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Medical spas and facial plastic practices are evolving into holistic wellness destinations, offering aesthetic procedures alongside hormone optimization, nutritional support and stress management. Patients now view outer beauty as a reflection of inner health, an “inside-out” approach that positions medical spas as leaders in preventive and regenerative care.

Alison Angus, head of practice for innovation at Euromonitor International, told Happi that spa customers are prioritizing wellbeing in professional skincare treatments.

“Consumers are increasingly seeking comfort and simplicity in their lives due to the relentless pace of modern life and societal pressures. This trend is characterized by a desire for personal safeguards, calm and mental refuge,” she said. “Businesses can respond by enhancing wellbeing and simplicity through tools that provide comfort, control and reassurance. Key strategies include developing products and services that offer comfort, boost confidence, simplify life or promote balance… Brands can leverage this by launching gentler formulations with calming fragrances and focusing on ease of use in product designs.”

Angus added there will also be a shift towards clinical-level, high-tech wellness solutions in 2026. 

“There’s a growing demand for advanced self-care options that are easily accessible and deliver quick results. Consumers are embracing technologies like AI-powered solutions, wearables and customized therapies to proactively manage their wellbeing,” she told Happi.

The global beauty market is seeing significant growth in dermo cosmetics, with retail sales posting double-digit CAGR from 2020 to 2024, according to Euromonitor data. 

“Brands can capitalize on this trend by integrating diagnostic and monitoring capabilities into their offerings and focusing on portability and convenience for at-home or on-the-go access to professional-grade products,” said Angus.

Yelp’s 2026 beauty and lifestyle trends report shows that personal expression, social connection and wellbeing are at the forefront of wellness. According to the report, laser facials and NAD+ therapy are trending as consumers explore longevity rejuvenation and holistic self-care.

Marketers such as L’Oréal are expanding their professional skincare portfolios. The Paris-based company recently acquired an additional 10% in Galderma Group.

The transaction doubles L’Oréal’s ownership of Galderma’s share capital to 20%. L’Oréal acquired its initial 10% in Galderma in August 2024. 

According to L’Oréal, the investment confirms the “solid growth journey” that the company has embarked on and reaffirms its plans to be part of the fast-growing aesthetics market.

“Aesthetics is a key adjacency to our core beauty business that we are keen to continue to explore,” said Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oréal.

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Turning Back The Clock

Annabelle Taurua at Fresha, a booking platform for salons and wellness treatments, told Happi that taking glutathione is the newest “age reversal” trend. This tripeptide is composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamate and glycine. It is synthesized in the body, primarily in the liver. 

Celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Chrissy Teigen get regular IV infusions of it, she noted, but this ingredient is also showing up in skincare formulations.

Treatments that activate the body’s natural repair mechanisms are leading the industry’s next chapter. Biologic therapies such as biostimulators, exosomes and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) treatments are improving skin tissue quality from within, noted Anthony E. Brissett, MD, FACS, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Houston offering cosmetic, reconstructive and rejuvenation procedures.

“Aesthetic medicine is entering a new era defined by regeneration, precision and personalization. We’re moving beyond simply restoring appearance to truly enhancing function, longevity and confidence. It’s not just about looking refreshed; it’s about feeling renewed from the inside out,” he said. 

Biostimulators like poly-L-lactic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite are increasingly paired with energy-based modalities like RF microneedling and ultrasound to stimulate collagen and elastin regeneration.

“Patients aren’t asking to look like someone else, they’re asking to look like themselves at their best,” adds Dr. Brissett.

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Longevity Benefits in Skincare

With roughly a quarter of Americans having undergone a cosmetic procedure and about 70% open to or planning one, the post-holiday season is a “peak moment” for in-office treatments, according to SkinCeuticals, a medical aesthetic skincare brand that offers related products.

