step Routines
Less is often more. The idea that more steps = better skin is outdated. In reality, complicated routines can disrupt the skin barrier, create product conflicts, and are impossible to sustain. Consumers are catching on and so should brands.
👀 Exotic Actives with Zero Clinical Backing
From glacier water to rare Amazonian plant extracts, exotic ingredients can sound impressive, but without clinical data to support their efficacy, they’re just marketing fluff. Science should always come before storytelling.
👀 Gimmicky Textures
Whipped, jelly, cloud-like textures might win on Instagram, but they don’t mean much if the formula doesn’t deliver results. A satisfying texture is nice, but it should never come at the expense of performance or stability.
So, What Does Matter?
The products that stand the test of time are always the ones rooted in science-backed ingredients, smart delivery systems, and real consumer benefits. They may not always trend, but they work and that’s what keeps customers coming back.
Trends come and go.
Performance lasts.
