TWEAKMENT
By 
Cast your mind back to the peak of the pandemic and exfoliating acids were everywhere in our search for glowing skin. Then, we rather overdid it and with (sometimes literally) red faces we shied away a little. But, in 2025, exfoliators are making a comeback, particularly with practitioner-backed formulations that are easier-to-use and harder to get wrong.
These sophisticated formulations – my personal favourites include Exuviance’s Professional Night Corrector – use a combination of brightening AHAs and gentle PHAs to brighten and tackle dark spots, while being less aggressive on your skin. Plus, many of the formulas are now much more focused on supporting barrier repair alongside exfoliation, with ingredients such as botanicals, ceramides and niacinamide ensuring effective results without redness, irritation and skin dryness.
2. Collagen ‘banking’
‘Prevention not cure’ was the common call to arms within tweakments in 2024, so its no surprise that there was a boom in interest in collagen-boosting treatments – aka those that could stimulate our natural collagen production to prevent rather than simply treat signs of ageing. (After all, decreases in collagen is a key contributor to wrinkling and lack of firmness). Now, that trend’s influence is quickly extending into the skincare world, with collagen-stimulating ingredients skyrocketing in popularity, not least peptides and growth factors, which are known for their ability to boost collagen production.
What makes these ingredients especially intriguing (and beneficial) is that – unlike other anti-ageing hero ingredients such as retinol – they don’t risk skin irritation. In fact, you’ll normally find both peptides and growth factors in super nourishing creams because they work as ‘signalling’ molecules that trigger your skin’s natural healing processes gradually overtime. Our top picks for a skin pamper include Meder Beauty’s Arma-Lift Age Well Firming Concentrate and Calecim Professional Multi Action Cream.
3. Cleansing gets balmy
Another classic skincare product – the humble cleansing balm – returns for 2025 too, if the popularity of Caroline Hirons and Dr David Jack‘s new launches are anything to go by. With their rich textures and efficient cleaning prowess (even for waterproof makeup), supercharged cleansing balms are reclaiming their spot in our routines as we seek gentle yet effective ways to clean our faces.
If you’re still worried about your skin feeling like an oil slick or have breakout-prone skin, fear not. In 2025, innovations in cleansing balm formulations focus on lightweight textures that cater to all skin types, including oily and acne-prone. Brands are prioritising sensory experiences too, offering balms with calming aromas to continue the skincare self-care trend, while the formulas also align with our increasingly eco-conscious values. Waterless beauty – of which cleansing balms form a part – for example, is another trend to watch, which can help reduce strain on the planet’s resources without compromising your skincare results.
3. ‘Band-aid’ beauty
As we continue to understand better how stress, pollution and overzealous use of active ingredients can hinder, not help, our complexions, the term “Band-aid beauty” neatly epitomises this year’s focus on soothing – not just ignoring – sensitive skin. Even if your main concerns are wrinkles or hyperpigmentation, skin experts are increasingly stressing the need to listen to your skin at every turn, prioritising repairing damage rather than masking the side effects (such as redness, breakouts, dryness) in the quest for quicker results.
