93 Beauty Industry Statistics, Personal Care, Skincare Products, and Hair Care
93 Beauty Industry Statistics, Personal Care, Skincare Products, and Hair Care
Miriam Otero
21 min
May 6, 2024
The beauty industry is very important in many people's daily lives. For us at HAIR & SKIN, it's not just about looking good; it's about feeling good too.
This article takes a close look at the numbers that highlight how large and influential the market really is.
We will explore key trends, what consumers are buying, and where the industry might be heading.
Understanding these elements can help anyone, from industry insiders to everyday consumers, make informed decisions in the quickly expanding world of the beauty industry.
Top 10 Beauty Industry Statistics
The worldwide cosmetics market has been growing steadily since 2004 and is expected to earn about $129 billion dollars by 2028. [Source: 4]
The global Beauty & Personal Care market is expected to earn $646.20 billion in 2024 and grow at an annual rate of 3.33% from 2024 to 2028. [Source: 3]
By 2025, the worldwide skincare market is expected to reach $189.3 billion. [Source: 7]
Skincare is expected to remain the top industry, generating about $186 billion in revenue by 2028. [Source: 4]
The UK's beauty product manufacturing brought in £1.9 billion for the economy, while specialised advertising and marketing firms added another £590 million. [Source: 6]
In the U.K., hair services are the most popular beauty service, with spending reaching £6.3 billion. Other beauty treatments follow, totaling £1.4 billion in spending. [Source: 6]
The worldwide hair care market is expected to increase from $106.91 billion in 2024 to $213.47 billion by 2032, growing at a rate of 10.4% each year. [Source: 13]
The worldwide market for hair and scalp care is predicted to grow to $134.3 billion by 2028, with an annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2021 to 2028. [Source: 14]
In 2024, each person is expected to generate about $83.39 in revenue worldwide. Also, online sales are predicted to make up 19.2% of the total revenue in the Beauty & Personal Care market by that year. [Source: 3]
Amazon's data shows that while overall makeup sales in the United States have slightly decreased compared to the same month in 2019, sales for nail-care products have surged by 218%, hair colouring by 172%, and bath-and-body products by 65%. [Source: 11]
Cosmetics and Personal Care Statistics
The beauty industry is poised for growth, especially in sun protection and anti-ageing products, driven by health awareness and higher incomes in developing countries.
The shift towards quality over cost and the rise of online shopping, accelerated by the pandemic, are transforming how consumers access and choose products.
The global Beauty & Personal Care market is expected to earn $646.20 billion in 2024 and grow at an annual rate of 3.33% from 2024 to 2028. [Source: 3]
In 2024, the biggest part of the beauty and care market is expected to be Personal Care, with a value of about $282.80 billion. [Source: 3]
Increased awareness from events and campaigns about beauty products has led to strong demand for anti-ageing cosmetics.
These products, which combat wrinkles, age spots, dry skin, uneven skin tone, and hair damage, are driving innovation in the cosmetics industry. [Source: 2]
Many companies are interested in meeting this demand by setting up operations in the country. [Source: 2]
In 2024, each person is expected to generate about $83.39 in revenue worldwide. [Source: 3]
Also, online sales are predicted to make up 19.2% of the total revenue in the Beauty & Personal Care market by that year. [Source: 3]
The worldwide cosmetics market has been growing steadily since 2004 and is expected to earn about $129 billion dollars by 2028. [Source: 4]
Surabhi Surendra from Womanatics says: “I rely heavily on naturopathic solutions for most of my beauty and health-related problems. Be it cleansing of skin, cough, mild fever or dull skin — I prefer scouting for potent ingredients in my own kitchen than spending thousands on brands that claim to use the same natural ingredients along with harmful chemical based preservatives.”
For those dealing with similar issues, our product, the Skin Booster, offers an effective solution. Skin boosters are essential for a radiant glow. They contain hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that keeps our skin radiant and firm.
As of 2022, the French cosmetics company L'Oréal was the leading beauty manufacturer in the world, generating revenues of over $40 billion that year.
