The professional skin care industry saw growth and innovation in 2022. With spa professionals once again filling up their books, we can expect the spa industry to be better than ever in 2023. However, with financial predictions somewhat concerning for the upcoming year, it is important that we thoroughly do our research to answer our clients’ needs and wants as we move into the future.
Spa-goers realize that a visit to the spa is beneficial in helping to restore and re-energize the mind, body, and spirit, and spas are helping clients achieve this balance with personalized treatments and beneficial add-ons.
The global spa market is expected to reach $155.61 billion by 2030, growing at a 12.6% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate), according to a data report from Data Bridge Market Research. The desire to maintain a mentally and physically healthy lifestyle and customizable wellness and spa treatments are some market drivers identified in the report. According to this report, changing lifestyles and increasing stress levels associated with growing urbanization promote a demand for spas. There is also a rising need for anti-aging treatments and products due to a growing older population that is spending more on non-surgical treatments to improve their mental and physical health. Anti-stress treatments and detoxification will continue to increase the demand for spa treatments in the global market.
The prevalence of lifestyle-related illnesses and the shifting importance of wellness and health activities are also contributing to the market's momentum. Many people are turning to wellness to find relief from hectic lifestyles.
Discussed here are the trends in skin care predicted to make waves in 2023. Adopt a few, or perhaps one, of these trends in 2023, and be recognized by your clientele for your forward thinking and expert grasp on what’s happening in our industry.
1. Skin Cycling
During the height of the pandemic, as clients and professionals alike were stuck at home navigating their personal care and beauty routines solo, dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., had an epiphany. Upon switching up her workout routines to promote different effects and recover, she realized that the same thought process could be applied to skin care. She coined "skin cycling" as a four-day method to rejuvenate the skin but also allow recovery. It is a way to simplify a client’s routine but keep it effective. The first night is exfoliation, preferably with a chemical exfoliant, followed by a retinol on night two. The third and fourth nights are about healing and moisturization, and the process begins all over again on night five. If you have clients that want to see better results from their skin care routine but are overwhelmed by complicated regimens, this may be an easier way to help them (and move some retail sales in the process).
2. Mamey Sapote
There are many familiar faces when it comes to important ingredients for 2023, according to a report by Trendalytics.1 Peptides, algae, L-glutamine, kojic acid and retinol are all marked to grow in the coming year. Winter cherry is also set to grow, but it has largely been in recent trend reports as its sexier name ashwagandha. One surprising ingredient predicted to emerge in the upcoming year is mamey sapote. Those with Latin American roots may be familiar with the health and skin benefits of this fruit, but it has been making waves recently in global skin care formulations. Although it carries a host of health benefits with it, its skin care benefits are largely due to its high concentration of vitamins and minerals. It serves as an antioxidant and moisturizer in skincare (and hair care as well). Expect to see it pop up in new formulations and perhaps treatments in 2023.
3. Beauty Minimalism
Consumers felt a squeeze on their finances in 2022, with inflation increasing the costs of nearly everything with seemingly no relief in sight. A number of financial experts predict a recession in 2023, possibly lasting the entire year. This past year, we saw the introduction of the term "skinimalism," or skin minimalism, and I believe that this concept will continue in 2023, in some shape or form, as purse strings tighten even tighter. This trend is about minimizing the number of products in a client’s regimen to focus on the ones that deliver true skin health and results. As you have clients asking about simple skin routines, be able to recommend a handful of products that will bring them efficacy. An important note is that this is not about cheap products, but rather about frugality. Clients will be focused on getting the most bang for their buck. Be ready and prepared for this now.
4. Out of the Box Acids
Gone are the days where the skin care professional had a limited arsenal of acids to rejuvenate the skin. Matter of fact, many alternative acids are emerging that offer comparable results to tried and acids with additional skin benefits. Think beyond glycolic, salicylic, hyaluronic, lactic, mandelic and malic acid, and consider acids such as polyglutamic, fermented jasmonic, lactobionic and tranexamic acid.
Let’s discuss a few of these here. Polyglutamic acid is said to perform better than the skin care hydrator hyaluronic acid. It is reported to hold four times more water than hyaluronic acid and bind better to the skin. You may have been hearing more about polyhydroxy acids recently, and lactobionic acid is one such acid, offering exfoliating benefits to sensitive skin, while serving as a humectant and antioxidant for additional benefits to sensitive and dry skin.
5. Fermented Ingredients
We in the Western hemisphere have fully embraced fermented foods in the past few years, as we have begun to realize the importance of probiotics in our gut. In that same vein, we have also recognized and begun to formulate fermented ingredients in our topical products. One of the main reasons that ingredients are formulated for skin care is to increase their concentration, thereby increasing their efficacy. However, the catalysts used to induce the fermentation process often have additional probiotic benefits to the skin, helping to support the skin barrier and reducing sensitive or irritated skin.
6. Brow Trends
Bleached brows, thin brows, feathery brows, brow lamination or straight across brows - whatever the choice, you will likely get some clients asking for one of these trends this year. Eyebrow trends will embrace some of the past (think 90’s Pamela Anderson brows) and unique spins on classic brow looks taking them to a new level.
7. Millennial Men
I can recall at a spa conference I attended about seven years ago, that it was announced that men accounted for nearly 40% of spa-goers. This was a wake-up call for many, who had focused much of their marketing on boomer and Gen X women. Since that time, I have seen spa managers and owners spend a great deal of time and effort on how to get their menu and marketing to appeal to men. The problem—like women, different generations of men want different things out of their wellness and grooming services. The question then becomes, which generation of men should you focus your energy and resources on, where the answer quickly becomes millennial men.
This generation of men has the highest spending power of any other demographic, according to a report by MindBodyOnline. According to the report, not only is this demographic (ages 25-40) prioritizing wellness services, but they are also looking for beauty and grooming. Treatments of interest include barbering services, body skin treatments, advanced skin treatments and non-surgical body sculpting. Take a look at your spa menu to see how you are catering to millennial men, and don’t forget to make your marketing reflect this demographic group as well.
From psychodermatology to micro trends in nails and hair, minimal makeup looks and skin cycling, the beauty industry is into trend overdrive! Can you keep up?
Here’s a few more. . .
Article excerpted from Wellspa 360 magazine with links added by us.