The Skincare Trends Worth Your Attention in 2026
Dear Skin,
I've been watching the skincare industry for long enough now to know that most "trend predictions" are just marketing departments hoping to create demand rather than observing what customers actually need. But there are a few shifts happening in 2026 that strike me as genuine, and I want to tell you about them plainly.
Fewer Products, Better Results
For years, the industry convinced people they needed twelve steps between washing their face and going to bed. That was nonsense, and customers are finally figuring it out.
What's interesting is that people aren't abandoning skincare, they're just getting smarter about where they put their money. Instead of buying seven mediocre serums, they're buying one excellent one. Instead of following some influencer's routine, they're asking what their skin actually needs.
People are realizing that a cleanser that doesn't strip your skin, a treatment that targets your actual concern, and a good moisturizer will do more than a bathroom cabinet full of products that fight each other.
Relterra supports this principle of quality over quantity. It's taken the rest of the industry a while to catch up, but I'm glad they're getting there.
Fermentation Gets Specific (Finally)
Fermented ingredients have been part of Korean skincare for decades. The issue wasn’t fermentation itself. It was how Western brands adopted it. “Fermented extract” became a buzzword slapped on labels, with little explanation of what was fermented, how it was processed, or why it benefited skin at all.
That’s changing.
In 2026, we’re seeing a shift toward specificity, especially from European brands. Not just that an ingredient is fermented, but which microorganisms are used, how long fermentation occurs, and what that process does to the ingredient on a molecular level. These details matter because fermentation can break ingredients down into smaller, more bioavailable components, making them easier for skin to absorb, less irritating, and more supportive of the skin barrier.
Done correctly, fermentation can enhance hydration, improve tolerance for sensitive skin, and help ingredients work more efficiently, without increasing strength or aggression.
We're particularly interested in the French and Italian brands bringing traditional fermentation practices from winemaking into skincare. These are techniques refined over generations, and the results speak for themselves.
Mediterranean Skincare (Without the Hype)
I'll admit our bias here that Relterra has focused on Mediterranean skincare from the beginning. But 2026 is the year the industry is finally taking it seriously as a legitimate approach to skin health.
The difference between Greek island botanicals and French coastal plants matters. Thermal water from specific regions works differently than water from somewhere else. These are facts based on geology, climate, and centuries of observation.
What we're not interested in is brands that treat Mediterranean beauty practices as exotic decoration. We're interested in brands that understand why these practices developed, what makes them effective, and how to translate that knowledge into products that work.
The Gut-Skin Connection (For Real This Time)
The conversation about gut health and skin has been happening for a while, but most of it was just talk. In 2026, brands are actually doing something about it.
Collaborations between dermatologists and nutritionists. Products designed to work alongside dietary changes rather than replace them. Honest conversations about what topical skincare can and cannot do.
The result is fewer miracle claims and more products positioned as part of a complete approach.
Seasonal Routines Become Standard
Your skin in summer is not your skin in winter. Your skin in Miami is not your skin in Minneapolis. This should have always been obvious, but the industry spent decades pretending one product could work year-round in all conditions.
Brands are now creating seasonal collections because it makes sense. Your skin needs different things in different environments, and ignoring that fact was always poor service to customers.
A Final Thought
The thread in everything we're actually paying attention to is more knowledge, less anxiety. Better products, fewer of them, and results based on realistic expectations.
At Relterra, we're not chasing every trend that comes along. We're looking for the shifts that are grounded in genuine innovation, cultural wisdom, and respect for what skin actually needs to be healthy. That's what we'll continue curating for you in 2026 and beyond.
Cheers,
Allison, Creative Director of Relterra
