5 Cosmetic Industry Trends to Help Drive Growth: Insights for Providers

While the year may be winding down, it’s still an ideal time to focus on growing your cosmetic care practice. Many practices look to boost revenue as the year ends, and the timing aligns with seasonal trends that often increase client interest in cosmetic services. Cooler temperatures and the holiday season, for example, may inspire people to consider new treatments.

By aligning your business offerings with what’s on clients’ minds, you can help support patient satisfaction as well as business growth. As a cosmetic service provider, consider these five trends to prepare your practice and your clients for success in 2026 by making the most of this season’s opportunities.

1. Rising Interest in Wellness Experiences Fuels Client-Centered Services

Customer demand for relaxation and holistic aesthetic experiences continues to expand, and you can use that growing popularity to boost your aesthetics business and position it for a strong 2026. For example, the global spa services market is expected to grow at a rate of 7.5% annually from 2025 to 2030, and it’s projected to reach $147.11 billion by 2030, up from $96.51 billion in 2024.¹

That industry growth is fueled by an increasing awareness of wellness and self-care among both women and men. As people become increasingly interested in improving their overall health — physical, mental and emotional — the demand for spa treatments continues to rise.¹

Among women, who represent about two-thirds of spa clients, there’s a trend toward younger patients seeking non-surgical aesthetic treatments. Women in their 20s and 30s are increasingly embracing anti-aging and skin rejuvenation procedures.¹

While men currently represent just one-third of clients in the aesthetic industry, their demand for spa services is projected to grow by more than 8% annually through 2030.¹ That may mean it’s a good idea to develop treatments or packages targeted specifically to men.

As a cosmetics business owner, you can feel confident that there’s a growing demand for your services, and by adjusting your offerings to meet consumer expectations, you may be able to build a more successful practice.

2. Fall Care and Holiday Preparation Drive Demand

Many cosmetic businesses offer unique services to take advantage of seasonal trends during September, October and November. You may want to consider offering pumpkin spice scrubs, caramel apple body wraps, autumn leaves body treatments and elderberry facials, for example.

As the weather turns cooler and the stress of the holiday season looms, some of your patients or clients may benefit from massage therapy or other relaxing treatments. More than 40% of Americans say their mood worsens during the winter, and almost a third (29%) say the change from daylight saving time to standard time affects their mental health.²

Massage therapy can offer your clients stress-relieving benefits by helping engage the parasympathetic nervous system, so the colder months may be a perfect time to promote massages to your clients.³

3. Growing Interest in Holiday Gifting Creates Opportunities

As your patients or clients prepare for the holidays, consider looking for ways to simplify their gift-giving. For example, you might create holiday gift packages, offer gift cards for your services or extend promotional offers for the season. Spa and wellness gift cards have become increasingly popular for gift-givers, as online gift card revenue rose 33% at membership-based spas and 17% at non-membership spas in 2023.⁴

Feature festive gift baskets containing cosmetic products in your business and consider hosting monthly giveaways during the winter season. Use your social media channels to promote the contests as well as your holiday gift options.

4. Industry-Focused Marketing Opportunities Abound

The aesthetics industry offers some unique marketing opportunities in the final quarter of the year. With National Spa Week taking place from November 3-10 and all of November dedicated to National Healthy Skin Month, businesses can leverage these occasions for targeted promotions and educational campaigns.

National Spa Week provides a strategic marketing moment to help increase bookings at your facility. Consider special promotions, such as discounted massages available exclusively during this time. Additionally, offering a limited number of these deals can encourage more clients to book regular-priced services when the promotional spots are filled.

During November, look for ways to acknowledge National Healthy Skin Month, and later in the summer, mark your calendar for World Skin Day on July 8. These may be good opportunities to publish educational blog posts, videos or social media posts explaining how cosmetic treatments may contribute to healthy skin, for example. As a result, you may be able to educate prospective patients or clients while also positioning your providers as trusted skin health experts.

5. Payment and Financing Trends Shape Consumer Expectations

As you jump into the trends in cosmetic treatments in 2026, don’t forget that clients also expect you to follow the trends in payment technology. Patients and clients are accustomed to easy payment options when they purchase groceries, shop online or even split the dinner bill with friends — and they are likely to appreciate the same payment flexibility when they visit your cosmetic business. In fact, 43% of consumers surveyed say the availability of financing options strongly influences where they choose to spend money.⁵

Your aesthetics practice can offer flexibility by providing a financing option like the CareCredit credit card. CareCredit offers a way to pay for surgical and non-surgical treatments and procedures over time* while helping enhance the payment process for your practice or business.

When you accept CareCredit, patients or clients can see if they prequalify with no impact to their credit score and those who apply, if approved, can take advantage of special financing on qualifying purchases. When they use CareCredit, you will be paid directly within two business days.

Embrace Trends to Boost Business

There’s no need to wait for January 1 to talk with cosmetic patients or clients about plans for the new year. You can position your business for success and generate excitement among clients by having early conversations with them about getting ready for fall, the holiday season and planning for next year.

When you position your cosmetic care practice to embrace the latest trends and patient expectations, you can boost business throughout the fall and winter and capitalize on market opportunities well into 2026.

A Flexible Financing Solution for Your Cosmetic Practice

Want to make it easy for patients and clients to manage the cost of treatment at your cosmetic practice or business? Consider offering the CareCredit credit card as a financing solution. CareCredit offers individuals a way to pay for surgical and non-surgical treatments and procedures over time while helping enhance the payment process for your practice or business.

When you accept CareCredit, patients or clients can see if they prequalify with no impact to their credit score and those who apply, if approved, can take advantage of special financing on qualifying purchases.* Additionally, you will be paid directly within two business days.

Learn more about the CareCredit credit card as a financing solution for your cosmetic care practice and business or start the provider enrollment process by filling out this form.

Author Bio

Nancy Mann Jackson is a journalist and content writer who writes regularly about finance and healthcare. Her work has been published by AARP, CNBC, Entrepreneur and Fortune. 

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The CareCredit health and wellness credit card helps improve the payment experience for patients and clients, and your financial performance.

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