Canal Walk’s centre court buzzed with excitement as Dis-Chem officially opened the third edition of its World of Beauty in Cape Town — which runs until 1 November 2026.
Armed with a beauty passport, attendees collect stamps from around the “world” (the biggest skincare, bodycare, haircare, fragrance, and makeup brands) to unlock extra discounts.
At each station — featuring brands like NYX Professional Makeup, Essence Cosmetics, K-beauty favourites Dr Althea and Medicube, South African skincare go-tos Nivea, Garnier, Eucerin, Vaseline, and many more— an expert is always happy to answer any and every question about the products.
Each station also has engaging games (with sought-after prizes) that will have everyone giggling and tapping into their competitive side.
With each game, you learn something new about each brand’s products — from ingredients and efficacy to texture, smell, and everything else — for a truly hands-on experience.
According to Mintel, gamified beauty pop-ups like these — other major South Africans include the Clicks Beauty Playground and Arc Store’s Arcade gifting and gaming festival — work because they leave a lasting impression, boost engagement by tapping into consumers’ emotions and nostalgia, and spark excitement while encouraging brand discovery and purchases.
The market intelligence and research agency added that its effectiveness further lies in letting customers try products firsthand and, in the process, helping brands build trust, foster word-of-mouth recommendations, and boost loyalty.
Trendy beauty
At the opening night, beauty writer and content creator Candice-Lee Kannemeyer also shared the biggest trends in skincare, beauty, and fragrance — which could be seen in the products on the floor.
Skincare innovation:
Brands are developing freeze-dried, single-dose treatments to cut packaging and protect active ingredients, Kannemeyer explained.
“Brands are exploring ways to reduce packaging, improve convenience, and protect sensitive active ingredients,” she added. “It’s particularly interesting for anyone who loves effective skincare but also appreciates practicality, and I think we’ll be seeing more of this in the future.”
Moreover, she said there is a significant shift toward skin longevity, utilising biotechnology and ingredients such as peptides, ectoin, exosomes, PDRN, and polynucleotides to support long-term skin repair. She added that skincare is finding new ways to support skin repair and regeneration, making this one of the most fascinating areas right now.
Makeup integration
In beauty, the “skinification” of makeup continues, with multi-functional products like peptide-infused lip oils, tinted complexion drops, and hybrid sun-care formulas that provide both treatment and protection.
“It’s really firmly established here in South Africa,” said Kannemeyer. “It’s about blurring the lines between skincare and makeup with products that do more than one job.”
She added that makeup is no longer just about how consumers look; it’s increasingly about how they care for their skin too.
Fragrance evolution
New fragrance trends include savoury, botanical scents inspired by nature (tomato leaf, coriander, cucumber, beetroot, and olive oil).
“These are earthy, green, and atmospheric notes that capture nature more realistically,” remarked Kannemeyer. “I love how fragrance is becoming more adventurous, inviting us to explore scents that are less predictable and more individual.”
Driven by their social media popularity, solid perfumes in tactile, portable compacts are making waves in the fragrance world, Kannemeyer explained. They are convenient, easy to carry, and perfect for touch-ups on the go.
