Want to make sure that your beauty brand remains relevant in the new year? Keep reading as FLPL talks through the private label beauty trends that are going to be particularly influential in 2026.
Neurocosmetics as a Driving Force
‘Neurocosmetics’ became a buzzword back in 2024. While many thought it would be a passing trend, this hasn’t been the case. Instead, it has turned into more of a movement, with experts predicting that the neurocosmetics market will continue booming well into the next few years at least.
What exactly is it? Neurocosmetics are skincare products that not only improve the complexion but also offer mental well-being benefits. They’re designed to target the brain-skin axis, encouraging the continuous dialogue between the skin and the brain. The specialized ingredients that they use target various visible skin concerns while also enhancing mood, reducing stress, and more.
It’s easy to understand why this has been well-received in today’s hectic, modern-day world. It also happens to be a relatively easy trend for private label brands to tap into. Find a private label manufacturer who is confident in this niche, like FLPL, and you’ll soon be launching your own line of neurocosmetics.
Embracing Inclusive Beauty
The concept of inclusivity has been making slow but steady waves in the beauty industry in recent years. While some brands have started using diversity as a marketing tactic, others genuinely care about ensuring that no groups of people are left out of the beauty game. This is the side that you need to align your private label brand with if you want your inclusivity-embracing product line to be taken seriously.
How can you make sure that your inclusive products are truly authentic? Pick an underserved target market and get innovative when it comes to meeting the needs of those people. Whether this may be hair care products for all hair textures, a hyperpigmentation serum that can safely be used on darker skin tones, or tactile packaging with braille to make it easier for visually impaired people to shop for beauty products, there are so many different inclusivity niches that are still waiting to be explored by forward-thinking brands.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Innovations
While most of the private label beauty trends for 2026 are focused on certain ingredients or types of products, packaging is also gaining plenty of attention. This correlates with the rise in demand for sustainability. It’s no longer good enough to produce packaging that’s only partly recyclable or, worse still, cannot be recycled at all. Beauty brands, including yours, now need to look for ways to ensure that their packaging is as eco-friendly as possible.
The good news is that there’s still plenty of room for innovation, as many brands are proving. Some are now ditching plastic in favor of plant-based materials, such as corn, starch, and algae. Carbon-negative inks can also be made from algae. Other brands are exploring refillable packaging, smart packaging with traceability indicators, and water-soluble adhesives.
Skinimalism Continues
If you’ve been keeping an eye on private label beauty trends for the last couple of years, you’ll know all about skinimalism. This trend is all about minimal skincare routines. It came about in response to the long and complicated skincare routines that people were previously following, as the complexity of these routines was commonly causing various skin problems.
If you would like to take your beauty brand down the skinimalism route, hybrid products need to be prioritized. These are what people are seeking in order to cut back on the total number of products they use without their skin missing out on anything.
Certain hybrids are proving to be more popular than others. SPF moisturizers, for example, make sun protection more convenient. Meanwhile, serums that bring together both hydrating ingredients and powerful antioxidants are gaining more traction than the single-ingredient alternatives that were previously dominating the beauty scene.
Skin Inflammation is a Growing Problem
Skin inflammation is a growing problem. Not only have dermatologists been seeing more and more of it, but online searches relating to the topic have really surged.
With much of this inflammation being attributed to modern-day lifestyles, tackling the problem at its root isn’t always possible. This is why the demand for skincare products that are able to tackle the appearance of inflammation is steadily growing.
Certain ingredients are able to help with this very effectively. At FLPL, our private label clients are able to pick key ingredients from an extensive ingredient catalog, many of which are known for having a calming effect on the complexion. Whether you produce a single product that specializes in this niche or you create an entire product range that caters to people with inflamed skin, this is one of the private label beauty trends of 2026 that’s well worth looking into.
Male Grooming 2.0
The concept of male grooming really took off a few years ago. However, it has somewhat died down since then. Yes, there are now plenty of beauty products out there designed for men. However, the market is still much smaller than the female beauty market.
