Climate-adaptive beauty

With rising temperatures and more extreme weather events, protecting our skin is no longer just a cosmetic concern, it's a climate one. The beauty industry is adapting but we, as consumers, have a role to play in choosing products that protect both our skin and the planet.

- Emma Nuttall

As climate change accelerates, we're not just witnessing impacts to the planet, we're feeling them in our bodies.

From heatwaves and wildfires to air pollution and water scarcity, environmental stressors are beginning to shape both our inner health and our outer appearance. Our skin, the body's first line of defence, is already showing signs of strain. Rising rates of inflammation, acne and dermatitis-related conditions are a clear sign that we need more from our skincare.

The beauty industry is responding – think pollution-shielding formulations, packaging that's not just refillable but reimagined, personalised Al-driven solutions and products that adapt to specific climates and conditions. The future of beauty depends on more than the next miracle serum. It's about integrity, transparency and sustainability. We need solutions that genuinely support skin resilience in a changing world, are environmentally responsible and are accessible to a range of consumers, not just those at the premium end of the market.

Why our skin is under siege

A 2024 study by researchers Jinkyung Lee and Ki Han Kwon confirms what many of us are already feeling: heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense and long-lasting. This ongoing thermal stress disrupts our body's internal balance, with our skin among the first to react. Dehydration, inflammation, redness and increased water loss are all signs that our skin is struggling.