Growth diverged sharply in beauty this week, with Galderma’s 17.7% surge contrasting against Bath & Body Works’ sales decline and La Prairie’s continued struggles.
BEIERSDORF’S CONSUMER BUSINESS ORGANIC SALES UP 2.5% IN FY25
Beiersdorf’s Consumer Business grew 2.5% to €8.2 billion in 2025, driven by its Derma division (Eucerin and Aquaphor), which delivered its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth with an 11.7% increase to €1.5 billion. While NIVEA showed resilience with a Q4 rebound in China following strategic repositioning, luxury brand La Prairie struggled with a 4.5% sales decline, and the company expects flat to slightly positive growth in 2026 amid persistent cost pressures.
GALDERMA SURPASSES $5 BILLION IN SALES WITH 17.7% GROWTH IN 2025
Galderma reported record full-year 2025 net sales of $5.2 billion, driven by 17.7% constant currency growth across all three product categories, with Therapeutic Dermatology surging 50.2% on the strength of Nemluvio’s $452 million contribution. The company expects continued momentum with 2026 net sales growth forecast at 17-20%, fueled by Injectable Aesthetics’ 11.5% increase to $2.6 billion and double-digit expansion across both International markets and the U.S.
BATH & BODY WORKS Q4 25 SALES DOWN 2% TO $2.7BN TOPPING ESTIMATES
Bath & Body Works reported fourth-quarter net sales of $2.7bn, a 2 percent decline from last year but above analyst expectations, with earnings per share of $1.99 also beating forecasts. CEO Daniel Heaf outlined his “consumer first formula” strategy focused on core categories and younger demographics, though the company does not expect to return to growth until 2027 and forecasts another sales decline of up to 4.5% for the current year.
ESTÉE LAUDER FULLY ACQUIRES INDIAN LUXURY BRAND FOREST ESSENTIALS
The Estée Lauder Companies has acquired the remaining stakes in Forest Essentials, an Indian luxury beauty brand that combines modern Ayurveda with premium positioning, in a deal expected to close in the second half of 2026. The acquisition follows an 18-year partnership and Estée Lauder’s initial investment in 2008, with the brand maintaining its New Delhi headquarters and integrated model including Ayurvedic R&D and local production as it prepares for global expansion under full ownership.
RAS LUXURY SKINCARE SECURES $7.5 MILLION IN SERIES B FUNDING
Indian farm-to-face brand RAS Luxury Skincare has raised $7.5 million in a Series B round led by Dabur Ventures, with continued investment from Unilever Ventures and participation from Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund. The mother-daughter-founded company plans to use the capital to expand its omnichannel presence, enhance R&D in indigenous botanical actives, and build brand awareness as it aims to become a global name in Indian luxury skincare.
KYT GROUP ACQUIRES SKINCARE BRAND GLO SKIN BEAUTY
Industry investment fund KYT Group has acquired clinical skin care brand Glo Skin Beauty, with cofounder Kurt Kober stepping in as CEO to lead the professional-channel company. The acquisition aims to target the overlooked Gen X consumer through omnichannel expansion while leveraging the brand’s professional credibility and existing footprint in 5,000 locations nationwide.
OLYOS GROUPE ACQUIRES SOMATOLINE TO EXPAND IN COSMETICS
French natural health specialist Olyos Groupe has acquired Italian body care brand Somatoline, strengthening its dermo-cosmetic presence and European footprint, particularly in Italy. The deal, which pushes the group’s revenue beyond €200 million, creates a synergistic “In & Out” offer combining Olyos’ leadership in beauty supplements with Somatoline’s expertise in premium slimming and body care products.
AMOREPACIFIC’S SKINCARE BRAND IOPE MAKES IT DEBUT AT SEPHORA
Amorepacific’s Iope, Korea’s leading antiaging brand, is making its U.S. debut at Sephora with nine science-backed products, including its patented retinol serum. The expansion capitalizes on the booming demand for Korean beauty and reflects a strategic shift toward clinical, dermatologist-recommended skincare in the American market.
OLIVIAUMMA LAUNCHES AT SEPHORA US FOLLOWING ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
Vegan skincare brand OliviaUmma has made its U.S. debut at Sephora as part of the 2025 Sephora Accelerate cohort, launching nationwide with its exclusive toner pads and nine SKUs available online. Founded by Hye Young Kim, the brand combines premium ingredients with playful textures and vibrant aesthetics to deliver effective skincare for a modern audience.
