The Innovative Solutions That Will Be Huge In 2027, According to Beautycon Experts

Beauty innovation has a reputation for getting a little...gimmicky. For every product that genuinely changes the way we get ready, there are plenty that make you wonder whether anyone actually asked for this.

But at Beautycon 2026, some of the most interesting ideas weren't complicated at all. Instead, experts, founders, and beauty insiders kept coming back to solutions for the very real problems that already take up space in our routines: How do I make my blowout last longer? How do I get more shape out of my natural texture? Does my makeup routine really need another primer?

The answers weren't always what we expected.

From a tool designed to coax more movement and volume out of all hair types to a dry shampoo alternative one of my coworkers hasn't stopped talking about, these are the Beautycon discoveries that made us reconsider a few of our own beauty habits. And if the conversations we heard all weekend are any indication, you'll probably be hearing a lot more about them in 2027.

Sometimes the innovation isn't another weird gadget to squeeze onto an already crowded bathroom shelf. Sometimes it means going back to the basics and pairing time-honored rituals with modern-day technology. Enter French Barrelettes, a roller made from stainless steel with hexagonal cutouts and mesh fabric. Unlike Velcro, sponge, or plastic rollers, French Barrelettes allow heat to be evenly distributed to each strand of hair, locking in curls and bounce without the heat damage.

"Even for those people who struggle with maintaining shape and volume, the barrelette is incredible," Coree Moreno explained on the Beautycon mainstage. "It really pushed the boundaries on what hair can do. And I think it's important for people to be aware of the options that they have."

The key to getting the perfect roller set with French Barrelettes is to start with wet hair. Coree says you can apply a small amount of mousse for extra memory, but you don't need a lot of product. You can then let the hair air dry or blow-dry completely before removing each barrel. When Coree unraveled each curl on stage, the bouncy, voluminous shape was impressive on both models—one with straight fine hair and the other with thick, full extensions. Consider it a reminder that your next major hair upgrade might involve a routine that your grandmother once loved.

Dry shampoo is one of those products many of us use because, well, what else are we supposed to do on day four?

K18's AirWash Dry Shampoo makes a compelling argument that the category was overdue for an update. Instead of leaving hair with the powdery, gritty feeling that can make you want to wash it immediately after you've supposedly extended your wash day, AirWash is designed to refresh oily hair without the telltale residue. Yep, it's the type of product that inspires immediate evangelism.

"I actually haven't shut up about the AirWash since trying it on Saturday," a coworker excitedly Slacked after Beautycon.

And I get it. Nobody wants their hair just to look clean enough to get through another day. We want it to still feel like hair. Because AirWash isn't an aerosol, it can feel slightly damp at first. But it won't mess up your style, thanks to a triple threat combination of translucent microbeads, odorBIND™ biotechnology, and biotech-derived Mediterranean microalgae. Together, the active ingredients remove buildup, balance oil production over time, and eliminate odors—all without leaving your hair feeling like it's wearing a helmet of product.

American beauty routines have become very good at adding steps. Primer before foundation. Setting spray after it. Sometimes another mist somewhere in between. But Charlotte Cho, founder of Soko Glam, offered a different idea at Beautycon: Maybe better makeup starts with better-prepped skin.

"Korean women and men, they don't use primers," Cho explained in her masterclass. "In the U.S., primers are huge. It's like you gotta prep your face unless your makeup is not going to grip. But Koreans are like, 'Primer? What are you talking about?' I skin flood in the morning. I layer my moisturizers with an essence and it really grips my blush and makes my foundation look great."

Sir John also pushed back against one of the most persistent assumptions about oily skin: that more moisture is the last thing it needs. When asked for makeup advice for oily skin, he explained that oiliness can sometimes coincide with a lack of moisture. His solution? Work an essence into your routine to hydrate skin without piling on heavy products and powders.

That's where Then I Met You's essence enters the conversation. Rather than treating skincare and makeup as two completely separate routines, the approach makes your skincare prep part of what helps the makeup perform.

And that might be the bigger beauty idea worth stealing for 2027: Instead of constantly adding another product to fix the last product, start reconsidering the routine underneath it. After all, the smartest innovation isn't always something we've never seen before. Sometimes it's a better answer to a problem we've been trying to solve the same way for years.