News 23.12.2022

Need to Know

While the individual definitions of beauty, health and wellness became more ambiguous in 2022, the concepts, products and experiences were much more conscientious – thanks to science, expertise and evidence.

The Trend: Accredited Beauty

111umination Beauty by Aurore Piedigrossi and Tobias Siebrecht, France

Our beauty, health & wellness macrotrend in 2022 explores how scientific evidence is driving the healthification of the beauty industry. Against the backdrop of a global pandemic and its consequences, and the unrelenting climate crisis, the beauty and wellness sectors are tipping in a new direction – that of expertise. 

Around the world, consumers have been exposed to watching, reading about and listening to experts advising the public on best practice for our health and lifestyles. In turn, global societies have become more trusting of such figures than ever. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer 2022, scientists are now the most trusted (75%) of all societal leaders, ahead of national health authorities (63%) and government leaders (42%).

As the name of this year’s macrotrend suggests, Accredited Beauty is on the rise, built on the pillars of expertise, exploration, evidence and certification. This comes at a time when beauty narratives risk spiralling into greenwashing and false claims that could fuel cynicism among customers. Add to this surging inflation and the resulting price increases for beauty and wellness, and companies are having to bring their expertise, research and accreditation to the fore, not only to prove the worthiness of their products but also to inspire spending.

The Big Idea: Longevity Clinics

Six Senses, Ibiza, Spain Six Senses, Ibiza, Spain

Interest in life extension is soaring. The global biohacking market was valued at £13.49bn ($16.42bn, €15.64bn) in 2021 and is expected grow at a CAGR of 20.4% between 2022 and 2030 (source: Nova One Advisor). Tapping into this emerging market is globally renowned resorts group Six Senses.

The wellness giant has recently introduced The RoseBar concept, a longevity club and clinic merging medicine and wellness at its Ibiza destination. In partnership with biotech company Orgenesis, RoseBar offers a new generation of anti-ageing treatments and biohacking programmes ­including age-defying nutraceuticals, pulsed electromagnetic-field therapy and stem cell manipulation.

‘It's not the Life Health Clinic of Ibiza or anything like that,’ says Anna Bjurstam, wellness pioneer at hospitality brand Six Senses. ‘It's more like a luxury shop than a clinic. We want to have that warm, welcoming feeling – very different from the typical white-robed, sterile and clinical spaces.’ Six Senses plans to open 15 new urban membership clubs within five years and 30 in the next decade.

‘To be healthy doesn't require punishment. It can actually be a celebration,’ explains Bjurstam. ‘There are ways that you can really enjoy life and be healthy and have a longer lifespan. And we also know that the psychological effects [of happiness] are more important almost than anything else when it comes to how healthily and how long we live.’

The Campaign: Divergent Design

There’s Nothing Comic About Dyslexia by Dyslexia Scotland, UK
There’s Nothing Comic About Dyslexia by Dyslexia Scotland, UK
There’s Nothing Comic About Dyslexia by Dyslexia Scotland, UK

In recent years, a heightened awareness of civil health and wellbeing has brought marginalised narratives to the fore. Issues surrounding a lack of diverse and inclusive practices have led to public frustration, particularly from those who don’t fit into conventional society. In response, Dyslexia Scotland has launched a campaign for Dyslexia Awareness Month to urge designers to change their perspective on Comic Sans and to embrace a more inclusive design process.

While the typeface is often dismissed in the design world, the new campaign highlights the benefits for people with dyslexia, showing how it makes text easier to read. With Comic Sans as the focus, the charity hopes to spark conversations centred around creating more inclusive design. The organisation hopes the campaign, entitled There’s Nothing Comic About Dyslexia, will show how beautiful design and being dyslexia-friendly don’t need to be mutually exclusive.

The campaign faces the realities of neurodivergence and how design can shape the way people with dyslexia interact with the world. This gives designers everywhere the chance to create significant social change; we’ve been tracking how some have already taken the lead to alter design to cater for those who live with neurodivergence.

The Interview: Bio-positive Pigments

Alchemical Mycology by Jesse Adler. Photography by Tom Mannion, UK Alchemical Mycology by Jesse Adler. Photography by Tom Mannion, UK

In summer, we spoke to Jesse Adler, an MA Material Futures graduate from Central Saint Martins, and Kate Marlow, a creative partner at agency Here Design, to discuss their collaborative work as part of Here’s Beautility showcase.

Kate met Jesse in the winter of 2021, when she was working and experimenting with the world of fungi and extracting natural pigments of colour. Jesse partnered with Rejina Pyo for the London Craft Week project, and the pair explored how to introduce natural pigments into textiles and apparel. Following this, Jesse wanted to take her work further and considered exploring the field of cosmetics.

In this interview, we speak to Jesse about how pigments drawn from fungi could be used to transform the sunscreen and colour cosmetics industry, offering a more sustainable, renewable resource. ‘Colour is also not considered when it comes to clean beauty. Natural pigments don’t perform well at a commercially viable rate in terms of output, hue, vividness, stability and light fastness [compared to synthetic and mineral pigments]. So, most pigments come from non-renewable sources. My hope is that conversations like this will start pushing people to include the environment in their clean beauty lists,’ Jesse tells LS:N Global.

The Space: Retail Therapy

Superself by Selfridges is a wellbeing initiative designed to help clients rest and rejuvenate while shopping

In an effort to further close the health gap, retailers are finding ways to bring mental healthcare and support to our high streets. Earlier this year, British department store group Selfridges launched Superself, a wellbeing initiative designed to help clients rest and rejuvenate while shopping.

With a range of events, experiences and activations – both online and offline – the project offered customers a chance to merge their self-care routines with their shopping ones. Customers in-store could unwind in calming sensory pods designed by immersive reality company Sensiks, equipped with virtual reality headsets, soothing voice activation and climate control. The pods were designed to improve moods, reduce stress and benefit physical health. The store also partnered with London-based women’s charity The Stack World to offer customers breath work workshops, confidence coaching and sex therapy sessions. Offline, clients could listen to a new wellbeing podcast as well as shop for a range of mood-boosting vitamins and incense sticks.

Selfridges’ initiative has demonstrated how the definition of retail has expanded beyond commerce to be inclusive of other customer needs and desires.

Download the Future Forecast 2023 report

Victoria Ling for The Future Laboratory, UK Victoria Ling for The Future Laboratory, UK

Now that you know what shaped 2022, discover what’s on the horizon. Download our Future Forecast 2023 report comprising 50 new trends across 10 key consumer sectors, insights from our analysts and interviews with global innovators.

Not a member of LS:N Global?

The Future Forecast 2023 collection, including PDF report and on-demand webinar, is available to purchase from The Future Laboratory shop. Interested in becoming a member? Learn more here

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