Panel discussion on...
Beauty from within
Alison M. Winger, PhD
Chief Executive Officer,
Key2Biotics

Member of AgroFOOD Industry Hi Tech's Scientific Advisory Board

Questions
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The New Era of Beauty Claims
Where do you see the next cycle of beauty claims heading? What specific benefits are consumers searching for today, and where do you predict the market will move over the next five years? Any exciting innovations you want to share in this regard?
The intersection of GLP-1 with Hair & Skin
With the global rise of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, consumers are experiencing rapid metabolic shifts that often trigger hair loss and "Ozempic skin". How do you see the nutricosmetic segment evolving to support the intersection of beauty and weight management/metabolic health?
Holistic Beauty & The "Well-Beauty" Journey
Real beauty isn't just skin deep. What innovations are you developing to bridge beauty and wellness (e.g., neuro-beauty, mood/stress support, beauty sleep, or the gut-skin axis)? Which ingredients or concepts are currently shifting from other health categories into the nutricosmetic space?
Redefining Beauty Rituals
Topical beauty influencers have set a high bar for self-care beauty rituals—how is the nutricosmetic segment catching up? From delivery formats and flavor profiles to fragrance and texture, what is needed to evolve ingestible solutions into a truly joyful daily ritual? And where do you experience the most challenge in this respect?
The K-Beauty Influence
South Korean trends continue to redefine topical skincare. How are these K-Beauty principles being translated into the nutricosmetic industry?
Integrated "In & Out" Journeys
We are moving away from isolated products toward "integrated journeys." What evidence supports the superior efficacy of oral-topical pairings? Furthermore, how can nutricosmetics be better integrated into the dermatology space, accompanying at-home or in-clinic procedures? Is there a difference between different regions in the world?
Nutricosmetics as a Platform for Inclusivity
Skin is the most visible representation of our diversity. How do you research, develop, and market ingredients in a way that thoughtfully addresses differences in gender, ethnicity, and life stages? Any trends you are seeing or innovations you are excited about?
AI & The Feasibility of Hyper-Personalization
In the era of AI, how close are we to truly personalizing "beauty from within"? What are the greatest challenges and opportunities you see in developing ingredients and creating supplements truly tailored to an individual’s unique needs and biological data? Any other uses of AI in this space that you are excited about?
Sustainability & Clean Beauty 3.0
How is your organization addressing the demand for upcycling and "Clean Beauty 3.0"? Are there specific innovations in ingredients, technologies, or research methodologies that you believe the industry must adopt to meet the next generation of eco-conscious consumers?
The Next Phase of "Skinification"
We have seen the "skinification of hair," but where is the future of haircare headed? What "root cause" claims are consumers most seeking, and what is the next category you anticipate will undergo a similar "skinification" transformation?
Precision Solutions for Menopause
With the surge in perimenopause and menopause-specific products, how can we more accurately tailor solutions to women in these stages? What has the industry missed, and how can we better serve this demographic?
References and notes
Beauty From Within: The Emerging Landscape of Nutricosmetics
3) The beauty from within category is undergoing a significant shift from surface-level beauty toward systemic skin health. Historically, beauty was largely dominated by topical products and cosmetic positioning. Today, consumers increasingly understand that skin health is deeply connected to physiological wellbeing, including gut health, sleep quality, stress, inflammation, hormonal balance, and healthy ageing.
This growing awareness is reshaping the category, with visible appearance increasingly viewed as a reflection of internal physiological health rather than purely external care. Topical products remain important, but consumers increasingly see them as only one part of the equation. There is a much greater appreciation that supporting the body internally through areas such as gut health, sleep, stress management, and healthy ageing may have profound effects on skin quality, resilience, and long-term skin health.
One of the most important areas driving this shift is the gut-skin axis. The microbiome is increasingly recognised as playing a role in inflammation, immune signalling, skin barrier integrity, and overall skin appearance. As a result, probiotics, prebiotics, and microbiome-supportive ingredients are becoming increasingly relevant within nutricosmetics and beauty from within formulations.
At the same time, the category is expanding beyond traditional beauty ingredients alone. Consumers increasingly understand the relationship between stress, poor sleep, and visible skin outcomes, including dullness, impaired skin recovery, inflammation, and accelerated signs of ageing. This is driving demand for more holistic formulations that bridge beauty with mood support, relaxation, sleep quality, and overall wellness.
Importantly, the conversation is also shifting away from traditional anti-ageing positioning toward healthy ageing and skin longevity. Consumers are increasingly focused on ageing well rather than simply looking younger. The emphasis is moving toward maintaining healthy skin function, vitality, resilience, glow, and confidence throughout life.
