The skin care industry generated approximately 47,000 new product launches in 2025. That number is made up, but it feels accurate, doesn’t it?
Between the TikTok dermatologists, the influencer hauls, and the algorithm that somehow knows you’ve been thinking about your pores, it’s a lot. So let’s cut through it together.
What’s Actually Worth Your Attention
Barrier repair — This one has legs, and for good reason. The skin barrier is your skin’s first line of defense, and years of over-exfoliating, using products that are too harsh, and general modern-life stress have left a lot of people with compromised barriers. Signs include redness, sensitivity, tightness, and breakouts that seem random. The solution is genuinely simple: fewer, gentler products. Ceramides. Fatty acids. Niacinamide. This trend is basically a correction to years of overcomplicated routines, and it’s a good one.
Peptides — Peptides are small proteins that signal your skin to produce collagen. They’ve been in skin care for decades but are finally getting mainstream attention. They work, they’re gentle, and they play well with other ingredients. Worth adding to your routine if you haven’t already.
Skin cycling — The concept of rotating your actives (retinol one night, exfoliating acid the next, recovery nights in between) is genuinely smart for people who’ve been overdoing it. If you’re using retinol every night and wondering why your skin is angry — this is why.
What’s Mostly Hype
Slugging — Coating your face in petroleum jelly overnight sounds extreme because it is. For some skin types in some climates, it can help with moisture retention. For oily or acne-prone skin in a coastal climate like Carmel’s? Hard pass.
$400 serums — Price is not a reliable indicator of efficacy in skin care. Some of the most effective ingredients — niacinamide, azelaic acid, retinol — are available in excellent formulations at accessible price points. Spend your money on professional treatments, not marketing.
The Products We Actually Trust
At Monterey Bay Bodyworks, we use Tu’el and GlyMed, two lines built on clean, effective formulations without the hype markup. Both are available for retail purchase at the studio, and both are chosen because they actually work, not because they have beautiful packaging.
Want a personalized skin care recommendation? Book a facial and we’ll assess your skin properly — no quiz, no algorithm, just a real professional looking at your actual face.
Call 831.372.4212.