COSMETICS & PERSONAL CARE
• Preserving and enhancing dermal matrix quality and biomechanical properties
• Maintaining skin resilience between repeat interventions
• Extending benefits through targeted actions on biological skin mechanisms
This evolution reflects a deeper understanding of how aesthetic outcomes are influenced not only by the procedure itself but by the skin’ s biological environment in the weeks and months that follow.
Key formulation strategies
Delivering on these expectations requires a step change in formulation thinking. Several strategies are emerging as central pillars of this new generation of aestheticadjacent skincare.
One is advanced actives and biomimetic signalling. Peptides, growth factor-inspired ingredients, post-biotics and emerging exosomerelated technologies are increasingly explored for their ability to support skin communication pathways and promote endogenous biological mechanisms associated with repair, matrix maintenance and renewal.
These actives aim to optimise skin response and homeostasis following controlled aesthetic stress. Similarly, biomimetic lipids such as ceramide systems are being refined to reinforce the skin barrier’ s essential role without compromising sensory elegance.
As active complexity increases, so does the importance of delivery systems. Encapsulation technologies, multi-phase emulsions and controlled-release systems are being leveraged to improve stability, target bioavailability and prolong activity over time. These approaches help ensure that performance is not limited to an immediate effect but sustained across repeated use and delivered where and when it matters most.
Finally, textures are also evolving. Balm-like creams, adaptive gels, sticks and semi-occlusive systems are designed to adhere gently to the skin, reduce friction, and create a protective yet breathable interface. The goal is not only comfort but functional interaction with compromised or sensitised skin while remaining suitable for daily use.
From perception to performance
These perspectives align more closely with real-world consumer expectations, where cosmetic products are used to support outcomes between professional treatments.
This shift is reflected in formulation concepts inspired by aesthetic procedures. One illustration developed by IMCD explores a multi-category framework through a kit addressing skin, scalp, lip and sun protection and cleansing, with formulations designed to support resilience, performance and result longevity.
Rather than replicating procedures, these concepts mirror their underlying logic: barrier reinforcement, matrix support and long-term skin maintenance. The concept, developed under the name Aestheticae Curae, will be launched at In-Cosmetics 2026. Together, these developments demonstrate how formulation science can bridge the gap between professional aesthetics and daily skincare routines.
Role of distributors
Behind these developments, distributors like IMCD play an increasingly strategic role. By connecting broad ingredient portfolios with local market needs, distributors enable beauty brands to access advanced technologies while adapting formulations to regional and local regulatory, cultural and consumer expectations.
Distributors invest in application laboratories worldwide that contribute to co-creation, rapid prototyping and performance testing, helping brands respond
quickly to emerging trends. At the same time, agile supply chain management is essential to support increasingly complex formulation challenges and ensure timely market launches. In this ecosystem, distributors act not simply as suppliers, but as technical partners supporting innovation at every stage of development.
Conclusion
As aesthetic procedures continue to influence consumer expectations, the cosmetics and personal care industry is entering a new phase. In this context, cosmetic performance is defined not only by immediate sensorial or visible effects but above all by its ability to support, preserve and extend aesthetic outcomes over time.
This shift demands deeper scientific understanding, more sophisticated formulation strategies. For formulators and brands alike, the opportunity lies in designing products that operate not at the margins of aesthetics, but at its very core: where biology, technology and long-term skin quality converge. ●
J j
Maud Chapis
GLOBAL MARKETING DIRECTOR, BEAUTY & PERSONAL CARE
IMCD maud. chapis @ imcd. fr www. imcdgroup. com
MAR / APR 2026 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
53