Ep. 53- “Kicking Off 2026: Top Beauty and Packaging Trends Shaping the Industry ” with Megan Young Gamble, PMP®, Chief Project Officer @ GLC

Megan Young Gamble kicks off 2026 with a focus on consistency and real industry impact, sharing the top trends shaping the beauty and packaging industries. Key highlights include the rise of health-first beauty and holistic wellness, AI-powered hyper-personalization, the increasing dominance of digital and social commerce, and accelerated biotech innovation for sustainability. On the packaging front, Megan details trends like mono-material design (driven by new regulations like Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), accessibility and inclusive packaging, smart connected packaging using QR, AR, and AI, personalized eco-luxury packaging, and the continued importance of refill and closed-loop systems. Throughout, Megan emphasizes practical advice for brands and startups, regulatory compliance, and the ongoing shift towards a consumer-centric, sustainable future. She also encourages listener engagement and ongoing conversation around industry changes. 

Listen to the additional podcasts mentioned on the show 

• Kickoff 2025 Trends & Transitions. Listen here
• Inside MakeUp in New York: Day 1 - Innovation and Tech. Listen here
• Inside MakeUp in New York: Day 2-Packaging & Sustainability. Listen here
• Sustainability and Cost-Effective Measures in Packaging and Product Development. Listen here
• When to Optimize Your Packaging. Listen here
• How Connected Packaging Shapes Sustainability and Traceability. Listen here
• WTF! What the TariFfs! Pt1. Listen here
• WTF! What the TariFfs! Pt2. Listen here

Affiliate & Other Links:

[Megan Young Gamble Links]

• [AFFILIATE] Ready to crank out your content in as little as 5 minutes? Use Castmagic, AI powered tool to take your content creation from overwhelmed to overjoyed by saving hours of developing content. Save 20 hours by Signing up today!https://get.castmagic.io/Megan 
• [FREEBIE] Learn about “day in the life” of a Packaging Project Manager → Get our “Starter Packaging PM Freebie” [link] https://glc.ck.page/thestarterpackagingprojectmanager 
• [FREEBIE] Access commonly referenced organizations and tools in ONE PLACE with our handy guide HERE [link] https://bit.ly/OSTPlay 
• Subscribe & Access our Video Vault YouTube Channel [ link] https://bit.ly/GLConYouTube
• Join our Email List [link] https://glc.ck.page/55128ae04b 
• Follow and Connect with Megan on LinkedIn[link] https://linkedin.com/in/megangamble
• Learn about GLC, Packaging & Project execution firm for CPG brands http://www.getlevelconsulting.com
• Are you a STARTUP Brand? Join my FREE COMMUNITY ->https://theacceleratesquad.com 
• Work with Me @ GLC, Schedule Discovery Call https://calendly.com/getlevelconsulting/15-minute-insight-session
• Got a topic you'd love us to cover? Share your ideas here [link] https://bit.ly/ppptopicform

Additional Resources:

• NIQ’s State of Beauty 2025 preview report : https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2025/niqs-state-of-beauty-2025-beauty-breaks-boundaries-with-10-growth-digital-surge-wellness-shift/
• Genz Focused Trend Report : https://www.designerpeople.com/blog/packaging-design-trends-2026/
• Myers Packaging Report : https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2025/niqs-state-of-beauty-2025-beauty-breaks-boundaries-with-10-growth-digital-surge-wellness-shift/

Quotes and Hooks:  

• It’s a new year, but it’s the same impact that we’re delivering.
• I really believe in not giving fluff. I really believe in just giving straight facts.
• Beauty is evolving to more of a holistic lifestyle category.
• Personalization has always been consistent within the beauty realm.
• Digital and social commerce continues to dominate retail strategy.
• Sustainability means something different to everybody.
• Packaging is becoming the digital passport.
• in 2026 sustainability is becomes a compliance priority in the US because states are activating EPR extended producer responsibility laws that makes brands responsible for packaging waste