Among the beauty products that we’re going to want on our shelves in 2026, there is one that particularly stands out from the crowd. Zoom in on this little skincare genius you absolutely need to know.
For many years, the skincare industry has focused on treating active ingredients and exfoliants galore. The goal? Get a glowing face. But in recent months, a silent shift has been taking shape on our beauty shelves. Goodbye to complicated and aggressive routines, welcome to 2026 where we focus on the health of the skin, we pamper it and above all we preserve it. We finally understood: no famous “glow” if the epidermis and the balance of its microbiome are damaged.
To understand the extent of the phenomenon, return to 2020 and confinement. The rise of multi-step routines — propelled by YouTube beauty influencers and the pandemic skincare craze — has encouraged excessive use of exfoliants, acids and active ingredients. “For many years, consumers believed that using stripping products was the only effective method“, explains Dr. Dhaval G. Bhanusali, certified dermatologist and formulator for the Rhode brand, to the American media InStyle. This then results in an increase in skin sensitivity and skin inflammation due to overly aggressive routines. But in recent months, the trend seems to be reversing: “Today we realize that our skin needs to be nourished and supported“, continues the expert. Then comes into play treatments focused on repairing the skin barrier. Enriched with ceramides, fatty acids, peptides, panthenol and cica, they help maintain hydration, prevent dryness but also soothe inflammation. The key? Soft, regenerated, plump skin and a radiant complexion. All without any damage! To find products that repair the skin barrier, nothing could be simpler : they are generally found in beauty departments with the mention “repairing cream”, “protective cream”, or “barrier cream”.
Imagine the skin as a fortress: the barrier, also called stratum corneum, corresponds to the outermost layer of the epidermis. It takes care of retaining hydration inside and blocks irritants and bacteria on the outside. Without the right products in your routine, the barrier begins to break down. The typical signs of an altered barrier are redness, flaking, tightness and dull complexion.
A need for softness which is confirmed in the figures: on the social network TikTok, searches for the keywords “skin barrier” (understand skin barrier) have increased by 178% this last year and by 317% over the past three years.
