
Skincare lovers, we’ve got a feeling 2026 is about to be very good to you and your routine. This year’s skincare trends are smarter, science-led and way more intentional than ever before.
Think: longevity-first rituals, regenerative ingredients like PDRN and next-gen peptides, plus K-Beauty will be bigger than ever with new moves in bodycare and SPF. If you need proof, TikTok is already buzzing about it: #kbeauty has a huge 2.6 million posts, #spf has 630 thousand, #longevity is sitting at 320.2 thousand, #pdrn is at over 162 thousand and #skincaretrends has nearly 28 thousand posts.
Consider this your official guide to the trend predictions worth knowing, the products you need and the body trends about to take over. We’re going all (sk)in.
Longevity: Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Spectralite FaceWare Pro, £465
Skinvestment: FOREO LUNA™ 4 Electric Facial Cleansing Brush, £189
Acceleration of K Beauty: Laneige Water Bank Cream Moisturizer, from £19.50
Key Ingredients Ectoin & PDRN: Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum, £16.95
Awareness building on SPF: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice+Probiotics SPF50+, £13.60
High-performance body care: Nécessaire The Body Retinol Repair Serum, £55
By Sephora UK Skincare Editorial Team
Writers and experts
Updated: 23 January 2026
Shop all Skincare and Bodycare at SEPHORA UK.
Longevity: AKA skincare that plays the long game
Longevity is the skin mood we’re taking into 2026. Instead of instant results, we’re going big on routines and products that keep skin calm, strong and consistently glowy over time. Think: skin barrier repair as the foundation, protection as the daily non-negotiable and low-irritant actives that work with your skin, not stress it out.
The vibe is simple. Protect in the morning and support at night. In the day, it’s Peptides, Antioxidants and SPF to help defend against things like UV, pollution and the weather. At night, it’s gentle repair mode with barrier-loving hydrators and replenishing ingredients. Want to really level it up? An at-home LED mask is a longevity routine must-have for clearer, firmer-looking skin. Speaking of that…
Skinvestment: put your money where your glow is
It’s time to start treating your skincare like investment pieces, not impulse buys. We’re talking high-performing, super smart tools that make your routine feel pro, without adding in loads of extra steps. From LED masks and sculpting devices to next-gen cleansing tools, they’re bringing in-clinic energy to your bathroom. The trick? Pairing devices with science-backed formulas for radiant returns. More payoff, less effort and skin that looks like you’ve just had an expensive facial. The dream.
The K-Beauty era is still happening
K-Beauty is far from slowing down, in fact, it’s speeding up. The reason we’re all still so obsessed is that the formulas just get it. It’s skincare that’s built around smart skin science: multi-step hydration that supports your barrier, gentle exfoliators that smooth without overdoing it and SPF innovation that feels weightless. O.K.
From fermented ingredients and skin-identical lipids to calming heroes like Cica and Panthenol, K-Beauty knows how to keep skin looking bouncy, balanced and lit-from-within. It’s results-led and always one step ahead, which is exactly why it stays on our shelves and on your feed.
Ingredient spotlight: Ectoin & PDRN
If you’re looking for “soothe everything” and “give me glow”, these two ingredients are about to be your new glow-to. Ectoin is the ultimate stress-proofing ingredient that helps your skin hold onto hydration. It works wonders for boosting your barrier whilst also helping to stop that tight, reactive feeling.
Then there’s PDRN (or Polydeoxyribonucleotide if you’re not yet in the loop), the regenerative buzzword that’s everywhere for a reason. Made up of skin-supporting Nucleotides, it helps your skin’s natural repair process for stronger, bouncier and healthier-looking skin. Together, this dynamic duo brings calm and dewiness to any routine. Sign. Us. Up.
SPF is officially a main character
Finally, this everyday essential is getting the airtime it deserves. More of us understand that SPF doesn’t just protect your skin, it makes every other skincare work harder, too. We’re also clued up on the difference between UVA vs UVB, why broad-spectrum matters and how reapplying keeps your glow looking fresh.
Today’s formulas are basically invisible, too. From weightless gels to primer-like finishes, they sit perfectly under makeup which is a big win. Top-ups are just as easy, thanks to on-the-go formats like sticks, mists and powders. Consider this your sign to make SPF the daily habit your future skin will thank you for.
Bodycare gets the skincare treatment
Body trends are officially catching up with the face. Expect to see more high-performance formulas with ingredients from your top shelf serums now showing up in your shower and body lotion lineup. Think: AHAs and BHAs for smoother-looking texture (goodbye, KP), barrier-supporting hydrators for comfort, and firming oils that leave skin feeling seriously cared for. It’s the ultimate head-to-toe transformation and, the best part is, it feels easy, not extra.
Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum
Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum
7% Ectoin + Hyaluronic Acid Milky Hydrating Serum
Wavelength LED Face Mask
Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+
Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum
Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum
Face Anti-Ageing Sun Protection Very High SPF50+
PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
Retinol Green Tea PDRN™ Firming Serum
(Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF30 PA+++
2% BHA Body Smoothing Spot Exfoliant
KP Body Bumps Be Gone 10% AHA
Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment
The Body Retinol - Repair Serum
A: The biggest skincare trends for 2026 are all about doing less, but getting more back. Think: skin longevity rituals that boost your bounce, glow and resilience long-term. The ingredients to keep an eye out for will be Peptides and PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide if you’re not yet familiar with that one) to really help your skin look rested and refreshed. Trending skincare is also going full tech-mode, with at-home tools becoming an everyday essential. K-Beauty will, of course, continue to level up, too, with smarter barrier support, glow-first textures and formulas that layer like a dream. SPF is staying front and centre, with better textures, better finishes and way more awareness around actually wearing it everyday. And, yes, bodycare is finally getting the same glow-up as face care, with high-performance formulas leading the new wave of body trends. Basically, skincare that’s efficient, science-backed, and built for real life - yes, please!
A: Skin longevity means future-proofing your glow. Instead of quick fixes, this one’s more about long-term goals by strengthening your barrier, keeping hydration levels topped up and backing your skin’s natural repair cycle (aka letting it do its thing). Longevity routines usually focus on ingredients like Peptides, Niacinamide, Ceramides, Antioxidants and daily SPF, because they keep your skin looking resilient and fresh. It’s one of the biggest trend predictions because it fits with how we’re shopping now… smarter, more intentional and less chaotic. And, yes, it’s all over TikTok because “slow skincare” is what we’re all chasing. The vibe is consistent habits, not constant product switching, so find your faves and stick with it.
A: Okay, so, Ectoin and PDRN are both trending, but they’re not doing the same job. Ectoin is the protective one… it helps your skin stay calm when it’s dealing with stress like dehydration, pollution, cold weather or UV exposure. It’s a barrier-support bestie, especially when skin feels tight, reactive or just a bit over it. PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide) is much more about recovery and renewal which is why it’s getting so much hype right now. It’s often used in regenerative formulas to support smoother and firmer skin over time. If your skin is super sensitive, Ectoin is your comfort blanket. If you’re chasing that “I just slept nine hours and drank three litres of water” look, PDRN is the one to watch in trending skincare. *BRB* adding both to our basket.
A: If you’re building a new 2026 routine, K-Beauty is still that girl. Start with hydration layers (like toners and essences) because K-Beauty does “lightweight but insanely juicy” better than anyone. Then lock it in with barrier-friendly moisturisers packed with Ceramides, Panthenol and soothing ingredients to help keep skin looking and feeling healthy. You’ll love the way these formulas layer with no pilling and no heaviness… just a smooth glassy finish. And let’s not forget SPF… because K-Beauty textures are the ones you’ll actually want to wear. There’s a reason they dominate TikTok skincare. Not just cute packaging, they’re science-backed formulas that really do deliver results. Basically, if you want skincare that feels luxe, looks dewy and works hard, K-Beauty is the easiest yes.
A: They can… but only if you’re consistent. LED is definitely not a one-and-done situation. Red light is used to support collagen and improve the look of tone and texture, while blue light is about calming blemish-prone skin. The reason LED keeps popping up in trend predictions is because it’s one of the few things that actually has some pretty good science behind it. Think of it like going to the gym…. doing it once won’t change all that much, but a few minutes a week adds up. The best results come from using it regularly (we’re talking every day) and following the device instructions exactly. Timing matters. Also, LED works best when you pair it with a solid skincare routine. It’s a boost, not a replacement for great products. If your skincare shelf is giving “high effort”, LED is the add-on that can really take things to the next level.
A: Yes, yes and more yes. We can’t stress this one enough. Wear your SPF every single day even when the forecast is giving grey and cloudy. UVA rays are around all year and they’re the ones linked to long-term skin changes, so protecting your skin really is a non-negotiable step. Go for broad-spectrum SPF 30+ as your final step every morning and you’re already ahead of the game. Reapplying matters most when you’re outside for longer stretches, commuting in daylight or sitting near windows (yes, it counts). The good news is SPF top-ups are way less annoying now thanks to sticks, sprays and powders that work over makeup. Protecting your glow is one of those skincare trends that’s always in.