Visual Insight

From Resolutions to Results: The 8 Visual Trends That Hook Health-Conscious Millennials and Gen Z

Vizit Team
5 min read
Jan 16, 2025

The start of a new year is a time for fresh starts, and millions of consumers embrace this moment with resolutions to prioritize their health and wellness. Millennials and Gen Z are at the forefront of this movement, fueling the $480 billion U.S. wellness market, which continues to grow by 5-10% annually. From clean beauty products to healthier snack and grocery choices, these younger shoppers are searching for brands that align with their values.

For ecommerce brands, this seasonal focus on health is an incredible opportunity to connect with these consumers. But standing out requires more than just a good product—it takes visuals and messaging that resonate with their aspirations and grab attention in a competitive market.

Visual Trends That Resonate with Health-Conscious Shoppers

For Millennials and Gen Z, shopping isn’t just about the product: it’s about finding brands that align with their values. When it comes to healthy snacks and clean beauty, these consumers are drawn to visual content that tells a story of transparency, quality, and modernity.

Healthy Snacks: Freshness Meets Functionality

In the snacks and beverages space, visuals are all about capturing the essence of freshness and abundance.

Simplicity Is Key

Simplicity works. Hero images featuring a single snack or drink front and center, with bulk packaging subtly positioned in the background, keep things clean and focused. A crisp white background ties it all together, making the product feel fresh and approachable​.

A set of three scorecards featuring snack and beverage products.  First visual: The original image of a tuna snack kit, scoring 86.0. Second visual: A tangerine sparkling water pack, with a heatmap overlay, scoring 81.5. Third visual: A sparkling beverage variety pack, with a visual appeal driver map, scoring 64.0.

Highlighting Variety and Value

Bulk packs are more than practical—they’re an opportunity to grab attention. Think snack packets spilling out of a box or beverage cans arranged dynamically to highlight variety and value. When styled with minimal margins and clean lines, they hit just the right note​.

A set of three scorecards highlighting snack and beverage visuals.  First visual: The original image of colorful drink cans, scoring 97.0. Second visual: A variety snack pack, with a heatmap overlay, scoring 85.0. Third visual: A stack of popcorn bags, overlaid with a visual appeal driver map, scoring 97.0.

Ingredients Take Center Stage

Nothing says “natural” like fresh ingredients. Carousel images featuring fruits, nuts, or herbs placed alongside the product help reinforce its wholesome appeal. Bright, vibrant backgrounds only enhance the story of quality and freshness​.

A set of three scorecards promoting health-conscious food products.  First visual: The original image emphasizing the benefits of lemons, scoring 95.4. Second visual: A seed-based snack visual, with a heatmap overlay highlighting vibrant areas, scoring 98.3. Third visual: Strawberry fruit rolls with "no added sugar" branding, overlaid with a visual appeal driver map, scoring 90.9.

Aspirational Settings

Whether it’s a post-hike energy boost or a sunny picnic spread, showing the food or drinks in relatable, aspirational settings helps shoppers see how the products fit into their lives. It’s lifestyle marketing done right​.

A set of three scorecards focused on adventure and fitness products.  First visual: The original image promoting an energy bar for outdoor adventures, scoring 95.4. Second visual: A low-calorie sports drink, with a heatmap overlay on the product branding, scoring 98.7. Third visual: A fitness drink for sustained energy, with a visual appeal driver map, scoring 100.

Clean Beauty: Transparency and Results That Shine

In clean beauty, visuals need to build trust by showing authenticity and delivering results. Here’s how leading brands are winning over Millennials and Gen Z.

Highlighting Texture

Textures tell a story. Swatches of creams, gels, or powders arranged in smooth streaks or natural droplets bring the product to life. These details let shoppers imagine how it feels and why it’s a step above the rest​.

A set of three scorecards representing visuals for health-conscious audiences.  First visual: The original image of a cosmetic palette scoring 84.0. Second visual: A hydrating tinted moisturizer overlaid with a visual appeal driver map, scoring 80.0. Third visual: A ceramide barrier serum overlaid with a visual appeal driver map, also scoring 80.0.

Up Close and Functional

Millennials and Gen Zers like to see how a product actually works.  From a perfectly extended mascara wand to a sleek pump mechanism, these visual details build confidence and emphasize usability.

A set of three scorecards showcasing skincare and cosmetic products.  First visual: The original image of a vitamin C serum bottle, scoring 78.0. Second visual: A mascara tube with a heatmap overlay highlighting the applicator, scoring 74.0. Third visual: A vitamin C serum with citrus imagery, overlaid with a visual appeal driver map, scoring 80.0.

Ingredient Highlights

Natural elements steal the show. Carousel visuals featuring elements such as fresh oranges, botanical extracts, or a drizzle of honey reinforce a product’s authenticity and align with clean beauty’s commitment to natural ingredients​.

A set of three scorecards focused on ingredient-driven skincare visuals.  First visual: The original image of a hydrating serum featuring niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, scoring 86.5. Second visual: A brightening serum with glycolic acid and vitamin C, with a heatmap overlay, scoring 92.2. Third visual: A mineral-based product highlighting zinc oxide, with a visual appeal driver map, scoring 89.1.

Before-and-After Comparisons

Proof is everything. Side-by-side visuals showing real transformations are a shortcut to trust. Pair them with concise stats like “90% saw clearer skin,” and you’ve got a winning formula for results-driven shoppers​.

A set of three scorecards showing product effectiveness visuals.  First visual: The original image of a "before and after" result for pore-tightening serum, scoring 88.5. Second visual: An eye-focused cosmetic product, with a heatmap overlay on key areas, scoring 97.0. Third visual: A body product for evening skin tone, overlaid with a visual appeal driver map, scoring 97.7.

Why Seasonal Trends Matter

Seasonal trends in ecommerce aren’t just about increased sales—they’re about meeting customers where they are during pivotal moments of the year. January, in particular, offers a rare alignment of consumer intent and market opportunity as shoppers actively seek products that help them stick to their New Year’s resolutions.

When brands align their strategies with these seasonal shifts, they show consumers that they understand their aspirations and priorities. It’s not only about selling a product, but also being part of their journey, which builds trust and loyalty that lasts long after the season ends.

Making the Most of Seasonal Moments

Seasonal visuals tied to New Year’s resolutions are a chance to connect with health-conscious shoppers when they’re most motivated. For ecommerce brands, getting it right means tapping into the visual trends that matter: textures that build trust, ingredients that tell a story, and settings that make products feel like part of their lifestyle.

In a season where every impression counts, Vizit’s AI-powered platform gives you the confidence to deliver visuals that inspire trust and drive conversions. Ready to take your content to the next level? Learn more about our platform and see how Vizit can help you transform your visual strategy.

Subscribe to our

Stay up to date with all the news from Vizit, we promise not to spam.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo of Vizit's
Visual AI Platform

Vizit is the first—and only—way to predict, measure, optimize, and monitor your ecommerce content’s effectiveness so you can deliver the right content for consumer audiences at scale.