For example, SkinCeuticals P-Tiox + Botox is a corrective neuro-peptide serum formulated for wrinkle modulation. Inspired by the effects of neurotoxin injections, its novel technology features advanced peptides to reduce the appearance of nine types of contraction lines. P-Tiox is physician-tested to complement neurotoxin injections but is also effective on its own for patients seeking advanced anti-aging results without the aid of professional injectables, said the company. 

Meanwhile, SkinCeuticals Advanced RGN-6 + Laser is an aesthetic regenerative treatment inspired by the skin-rejuvenating effects of professional laser procedures. The patented cream features active ingredients to improve skin damage impacted by aging. When paired with laser, Advanced RGN-6 maximizes procedure impact on key signs of aging while also reducing downtime; and beyond laser, Advanced RGN-6 is effective alone to achieve comprehensive advanced anti-aging results, said the company.  

The SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan + Hyaluronic Acid Filler is touted as a volumizing serum that not only visibly plumps and hydrates but also contours, fills fine lines and helps stimulate glycans. According to the company, it is physician-tested to complement dermal filler injections. 

HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan is comprised of hyaluronic acid to visibly plump and smooth the skin, dipotassium glycyrrhizate and purple rice extract to help preserve hyaluronic acid content in the skin and proxylane and 2% soybean ferment extract to support structural volume. 

ZO Skin Health recently launched a new Peptide Facial Refining Concentrate, an advanced serum designed to complement in-office procedures.  The product is said to help smooth lines, improve elasticity, restore facial volume and refine facial contours as well.

The formula also includes ZO’s exclusive ZPoly Complex, which soothes visible redness and supports the skin’s protective barrier. 

Also making waves so far in 2026 is professional skincare brand Babor. The company—celebrating its 70th anniversary this year—recently was named an official skincare brand by Forbes Travel Guide. 

New from Babor is Radiant Complexion Cream. Developed to visibly improve uneven skin tone and help protect against environmental stressors that dull the complexion, it is powered by an advanced antioxidant complex of vitamin C, astaxanthin and glutathione to support brighter, more
even-looking skin, said the company.

Meanwhile, Italian professional skincare company Borghese is growing its spa network with recent placement in The Standard Spa Miami, Frankie Shay Aesthetics in West Hollywood and The Wall Street Hotel in New York.

Updated “icons” like the Advanced Fango Active Mud Mask (one is sold every minute) and the new Fluido Protettivo Advanced Spa Lift for Eyes support the brand’s “1985 Is Calling” campaign.

Epicutis, the pro skincare brand from biotech innovator Signum Biosciences, recently revealed that its top-selling Lipid Shield SPF 30 has earned the EWG Verified mark. Lipid Shield soothes skin with a botanical complex of licorice root extract, bisabolol (chamomile) and aloe vera leaf. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore also recently added Epicutis products to its offerings.

According to Maxwell Stock, founder and CEO of Epicutis: “Singapore is a hub of innovation, culture and luxury, making it the perfect gateway for Epicutis into Southeast Asia. Partnering with The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore allows us to share our science-first philosophy with discerning travelers and locals who value both results and refinement.”

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What About GLP-1s?

With the rise of Ozempic, Wegovy and other weight loss drugs, there is an increase in “Ozempic face” and other types of sagging facial skin.

Scott Heckmann, CEO and co-founder, LaserAway, told Happi that the luxury spa landscape is experiencing a “second wave of aesthetic wellness” from GLP-1s.

“When we first started, nearly 20 years ago, most patients came in seeking cosmetic correction. Over time, that mindset has evolved,” he told Happi. “The first wave was about taking control of physical health through better nutrition, fitness and innovations such as GLP-1s, which helped people feel confident in their bodies again. 

“Now, we’re entering the second wave, which is about expressing that confidence outwardly. Patients are choosing treatments that help them look as good as they feel, whether that means laser skin rejuvenation, tightening or regenerative therapies such as NAD+ and Rejuran, which support cellular health and longevity.”

