The Anti-Ageing Skin Care Conference has been a leading forum for advancing science and innovation in this industry category since 2008.
As we look ahead to the next event in 2026, this column will continue the dialogue.
In this issue, Dr Katerina Steventon, the Scientific Programme Director of the Anti-Ageing Skin Care Conference, interviews Dr Peter Bailey, founder of Co Create Partnership, an independent innovation consultancy that helps the personal care industry bring impactful products to market.
Hair care has been your domain for many years. What is hair care learning from anti-ageing skin care?
The big activity in hair care at the moment is ‘skinification’. This is about what hair care can learn and apply from skin care in terms of new benefits, claims and language.
In the ever-evolving world of beauty, the line between skin care and hair care is becoming increasingly blurred. Today’s most cutting-edge hair care products are borrowing techniques, ingredients, and philosophies from skin care—ushering in a new era of scalp-focused solutions and holistic health. But why is skin care driving hair care innovation?
1. The Scalp Is Skin, Too
The most obvious connection: your scalp is skin. Just like the face or body, the scalp needs hydration, exfoliation, and protection from environmental stressors. An unhealthy scalp—whether too oily, dry, or inflamed—can disrupt the hair growth cycle, leading to thinning, dullness, or breakage. Treating the scalp like skin means creating a healthier environment for hair to thrive.
2. Advanced Ingredients, Proven Results
Skin care has led the way in ingredient innovation. Now, hair care products are harnessing powerful actives like hyaluronic acid for hydration, niacinamide for barrier support, salicylic acid for gentle exfoliation, and peptides for strengthening. These ingredients, once reserved for facial serums, are being reformulated for the scalp and strands, offering targeted and effective solutions.
3. Personalized Rituals
Skin care routines are deeply personal, often involving multi-step regimens tailored to individual needs. Hair care is following suit, moving away from the one-size-fits-all shampoo-and-conditioner duo to customizable treatments: scalp serums, detox masks, pre-wash oils, and leave-in tonics. The shift emphasizes long-term health over quick fixes.
4. Microbiome & Barrier Science
Just as skin care now focuses on microbiome balance and barrier integrity, hair care is adopting the same principles. A balanced scalp microbiome can help prevent dandruff, irritation, and even hair loss. Innovation is centered on creating gentle, pH-balanced formulations that support—not strip—the scalp.
5. Holistic Beauty = Healthy Hair
Consumers are more educated than ever. They understand that healthy hair starts from the root—and that means nourishing the skin underneath. The new wave of hair care innovation reflects a holistic view of beauty: one where the skin, scalp, and strands are treated with equal care and consideration.
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