{
  "dataset": "UGC Trends",
  "title": "UGC trends September 2026",
  "edition": "2026-09",
  "published": "2026-10-19T19:30:04.573Z",
  "researched": "2026-10-19",
  "url": "https://ugcstars.com/trends/2026-09",
  "source": "Product categories researched each month from public sources (search interest, industry reports, news), each with its source links, checked when published. Creator counts and on-site activity from UGCStars.",
  "measures": "Rising product categories ranked by the strength of the evidence, each mapped to a UGCStars niche, with the listed creators in that niche.",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "credit": "UGCStars UGC Trends"
  },
  "summary": "September was a careful month for shoppers, but they kept spending on things that make them feel good or help them stay well. Korean skincare and body care led the social shopping charts, Pilates gear and protein-packed drinks and snacks kept growing, and Halloween shopping started early.",
  "trends": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "rank_change": null,
      "trend": "Korean skincare and body care",
      "niche": "Skincare",
      "why": "Korean body washes, peel sprays and firming creams are topping social shop charts, and brands need real-skin routine videos to show texture and results.",
      "content_types": [
        "Product Demos",
        "Tutorials",
        "Product Reviews",
        "Unboxing"
      ],
      "creators_on_ugcstars": 1119,
      "article": "https://ugcstars.com/trends/korean-body-care-ugc-creators",
      "evidence": [
        {
          "text": "Korea's cosmetics and skin care exports to the United States were $221,381,271 in September 2026, +23.1% versus the same month a year earlier, the highest month since records began.",
          "source": "Aesthetic Intelligence (Korea Customs Service data)",
          "url": "https://www.aesthetic-intelligence.ai/en/trade/cosmetics/us",
          "date": null
        },
        {
          "text": "The medicube Smooth & Clear Body Care Set was the best-selling product on TikTok Shop USA in the 30 days to 1 October 2026, with $4.9M in revenue, up 168%.",
          "source": "RapidTok",
          "url": "https://rapidtok.com/blog/10-best-selling-tiktok-shop-products-usa-september-2026",
          "date": "2026-10-04"
        },
        {
          "text": "A medicube PDRN collagen gua sha neck cream was the top TikTok Shop UK product in the week ending 27 September, with £136K GMV.",
          "source": "Z Media",
          "url": "https://www.z.media/insights/tiktok-shop-uk-trending-week-ending-2026-09-27",
          "date": "2026-09-28"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "rank_change": null,
      "trend": "Reformer and mat Pilates at home",
      "niche": "Fitness",
      "why": "Pilates gear stayed a retail bright spot while shoppers cut back, and new home reformers mean brands need creators who can show setup, fit and real routines.",
      "content_types": [
        "Tutorials",
        "Product Demos",
        "Product Reviews",
        "Vlogs"
      ],
      "creators_on_ugcstars": 1133,
      "article": "https://ugcstars.com/trends/pilates-ugc-creators",
      "evidence": [
        {
          "text": "Circana listed yoga and mat Pilates products among retail bright spots even as US unit demand fell 1.7% in August 2026.",
          "source": "Circana",
          "url": "https://www.circana.com/post/as-spending-tightens-consumers-choose-what-they-need-and-what-they-love-reports-circana",
          "date": "2026-09-14"
        },
        {
          "text": "Pilates participation among US fitness-facility members rose 28.1% between 2021 and 2025, and 13.8 million consumers now take part in Pilates in the US.",
          "source": "Health & Fitness Business",
          "url": "https://www.healthandfitnessbusiness.org/september2026/feature-how-pilates-took-over",
          "date": null
        },
        {
          "text": "Technogym launched its first Pilates reformer, Technogym Reform, in the US for homes, hotels, residential developments and fitness clubs.",
          "source": "Athletech News",
          "url": "https://athletechnews.com/technogym-launches-first-pilates-reformer-in-us/",
          "date": "2026-09-17"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "rank_change": null,
      "trend": "Clear protein drinks and functional snacks",
      "niche": "Food",
      "why": "New sparkling protein drinks and snacks with added benefits are launching fast, and brands need taste tests and label reads to win over curious shoppers.",
      "content_types": [
        "Product Reviews",
        "Testimonials",
        "Vlogs",
        "Product Demos"
      ],
      "creators_on_ugcstars": 1028,
      "article": "https://ugcstars.com/trends/protein-drink-ugc-videos",
      "evidence": [
        {
          "text": "Mintel calls clear, sparkling protein drinks whitespace in better-for-you soda, as brands including Premier Protein and Vital Proteins launch sparkling formats.",
          "source": "Food Business News",
          "url": "https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/31024-protein-sodas-muscling-into-the-mainstream",
          "date": "2026-09-17"
        },
        {
          "text": "Snacks with benefits such as protein, energy, digestion and hydration reached $19 billion in retail sales, growing 12.7% versus the prior year.",
