A new YouGov report reveals key insights into the skincare habits of Gen Z consumers, shedding light on their attitudes towards beauty, product discovery channels, spending patterns, and brand preferences.
Face value: Unmasking US skincare shoppers in 2025 focuses in on skincare enthusiasts aged 18-29, finding that 61% agree that they “won’t leave the house with looking my best.”
On average, skincare enthusiasts aged 18-29 spent $84 on health and beauty products over the past three months, $26 more than the national average. They most often purchase from Amazon (57%), Walmart (43%), and Target (31%).
Drawing on YouGov BrandIndex data, the report also ranks the top brands considered by American skincare consumers of all ages. Dove (53.1%) tops the brand consideration rankings, followed by Vaseline (38.5%), Olay (34.9%) and Neutrogena (34.6%). Nivea is the biggest gainer in 2024, with 30.4% of American skincare shoppers considering the brand, up from 24.8% in 2023. Rankings by gender and generation are also included in the report.
Other key findings include:
- Hydration (56%) is the top factor looked for when shopping for skincare products among all Americans, followed by cleansing (50%) and sun protection (44%). Skincare shoppers aged 18-29 rated cleansing the top factor.
- Word of mouth (38%), TV advertising (22%), and social advertising (21%) are the top ways consumers find out about new skincare products.
- Looking at new skincare trends, 33% of consumers are considering trying Vitamin C-infused products in 2025, followed by “clean beauty” (32%) and hyaluronic-acid infused products (29%). 34% of those aged 18-29 say they will explore Korean skincare products in 2025.
- Asked about sustainability initiatives, consumers say natural ingredients (41%), no animal testing (37%), and recyclable packaging (20%) are the most important when considering a brand.
“Gen Z consumers place huge importance on their skincare regimen and are extremely discerning in the brands they select,” said Ashley Brown, Account Director at YouGov America. “They are also a big spending segment of the market that’s particularly open to trying new products and jumping on trends, most often swayed by friends, social ads or influencers.”
By combining global survey research with syndicated data from YouGov Profiles and YouGov BrandIndex, the report provides actionable insights for brands looking to engage with skincare consumers, particularly within the Gen Z demographic.
YouGov’s full report is available for download here.
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