Gen Z Advocates for Diversity, Inclusivity, and Sustainability. For the younger generation, beauty is about freedom of individuality, authenticity, and diversity.
Gen Z has an increased interest in skincare because this generation subset is more educated about ingredients. The go-to products for Gen Z are moisturizers, SPF, and serums. Marketing studies indicate that Vitamin C is a popular body care product, and when it comes to face skincare, CeraVe is in the number one spot.
Health and wellness have emerged as pivotal in Gen Z's beauty regimen, with many prioritizing products that offer clean, non-toxic, and natural ingredients. In fact, over 52.1% of respondents actively look for 'natural' claims on product labels, and 41.4% seek 'non-toxic' options.
Difficulty with face-to-face communication: Gen Z's preference for digital communication platforms may result in challenges when it comes to effective face-to-face communication and building interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
Societal pressure also plays a huge role in Gen-Z's beauty spending. This generation is growing up in a world where appearance is closely tied to success and social acceptance. The pressure to look a certain way isn't new, but it's intensified with social media.
Instead of heavy makeup, they lean towards a minimalistic approach and prioritize skincare. Similar to millennials, Gen Z believes beauty is synonymous with self-care and wellness. They place more importance on healthy skin rather than concealing flaws.
Glowy, warm skin is a key sign of youth, a preoccupation that has sparked Gen Z and even Gen Alpha's recent obsession with skin care products. Peng says youthfulness and vitality have been the main selling points of blush throughout history.
In fact, recent studies show almost all managers (96%) have reported experiencing difficulties in engaging with Gen Z employees. It's certainly true they have a different view on work expectations, however it's not all negative.
Younger individuals, especially Gen Zers, should be cautious of the risks associated with trendy products. “Younger skin generally has higher levels of collagen and elastin, making it more resilient, but it can also face challenges like acne and excess oil production,” explains Dr. Naana Boakye.
Social media remains central to Gen Z's lives, not just for consuming content but for staying connected. The number of Gen Z TikTokers saying they use the platform for messaging friends and family rose by 82% between 2020-2024.
Gen Z are occasional make-up wearers
While a majority of Gen Z isn't wearing make-up daily, 22% say they wear it occasionally – higher than any other generation. This suggests that Gen Z treats make-up more as an option for special moments rather than an everyday necessity.
Why are beauty trends changing so rapidly? It all comes down to evolving consumer priorities. Shoppers today want brands to reflect their values, celebrate their individuality, and embrace authenticity. These shifts are rewriting the rules, forcing the beauty and cosmetics industry to adapt.
Skincare experts warn that getting Botox or using anti-aging creams too early can cause unwanted side effects and that vaping and e-cigarettes, which Gen-Zers gravitate toward, can also cause premature aging.
Unrealistic beauty standards
Social media platforms often feature images of people with seemingly perfect faces and bodies, often using filters and photo editing tools to enhance their appearance. This can create unrealistic beauty standards, leading to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in both women and men.
Mental Health Challenges: Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Generation Z is grappling with stress levels that surpass those of previous generations. One undeniable catalyst for the surge in stress among Generation Z is the relentless academic pressure they endure.
We've referenced Gen Z's reputation as digital natives, but thanks to their love affair with plastic surgery, some media outlets also refer to them as aesthetics natives. Heavily influenced by their constant screen time, Gen Z craves the same procedures as their favorite content creators.
Anxiety and depression are the 2 largest mental health issues among Gen Z, with 9 out of 10 individuals diagnosed with a mental health condition having anxiety and 8 out of 10 having depression [3].
GenZ is widely considered an employer's nightmare. Surveys reveal that one in six companies hesitate to hire Gen Z workers. Employers often label them as entitled, easily offended, resistant to feedback, and lacking motivation, professionalism, work ethic and communication skills.
Gen Z (i.e., folks born between 1996 and the early 2010s) has a reputation for an affinity for tech of all kinds – and it's probably because they've been born into a world where the tech already exists. Millennials (or those born between 1981 and 1996), on the other hand, were drip-fed advancements over time.
Dreamt up by digital creator Zoe Kim Kenealy, the viral TikTok trend is about making your skin appear as if you've been exposed to windchill in the prettiest way possible. As you might guess, actual cold temperatures aren't involved; you only need a few makeup bag staples to achieve the après-ski illusion.
In praise of blushing
Historical evidence shows that redness of the cheeks has long been regarded as a sign of facial beauty and youth, and transitory changes such as ... [Show full abstract] the blush have also been seen in a positive light as an indication of modesty and charm.
Achieving the strawberry girl makeup look is simple. All you need is some luminous foundation, pink cream blush, some highlighter, red lip gloss and voila—glowing skin for the win!