          "source": "Conagra Brands",
          "url": "https://www.conagrabrands.com/news-room/news-conagra-brands-2026-future-of-snacking-report-sheds-light-on-american-snacking-habits-prn-122965",
          "date": "2026-09-23"
        },
        {
          "text": "Among GLP-1 users, 52% report buying more high-protein dairy products and 43% report buying more protein drinks.",
          "source": "Prepared Foods",
          "url": "https://www.preparedfoods.com/articles/131885-glp-1-users-reshape-frozen-refrigerated-food-demand",
          "date": "2026-09-09"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "rank": 4,
      "rank_change": null,
      "trend": "Pet Halloween costumes",
      "niche": "Pets",
      "why": "Halloween shopping started early and pets are part of the plan, so pet brands want try-on and comfort videos that answer sizing questions before the big day.",
      "content_types": [
        "Unboxing",
        "Product Reviews",
        "Photography",
        "Product Demos"
      ],
      "creators_on_ugcstars": 536,
      "article": "https://ugcstars.com/trends/pet-halloween-costume-ugc",
      "evidence": [
        {
          "text": "NRF expects Halloween spending to reach $13.5 billion this year, including $0.92 billion on pet costumes.",
          "source": "National Retail Federation",
          "url": "https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-halloween-survey-shows-consumer-spending-expected-to-reach-13-5-billion",
          "date": "2026-09-22"
        },
        {
          "text": "Popular pet costumes include a pumpkin (11.6%), a hot dog (5.9%) and a ghost (2.8%), and 49% of consumers plan to begin Halloween shopping in September or earlier.",
          "source": "National Retail Federation",
          "url": "https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-halloween-survey-shows-consumer-spending-expected-to-reach-13-5-billion",
          "date": "2026-09-22"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "rank": 5,
      "rank_change": null,
      "trend": "Energy drinks",
      "niche": "Food",
      "why": "Energy drinks kept growing at convenience stores while most snacks and drinks slowed, giving beverage brands a reason to fund taste tests and routine videos.",
      "content_types": [
        "Product Reviews",
        "Testimonials",
        "Vlogs"
      ],
      "creators_on_ugcstars": 1028,
      "article": null,
      "evidence": [
        {
          "text": "Casey's said energy drinks and nicotine alternatives continue to outperform its grocery category, adding that energy continues to perform well at 12%.",
          "source": "Casey's earnings call (The Motley Fool transcript)",
          "url": "https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/09/09/caseys-casy-q1-2027-earnings-call-transcript/",
          "date": "2026-09-09"
        },
        {
          "text": "Circana named energy drinks among US retail bright spots as August 2026 unit demand fell 1.7%.",
          "source": "Circana",
          "url": "https://www.circana.com/post/as-spending-tightens-consumers-choose-what-they-need-and-what-they-love-reports-circana",
          "date": "2026-09-14"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "rank": 6,
      "rank_change": null,
      "trend": "Pokemon and trading cards",
      "niche": "Gaming",
      "why": "Demand for trading cards is strong enough to strain marketplaces, and brands and sellers want pack openings and collection videos from creators who know the hobby.",
      "content_types": [
        "Unboxing",
        "Product Reviews",
        "Vlogs"
      ],
      "creators_on_ugcstars": 193,
      "article": null,
      "evidence": [
        {
          "text": "Mercari restricted listings of Pokémon 30th anniversary products amid a global card boom; Pokémon card prices have surged 1,350% since 2020, per a Collectors index.",
          "source": "CNBC",
          "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/18/pokmon-cards-mercari-stock.html",
          "date": "2026-09-18"
        },
        {
          "text": "Circana named trading cards among the bright spots in US retail, benefiting from shoppers' wish for entertainment and connection.",
          "source": "Circana",
          "url": "https://www.circana.com/post/as-spending-tightens-consumers-choose-what-they-need-and-what-they-love-reports-circana",
          "date": "2026-09-14"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "rank": 7,
      "rank_change": null,
      "trend": "Masstige haircare",
      "niche": "Beauty",
      "why": "Mid-priced beauty brands are growing fastest and haircare is their biggest category, so brands want reviews that show salon-like results at an everyday price.",
      "content_types": [
        "Product Reviews",
        "Tutorials",
        "Testimonials"
      ],
      "creators_on_ugcstars": 1130,
      "article": null,
      "evidence": [
        {
          "text": "Circana says masstige brands account for just 10% to 11% of total beauty sales but deliver the strongest growth, with haircare masstige's largest share at 17% of category sales.",
          "source": "BeautyMatter (Circana)",
          "url": "https://www.beautymatter.com/articles/the-new-consumer-priorities-driving-beauty-growth",
          "date": "2026-09-06"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "on_ugcstars": null,
  "corrections": []
}