As GLP-1 medications continue to drive rapid weight loss and new aesthetic concerns, Image Skincare is responding with a targeted in-spa service. In partnership with Hand & Stone, the brand recently debuted a proprietary Image 4D Lifting & Sculpting Facial, billed as a first-to-market professional treatment designed to visibly address facial deflation, density loss, dehydration and wrinkles increasingly reported by GLP-1 users.

The 50-minute facial features Volulift, Image Skincare’s proprietary complex developed to help restore facial fullness, firmness and contour without injectables. The protocol combines enzymatic exfoliation, firming masques, targeted massage and a dedicated lift-and-sculpt phase to support visibly plumper, more sculpted skin, said the company.

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A Shift Towards More Wellness Practices

The BeautyHealth Company, home to Hydrafacial, has just released its third annual Skintuition Report, revealing a shift in consumer priorities—from quick fixes and volume enhancement to skin health, regeneration and longevity. 

Hydrafacial Chief Marketing Officer Carrie Caulkins told Happi: “Today’s consumers are seeking treatments that support skin regeneration, and Hydrafacial is the only hydradermabrasion treatment with objective clinical data demonstrating its role in helping support the skin’s natural regeneration process. We’re well aligned with consumers who are refocusing on maintaining their skin health rather than relying on correction later.”

According to the company, regeneration is emerging as the new “gold standard” in beauty.

The study reveals 75% of consumers are now improving overall skin health over using corrective treatments. Peptides, exosomes and microbiome technology are signaling a “new era of longevity-focused aesthetics,” said the company.

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The Future of Wellness

Looking ahead, this shift is accelerating into a new chapter that blends aesthetics, science and self-care. According to Heckmann of LaserAway, there is growing interest in peptide and exosome treatments, longevity-based skincare and AI tools that personalize care for every skin type. 

“For many, aesthetics are no longer just about appearance, but about the overall experience. They are part of a broader wellness journey focused on feeling healthy, energized and aligned. That is where we see the future going, and it is where LaserAway has always been positioned—at the intersection of medical science and self-care,” he said.

 The Global Wellness Institute found that the global wellness market has doubled since 2013 and grew 7.9% from 2023 to 2024.

GWI’s experts say thermal and mineral springs-based destinations are in the global investment pipeline. 

GWI also predicts the $147 billion personalized medicine market is expected to see a rapid 9.3% yearly growth through 2029, as longevity-seeking consumers rush to diagnostic services and personalized health optimization, said the report.

By 2030, beauty will go beyond skin-deep, according to market research firm Mintel. 

Clare Hennigan, principal analyst, beauty and personal care at Mintel, said: “The storytelling aspect of self-care rituals is becoming increasingly science-backed, further driving the convergence between beauty and healthcare. This shift is bringing cellular health and preventative measures into sharp focus, redefining the role of beauty in consumers’ lives.

“Over the next 18 to 24 months, beauty and health will merge in transformative ways. Advances in biomarker testing, continuous metabolic monitoring and bio-intelligent technologies are becoming more accessible, enabling personalized solutions that optimize energy, hydration and cellular repair. This evolution positions wellness-driven beauty as a central force in the industry.

“Looking ahead, skin and hair will be recognized as the body’s most visible biomarkers, offering insights into overall health. Beauty brands will evolve into trusted partners in preventative care, delivering products that not only enhance appearance but also provide actionable health data. This redefinition of beauty from indulgence to a personalized, preventative, and science-backed approach will reshape the industry and its connection to consumers,” she said.

As the new year begins, unexpected anti-aging breakthroughs aren’t coming from just dermatology offices, they’re coming from cosmetic dentistry. 

Patients are increasingly turning to dental treatments to lift, brighten and refresh their overall appearance. 

According to cosmetic dentist Dr. Jen Moran-Kobes, a youthful smile can dramatically soften aging features and boost confidence without invasive procedures.

“People will invest in skincare, injectables and even facelifts,” said Dr. Jen Moran-Kobes, DDS. “But their smile can still age them. When you restore a smile, it has a lifting effect.”