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Multi-active formulations. Sprayable creams. Sensorial products.

These are just some of the highlights from the Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna beauty show. More importantly, they point to emerging trends in beauty that you cannot ignore.

Each year, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna captures where the beauty industry is heading next. With over 3,000 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of industry professionals walking the halls, it showcases which beauty trends are on the horizon and reveals what your customers are already looking for.

Luckily, we got you an exclusive sneak peek. In this article, Selfnamed’s Product Development Manager, Evita Ulmane, and Key Account Executive, Laura Loča, share the 8 biggest trends and must-know takeaways from Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna they noted, so you can stay ahead of the beauty curve. Let’s get to it!

1. K-Beauty Still Sets the Pace

Although Korean skincare is already hugely popular, it continues to introduce fresh K-beauty-inspired trends and products to the beauty scene.

As Evita Ulmane, Selfnamed’s Product Development Manager shares: “Main inspiration and new products are coming from K-beauty.”

But what stood out was how the products were presented.

Instead of heavy creams or complex routines, the spotlight was on:

Bubble face care (acting as sheet masks, but more interactive)
Ultra-fluid ampoules – somewhere between an essence and a serum
Serum mists and gel mists that combine and blur traditional product categories

“These K-beauty trends show us a clear shift toward weightless, fast-absorbing, and flexible skincare,” Evita states.

Main takeaway? Products are becoming more intuitive and adaptable to modern routines. Ultimately, skincare is becoming lighter in texture and more effective in performance.

2. Sprays Are Having a Big Moment

“If last year was all about sticks, then this year is all about sprays,” Evita states.

And this isn’t limited to refreshing face mists, it goes much further.

We’re now seeing:

Creams in spray format
Gels delivered as sprays
Even richer textures like body butters being reimagined this way

“Products that used to feel static, like sitting in jars or pumps, are now dynamic and portable.”

This shift taps into several consumer needs:

Speed and convenience
Hygiene (no dipping into jars)
A more sensorial, modern application experience

What’s interesting here is that format innovation is becoming just as important as formulation.

3. One Product, Multiple Actives

One of the most prominent trends across the event was multi-active formulations.

Laura Loča, Key Account Executive at Selfnamed, notes: “One notable trend is the shift toward all-in-one products. Instead of highlighting a single hero ingredient, many brands are developing formulas that combine multiple actives. For instance, PDRN is frequently paired with various vitamins.”

“We saw combinations of many active ingredients in one product… at least 3 mega active ingredients,” Evita adds.

Examples:

PDRN + Peptides + Collagen
Exosomes + PDRN + Peptides

There’s also a growing trend of renaming combinations to create newness. “An interesting concept was seen where the brand created a ‘new’ name for an active which is the combination of two. For example, Peptathenol which is the combination of Peptides and Panthenol,” Laura notes.

What does this all point to? Consumers don’t want more products – they want the effect of more products in one.

Laura sums it up perfectly: “More brands need to lean into simple yet high-performance routines with multi-functional products, like SPFs with skincare benefits or serum-moisturiser hybrids.”

This reflects a growing demand for:

Efficiency
Versatility
Strong value perception

If anything, these products signal a cultural shift, as we move towards a more dynamic, faster-paced lifestyle (goodbye to 10-step routines and baking from scratch).

4. Ingredient Trends: PDRN, Panthenol, Exosomes

“Along with multiple actives and all-in-one products, some ingredients were impossible to ignore this year,” Evita notes.

Here are the ingredient highlights:

PDRN – also known as salmon sperm or salmon DNA fragments – is now available in vegan alternatives made from banana, rose, and other plant sources.
Panthenol is making a strong push into facial skincare.
Exosomes and biotech-driven actives continue to gain traction.

But as Laura points out, it’s not about discovering entirely new ingredients: “Most of the ingredients we saw are familiar, but the real innovation comes from reimagining them with improved textures, better delivery systems, and more precise claims.”

