52%
of consumers actively seek skin care products with recognizable ingredients.¹
41%
of brand-loyal consumers cited product quality and effectiveness as the primary reasons for their loyalty.²
82%
of women and 62% of men follow a daily skin care routine.³
Secrets to a Healthy Skin Barrier
As the largest organ in the body, our skin plays a key role as a protective barrier and is home to an ecosystem of microorganisms that are linked to our skin health.
The skin barrier is the outermost layer of the skin, and is responsible for defending the body against external factors while maintaining optimal water balance. When the skin barrier is damaged, it loses its ability to retain water, resulting in dryness and flaky, rough patches.
Benefits of Microbial Diversity
Skin microbiome research has shown that the presence of this busy ecosystem of microorganisms is essential to protect the skin barrier against invading pathogens responsible for various disorders, such as infections and eczema.⁴ In fact, the greater the diversity of the skin microbiome, the stronger the defense.
-
72%of consumers are interested in products to help repair the skin barrier⁵ making microbiome beauty one of the biggest skin care trends.
INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT
GENENCARE® XL
GENENCARE® XL is a prebiotic moisturizer that supports the skin’s microbiome profile. Upcycled from a paper production side stream, this highly purified xylitol provides moisturization benefits and support’s the skin’s microbiome diversity.
Water is Key to Healthy Skin
The stratum corneum contains 13% water on average. By managing water balance, osmolytes help to retain water in the skin and protect it against dehydration.
Moisturization and Hydration
are top priorities for consumers when purchasing facial skin care products.⁶
INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT
GENENCARE® OSMS BA
GENENCARE® OSMS BA natural betaine is an osmolyte extracted from sugar beet that can help reinforce skin barrier for long-term moisturization. According to a clinical study, GENECARE® OSMS BA contributes to strengthening the skin barrier and protecting skin from dehydration.
Meet our experts
Will you be at the SEPAWA Congress?
Curious about osmolytes and betaine?
Meet with our experts at SEPAWA Congress to get your questions answered and explore how osmolytes can optimize skin care performance.
📅 Dates: 15–17 October 2025
📍 Location: Estrel Hotel Berlin, Germany
📌 Booth: Hall 1, Booths 303–305
Consumers Seek Heightened Sensorial Experiences
In today’s fast-paced world, rising stress and anxiety levels are leading consumers to find solace in transforming ordinary routines into self-care rituals that support overall well-being. These practices offer moments of tranquility and indulgence, creating sensorially rich experiences that elevate daily routines. Innovative formats and textures turn mundane tasks into delightful rituals, making the journey of beauty as enjoyable as the results themselves.
-
61%of people globally want experiences that help them feel intense emotions.⁷
-
52%of Italian women who buy BPC are excited by beauty products that are fun to use.⁸
Innovative and Sustainable Scent Solutions
The category expertise of our cross-discipline teams, combined with our unique science-based creative enablers, allow us to craft the unique scent experiences that will answer and shape evolving consumer aspirations for skin care products, from cleansing and gentle care to sensorial and pampering.
Eco-conscious Beauty and Personal Care
It’s not a trend, it’s a transformation in how consumers are choosing and using their products, reflecting a broader cultural shift toward responsible and mindful consumerism.
LMR Naturals has invented an exclusive 2.0 enfleurage process using 100% organic and vegetal origin solvents. Sustainably sourced in Provence, Lavandin Absolute Enfleurage 2.0 is a COSMOS-approved and organic certified natural ingredient that has scientific proven properties for skin soothing (patented cosmetics application).
-
67%67% of adults agree that it is important for the stated benefits of natural organic products to be backed by science.⁹
-
65%65% of German women surveyed are interested in using beauty and personal care products from plant waste.
Upcycled Beauty
Upcycled ingredients represent a powerful tool to reduce the environmental impact of products, and at the same time, tell an important sustainability story.
PANOPTIC
PANOPTIC, IFF’s proprietary trends and foresights capability, allows us to identify the shifting lifestyle, market and consumer trends to innovate and make strategic decisions to continually develop future-proof products and solutions that meet or exceed consumer expectations.
Latest Stories
IFF teams up with influencers Chemist Confessions to raise awareness of osmolytes
4 Benefits of Osmolytes in Skincare: Nature’s Best-Kept Secret for Hydration and Resilience
What Are Osmolytes? The Natural Moisture Guardians Your Skin Loves
What do shoppers want? Beauty & Personal Trends 2025
Resources
[1] Yardi,S. Skincare Multistep Routines and Personalized Solutions Gaining Popularity.
Market.us Media, July 2024. https://tinyurl.com/4m6s5b6x
[2] Deb, T. Skincare Statistics 2024 By Gender, Concerns, Conditions. April 2024.
Skincare Statistics 2024 By Gender, Concerns, Conditions
[3] ibid.
[4] Byrd, A., Belkaid, Y. & Segre, J. The human skin microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol 16, 143–155 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro.2017.157.
[5] Microbiome Skincare Products Market. Persistence Market Research. 2015-2019. https://tinyurl.com/jvbx7hfw
[6] Mintel, A Year of Innovation in Facial Skincare Market Report 2023. https://data.mintel.com/databook/1102989/#Q3b__wave_4423
[7] JWT, 2023
[8] Mintel. Captivate Consumers with Multisensory Beauty. October 2019.
[9] Mintel.
