What's happening in beauty
The trends actually worth your attention — what's blowing up, what works, and what's overhyped. Updated weekly by the Glowlab team.
w/c 7 July 2026
A 4-night rotation of exfoliation, retinoid, then two recovery nights. Dermatologist Dr Whitney Bowe went viral explaining it and the term now has over 4 billion TikTok views.
TikTok #skincycling — 4.1bn views
The Ordinary
Build your skin cycling routine with The Ordinary's ingredient-led range
Hailey Bieber's dewy, luminous, glass-like skin aesthetic. Layers of hydration, peptides, and a glossy finishing product to achieve a 'fresh out of the oven' glow.
TikTok #glazeddonutskin — 890m views
Glossier
Glossier's skin-first approach is basically the glazed donut method
Semi-permanent lip tinting using at-home tints and stains to create a 'just bitten' effect without makeup. Growing fast as an alternative to filler.
TikTok #lipblushing — 340m views
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat liner gives a natural definition without the commitment
Magnesium supplements and topical sprays being credited with better sleep, reduced anxiety, and improved skin — particularly for hormonal breakouts.
Google Trends — searches up 340% YoY
ZOE
ZOE's personalised nutrition approach tells you what your body actually needs
Doing your skincare routine while watching someone else do theirs — live on TikTok or YouTube. The ADHD community started it; it's now mainstream accountability content.
TikTok #skincaredoubling — 45m views and growing
Snail secretion filtrate — the slippery stuff — is having its biggest mainstream moment yet. K-beauty has used it for years; Western brands are now launching snail-forward products.
TikTok #snailmucin — 1.2bn views
Space NK
Space NK stocks the best K-beauty snail mucin picks
Solid shampoo bars as a plastic-free alternative to bottled shampoo. Sustainability angle driving adoption alongside growing clean beauty interest.
Google Trends — searches up 180% in 12 months
Estrid
Estrid's sustainable approach extends beyond razors — explore the full range
Derma rollers and stamps used at home to create micro-channels in the skin, theoretically boosting serum absorption and collagen production.
TikTok #dermroller — 620m views
ELEMIS
ELEMIS's Pro-Collagen range stimulates collagen without the needles
Beauty Buzz is updated every Monday by the Glowlab editorial team.
Top on Glowlab
Double cleanse before any active serum
Niacinamide and Vitamin C: layer, don't mix in your palm
Beauty Pie Super Retinol — start 2x a week, not nightly
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk — use it as blush AND lip
ZOE's fibre-first trick for fewer energy crashes
This week on Glowlab