Lianna Albrizio, Assistant Editor05.26.22
Two years after the Covid-19 pandemic produced anxiety-stricken lockdowns and inconvenient travel restrictions, consumers are readying for #Summer2022 like never before. A chief concern seems to be if they packed a good sunscreen.
According to New York City-based beauty trend tracker Spate, there are 1.6 million monthly average searches for sunscreen, representing a +14.1% year-over-year growth.
The data was shared by Addison Caine, beauty strategy and innovation manager at Spate, during the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists’ Suppliers’ Day 2022 trade show, which was held at the Jacob K. Javits Center earlier this month.
Nontoxic Sunscreens & Self-Tanners Soar in Sun Care
According to data collected from US searches from April 2021 to March 2022 versus April 2020 to March 2021, top trending sun care and tanning concerns were sensitive (+5,300); pregnant (+4,200); and pale (+2,700), according to Spate.
The top growing sun care and tanning concerns were toxic ingredients (a +58.% increase and 1,400 monthly average searches regarding nontoxic sunscreen and self-tanners); redness at +54.5%; and sun spots at +53.8%.
Since last spring, there were roughly 17,400 monthly average searches regarding searches such as “pregnancy and safe sunscreen” and “pregnancy safe self-tanner,” reflective of a +32.2% year-over-year growth.
According to Spate, sun care searches demonstrate a preference for inorganic sunscreen ingredients over organic, underscoring safety and suitability for sensitive skin types.
There are 31,500 monthly average searches for zinc oxide with searches including “zinc oxide sunscreen for face,” “best zinc oxide sunscreen” and “Neutrogena sheer zinc oxide mineral sunscreen spf 50.” That’s a year-over-year growth of +15.8%.
St. Tropez, Supergoop! and La Roche-Posay topped the trending suncare and tanning brands, respectively, ranging from +42,700 to +29,500. There were 384,200 monthly searches for Supergoop! reflecting a year-over-year growth of +11.1% with pregnant, aging and sensitive the top related concerns by volume.
Bliss, Garnier and Ultra Violette are the top growing suncare and tanning brands with Bliss at +400.2%, Garnier at +371.0% and Ultra Violette at +193.0% and roughly 2,900 monthly average searches.
Sustainability, OTC Treatments Big in Skin Care
Sustainably sourced is a buzzword in the world of skin care. According to Spate, there are roughly 2,000 monthly average searches for “sustainability sourced,” a +41.1% year-over-year growth. And, as the pandemic saw a skyrocketing interest in skin care products—an epoch Spate calls “the skincare craze of 2020”—popular ingredients like collagen are expanding into body care. There is a +71.3% year-over-year growth in collagen body lotion and a +13.3% growth for collagen serum.
The current top trending skincare concerns are rosacea, blackhead removal and eyelid swelling. The top growing skincare concerns include the skin barrier at +40.5% and nodular acne at +32.8%.
In addition, Spate cited marionette lines. These long vertical lines that laterally circumscribe the chin are a common skin concern caused by the natural collagen loss that occurs with age, according to Healthline.
Currently, there are 36,800 monthly searches on average for these types of wrinkles—a year-over-year growth of +29.8%. Common searches among consumers include “Marionette lines filler,” “Marionette lines filler gone wrong,” and, “Celebrities with marionette lines.”
Rosacea is also a top skin concern. Topical creams such as antibiotics and anti-acne medications have proven effective in helping to relieve the skin condition. On average, there are 596,600 monthly searches for rosacea, representing a +6.7% year-over-year growth. “Ocular rosacea,” “Acne rosacea” and “Rosacea treatment” are hot searches.
Skin Care Ingredients
Key ingredients are king when it comes to purchasing decisions. Currently, the top trending skin care ingredients are green tea (+43,400 searches); tretinoin (+23,600 searches); and peptide (+5,600 searches).
Top growing skincare ingredients include citrus oil, which has seen a year-over-year increase of +37,654.8% followed by eggplant at +376.4% and chlorophyll at +308.8%, according to Spate.
Citrus oil saw an average of 1,400 monthly searches with queries including “Humphreys citrus witch hazel oil controlling facial toner” and “Citrus aurantium bergamia bergamot fruit oil in skin care.”
There are 256,600 monthly average searches for tretinoin—a year-over-year growth of +10.3% with “Tretinoin cream and gel” top search words, said Spate.
The top trending skincare brands are Peter Thomas Roth, Lancome and Selfless by Hyram. Selfless by Hyram is also a top growing brand alongside Womaness and Juno & Co.
According to Spate, Selfless by Hyram has been growing in consumer interest with monthly average searches hovering 20,700; that’s a year-over-year growth of +39,150.8%. Top related concerns include keywords like acne, dry, dark circles and fungal [acne] with search queries including “Hyram best eye cream” and “Selfless by Hyram review.”
SPF in Hair Care, Keratin Ingredients & More
Just as beauty conscious consumers seek to protect their precious skin from aging and cancer from harmful summertime rays, they are equally conscious about preserving the health of their hair.
According to Spate, there are 10,800 monthly average searches for sun protection for hair; that’s a year-over-year growth of +32.9%. Search terms include “hair sunscreen,” “SPF for hair,” “sunscreen for hair and scalp,” and “sun protection for gray hair.”
And as consumers get ready to dive headfirst into pools, they’re also looking to fight chlorine damaged hair. Chlorine can strip hair follicles of natural oils resulting in brittle, dry locks. Regular exposure to the chemical can weaken hair strands and cause breakage. According to Spate, there are about 990 monthly average searches for chlorine damaged hair, representing a year-over-year growth of +41.4%. Popular searches include: “how to treat chlorine damaged hair;” “best shampoo and conditioner for chlorine damaged hair;” and “best hair products for chlorine damaged hair.”
Currently, the top trending hair ingredients are keratin (+56.5,00); rosemary (+36,700); and sea salt (+22,500). The top growing hair ingredients are ginseng, which has seen a year-over-year growth of +109.1%; carbonic acid at +80.4%; and ashwagandha at +73.0%.
According to Spate, there are 109,400 monthly average searches for rosemary, representing a year-over-year growth of +50.6%. Popular searches include phrases like “rosemary oil for hair,” Mielle rosemary mint oil,” Aveda rosemary mint shampoo,” and “Rosemary for hair growth.”
Ginseng is also growing in popularity. On average, there are 2,400 monthly searches for the active, with phrases like “ginseng shampoo,” “Briogeo blossom and bloom ginseng biotin volumizing shampoo” and “Ogx rejuvenating cherry blossom ginseng shampoo” driving searches.
Sun protection aside, the pandemic has had a lasting impact on consumer hair needs. Hair loss—both stress-related and an after effect of the Covid-19 virus—has been a main driver in search interest in the hair category along with scalp care. As such, consumers have looked to bond repair to treat hair damage and loss.
Olaplex, Nutrafol and Redken: Leading Brands in Hair Care
Hair care brands Olaplex, Nutrafol and Redken lead as the top trending hair care brands with growths of 97,200, 40,100 and 37,500, respectively. There are 663,200 monthly average searches for Olaplex, a year-over-year growth of +17.2% with damaged hair, hair loss and thinning as top related concerns. Shampoo and conditioner, bonding oil and treatments such as Olaplex No. 3 for strengthening and repair are top search queries.
Divi, Lolavie and Monday are the top growing hair care brands at the moment. Divi has shown a whopping year-over-year growth of +35,278.9%, (reflecting a monthly average searches of 2,600) followed closely by Lolavie at +33,321% and Monday at +439.1%.