Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

Chronic skin conditions don’t get much attention in the beauty industry but skincare brand Topicals is looking to change the narrative. With playful packaging worth flaunting instead of hiding and copy that promotes body-neutrality, it’s catering to a traditionally underserved audience.

As the beauty and wellness industries fuse together, Bobbi Brown’s ‘beauty from the inside out’ philosophy is powering the emerging beauty supplement market. The brand’s Evolution_18 collection gives people the chance to make better choices for their health through their beauty regime.

With many beauty salons forced to shut up shop during lockdown, typical routines were thrown into disarray. But as people channelled their anxiety into more sophisticated at-home self-care routines, ideals around beauty were reset. And post-lockdown, the natural look is back en vogue.

As Britons increasingly look to limit their consumption of single-use plastic, they’re turning to plastic-free ways to stock their bathroom shelves, which means the once-maligned bar soap is making an unlikely comeback. With eco values on the brain, what does today’s solid soap shopper want?