Beauty Trend Forecast 2026: Macro Trend 03 - Affordable Fun
- Jennifer Carlsson
- Jul 10
- 4 min read
Playful, Inclusive, and Accessible Beauty for the Next Generation
Affordable Fun reimagines what youthful, expressive beauty looks like in 2026. This macro trend captures a generation that embraces joyful experimentation, visual playfulness, and real inclusivity—all without the high price tag. Built for Gen Z, it prioritizes community-driven branding, pop culture fluency, and mass retail accessibility, offering low-risk, high-reward products that invite spontaneity and creativity. With bright packaging, gentle formulas, and a tone that’s more fun than flawless, Affordable Fun turns beauty into a low-pressure, high-engagement experience. These brands meet consumers where they are—on TikTok, at Ulta, or scrolling late-night memes—speaking their language and inviting them in.
This is one of the 7 macro trends featured in our free Beauty Trend Forecast 2026. You can download the pdf for the free report right now or get a broader overview in our previous blog post.
To dive deeper into this and other trends shaping the industry, explore the full Beauty Trend Forecast 2026 reports—dedicated to Skincare, Makeup, Haircare, and Fragrance. These comprehensive reports offer category-specific insights, strategic recommendations, and in-depth analysis not available in the free version.
Key Points
Playful and Engaging Branding
Pop Culture Collabs
Accessible
Mass Retail Distribution
Affordable
Gentle non-irritating formulas
Low-Risk Experimentation
Real Inclusivity
Brand Community
Age
Gen-Z
Average Price Point
$ 18
Trend Phase
Rising
Brand Archetype
Brand Examples
About-Face
Billie
Bubble
Byoma
Daise
Experiment
Good Dye Young
Half Magic Beauty
Hally Hair
Made By Mitchell
Milk Makeup
Sallve
Starface
Playful and Relatable
The Affordable Fun trend speaks directly to Gen Z with its unapologetically playful energy. These brands embrace vibrant colour palettes, whimsical characters, and interactive packaging that invites touch, play, and repeat use. Branding is light-hearted and meme-friendly, often tapping into pop culture references, internet humour, or strategic collabs with creators and franchises that already hold cultural capital. This visual and emotional language helps beauty feel less intimidating and more like a creative outlet or expression of personality.
Affordable and Accessible
Accessibility is a cornerstone of this trend, not just in pricing but in placement. These products are widely distributed through mass retail channels like Target, Ulta, Tesco, and Boots, making them easy to discover and repurchase. The affordable pricing structure allows for spontaneous trial and easy entry points for younger consumers. Value-driven without feeling cheap, this segment strikes a balance between fun and function that aligns with the budget-conscious but brand-savvy mindset of Gen Z and younger Millennials.
Gentle Formulations
Formulation in the Affordable Fun space prioritizes safety, comfort, and ease of use. Products are typically gentle, dermatologist-tested, and designed to suit sensitive or acne-prone skin, which resonates with a generation often navigating hormonal changes and skin uncertainty. This creates a low-risk environment for experimentation, where consumers can try bold formats, textures, or colours without fear of irritation or high-cost commitment. It’s skincare and makeup that feels as forgiving as it is expressive.
Inclusivity and Community
For Gen Z, inclusivity isn’t optional—it’s a baseline expectation. This generation is quick to disengage from brands that fail to create products for everyone. In the Affordable Fun space, inclusivity shows up not just in shade ranges or gender-neutral messaging, but in how brands foster genuine community. Real skin, real bodies, and real experiences are front and centre, with acne positivity, body diversity, and gender expression celebrated without tokenism. Many of these brands actively involve their audiences through co-creation and open feedback loops, building not just loyalty but a shared sense of ownership and belonging.
Brands to Watch
Bubble
Bubble delivers fun, effective skincare made for Gen Z, blending dermatologist-backed formulations with bright, approachable design. Founded in 2019, the brand stands out for its focus on acne-prone and sensitive skin, using gentle ingredients like niacinamide and squalane. With colourful packaging, easy-to-use pumps, and transparent communication, Bubble makes skincare feel supportive, empowering, and stigma-free—turning routine care into a positive, relatable experience.
Byoma
Byoma pairs vibrant, colour-blocked packaging with gentle, science-led formulas designed to repair and protect the skin barrier. Known for its signature Tri-Ceramide Complex, the brand focuses on skin resilience over aggressive treatment. With refillable packaging, affordable pricing, and mass retail placement in Target and Boots, Byoma offers inclusive, minimalist skincare that’s both fun and functional.
New Brand - Daise
Daise, launched in late 2024 by Zuru Edge, is a fragrance-forward bodycare brand designed for mixing, layering, and mood-matching. With vibrant, trend-savvy packaging and a full product range under $7.50—including body mists, foaming washes, and lip balms—Daise is already gaining traction at Ulta, Target, and Tesco. Its playful scent-driven approach bridges Pop Play aesthetics with Selfcare & Chill values.
Made By Mitchell
Made By Mitchell brings high-impact artistry to everyday makeup with bold pigments, hybrid textures, and viral innovation. Known for products like Blursh and the Color Case, the brand fuses professional-level performance with fearless, street-style branding. Founded by UK makeup artist Mitchell Halliday, it offers vibrant self-expression for creatives and casual users alike—redefining modern colour cosmetics with personality and punch.