The company owns the leading personal care brand worldwide, L'Oréal Paris, valued at nearly $48 billion in 2023. [Source: 4]
As of December 31, 2021, L'Oreal ranked first in the beauty industry with a market capitalisation of €232.5 billion. [Source: 5]
In 2021, the beauty market expanded by about 8%, nearly reaching its 2019 size. [Source: 5]
In 2021, L'Oréal generated €32.28 billion in net sales and employed 85,412 people, making it the global leader in beauty. [Source: 5]
L'Oréal leads the cosmetics industry in research and innovation, employing 4,054 researchers and spending about 3.2% of its sales on these efforts. [Source: 5]
Consumer spending is the main contributor to the beauty industry's value to the UK economy, totaling £27.2 billion in 2018
Most of this came from buying care and maintenance products, which were worth £10.4 billion. [Source: 6]
Another £8.7 billion came from sales of personal enhancement products, and £8.0 billion was spent on a wide variety of beauty services. [Source: 6]
“The UK cosmetics industry is innovative, vibrant and based on sound science, contributing significantly to the UK economy. People working throughout the beauty supply chain, from ingredients to manufacture to the shelf or salon, are crucial to its success, delivering products that are essential in daily life and supporting wellbeing”
- Dr Emma Meredith, Director-General, CTPA
In 2018, U.K. households spent £27.2 billion on beauty products and services, making up 2% of their total spending. [Source: 6]
£10.4 billion, which is 38% of this spending, was used for personal care and maintenance products. [Source: 6]
An extra £8.7 billion, or 32% of the total, was spent on personal enhancement products, while the remaining £8.0 billion went to beauty services. [Source: 6]
The highest spending in personal care and maintenance products, totaling £3.2 billion, was on personal care and hygiene items like deodorant, soap, and wash products. [Source: 6]
Of the £8.7 billion spent by consumers on personal enhancement products, around 37%, or £3.2 billion, was used to buy cosmetics. [Source: 6]
In 2018, beauty service providers contributed the most to GDP within the industry, totaling £4.7 billion. [Source: 6]
This made up one-third of the total direct impact. A major reason for this is that practitioners spend a lot of time with their customers.
This means most of the value from their services comes from what the businesses pay their employees and their profits, rather than from their supply chain.
In 2018, the sale of physical beauty products greatly helped the economy. Retailers added £3.8 billion and wholesalers contributed £3.5 billion to the GDP. [Source: 6]
The UK's beauty product manufacturing brought in £1.9 billion for the economy, while specialised advertising and marketing firms added another £590 million. [Source: 6]
A variety of products and services contributed to the industry's impact on GDP. The production and sale of cosmetics, which generated £1.6 billion, was the second largest contributor, making up 12 percent of the industry's total impact.
Personal care and hygiene products were third, adding £1.5 billion. [Source: 6]
In 2018, the beauty industry in the UK employed 370,200 people, making up 1.1% of all jobs in the country. [Source: 6]
Beauty services, being labor-intensive, employed the most people in the industry, with 150,300 workers making up 33% of the total employment. [Source: 6]
The industry created the most jobs from cosmetics sales, with 36,400 positions. Personal care and hygiene products employed 36,000 people, and accessories and applications added another 29,800 jobs. [Source: 6]
In 2018, the UK beauty industry directly contributed £3.9 billion in taxes. Retailers were the largest contributors, adding £1.2 billion.
Beauty service providers also contributed £1.2 billion, while wholesalers added £980 million, and manufacturers contributed £390 million. Specialised advertising and marketing firms generated another £130 million. [Source: 6]
In 2018, the beauty industry contributed £28.4 billion to the UK's GDP. [Source: 6]
The beauty industry has a GDP multiplier of 2.0, meaning that for every £1 million it adds to the GDP, it also supports an additional £1 million in other parts of the economy. [Source: 6]
In 2018, beauty service providers made the biggest contribution to the UK's GDP, adding £9.1 billion, which is 32% of the total impact. Retailers added £7.9 billion, or 28%, and wholesalers contributed £5.8 billion. [Source: 6]
In 2018, the beauty industry was responsible for supporting 590,500 jobs, which equates to one out of every 60 jobs in the economy. [Source: 6]
The beauty industry's employment multiplier was 1.6 in 2018, meaning for every 10 jobs in the industry, it supported an additional six jobs in the broader economy. [Source: 6]
The beauty industry is poised for growth, driven by rising incomes and the popularity of online shopping. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing quality and health-conscious products like anti-ageing items.
This trend is influencing product development and marketing, encouraging companies to adapt to changing consumer preferences and expand their digital presence.
Skincare Products Statistics
Skincare is a big part of the beauty market, and the use of cleansers and other skincare products is increasing.
In 2022, skincare was the top beauty product category with a market share of 41%. [Source: 4]
Skincare is expected to remain the top industry, generating about $186 billion in revenue by 2028. [Source: 4]
The Dermocosmetics segment did really well, growing from 2020 to 2021 because people wanted health products that dermatologists recommend. [Source: 5]
In the U.K., people spent £2.2 billion on skin and body care products, making it the second highest category, while hair products, including shampoos and styling items, were third with spending of £1.9 billion. [Source: 6]
By 2025, the worldwide skincare market is expected to reach $189.3 billion. [Source: 7]
In 2016, 57% of women in the U.S. felt it was important to buy all-natural skin-care products. [Source: 7]
In 2014, Olay Regenerist was the top-selling skincare brand in the U.S. It's a facial anti-ageing product by Procter & Gamble, and it made about $103 million in sales. [Source: 7]
In 2013, the U.S. anti-ageing skincare market was worth about $2.11 billion, but it was predicted to drop to $2.05 billion by 2015. [Source: 7]
Skincare remains a dominant force in the beauty industry, consistently leading in market share and revenue generation.
