Consumer needs are changing; they expect their skincare products to perform beyond the mentioned benefits, helping to elevate their mood and contribute to their overall well-being. The latest skincare trend is the ‘Dopamine Beauty’, where products contain a certain color, texture, scent or wrapped in a cute packaging that makes product application fun. Consumers want skincare to feel and look like it would be a pleasure to apply, while also evoking feelings of enjoyment, just like their favorite clothing, or colors pleasant to see. This compels people to commit to a skincare product if they have a pleasing texture, such as the soothing coolness of aloe vera or the soft foam of rice water, which have made them very popular ingredients.
Stimulating their senses has factored into consumers’ buying decisions, and most are likely to pick recognizable products that are known mood-enhancers, especially to weather difficult periods in their lives, acting as a boost of happiness. More than ever, people want their skincare products to stimulate their senses for when they take a pause in their schedule to address their own skin issues, these products can be integrated into a self-care ritual. This builds trust in these products. For example, vitamin C, Chamomile extract, and Bamboo extract are the most trusted ingredients precisely because of their multiple benefits. A major facet of dopamine beauty is the masks and treatment product options that are centered on indulgence, particularly with fruit scrubs, syrupy rose gels, and rich creams, encouraging a weekly ritual of self-pampering. Their sensorial activation not only improves their skin condition afterwards, but also gives a feeling of bliss.
Skincare isn’t just focused on the right products to fight skin issues; consumers want their choices to be a decision towards self-love and overall wellness. With the range of skincare products, consumers can pick based on their favorite ingredients, or curate a list for daily rituals that are mentally calming and internally nourishing.
