Author: Alexis Amann


  • Japanโ€™s beauty market loses its lustre

    According to data from PwC, Japanโ€™s cosmetics market, long the worldโ€™s third-largest, was overtaken by Brazil in 2023. Between 2019 and 2025, it stagnated posting a compound annual growth rate of 0.3% from 2019 to 2025 against a global growth rate of 5.3%. This is not a temporary slump but a reflection of deep-seated demographic…

  • China’s beauty market tilts toward home

    China’s beauty market, only second to the US at an estimated $77.3 billion in 2025 according to PwC, is undergoing a fundamental rebalancing. Its growth now trails the global average (4% CAGR 19-25), signaling not stagnation but a structural internal realignment. The long-standing dynamic where China was a net importer of prestige brands and an…

  • Sephora’s European expansion strategy reaches Belgium

    As of January 2026, Sephora remains the world’s dominant selective beauty retailer, operating just under 3,450 stores globally, with its largest footprints in the United States (over 1,780 stores), China (320+), and France (290+). Europe represents around 25% of Sephora stores at around 870 stores.

  • January 12th Week 2026 Beauty and Luxury News

    Last week in beauty and luxury was a tale of two markets: while one retail giant collapses, others posted robust growth and placed new strategic bets.

  • Richemontโ€™s China rebound fuels quarterly outperformance

    Richemont reported a 11% year-on-year sales rise at constant rate to โ‚ฌ6.4 billion for Q3 FY26, surpassing consensus estimates. The groupโ€™s critical Greater China market saw sales increase by 2%, marking a second consecutive quarter of recovery. This stabilisation is a pivotal signal for the wider luxury sector.

  • Unilever doubles down on Indiaโ€™s premium beauty segment

    Unilever has reinforced its strategic focus on India with follow-on investments in two pioneering beauty brands. The venture capital arm of group has participated in a new funding round for Secret Alchemist, a clean fragrance label it first backed in 2025. Concurrently, it has joined a Series A round for the science-led skincare brand SkinInspired,…

  • The K-Beauty tsunami in the US

    The U.S. beauty landscape has a new leader. In 2024, Korean cosmetics imports hit $1.7 billion, officially surpassing France. This is the the result of a deliberate, multi-phase market entry.

  • The $111bn US beauty market: growth, shifts, and strategy

    The US beauty market remains the world’s largest, with a projected value of $111.3 billion by 2025. This represents a robust 5.9% CAGR from 2019, outpacing global market growth of 5.3% for the same period.

  • Beauty searches split on Amazon: the UK seeks categories, the US hunts specifics

    New data from Pattern, the leading e-commerce accelerator, analyzing Amazon Prime Day 2025 search behaviour reveals distinct consumer priorities in the US and UK within beauty.

  • Three predictions for Beauty M&A in 2026

    The coming year for Beauty M&A will be defined by three core themes: strategic realignment of corporates, geographic shifts, and convergence with new verticals.