Featuring: Jane Palmer, CEO, Natural Coatings; Elodie Carpentier, General Manager & Co-Founder, Le Rouge Français; and Shiyan Zering, Senior Research Analyst, Mintel
Summary
The color cosmetics sector is entering a new phase of transformation. While creativity, self-expression and trend-led innovation remain central to the category, brands are increasingly navigating economic uncertainty, changing consumer expectations, sustainability demands and evolving regulations.
In this episode of In Conversation With, industry experts discuss how value, trust, ingredient transparency, artificial intelligence and regulatory change are reshaping the future of makeup and creating new opportunities for brands that can successfully balance performance, sustainability and consumer confidence.
Value and Performance Are Becoming Non-Negotiable
Consumers remain engaged with color cosmetics, but purchasing decisions are becoming increasingly selective.
According to Mintel’s Shiyan Zering, value today extends far beyond price. Consumers are evaluating products based on:
- Performance
- Longevity
- Ease of use
- Reliability
As beauty routines become more streamlined, consumers are less willing to experiment with products that fail to deliver immediate results.Pull quote:“Growth will come from solving everyday frustrations rather than chasing trends.” — Shiyan Zering
For brands, this creates opportunities to focus on wear performance, comfort, shade matching and products that simplify daily routines.
Clean Beauty Moves Further Into the Mainstream
Demand for natural, transparent and non-toxic formulations continues to grow, particularly among younger consumers who are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about ingredients.
Jane Palmer believes sustainability and safety are no longer premium differentiators but baseline expectations.
Consumers increasingly expect:
- Ingredient transparency
- Evidence-based claims
- Sustainable sourcing
- Performance without compromise
Pull quote: “Consumers want proof, not promises.” — Jane Palmer
Elodie Carpentier adds that color cosmetics still lags behind skincare when it comes to certified natural and organic formulations, creating opportunities for further innovation.
AI Is Reshaping Discovery and Development
Artificial intelligence is transforming both the consumer experience and product development process.
On the consumer side, technologies such as:
- AI-powered shade matching
- Virtual diagnostics
- Personalised recommendations
are helping reduce purchasing uncertainty and improve confidence.
Behind the scenes, AI is accelerating innovation by helping brands:
- Analyse consumer demand
- Identify ingredient opportunities
- Shorten product development timelines
- Improve formulation efficiency
Pull quote:“Technology works best when it removes friction and helps consumers make confident decisions.” — Shiyan Zering
Sustainability Must Deliver Performance
While sustainability remains important, consumers increasingly view it as an expectation rather than a differentiator.
The panel agrees that performance remains the primary driver of purchase decisions.
Poor-performing products that are abandoned before use create unnecessary waste and undermine sustainability efforts.
For ingredient suppliers, this means delivering sustainable alternatives that match or exceed conventional performance standards.
Jane Palmer highlights growing interest in:
- Bio-based pigments
- Traceable supply chains
- Regulatory-ready ingredients
- Sustainable color technologies
Pull quote:“Price, performance and transparency have to work together.” — Jane Palmer
Regulation Is Driving Innovation
The industry continues to adapt to increasing scrutiny around:
- Microplastics
- PFAS
- Talc
- Environmental claims
- Ingredient safety
Rather than slowing innovation, the panel views regulation as a catalyst for change.
New regulatory requirements are encouraging suppliers and brands to develop safer, more sustainable alternatives while improving transparency across the value chain.Pull quote:“Regulatory pressure is forcing the industry to innovate faster and more responsibly.” — Elodie Carpentier
Looking Ahead: The Future of Color Cosmetics
The panel identified several themes likely to shape the category in 2026 and beyond:
- Higher-performing products that deliver consistent results
- Greater adoption of bio-based pigments and natural color technologies
- AI-powered formulation and product discovery
- Increased integration of skincare benefits into makeup
- Stronger demand for ingredient transparency
- Growing regulatory pressure on controversial ingredients and environmental claims
Together, these trends point towards a color cosmetics market where trust, performance and sustainability must work hand in hand.
Why Watch
This discussion explores how the color cosmetics industry is evolving beyond trends, with expert insights into consumer behaviour, clean beauty, artificial intelligence, sustainable innovation and regulatory change. For brands, suppliers and formulators, it offers a valuable look at the forces shaping the category in 2026.
