As a beauty editor, I’m always dying to know what’s next. Which hair, makeup, and skincare trends are heading straight for us? What product, ingredient, or technique will take over Instagram and TikTok? It should come as no surprise, then, that trend-spotting is one of my favorite parts of my job. It feels good to get out ahead of the curve.
I already got my download on the biggest 2026 hair and makeup trends, thanks to my chic and eternally trend-forward colleagues. However, one major category was missing: skincare, so I did what any good beauty editor would do. I decided to reach out to the experts—dermatologists, to be exact. All three agree: 2026 is the year of skin longevity. People will be focusing on simple, streamlined, and highly effective routines to make their skin the best it can be. Keep reading for all the details (and product recommendations).
IN: Skin Longevity
Aderonke Obayomi, MD, MPH, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Mount Sinai in NYC. She says we’re moving away from quick fixes and entering an era in which the overwhelming “trend” is a focus on skin longevity, or preserving and maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin over time. “We’re moving away from chasing the next viral ingredient and toward building skin health that lasts,” she says. “My patients are getting much more informed. They’re asking “will this actually work long-term?” rather than “will this give me instant results?” It’s less about aggressive treatments and more about supporting your skin’s natural function: maintaining a strong barrier, protecting with sunscreen daily, and using proven ingredients consistently.”
This aligns with the top 2026 wellness trend, which is centered on “long-term optimization,” rather than short-term results. “Patients are becoming more informed and more cautious about where they get their health information and treatments,” Krysha Mallari, Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner & Functional Health Expert at Body+Beauty Lab, recently told Who What Wear. “Practices that prioritize safety, individualized care, and long-term optimization rather than generic solutions will continue to stand out and deliver the most meaningful results.” Beauty and wellness have always been intrinsically linked, so I’m not surprised at this crossover.
Obayomi says consistency is everything when it comes to longevity, which is why she recommends products that people will *actually* use every day. She starts with sunscreen. “EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46 ($45) and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sunscreen ($36) are some of my favorites because they’re elegant enough to wear daily under makeup. For a treatment that builds results over time, the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum ($19) is accessible and effective without being too aggressive and irritating. Peptide serums are also becoming very popular and are another way to boost collagen stimulation without being quite as irritating as retinoids. I particularly like SkinCeutical’s P-TIOX ($150).
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