LSN : Daily Signals : Foresight Friday: Alice Crossley, senior foresight analyst

L’Oréal shines a light on next-generation beauty tech at CES

LED mask by L'Oréal Groupe at CES 2026, Las Vegas, US

Light Straight + Multi-styler by L'Oréal Groupe at CES 2026, Las Vegas, US

US – At The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas, multinational beauty brand L’Oréal unveiled two light-powered beauty innovations. Both products underscore the group’s push to fuse scientific research with consumer-facing technology and were given Innovation Award Honorees.

Its LED Face Mask is an ultra-thin, flexible silicone wearable that delivers targeted light to the skin. Its soft, skin-like construction provides a comfortable form of beauty tech through, aligning with insights we highlighted in our report The Synthocene Era: Merging Human and Machine Intelligence.

The Light Straight + Multi-styler applies the same care-led logic to hairstyling. Rather than relying on extreme heat, the device uses near-infrared light to shape hair at lower temperatures, reducing damage while improving speed and smoothness.

‘At L’Oréal, we’ve always believed that beauty is deeply connected to scientific discovery, a belief that has been central to our company since its inception over 115 years ago,’ said Barbara Lavernos, deputy CEO in charge of research, innovation and technology at L’Oréal Groupe.

Together, these innovations point to a more gentle, preventative and body-integrated approach to beauty technology, moving away from hard, clinical devices towards formats that feel wearable.

Strategic opportunity

Translate high-performance innovation into soft and wearable formats. Design technologies that integrate seamlessly with the body, lowering adoption barriers and positioning human–machine augmentation as a natural part of everyday care rituals

Foresight Friday: Alice Crossley, senior foresight analyst

Dunkin’ X Megan Thee Stallion, US

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, senior foresight analyst Alice Crossley explores the growing tension inside health and wellness culture.

: With the dark mornings and the seasonal wave of flu, health and wellness inevitably dominate the mood this time of year. January has long been synonymous with moderation, sobriety and well-intended resolutions. But as we move further towards a year-round culture of health and self-optimisation, a friction is emerging.

: On one hand, January feels as January as ever. Retailers such as M&S are developing nutrient-dense and portion-controlled food ranges with GLP-1 takers in mind. Even Dunkin’ Donuts is using January to pivot towards high-protein products – in this case comically promoted by Megan Thee Stallion via an alter ego, Pro Tina.

: On the other, GQ led its 2026 editorial content with Why My 2026 Resolution Is to Start Drinking Again reflecting on the loss of spontaneity, social connection and fun that came with exploring sobriety. Elle India declared In 2026, Having Fun Is No Longer A Guilty Pleasure and is aiming for this year to mark the return of whimsy for young people. Meanwhile, professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at UCL Dr Daisy Fancourt penned an article for The Guardian outlining the health benefits of engaging in the arts titled Art could save your life!

: Together, these signals point to a pendulum swing. People are pushing back against the tight leash of optimisation and instead are recognising that enjoyment and connection are also integral to wellbeing. Sometimes, wellness looks like swapping your Whoop band for a glass of wine and dancing with friends. It’s a shift we first explored in our Healthy Hedonism report, and will continue tracking during 2026.

Quote of the week

'I bet if a new drug came on the market offering the same catalogue of benefits as the arts, most people would want to take it'

Dr Daisy Fancourt, professor of psychobiology and epidemiology, University College London (source: The Guardian)

Stat: Auction house sales rebound due to collector items and private sales

Sotheby’s and Luxury Group by Mariott International, US

US – After two years of decline, the global auction market showed renewed momentum in 2025, with Christie’s and Sotheby’s projecting higher revenues than in 2024, fuelled by trophy lots, luxury goods and continued strength in private sales.

Both houses are projecting a 26% year-on-year uplift for the second half of 2025, signalling growing market confidence.

Sotheby’s is leading, with £5.6bn ($7bn, €6.44bn) in expected global sales, an increase of 17% since 2024. Public auctions totalled £4.56bn ($5.7bn, €5.24bn) boosted by a strong November season in New York, including the sale of Klimt’s Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer for £189m ($236.3m, €217m).

Christie’s follows, with a projected turnover of £4.96bn ($6.2bn, €5.7bn), a 6% annual increase, with public auctions rising by 8% to £3.76bn ($4.7bn, €4.32bn).

Private sales remained significant, accounting for 24% of revenue at Christie’s and 17% at Sotheby’s, with Christie’s noting that its three highest-value transactions took place privately.

Luxury sales are also rebounding, rising 22% at Sotheby’s to £2.16bn ($2.7bn, €2.48bn) and by 17% at Christie’s to £636m ($795m, €731m). ‘The energy has returned to the saleroom,’ said Christie’s chief executive Bonnie Brennan.

Explore our report The New Auction House Playbook to understand how auction houses are catering to the lifestyle interests of younger art collectors by holding sales of rare experiences and digital-first fandom during a period of economic downturn.

Strategic opportunity

Develop discreet, relationship-led sales models that cater to UHNW clients’ desire for privacy, mirroring auction houses’ shift toward high-value, behind-closed-doors transactions for collectors, including those who are risk averse