This year’s Spotlight On Multisensory will showcase how texture, scent and emotional impact are shaping the next generation of beauty and personal care products
19 OCTOBER 2026: in-cosmetics Asia, organised by RX, will highlight multisensory beauty this November, with this year’s Spotlight On feature exploring how products are designed to be memorable and emotionally engaging as well as effective. 27 exhibitors will show how texture, scent and feel are shaping product development at BITEC, Bangkok, from 3-5 November 2026.
WGSN predicted that multisensory beauty would rank among the six most impactful personal care trends of 2026[1], reflecting the demand for products and experiences that offset the pressures of modern life, and Mintel’s Global Beauty and Personal Care Predictions report similarly names Sensorial Synergy[2] as a major trend influencing how consumers discover and choose beauty products.
Inside Spotlight On Multisensory
The zone highlights how ingredient suppliers and formulators are translating consumer demand into physical product design, featuring everything from transforming textures and cooling sensations to playful, wellbeing-focused formats.
Skincare accounts for the majority of featured submissions, alongside suncare, colour cosmetics, haircare, fragrance, and baby care. Underlying technologies across these categories span emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, bio-fermentations, delivery systems, and UV filters, proving that tactile performance is now engineered from the initial formulation stage.
All entries and products on display will be evaluated live at in-cosmetics Asia by industry experts for the Spotlight On Formulation Awards ahead of the ceremony on 3 November 2026.
Texture and touch
Changes in texture and application can form part of a product’s identity, giving consumers a more memorable experience alongside the functional benefits they expect. ALPOL COSMETIQUE’s SPF50 formulation uses WaterTouch technology to create an ultra-light, water-like texture that melts instantly into the skin. IMCD Asia Pacific will showcase a formulation that transforms from a silky powder into a rich, liquid-like serum on application. Meanwhile, Matsumoto Trading’s liquid foundation is designed around a three-phase sensory transition, moving from water to oil before finishing with a luxurious, powdery feel.
Ingredient suppliers are building the same qualities into the base technology. Ashland Singapore will showcase stabileze™ s polymer, a starch-based rheology modifier that thickens and stabilises emulsions and suspensions with a soft, powdery after-feel. Shin-Etsu Silicones will highlight a silicone elastomer gel that blurs imperfections with a soft-focus effect and feels soft from first touch to final finish. Elsewhere, ICHIMARU PHARCOS brings playfulness to skincare with its Hydro-Pearl Foam Toner, where Bio-PGA Na Powder extends bubble longevity for easy spreading and a more enjoyable application.
Skin and mind
Multisensory beauty is opening up new territory where skin health and emotional wellbeing meet. dsm-firmenich’s Surpr-ICE Balm™ offers a multisensory skin-and-mind experience for heat-stressed skin, pairing a balm-to-serum texture with cooling technology and scent. Bloomage Biotechnology’s microssHA™ links salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid through patented covalent bonding and applies a “neuro-beauty” approach.
A multisensory view of the future
The breadth of this year’s entries shows multisensory design reaching every category and formulation discipline. It gives formulators a reason to consider sensory experience at each stage of development. Visitors to in-cosmetics Asia can touch and test the formulations first-hand and consider how sensory design could inform their own new products.
A dedicated Spotlight On Multisensory Guide will also be available, showcasing the innovations featured in the area and providing visitors with a reference point for exploring the latest developments in sensory formulation.
Sarah Gibson, Event Director at in-cosmetics Asia, said: “Consumers expect products to feel as good as they perform. They want products that suit their rituals and create an emotional connection. Spotlight On Multisensory lets visitors experience first-hand how formulators and ingredient suppliers are responding, from transformative textures and playful formats to innovations that connect skin, senses and wellbeing.”
in-cosmetics Asia 2026 will take place from 3-5 November 2026 at BITEC, Bangkok, co-located with COSMEX, ASEAN’s leading manufacturing, packaging and OEM/ODM exhibition for personal care and dietary supplement products. Register to visit on the website here.
[1] https://www.wgsn.com/en/wgsn/press/press-releases/discover-top-trends-2026-beyond
[2] https://www.mintel.com/insights/beauty-and-personal-care/beauty-trends/