But beyond ingredient innovation, there’s also a shift in how these actives are positioned.

Evita highlights the growing move toward “slow-aging”: a long-term approach focused on maintaining skin quality over time rather than targeting quick anti-aging fixes. This reflects a broader mindset change, where prevention and consistency are becoming more important than instant results.

5. Texture Is Becoming a Key Selling Point

As Laura already pointed out, brands are increasingly investing in how products feel. Bubbly foams, fresh sprays, smooth creams are just some of the highlights.

“The main beauty market trends I noticed were definitely sensorial formulas: whipped shower foams, capsule creams, heating masks, and more. These and other products provide textures that make the skincare routine feel more fun and elevated for the customer,” Laura elaborates.

Also, Evita adds: “The texture trend suggests that customers are looking for alternatives to traditional skincare routines. As lifestyles become increasingly fast-paced, skincare products are evolving to be quicker and more convenient to use, while still delivering enjoyable textures and leaving the skin feeling soft and well-moisturized.”

This is about turning skincare from a routine into an experience.

Textures now:

Surprise
Entertain
Adapt to urban lifestyle

At the same time, innovation in texture is enabling more targeted and experiential formats, such as micro-needle patches for the face and under-eye area. This combines high performance with novelty, reinforcing the idea that skincare should be both effective and engaging.

6. AI Is No Longer a Trend

No longer just a flashy trend, AI beauty tools are now omnipresent across all beauty spaces.

Laura explains: “Now, there are a lot of AI-driven diagnostics and personalization tools, which aren’t exactly new but are everywhere. These tools can visually map concerns and connect users directly to the right products for their routine.”

This type of personalization means consumers will rely more on AI to be guided by real time data.

7. Scalp Care Is Gaining Serious Momentum

Hair care continues to evolve and transform.

Evita observed a strong focus on:

Scalp health
Hair growth stimulation
Cleaner, more natural formulations

“Hair styling and care is leading towards a more natural approach.”

This aligns with a broader trend of skinification as consumers are treating scalp care more like skincare, focusing on long-term health.

With that in mind, Evita expects continued growth in:

Scalp serums
Functional care
Skinification of haircare

8. Clean Beauty In Its Clinical Era

One of the most surprising shifts that Laura observed are in the clean beauty space.

“I spent a lot of time in the Green & Organic hall, and it was interesting to see that clean beauty is no longer a niche but actually has turned into a complex, science-driven space,” Laura shares.

And what stood out most: “Brands are moving towards biotech-enhanced naturals and clinical positioning.”

"My belief is that, sooner rather than later, no brand will be able to claim sustainability without backing it up with solid data and clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of their formulas and active ingredients." Laura emphasizes that this shift will push the industry toward greater transparency, forcing brands to prioritize both environmental responsibility and scientifically proven results.

Truly, clean beauty is no longer about perception. It’s about proof and performance.

Final Takeaways

If there’s one overarching takeaway from Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna this year, it’s this:

Innovation is becoming more intentional and products are adapting to a more dynamic consumer lifestyle. From multi-active formulations to sensorial textures and everything-sprays, the industry is moving toward products that are smarter, more versatile, and more convenient.

Here’s what stands out:

Formats are everything – sprays, foams, and hybrid textures make routines feel effortless and fun.
Multi-active formulas rule – people want the effect of multiple products in one, saving time without sacrificing results.
Ingredients get a makeover – ingredients like PDRN, Panthenol, and exosomes are being reinvented with stronger claims.
Clean beauty means proof, not promise – sustainability and natural claims now require science-backed validation, combining responsibility with performance.

Also, Laura points to another opportunity for new brands: “I see a strong potential in tea-inspired lines (e.g. matcha for antioxidants) as this could be a good fit for wellness-oriented ranges.”

From sprays that blur the line between cream and mist, to multi-active formulas that do the work of five products in one, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna showcased that beauty now is faster, lighter, and more sensorial.