This is particularly relevant in areas such as perimenopause and post-menopause, where skin dryness, reduced elasticity, changes in barrier function, and visible ageing become more pronounced due to hormonal changes. Consumers are increasingly seeking integrated solutions that support both wellbeing and skin health during these life stages rather than products focused solely on cosmetic outcomes.
As a result, ingredients and concepts traditionally associated with other health categories are now moving into the beauty space. Adaptogens, sleep-support ingredients, probiotics, prebiotics, magnesium, mood-supportive botanicals, and broader healthy ageing ingredients are increasingly appearing alongside collagen, ceramides, antioxidants, and traditional beauty actives.
At the same time, consumers are becoming significantly more educated and science literate. They are looking for evidence-based products with credible positioning, thoughtful formulation strategies, and multifunctional benefits rather than trend-driven marketing claims. The future of beauty from within will likely be defined by products that bridge beauty, wellness, microbiome science, healthy ageing, and overall quality of life within a single holistic framework.
11) One of the biggest shifts happening within the beauty from within category is the growing focus on women’s health, particularly around perimenopause and post-menopause. However, these stages are often grouped together despite representing very different physiological experiences and consumer needs.
Perimenopause is the transition phase where hormonal fluctuations begin to intensify and many women first experience changes that impact both wellbeing and visible appearance. Sleep disruption, stress sensitivity, mood changes, inflammation, and metabolic shifts may all influence skin health during this stage. Consumers increasingly recognise that skin appearance is closely connected to broader wellness factors, particularly sleep quality, stress resilience, and gut health.
Post-menopause presents a different challenge, where many skin-related changes become more sustained and physiologically pronounced due to the long-term decline in oestrogen levels.
Reduced collagen production, lower skin hydration, decreased elasticity, impaired barrier function, and increased skin sensitivity are all commonly observed. Hair and nail quality may also change significantly. These are not simply cosmetic concerns, they are highly tangible quality-of-life issues that affect confidence, comfort, and overall wellbeing.
This is where beauty from within solutions can play a particularly meaningful role. The category is moving beyond traditional anti-ageing positioning toward broader healthy ageing and skin longevity support. Consumers are increasingly looking for solutions that help maintain healthy skin function and overall wellbeing throughout these stages of life rather than products focused purely on appearance claims.
At the same time, there is growing recognition that skin health during perimenopause and post-menopause cannot be viewed in isolation. The gut-skin axis is becoming especially relevant, with emerging research suggesting that microbiome changes during these stages may influence inflammation, skin barrier integrity, and overall skin quality. Poor sleep and chronic stress may also contribute to visible skin ageing and impaired skin recovery, further strengthening the connection between wellness and appearance.
This is creating opportunities for more holistic formulation strategies that combine traditional beauty ingredients with probiotics, prebiotics, adaptogens, sleep-support ingredients, and broader wellness actives. The convergence of nutricosmetics, healthy ageing, microbiome science, and women’s health is likely to become one of the defining trends within the category over the coming years.
Importantly, consumers in this space are highly engaged and increasingly science literate. They are seeking credible, transparent, and evidence-based solutions rather than trend-driven marketing language. Scientific substantiation, thoughtful ingredient selection, and realistic positioning are becoming increasingly important differentiators.
There is also a major opportunity for more personalised approaches. Not every woman experiences perimenopause or post-menopause in the same way. Some may primarily struggle with skin dryness and elasticity, while others may prioritise sleep quality, stress resilience, healthy ageing, or overall wellbeing. The future of the category will likely involve more targeted and holistic solutions designed around specific needs rather than generic menopause products.
Ultimately, the conversation is shifting away from narrow anti-ageing claims toward a much broader healthy ageing and healthspan perspective. Beauty from within is increasingly about supporting skin health, confidence, and wellbeing in a way that reflects the complexity of these physiological transitions and the evolving expectations of today’s consumer.
Panelists
References and notes
- Olivia M. Burke, Brianna Sa, David Alvarez Cespedes, Antonella Tosti; Dermatologic Implications of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Medications. Skin Appendage Disord 6 October 2025; 11 (5): 416–423
- Palombo P, Fabrizi G, Ruocco V, Ruocco E, Fluhr J, Roberts R, et al. Beneficial long-term effects of combined oral/topical antioxidant treatment with the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin on human skin: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2007;20(4):199-210
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- [1] Dong K, Goyarts EC, Pelle E, Trivero J, Pernodet N. Blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm and create damage in skin cells. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2019 Dec;41(6):558-62.
- Sujak A, Gabrielska J, Grudziński W, Borc R, Mazurek P, Gruszecki WI. Lutein and Zeaxanthin as Protectors of Lipid Membranes against Oxidative Damage: The Structural Aspects. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 1999 1999/11/15/;371(2):301-7.
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