2025 Skincare Trends: What’s New (and What Still Works) According to Hüd

Norwegian skin expert Gry Tømte is the founder of the award-winning Melbourne skin clinic Hüd (“skin”), known for its science-backed approach to long-term skin health. She’s upfront about offering “no BS” treatments, a breath of fresh air in an industry saturated with skincare trends that might work.

Right now, one lucky Broadsheet Access member can win a year of skin treatments at Hüd tailored to your skin goals. You’ll kick off with a comprehensive consultation with one of Hüd’s dermal clinicians. From there, they’ll tailor 12 treatments, designed specifically to suit your skin. Did we mention the package is worth $6000?

So, skip the infinite Tiktok reviews and thousand-step AM and PM routines, Tømte’s done her homework. Here’s what the founder can tell us about which 2025 skincare trends to keep tabs on and which ones fall under the “BS” umbrella. Plus, treatments that’ve stood the test of time.

Trends to follow

Prebiotics and postbiotics
After years of “barrier repair” being the buzzword, 2025 has taken things one layer deeper. The spotlight is now firmly on our skin’s microbiome. We now know that healthy skin isn’t about wiping bacteria out, but balancing them. Instead of eradicating Cutibacterium acnes (which is overgrown in acne) or Staphylococcus aureus (overgrown in eczema), the goal is to bring the skin’s ecosystem into harmony. Enter prebiotics (food for good bacteria) and postbiotics (their byproducts). These ingredients calm inflammation, support immune function and help with rosacea, acne, eczema and more. This isn’t hype – when formulated properly, they work.

Biomimetic peels
We’ve come a long way from Samantha’s infamous Sex and the City “red raw” peel. The old-school mindset of “go hard or go home” – where visible peeling meant effectiveness – is officially outdated. Today, it's all about biomimetic peels: treatments that work with your skin, not against it. These formulas mimic your skin’s natural renewal process, using enzymes, peptides, and gentle acids to resurface without stripping or triggering inflammation. At Hüd, we see incredible results using the European Larimedical range, even on clients with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema.

Regenerative lasers
Lasers aren’t new, but the science behind them is evolving fast. Devices like Aerolase and BBL Hero are part of the regenerative shift: rather than blasting away at the surface, non-ablative lasers trigger skin cells to behave like younger versions of themselves, without trauma. You get collagen stimulation, pigment correction and a reduction in inflammation in the skin without triggering chronic inflammation or collagen breakdown.

Trends to unfollow

AI skin scanners
It sounds fab! A magic machine scans your face, analyses your skin and delivers a treatment plan with clinical precision. The problem? We’re not quite there yet. Most AI tools are still in development or rely on questionable datasets. At best, they’re decent digital mirrors. At worst, they oversimplify complex skin concerns, ignore the importance of the microbiome, or overlook important links entirely. No app can replace a well-trained, highly educated, hands-on skin therapist. Not yet, anyway.

Aggressive actives and peels
We’ve all seen the content. Skin so stripped it looks like a disco ball. Daily prescription tretinoin, weekly acids and barrier breakdown disguised as “purging”. It’s tired. It’s damaging. And it’s outdated; 2025 is about skin intelligence, not skin punishment.

Golden oldies

Needling
Microneedling has stood the test of time, and for good reason. It works! Controlled micro-injury triggers the wound-healing response, which stimulates embryonic collagen and elastin, and improves tone, texture and scarring. Whether combined with peptides, exosomes, or left to your body’s natural repair system, it works. At Hüd, we’re about to launch some exciting new serums to amplify results even further.

Human insight and touch
No matter how advanced tools and lasers get, the most important piece of your skincare puzzle is still the person reading and touching your skin. A skilled practitioner notices subtle shifts, adjusts treatments based on your life and holds space for the emotional side of skin. You can’t automate that.

Tømte’s big takeaway

If 2024 was about barrier recovery, 2025 is about skin intelligence. Expect smarter ingredients, better delivery systems and a deeper respect for individual skin microbiome biology, touch and individual care.

For your chance to win a year of free, tailored treatments at Hüd, join Access today. We bring the very best of Melbourne and Sydney to our community. And it’s only $12 a month.