MOTHER SCIENCE LAUNCHES AT SEPHORA WITH BIOTECH SKINCARE
Biotech skincare brand Mother Science, co-founded by Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger and violinist Ann Marie Simpson Einziger, has landed at Sephora as its first U.S. retail partner with three products featuring the patented antioxidant malassezin. The ingredient, discovered after Simpson Einziger developed a skin condition on tour, is said to be 10 times more powerful than vitamin C at targeting sun damage and hyperpigmentation without irritation.
ZEGNA LAUNCHES MEMORIE FRAGRANCE COLLECTION WITH MADS MIKKELSEN
Zegna has unveiled “Memorie,” a six-fragrance collection developed with Give Back Beauty that retraces the brand’s 1910 origins, featuring a campaign film directed by Roman Coppola starring longtime house friend Mads Mikkelsen. The $349 refillable scents, created by master perfumers including Dominique Ropion and Quentin Bisch, launch exclusively at Harrods and Dubai Mall before rolling out to the U.S. on March 10, as the brand continues strengthening its beauty presence ahead of its June runway show in Los Angeles.
EQUINOX TAPS LE LABO AS NEW AMENITIES PARTNER
Equinox has named Le Labo as its new global amenities partner, replacing Grown Alchemist with the brand’s Basil-scented shampoo, cleanser and body products rolling out to clubs. The move underscores Equinox’s growing focus on beauty as integral to wellness and longevity, building on its expanding roster of health services including biomarker testing and IV treatments.
GALERIES LAFAYETTE HAUSSMANN DEBUTS NEW BEAUTY-FASHION CONCEPT
The department store has completely reimagined its 40,000-square-foot beauty offering across multiple levels to create a seamless customer journey that merges beauty with fashion, featuring exclusive brand corners from Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and others that mix fragrances and makeup with accessories. The renovation expands the space by 5,380 square feet, adds 190 new brands including a dedicated parapharmacy section, doubles the number of treatment rooms to 20, and strategically positions beauty departments adjacent to fashion areas to drive cross-category discovery among local Parisian shoppers.
D’ORSAY OPENS THIRD GLOBAL BOUTIQUE IN JAKARTA
French fragrance house d’Orsay has inaugurated its first Indonesian store at Plaza Indonesia in Jakarta, marking its third location worldwide and a strategic expansion into Southeast Asia through a local partnership. The brand, revived by entrepreneur Amélie Huynh, has also strengthened its U.S. presence with a dedicated e-commerce site following strong American customer demand, complementing its existing Paris and Tokyo boutiques and over 400 global points of sale.
L’ORÉAL COMMITS ADDITIONAL €50 MILLION TO WOMEN’S FUND
L’Oréal has pledged an extra €50 million to its Fund for Women, renewing the endowment for 2026-2030 to support the well-being and empowerment of 5 million women in vulnerable situations. Since its 2020 creation to address pandemic-related social emergencies, the fund has already helped over 6 million women through partnerships with more than 500 associations worldwide, focusing on economic empowerment, education, fighting violence, and reproductive health access.
OLIVE YOUNG APPOINTS FIRST U.S. CEO AHEAD OF RETAIL EXPANSION
K-beauty giant Olive Young has named Gaeun Kwon, former director of global business, as its first U.S. chief executive officer as the company prepares to open its inaugural American flagship store in Pasadena this May alongside a dedicated U.S. e-commerce platform. The CJ Group-owned retailer will also launch a curated K-beauty assortment at Sephora across 650 North American stores this fall, backed by a new logistics center in California and plans for additional Los Angeles-area locations.
GISELE BÜNDCHEN NAMED GARNIER’S FIRST GLOBAL AMBASSADOR
Garnier has appointed Gisele Bündchen as its first global brand ambassador, launching a witty campaign that showcases her authentic alignment with the L’Oréal-owned brand’s “wellness beauty” positioning. The partnership will see the supermodel front initiatives including the new Fructis Diamond Sleek line and sustainability efforts, as Garnier seeks to strengthen its position as a billion-euro brand offering accessible, high-tech natural products across 64 countries.
VANESSA KIRBY NAMED LANCÔME’S NEW GLOBAL AMBASSADOR
British actress and producer Vanessa Kirby has been appointed Lancôme’s newest global ambassador, citing a personal connection to the brand through her mother’s use of its products. She will appear in campaigns for Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation and L’Absolu Rouge lipstick, embodying what brand president Vania Lacascade describes as “sophisticated vulnerability” and joining a legacy of ambassadors including Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington Burns.
