Our weekly Consumer Pulse report on the socials uncovers insights in web searches and hashtags related to cosmetics. Three top trends this week include: Dundas makeup, bacne spray and #hotgirlperfume. Following, we dug a little deeper.
See related: Trending: Morphe Lip Liner; Tessa, the Met Gala and Chanel; IBA Invisible Sunscreen; etc.
Dundas Makeup and Male vs. Female Skin
"Dundas Makeup" is rising quickly in consumer searches, per Google Trends — up 1,850% in the past week. According to Forbes, the gender-neutral brand Dundas Beauty was launched by fashion designer Peter Dundas in February 2024, along with business and life partner Evangelo Bousis and Anastasia Beverly Hills founder Anastasia Soare. Since the launch, it's stirred up TikTok videos as influencers discover it; one video, in particular, has more than one million views.
Interestingly, Bousis noted, in the Forbes report, that when formulating the product, he recognized, "it’s easier for women to use men’s makeup effectively than the other way around." Per Bousis, male skin naturally has more creases than female skin, so products developed in consideration of this for men lend themselves to more mature female skin.
These observations are debatable. As one industry expert pointed out, women could simply be more used to applying products. There also are differences in aesthetic preferences between men and women to consider. But various studies have highlighted biological skin differences. A study by Kao Corp. in 2012, for example, found that in men and women of the same age groups, facial wrinkling (except for the eyelid area) was greater in male skin than female skin up to the age of 65-75 years old, where wrinkling was equal or greater in women.
Regardless of the biology, the Dundas Beauty brand is said to be, "very man-friendly in the sense that it's very easy to use," and described as minimalist. The line comprises five basics: plumping lip moisture, tinted moisturizer, dual-sided black and white eyeliner pencil, bronzer and concealer. Per the company, the Pumped Lip Moisture product is an ultra-comfortable lip balm to provide intense hydration and instant shine with softly buildable color while visibly plumping lips. Imparting sheer coverage, it is reportedly suitable for all skin types.
Ingredients: Pumped Lip Moisture: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Octyldodecanol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Candelilla Cera/Cire De Candelilla, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Bis-diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/cera Carnauba/cire De Carnauba, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, 1,2-hexanediol, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-cresol, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140).
Back Acne ('Bacne') and Beauty Sprays
According to Exploding Topics, interest in bacne sprays is up 191% in the past two years. The source describes these treatments as formulated for ease of use and convenience, typically containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to target acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation and help to clear pores. Bacne sprays are reportedly part of a specialty sprays metatrend and valued for their convenience over creams as well as visual appeal for social media demonstrations. Additional sprays include snail mucin, sea salt and biotin sprays.
Dermalogica’s is cited as one brand driving this trend, as its bacne spray attains $45.9K in sales per month on Amazon. The aerosol spray is said to reduce redness, balance excess oil sooth and cool skin while fighting body breakouts — and without leaving skin feeling oily. Featured ingredients include salicylic acid, Moroccan argan oil and witch hazel and tea tree oil. The mist is designed to spray at any angle to reach any afflicted areas.
Ingredients: Dermalogica Clarifying Bacne Spray: Active: Salicylic acid 1.0%; Inactive: Water/Aqua/Eau, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Hexylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coumarin.
Data from Future Market Insights also supports the growing interest in dermal sprays, as this market is projected to reach US $1.27 billion in 2023 and poised to surpass US $2.81 billion by 2033 (a CAGR of 8.3%). According to the source, dermal sprays can deliver active chemicals directly to the skin surface, facilitating rapid absorption and precise therapy; they are frequently employed for skin care, wound healing, pain management and sun protection, among other applications. Another driver for this segment is ongoing development in spray technology, enabling spray patterns that are finer and more regulated to enable improved coverage and absorption of actives.
#HotGirlPerfume, Mood Boost and Attraction
Lastly, according to Spate's TikTok hashtag tracker, the tag #hotgirlperfume is up almost 10 million percent, week over week. A quick scan of the platform reveals variations on this theme ranging from videos simply about favorite fragrances to those best-suited for the gym. One criticized female vs. male fragrance, stating "the smell of girls' perfume lasts 9 seconds, meanwhile boys can go through an apocalypse and still smell like cologne." Do you hear that, fragrance formulators?
Fragrances that boost self-esteem are also a topic of #hotgirlperfume discussion, which aligns with a recent article by Global Cosmetic Industry. "Generation Alpha and Gen Z shoppers love fragrance but in ways that distinguish them from previous generations of shoppers," the article states. "For these buyers, mood is everything."
The article cites a story in the National Post reporting consumers ages 13 through 26 were ranked highest for heavy fragrance use. Circana's Larissa Jensen commented, in the report, "Gen Z shoppers are also most likely to buy a scent for themselves several times a year. Eighty percent of fragrance users say that scent is critical for enhancing or lifting their moods."
Using fragrance as a mood booster and force of attraction is a well-known tactic. A recent study in Behavioural Brain Research grounded this factually using EEG and subjective evaluations. According to the article abstract, it showed, for the first time, that a pleasant fragrance can modulate indicators of early visual processing of faces. The study also demonstrated how neural processing of self relative to other faces was more strongly impacted by pleasant fragrance. In addition, a pleasant fragrance boosted ratings of confidence, attractiveness and femininity of self and other faces.
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