2026, however, sees this set to change. Coined as male grooming 2.0, this trend brings male grooming back into the spotlight, but in a slightly different way than before. Now, male grooming is very much intertwined with overall wellness. This has led to ‘bromeopathy’ becoming a buzzword that you’ll start to hear more often.
This makes 2026 a great year to try putting your own spin on male grooming products. A private label manufacturer who specializes in both male grooming and general wellness, as FLPL does, will be well placed to advise you on how your brand can really make a mark on this sector.
A Growing Demand for Botanical Face Oils
When trying to figure out which private label beauty trends to incorporate into your product line, it’s always a good idea to look at how various search terms are performing. This can really clue you into what people actually want.
Botanical face oils, for example, are garnering lots of attention. This ties into some of the trends we’ve already discussed, such as skinimalism and tackling skin inflammation. Botanical face oils are not only exceptionally hydrating, but they’re also loaded with antioxidants and other skin-loving nutrients.
If your beauty brand is already producing skincare products, adding a line of botanical face oils to your range could be a good move. Your private label manufacturer will likely already be aware of this trend. They’ll be able to help you get your new line of face oils onto shelves ASAP!
Dewy Mists
Dewy face mists are another skincare product that more and more people are now clamoring for. Why? Because that soft, supple, dewy look is really on trend at the moment. Dubbed ‘clean girl’ skin, hydrating face mists play perfectly into this aesthetic.
In order to create that dewy finish, a face mist needs to contain plenty of humectants. These ingredients, which bind moisture to the skin, are classics. They’re famous for how they boost skin moisture levels, meaning that they’ll always be attractive in skincare products.
Of course, with these mists now trending, yours will need to contain something extra that helps it to stand out among the growing competition. Don’t worry if you’re stuck for ideas – a good private label manufacturer will help you to figure this out!
Beauty Products Free of Microplastics
In line with the sustainability trend, microplastics have been making headlines a lot lately. These tiny particles of plastic are becoming increasingly concerning because they aren’t biodegradable. Instead, they’ve been accumulating in ecosystems, building up in water, food, and even the human body.
As more and more people became aware of the impact that microplastics have been having, they were shocked to discover that just about all of their cosmetic products contain microplastics. They’re added to beauty products for various reasons, from texture enhancement to exfoliation.
So, it should come as no surprise that one of the big private label beauty trends for 2026 is products that are free of microplastics. Some countries are already going to be implementing bans on these ingredients, but only for certain types of products. If you want to grab a slice of the eco-conscious consumer market for yourself, going microplastic-free as much as possible would be a good way to do this.
‘Resilience’ Will Become a Beauty Buzzword
‘Resilience’ is another upcoming beauty buzzword to be aware of. 2026 will see the launch of new beauty products that are geared toward enhancing the skin’s resilience to environmental harm. From climate-resistant skincare formulas to makeup that leaves the skin feeling stronger, this trend is all about ensuring that the skin feels fortified.
It’s worth noting that this trend is also spilling over into the hair world. Consumers are seeking out hair care products that do the same – leave their strands more resilient and, ultimately, healthier.
Whether you create new products in line with this or incorporate elements that promote resilience into your existing products, going with this trend will help your beauty brand to really stand out.
Scent-maxxing Provides Wellness Benefits
Although not technically a beauty trend, scent-maxxing is a wellness concept that has recently gone viral on social media. While skeptics say it won’t last, proponents of this trend rave about its potential.
If you’re new to scent-maxxing, this technique involves layering multiple fragrances to create a unique blend that’s personal to you. It’s most commonly done with perfumes, but other beauty products have the opportunity to be integrated too. Think about the different scents that you use for your products. Opt for specific notes for each product, so that they can be layered in a way that enables a person to really showcase their identity.
Which Private Label Beauty Trends Will You Be Exploring in 2026?
While you should never overhaul your entire brand based on a new trend, incorporating various trends into your products can help to keep them relevant. 2026 will see a whole host of new trends paving a path through the beauty industry, but the key trends featured above are the ones to really focus on.
Keen to explore these beauty trends with private label products of your own? Click here to contact FLPL today to find out more about the private label manufacturing services we offer.
