The line between cosmetics and skin health is becoming increasingly blurred. Consumers are no longer looking only for products that improve the appearance of their skin: they are also paying closer attention to efficacy, active ingredients, tolerability and scientific credibility. It is within this space, somewhere between beauty and pharmaceutical care, that dermocosmetics are moving further into the mainstream.
The figures reflect the scale of this evolution. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global dermocosmetics market is expected to grow from USD 52.59 billion in 2026 to USD 117 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 10.51%. Just as importantly, pharmacies and drugstores are projected to remain the leading distribution channel, accounting for 59.64% of the market in 2026.
This is not simply a question of where a product is sold. The retail environment also influences how consumers perceive it and, consequently, what they expect from the formulation, the brand and its packaging.
Why the pharmacy channel matters for dermocosmetics
Buying a skincare treatment in a pharmacy creates a different context from purchasing it in a department store, beauty retailer or through social commerce. The proximity to healthcare products, the presence of professional advice and the established perception of the pharmacy as a trusted environment all give efficacy, reliability and scientific validation greater weight.
The growth of dermocosmetics fits naturally into this shift. Statistics identifies increasing demand for dermatologist-recommended active ingredients and a stronger consumer focus on preventive skin health among the factors driving the wider cosmeceuticals market. Clinically established ingredients such as retinoids, niacinamide, vitamin C and peptides are increasingly shaping product development, while dermatologist recommendations continue to strengthen the credibility of skincare brands.
As a result, consumers may evaluate these products differently from conventional cosmetics. Ingredients, concentrations, tolerability, professional recommendations and evidence of efficacy can become as important as brand awareness or visual appeal, particularly in areas such as anti-ageing skincare, sensitive skin, acne care, sun protection and premium treatment products.
The French pharmacy model is gaining international attention
Europe has a long-established relationship between pharmacy and skincare. France, in particular, has helped shape a distinctive dermocosmetic model built around accessible yet technically positioned products, dermatologist-led credibility, pharmacist advice and a communication style that often sits closer to skin health than to traditional beauty advertising.
What is particularly interesting today is the increasing influence of this model outside Europe.
In the United States, the concept of the drugstore has historically been much broader and less specialised than the European pharmacy. Yet interest in French pharmacy skincare has continued to grow, supported by easier access to traditionally European brands and a strong fascination with their clinically oriented positioning.
Recent US beauty coverage provides a clear indication of this trend. Allure has highlighted the popularity of French pharmacy products among American consumers, associating their appeal with accessibility, sophisticated formulations and dermatological research. More recently, Vogue described the growing US fascination with French pharmacy culture and the way products traditionally regarded as functional pharmacy staples in France are being rediscovered through American beauty media and social platforms.
This does not mean that the American drugstore is becoming identical to the European pharmacy. Rather, it suggests that a pharmacy mindset applied to skincare is becoming increasingly attractive: greater emphasis on ingredients, simpler routines, dermatological credibility and products perceived as reliable over the long term.
For dermocosmetic brands, this is an important development because it shows that the codes traditionally associated with European pharmacy skincare can increasingly travel across markets.
Pharmacy does not mean the same thing in every market
The distribution landscape nevertheless remains highly regional. European pharmacies retain a particularly close connection with healthcare professionals and, in many countries, dedicate significant space to dermocosmetics. In the United States, drugstores combine healthcare, personal care, cosmetics and many other categories, while Asia-Pacific offers another retail ecosystem entirely, shaped by highly developed skincare cultures, rapid innovation and a wide variety of online and offline channels.
Asia-Pacific already represented 43.11% of the global dermocosmetics market in 2025, making it the largest region by value, while North America accounted for USD 12.16 billion. The US market alone is projected to reach around USD 12.17 billion in 2026.
Different markets may therefore reach consumers through different channels, but the direction of travel is increasingly similar: skincare is moving towards a combination of science, performance and trust.
And that shift has direct implications for packaging.
Dermocosmetic packaging must communicate science and trust
Dermocosmetics create an interesting packaging challenge. The product still belongs to the beauty world and must therefore remain attractive and distinctive, but it also needs to communicate technical credibility. Packaging may be premium without being overly decorative, clinical without looking strictly medicinal, and sophisticated while maintaining a clear sense of functionality.
This makes packaging an important part of the product promise. Before reading the ingredient list or product claims, consumers already receive signals from the material, format, dispensing system and overall visual language of the pack.
There are also practical requirements to consider. Creams, gels and concentrated treatments may contain sensitive active ingredients that need protection throughout their shelf life. Packaging must help protect the formulation from light, air and moisture, support hygienic use and allow controlled dispensing.
The more advanced the formulation becomes, the more important these functional characteristics can be.
This is precisely where the collapsible aluminium tube becomes particularly relevant.
Why aluminium tubes fit the dermocosmetic market
Aluminium tubes already carry a strong visual connection with pharmaceutical and dermatological care. Their appearance can naturally suggest treatment, precision and reliability, making the format particularly consistent with the positioning of modern dermocosmetic products.
This perception is supported by technical performance. Aluminium provides a highly effective barrier against light, air and moisture, helping to protect sensitive formulations and active ingredients. The product is progressively dispensed without requiring direct contact with the remaining contents, while the collapsible format supports controlled use and helps consumers access a high proportion of the product inside the tube.
At the same time, aluminium tubes offer extensive opportunities for cosmetic branding through different dimensions, finishes and printing options. This allows brands to create packaging that can range from pharma-inspired minimalism to a more sophisticated premium beauty aesthetic, without losing the functional qualities of the format.
That versatility is particularly valuable in dermocosmetics, where packaging increasingly needs to communicate both scientific credibility and desirability.
Bringing a pharmaceutical mindset to cosmetic packaging
For Tubettificio Perfektüp, the growing intersection between cosmetics and pharmaceutical care represents a natural area of expertise.
Perfektüp’s long-standing experience in the production of aluminium tubes for pharmaceutical applications has shaped a quality-first approach that can also be applied to demanding cosmetic projects. The company’s cosmetic packaging offer is built around the same culture of product protection, process control and manufacturing reliability developed through decades of experience with pharmaceutical packaging.
This becomes increasingly relevant as cosmetic formulations move closer to the concept of skin health. When products contain sophisticated active ingredients or are positioned around efficacy, sensitivity and professional credibility, the package needs to do more than look appealing. It must protect the formulation, support appropriate use and reinforce the sense of reliability on which the dermocosmetic proposition itself is built.
Discover Perfektüp’s aluminium tube with ophthalmic nozzle.
The growing international fascination with the French pharmacy model therefore reflects something broader than a passing beauty trend. It points to a change in the way consumers approach skincare: more attention to science, greater demand for credibility and increasing value placed on professional expertise.
In this evolving market, packaging is not simply the container around a dermocosmetic product. It is one of the first ways a brand can communicate what the product stands for: efficacy, protection and trust.
Do you want to stay at the forefront of this trend? Then it’s essential to find the right packaging partner: get in touch to find out more about our solutions. We’d be delighted to hear about your projects and send you a sample of our tubes.
