An effective skincare routine is rooted in evidence-based practices, not buzzy products or ingredients. But in a market heavily influenced by, well, influencers, science often takes a backseat to the trends.
This year may be different, however. New delivery systems are giving rise to gentler yet more powerful formulas featuring proven ingredients like retinol and vitamin C. And the Food and Drug Administration appears poised to approve its first sunscreen filter in a decade, a move that could result in new, stronger sunscreens in the US.
We’ll dig deeper into these headlines, and others, over the next two blog posts, as we explore what will be the most significant advances in skincare in the months ahead.
Skincare staples are getting better with age
Retinol and vitamin C have been skincare staples for decades, so it may sound like old news to be touting them in 2026. But an array of new formulations is enabling them to be even more effective.
Much of it comes down to innovative new delivery systems, like a vitamin C serum with an exfoliator in it, which allows the vitamin C to penetrate deeper. You’re probably not going to see a video with an influencer gushing about a delivery system, but it’s an area where researchers have focused a lot of their attention in recent years. And it’s bearing fruit in terms of supporting the stability and bioavailability of many active ingredients.
In other words, the ingredients you know and love have gotten better with age, a gradual refinement that’s akin to your iPhone’s.
The emergence of perimenopausal and menopausal skincare
Formulations are also becoming more targeted, including an emerging line of products specifically designed for perimenopausal and menopausal skin.
In this case, the development’s not without controversy. Some are arguing that this is simply brands jumping on a bandwagon before the science has indicated whether there’s any merit to such products. Many dermatologists, for example, have pushed back against estrogen-laced creams, available by prescription, because of the lack of data supporting their use.
Estriol (a weaker form of estrogen) creams could help perimenopausal and menopausal skin by supporting collagen and barrier function. But skin is an estrogen-sensitive organ, so there could be unintended consequences, such as triggering hormonally driven hyperpigmentation like melasma.
More research needs to be done. And it is being done. Dermatologists expect the discussion around estriol, specifically, to be refined and clarified over the next year.
In the meantime, this new corner of the skincare market will grow exponentially, because perimenopausal and menopausal skincare is about more than replacing estrogen. Yes, losing estrogen can mean hyperpigmentation, dehydration, laxity, and sagging, but numerous products already target these concerns. They just haven’t been marketed as a treatment for perimenopausal or menopausal skin. That’s changing quickly. And it’s just the beginning.
In the next post, we’ll discuss sunscreen’s much-needed reset, the rise in pre- and post-procedure skincare, and the latest at-home skincare devices.
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