If you care about your skin in 2026, these are the 8 trends to know

2026 is the year we stop self-treating like renegade chemists and let trained hands take back control, because a handheld gadget and a YouTube tutorial are not the same as a visit to the facialist. No, this year we're heading straight back to the clinic door.

Linnéa Wagnås, better known as The Skin Coach, has watched the shift play out in real time. “After years of at-home devices and DIY solutions, clients want safety, guidance and results they can trust,” she says. The pandemic-era confidence to peel, zap and needle at home has worn off. What remains, unfortunately, are the consequences. “I’m seeing more people seeking help after unintentionally damaging their barrier through incorrect home treatments.”

Michaella Bolder – who cares for faces like Olivia Munn and Noomie Repace – is seeing the same course correction. “Preventative, skin maintenance and low-downtime treatments like microneedling are now being used proactively,” she explains. Instead of waiting for texture or fine lines, clients are opting for seasonal upkeep. "The narrative has shifted, micro-needling is no longer about fixing or as a luxury, but more about future-proofing," says Bolder. "Clients are now asking for treatments that align with a preventative lifestyle, not an aesthetic overhaul."

Power may have been the guiding principle for the last decade, but 2026 sees a more intelligent shift. The new wave of treatments doesn’t rely on trauma to get results. It uses biology. "Spicules are quickly becoming the next frontier of regenerative skin therapy,” says Wagnås. Biomodulation CIT, or “bio-microneedling,” is her star example. “I could compare it to a microneedling treatment in effect but there's no blood or trauma and minimal downtime." You are red for a day or two and feel the spicules like broken glass in your skin, but the results on texture, pigment and pores must be experienced according to Wagnås.

The woman behind the covetable glow of Kristine Froseth and Anne Hathaway, Guendalina Gennari (also known as The Skin Sculptor) sees the same appetite for stimulation without injury. Her focus: liquid needling. “It is a non-invasive alternative to traditional microneedling, using topicals that create controlled microchannels or ‘needling-like’ stimulation without devices.” She predicts hybrid facials pairing it with light therapy as clinics look for efficient, low-downtime regeneration.

Add exosomes to the mix and the theme becomes impossible to ignore. “Exosomes will become standard,” says Wagnås. “They enhance cellular communication, making them the perfect partner for microstimulation.”

Forget anti-aging. The industry’s new obsession is keeping the skin biologically “well” for as long as possible. This is where peptides, inflammation control and mitochondrial support comes into play. “Skincare is evolving from targeting aesthetic concerns to supporting the skin’s biological age,” she says, citing routines built around resilience rather than quick fixes. Think: anti-inflammatory pathways, regenerative ingredients, and barrier intelligence as non-negotiables.

Bolder notes peptides stepping into their most sophisticated era yet. “Peptides are going to shine as consumers seek in-clinic skincare formulas for their at-home routine,” she explains. “We’re seeing highly targeted peptide blends that mimic the skin’s signalling pathways, making collagen stimulation more efficient and intuitive.” The old moisturising peptides are firmly out. “We’re moving from basic peptides to precision peptide cocktails that support barrier health, elasticity and repair at a deeper level.”

Instead of plumping and freezing, the new era of injectables focus on repairing and restoring tissue in ways that align with biology. Gennari sees PDRN at the front of this shift. “PDRN continues to evolve as a leading biostimulatory treatment, focusing on deep skin regeneration, improved elasticity, and repair,” she explains. Cleaner formulations and smarter delivery systems are already emerging.

Then there’s the “natural reclaim” movement sweeping cosmetic clinics: “Filler removal and fat transplant encourages dissolving old fillers and replacing them with small-volume fat grafting.” The goal is subtlety, integrity and skin that looks like itself (but better).

Skinimalism isn’t going anywhere, but in 2026 it isn’t about owning fewer products to declutter your bathroom. Next year, it will be all about using fewer products to protect your skin’s biology. “Skinimalism is a movement of using less steps but smarter skincare formulations,” says Bolder. “People are looking to products that protect the skin microbiome, reduce inflammation and support long-term skin resilience.”

Wagnås adds the circadian element that will shape routines moving forward. “Skincare is becoming more dynamic. Now we're seeing it adapted to time of day, hormonal shifts and climate conditions.” It seems the era of a static morning-and-night routine is over.

In 2026 the body is getting the same level of active ingredients and formulation intelligence once reserved exclusively for the face.“Active body care is finally upon us,” says Bolder. “Body retinol washes and lotions will bring skincare-grade ingredients to areas that have long been overlooked.” She expects retinol, lactic acid, niacinamide and peptides to become household staples in 2026 body routines. “These formulas will be potent, refined and clinically inspired."

Nutrition and skin are slowly merging into a single skin-loving category. In 2026, collagen cocktails, edible retinoids and gut-supportive rituals are all on the menu. Gennari points to the revival of diet-driven skin support, starting with dietary sources of Vitamin A to boost skin clarity, glow, and hormonal balance. Her favourite example? The carrot-salad movement.

Supplements are also rising alongside recipes. “Inside-out skin renewal” is fast becoming as important in our beauty routines as any serum you slather on. Then comes collagen-based comfort with a functional twist. “Chocolate bone broth offers gut support, elasticity and stress reduction,” says Gennari. It seems that the “beauty latte” is now a bona fide longevity tool.

Movement as a skin treatment might sound like a stretch, but 2026 is serious about circulation and lymphatic flow. Gennari is already incorporating it into her work. “A return to low-impact, time-efficient physical practices that support lymphatic drainage, circulation, and skin vitality.” We're talking vibration plates, targeted micro-movements and spa protocols that borrow from LPG’s toning philosophy.