The wellness and beauty trends of this season are structured around a fundamental change: the European regulation on cosmetic ingredients is reshaping the available offerings on shelves. Restrictions on microplastics, which came into effect in October 2025, and the increasing pressure on PFAS in France are pushing brands to reformulate their products. This regulatory context directly alters what consumers find in salons, pharmacies, and online.
Restrictions on PFAS and microplastics: what changes in your beauty products
The French regulation on PFAS in cosmetics now requires manufacturers to revise their formulas. These per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, used for their film-forming properties and water resistance, are gradually being phased out of compositions. The concrete result: some long-wear foundations, waterproof mascaras, and sunscreens are changing in texture or performance.
At the same time, the European restriction on microplastics adopted in 2023 follows a staggered timeline. The first effects were felt in October 2025 for certain categories of care products. Rinse-free cosmetics have transitional periods that can extend until 2029, and some makeup products and nail items until 2035.
To closely follow these developments, recent articles on Belle et Unique regularly detail the reformulations affecting French and international brands.
This timeline creates a situation where two versions of the same product can coexist on the market: the old formula (still in stock) and the new (compliant). Reading the INCI list before purchase becomes a useful reflex, not a marketing gimmick.
Personalized care and multimodal pathways: the beauty trend replacing isolated acts
The report Layered Beauty: The New Aesthetic Mindset describes a clear shift in how aesthetic care is consumed. The logic of the single gesture (an injection, a peel, a treatment in a cabin) is giving way to multimodal and evolving care plans.
The principle is based on the combination of several complementary interventions, adjusted over time according to the state of the skin. A typical protocol may combine a treatment in a salon, an active topical product at home, and targeted nutritional follow-up. The quality of the skin is then integrated into a holistic approach to well-being, rather than being viewed as a one-off service.
What this changes for choosing a treatment
This trend alters the selection criteria for a salon or brand. The relevant questions no longer focus solely on a single product or treatment but on the professional’s ability to offer a coherent pathway.
- The presence of an initial skin diagnosis, ideally assisted by an analysis tool, which guides towards a protocol rather than an impulsive purchase.
- The ability to adjust the program over the weeks, based on observed results and seasonal changes.
- The integration of advice on diet or lifestyle, which complements the action of topical treatments in the long term.
A personalized pathway protects the skin better than an accumulation of one-off treatments. This approach requires more follow-up, but it reduces unnecessary purchases and disappointments related to temporary results.
Screen-free wellness: bracelets, patches, and targeted devices
An analysis of search data conducted by Spate and Vogue Business for the period 2025-2026 reveals a marked interest in non-drug, screen-free wellness devices. Acupressure bracelets, concentration patches, and activity trackers without visual interfaces are gaining visibility compared to general health devices.
This movement reflects a fatigue with digital overload. Users are looking for tools that work without requiring constant interaction, without notifications, without an app to consult. Wellness is shifting towards discreet formats, worn on the body, that function in the background.
Formats rising this season
Three categories stand out in consumer searches:
- Acupressure bracelets, used against nausea or to promote relaxation, which are experiencing a resurgence of interest due to their ease of use.
- Transdermal patches aimed at wellness (concentration, sleep), which borrow their format from pharmacology without being classified as medication.
- Screen-free activity trackers, in the form of rings or clips, that measure sleep or movement without requiring visual attention.
Solid cosmetics and sustainable development: a French market in structuring
The French market for solid cosmetics continues to grow. Solid shampoos, deodorants, face and body cleansers meet a dual expectation: reducing plastic packaging and simplifying product compositions.
Solid formulas generally contain fewer ingredients than their liquid counterparts, making it easier to read the INCI list and reducing the risk of exposure to controversial preservatives. The format also eliminates the issue of plastic containers to recycle, an argument that goes beyond marketing positioning to address regulatory constraints on packaging.
The main limitation remains the adaptation period: different texture, time to get used to, storage in the bathroom. These barriers explain why the segment’s growth is steady but not explosive. Brands that offer suitable storage accessories (ventilated boxes, cork supports) facilitate the transition.
The beauty and wellness trends of this season share a common thread: simplification. Fewer suspicious ingredients in formulas, fewer screens in wellness routines, fewer one-off acts in favor of monitored pathways. European regulation accelerates this movement, and the choices available on shelves will continue to evolve in line with compliance deadlines set until 2035.
