Inside My Algorithm: A Mintel BPC Professional’s Newest Web Obsessions 

My algorithm has been working extra time recently. From movie star make-up strategies and unexpectedly elite Costco magnificence offers to a surprisingly passionate nook of Reddit devoted fully to laundry, these are the web obsessions at present shaping my Instagram and TikTok. On this publish, I’m unpacking what’s dominating my feed and what these traits reveal about the place the sweetness and private care trade is headed subsequent.

Nina Park, a famend movie star make-up artist, is making waves along with her effortlessly stylish and glowing seems which have taken social media by storm. Identified for her signature dewy pores and skin, smooth monochromatic tones, and completely blended finishes, her artistry exudes an understated class that’s charming audiences.

Over the previous few weeks, my TikTok feed has been flooded with make-up artists and wonder fanatics recreating Park’s iconic seems—usually incorporating a number of lip liners and cool-toned eyeliners. What I really like most about Park’s method is her reliance on smooth, mild strokes of product, prioritizing delicate enhancement over precision – leading to a fantastically blurred, ethereal impact. 

What it means: As we head into 2026, the “Nina Park” impact is poised to dominate. Count on to see sheer, shimmery eyeshadows, delicate eyeliner types, mauve and berry tones on lips and cheeks, and multi-dimensional, blurred lips – that may solely be achieved via strategic lip liner layering.  

Whereas Costco has lengthy carried magnificence merchandise (I distinctly keep in mind my sisters and me receiving the jumbo multi-pack of Neutrogena Make-up Remover each Christmas throughout my teen years!), the warehouse membership has steadily expanded its magnificence assortment over time—tapping into Ok-beauty traits and rising its status choices. 

Once I joined Costco initially of 2025, my algorithm instantly started serving me “Costco finds” content material—devoted accounts and posts throughout social media showcasing magnificence offers. 

Social media posts containing “Costco” (and associated phrases) have steadily elevated over the previous 5 years.  

Each TikTok and Reddit are scorching spots for Costco content material. The subreddit r/Costco boasts a powerful 1.5 million members, far surpassing different retailer subreddits like r/samsclub (63k), r/aldi (275k), and r/walmart (362k), highlighting the energy of its on-line group and the virality of magnificence offers.  

As for what’s caught my eye essentially the most…  

What it means: When customers are requested what components affect the place they store for BPC merchandise, the most typical response is “affordability” (57%), adopted by “a variety of merchandise” (45%). Because the cost-of-living disaster continues, affordability will doubtless play an excellent bigger position in influencing buying behaviors. Count on much more premium/luxurious manufacturers to supply restricted version, Costco-exclusive worth units to attraction to warehouse consumers.  

I didn’t have a “laundry obsession” on my 2026 bingo card, however right here we’re. With roughly 203k members, r/laundry will not be the most important subreddit, however the ardour its members have for all issues laundry is plain.   

Members routinely share ideas, product suggestions, and intelligent hacks for tackling cussed stains or optimizing wash routines, fostering a vibrant trade of data. A fast scroll via the subreddit reveals one of many largest trends among the many group – laundry “spa days” – which is actually the observe of deep cleansing dirty clothes with numerous detergents, emphasizing using particular enzymes for optimum outcomes (coined by person KismaiAesthetics). 

To say that I’ve been influenced by r/laundry could be an understatement. And due to my private buying assistant (by that I imply Mintel’s GNPD instrument), I’m in a position to shortly scout the detergents that characteristic lipase (an enzyme utilized in laundry care – and often talked about amongst group members).  

There’s a sense among the many r/laundry group that the efficacy of laundry formulations has diminished, requiring customers to buy extra objects to completely clear their clothes. Dissatisfaction with detergents’ cleaning capabilities is additionally mirrored in client knowledge, with laundry customers citing the incapacity to successfully get rid of cussed stains because the main supply of frustration in each the UK and China. 

This mounting discontent places critical stress on manufacturers to show their merchandise truly work. Whereas it may appear far-fetched to suppose a distinct segment Reddit group might affect mainstream traits, historical past tells a distinct story (taking a look at you, r/SkincareAddiction and the Korean sunscreen increase). 

With the hole between social media buzz and real-world product innovation shrinking quickly, I wouldn’t be shocked if we begin seeing extra cloth care manufacturers spotlight using enzymes, like lipase, of their formulations and on-pack. The demand for higher efficiency is loud and clear, and manufacturers that hear might clear up in extra methods than one.