3 innovative beauty products to watch for in September 2021

Mintel’s team of global beauty experts track product launches that address new consumer needs. This month, they spotlight the products that help to combat the signs of ageing, creating smooth complexions.

Bliss Disappearing Act Pore Shrink & Blur Serum

This serum tackles heightened concerns about complexion, as well as the environment and animals, thanks to its Planet Friendly pledge and vegan claim. According to Mintel research on US color cosmetics, more than half of consumers are spending less on makeup and putting more emphasis on skin-smoothing products, while environmental and ethical concerns are back in the spotlight as the pandemic wanes.

Mintel forecasts that consumers are going to be increasingly open to experimenting with eco-conscious skincare products that enhance physical and mental wellbeing, according to Mintel research on the future of facial skincare.

Nearly half of US consumers use skincare products to make their skin look smoother, according to Mintel research on facial skincare. Nearly half of Chinese consumers will trade-up to beauty/grooming products with better environmental credentials.

– Simon Pitman, Mintel Global Beauty Specialist

Shiseido Bio-Performance Second Skin

The Shiseido Bio-Performance Second Skin diminishes signs of under-eye ageing using ‘second skin’ technology. Powered by the company’s 3D Fix Technology, the product claims to instantly hide undereye ageing signs. It comprises a set of oil blotting paper, applicator and two types of eye serum. The two serum layers create a thin, flexible film on the skin with compression effects. In 2018, Shiseido acquired Olivo Laboratories and its patented XPL Second Skin tech, which creates a breathable and nearly invisible artificial skin.

The product could appeal to consumers who are looking for non-surgical ways to soften the signs of ageing; a little more than one in 10 Japanese consumers think it is okay to have invasive surgery to improve their appearance, according to Mintel’s 35-market consumer research study (March 2021). This is in line with Mintel’s 2019 BPC Trend, ‘Beauty with a Brain’, which talks about how technology can provide new ways to find a balance and engage consumers with novel solutions.

– Reiko Hasegawa, Mintel Senior Beauty and Personal Care Analyst

Summer Fridays Heavenly Sixteen All-In-One Face Oil

The “all-in-one” nature of the Summer Fridays Heavenly Sixteen All-In-One Face Oil packs many benefits into a single skincare step, aligning with consumers’ growing interest in ‘skinimalism’. Sea buckthorn, sacha inchi, tsubaki and blackcurrant oils help plump the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A blend of amino acids and antioxidants helps strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier and protects against free radical damage.

According to Mintel research on facial skincare, consumers are abandoning complex multi-step routines in favor of more simplistic approaches to make their routines simpler and less wasteful. Nearly half of skincare users are interested in using multipurpose facial skincare products and nearly two in five believe that multi-step routines are wasteful.

– Anna Keller, Mintel Global Senior Beauty Analyst