Last week in beauty, L’Oréal is off to a strong year start with sales up 6.7% in Q1 26.
L’ORÉAL Q1 26 REVENUE HITS €12.15BN UP 6.7% LIKE-FOR-LIKE
L’Oréal reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of €12.15 billion, up 6.7% on a like-for-like basis (3.6% reported), exceeding the global beauty market pace, with Europe, North America and SAPMENA-SSA all posting strong growth. The Professional Products and Dermatological Beauty divisions delivered double-digit adjusted growth, while e-commerce rose at a double-digit rate.
P&G BEAUTY QUARTERLY ORGANIC SALES UP 7% AT $3.86BN
Procter & Gamble reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales of $21.2 billion, a 3% organic increase year-over-year. The Beauty segment posted 7% organic growth, driven by high single-digit gains in Personal Care and Skin Care, partially offset by merchandising investments in Greater China, while Hair Care grew mid-single digits on volume and innovation-based pricing.
BEIERSDORF ORGANIC BEAUTY SALES DOWN 4.7% IN Q1 26
Beiersdorf’s first-quarter organic sales fell 4.6% to €2.5 billion, with the Consumer business down 4.7% due to tough comparisons and market disruptions, while the Derma division (Eucerin, Aquaphor) grew 8.2% on strong innovation. NIVEA dropped 7% but sell-out dynamics are improving, and despite La Prairie falling 14.9%, retail sales rose 9% in China. Full-year guidance remains unchanged.
GALDERMA Q1 26 SALES RISE 25.5% TO $1.47BN
Galderma reported first-quarter 2026 net sales of $1.47 billion, up 25.5% at constant currency, driven by volume across all categories with strong contributions from Injectable Aesthetics (up 13.1% to $648 million) and Therapeutic Dermatology (up 71.3% to $385 million on Nemluvio sales of $185 million). Management reaffirmed full-year guidance of 17-20% constant currency sales growth and a Core EBITDA margin near 26%.
INTERPARFUMS INC. REPORTED SALES UP 2% IN Q1 26 AT $345M
Interparfums reported first-quarter consolidated sales of $345 million, a 2% increase on a reported basis, though organic sales declined 2% excluding a 1% headwind from the Middle East conflict amid ongoing macroeconomic pressures and cautious retailer inventory management. Chairman Jean Madar noted that consumer interest in fragrance remains resilient, with growth more measured compared to recent years as consumers become more selective.
PROYA Q1 26 REVENUE FALLS 2.3% WHILE PROFIT DECLINES 6%
Chinese group Proya reported first-quarter 2026 operating revenue of 2.305 billion RMB ($338 million), down 2.3% year-on-year, with net profit falling 6.05% to 367 million RMB ($54 million), as intensified competition in China’s beauty market and increased promotional spending weighed on results. Despite the decline, all nine analysts covering the stock maintain buy ratings, and the company continues to invest in R&D including a Paris innovation center and AI-driven formulation development.
ESTÉE LAUDER SEEKS €5 BILLION FINANCING FOR PUIG DEAL
Estée Lauder has commissioned J.P. Morgan to structure a financing package of approximately €5 billion to fund a potential merger with Puig, sending Puig’s stock up more than 5%. The deal would likely involve a mix of cash and shares, with special share classes allowing both founding families to maintain control.
ULTA BEAUTY PARTNERS WITH GOOGLE GEMINI FOR AGENTIC AI SHOPPING
Ulta Beauty has partnered with Google Gemini to launch agentic commerce within AI mode in search and the Gemini app, allowing shoppers to receive product recommendations, compare options and complete checkout directly within Google’s conversational interfaces. The retailer is also launching Ulta AI, a new shopping assistant built on Gemini Enterprise that leverages insights from its 46 million loyalty members to create personalized discovery and shopping experiences.
SEPHORA TO INTRODUCE SAFEGUARDS ON ANTI-AGEING MARKETING TO KIDS
Following an investigation by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong into how anti-ageing products are promoted to younger consumers, Sephora has agreed to implement new measures ensuring its marketing practices are more age-appropriate and responsible. The move aims to address concerns over minors’ exposure to anti-ageing messaging and promote safer, more ethical marketing standards in the beauty industry.
PAT MCGRATH LABS EXITS BANKRUPTCY UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP
A US bankruptcy judge has approved a restructuring deal allowing cosmetics brand Pat McGrath Labs to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy under the full ownership of Miami-based investment firm GDA Luma. As part of the agreement, founder Pat McGrath will cede her equity in the company but will remain on board as its chief creative officer.
THE ORDINARY LAUNCHES MARKUP MARCHÉ POP-UP AND PARIS STORE
The Ordinary is launching a global pop-up concept called The Markup Marché in six cities starting May 7, featuring grocery-store-inspired experiences that highlight excessive beauty markups—such as a $175 banana without selling products. The Estée Lauder-owned brand will also open its first freestanding Paris store this summer in the Marais district, offering custom regimens and science-backed education.
UNILEVER LAUNCHES VASELINE REALITY SERIES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA
Unilever has expanded into entertainment-led marketing with “The Afterglow,” a five-part reality dating micro-series for Vaseline created for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts to support the launch of its new body oil range. The short-form series, featuring reality TV personalities and creators, has generated approximately 8 million views and 36 million impressions through a mix of paid and organic reach.
RITUALS EXPANDS SPAIN PRESENCE WITH TWO NEW STORES
Rituals is opening two new stores in Almería and Lanzarote, each spanning over 120 square meters with the brand’s signature immersive retail design. The expansion strengthens Rituals’ footprint in Andalusia and marks its entry into Lanzarote, bringing its total in the Canary Islands to seven stores since first entering Spain in 2010.
DEMI MOORE JOINS LANCÔME AS GLOBAL AMBASSADOR
Academy Award-nominated actress Demi Moore has been named Lancôme’s newest global ambassador, joining a collective that includes Julia Roberts, Zoe Saldaña and Christy Turlington. She will first appear in a campaign for the brand’s Absolue Longevity MD skin care line, which focuses on Longevity Integrative Science to improve visible biological age.
ZOE SALDAÑA NAMED LANCÔME GLOBAL AMBASSADOR
Academy Award-winning actress Zoe Saldaña has been appointed a Lancôme global ambassador, joining a collective that includes Christy Turlington and Julia Roberts, and will first appear in a campaign for the brand’s new Absolue Longevity MD skin care line. Saldaña, who became the highest-grossing actor of all time in early 2026, praised Lancôme’s philosophy of fearless optimism and celebrating women at every stage of life.
TEYANA TAYLOR NAMED NEW FACE OF REVLON
Golden Globe-winning actress and singer Teyana Taylor has been named the new face of Revlon’s signature Super Lustrous lipstick range, starring in the brand’s ongoing “Be Unforgettable” campaign. The partnership aims to modernize Revlon’s legacy of celebrating confident, self-expressive women as the company sees positive momentum under CEO Michelle Peluso.