Its sustained growth indicates a strong consumer preference for skin health and beauty products, especially those endorsed by dermatologists.
As people increasingly prioritise wellness and natural ingredients in their skincare choices, the sector's robust performance is likely to continue, underlining its importance in the global cosmetics market.
Beauty Marketing and Social Media Statistics
In a world where famous people become business owners and everyday users sell products, shoppers see endless ads and posts about makeup and skincare on their social media.
From latte-coloured makeup to brown lip pencils, beauty trends change as quickly as TikTok's trends. Online, beauty influencers like Jeffree Star and Tati Westbrook can quickly go from being popular to being ignored.
As of December 2023, Sandra Cires Art was the top beauty content creator on YouTube, with roughly 16.4 million subscribers. [Source: 4]
Now, social media isn't just about influencers promoting cosmetics to their followers.
With social commerce, you can directly buy beauty products on apps like TikTok, often through live sales. [Source: 4]
U.S. beauty shoppers rank YouTube as their top online platform for beauty content, with Google Search a close second. [Source: 8]
British makeup expert Katie Jane Hughes often shares close-up photos of her face on Instagram for her 899,000 followers.
Her posts include looks like shimmery gold eyelids, glossy pink lips that match her auburn hair, and eyebrows carefully filled in with brown gel to correct her over plucking from her teenage years.
In a YouTube video tutorial, Hughes begins with a bare face, showing spots that many people are concerned about. She then shows how she applies multiple layers of creams and makeup to create a glamorous look.
With our Skin Kits, we've combined skin analysis, treatment, and top-quality products into a powerful trio for beautiful skin. Our holistic approach means we customise each kit to your specific skin type, whether it's sensitive, dry, or oily.
Every part of our Basic, Essential, and Complete Kits is designed to meet your skin's unique needs, providing a personalised skincare experience.
Research indicates that influencers such as Hughes are transforming the beauty industry by gaining dedicated followers on social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. [Source: 9]
In recent years, the amount of money spent on influencer marketing has soared, increasing from around $2 billion in 2017 to approximately $8 billion in 2019. [Source: 9]
62% of women reported that they follow beauty influencers on social media. [Source: 9]
When asked about their most visited social media platforms, 82% of consumers said they use Instagram daily. Facebook was next with 77%, followed by YouTube at 59%. [Source: 9]
Many people use YouTube to watch longer tutorial videos where influencers show how to use products and provide inspiration. [Source: 9]
42% of consumers would buy a product promoted by an influencer, 43% are unsure, and 15% would not. [Source: 9]
As of March 2022, Kylie Cosmetics was the top beauty brand on Instagram with more than 25 million followers, followed by Anastasia Beverly Hills with 20 million. [Source: 10]
The beauty industry is quickly adapting to social media like Instagram and YouTube, where influencers now play a big role in influencing what people buy.
These platforms make it easy for consumers to purchase personalized beauty products, including hair and skincare kits, right from their feeds.
Our skin kits are a prime example of this trend, designed to cater to each person's unique skin needs through expert analysis and high-quality products.
For the best results, it's essential for users to follow a consistent care plan at home, combining professional advice with personal upkeep to maintain and improve skin health effectively.
Beauty E-Commerce and Technology Statistics
The beauty industry's appeal has drawn in many new companies and investors. To succeed in this crowded and changing market, brands need to make unique choices.
The beauty industry now benefits greatly from social media, ecommerce, and new technology, enhancing the shopping experience for consumers. [Source: 4]
The worldwide beauty industry makes $500 billion in sales each year and supports millions of jobs, both directly and indirectly. [Source: 11]
Before the COVID-19 crisis, up to 85% of beauty product purchases in many major markets were made in-store, although this varied by product type. [Source: 11]
Nearly 60% of purchases by tech-savvy American millennials and Gen Zers are made in stores. [Source: 11]
Due to COVID-19, about 30% of the beauty industry market closed because premium beauty-product stores had to shut down. [Source: 11]
Some beauty-product brands and retailers, already set up for large operations, are seeing online sales double compared to before COVID-19. [Source: 11]
In 2020, Sephora's online sales in the U.S. increased by 30% compared to 2019, similar to Amazon's beauty product sales which also rose 30% during the four weeks ending April 11. [Source: 11]
L'Oréal has teamed up with Clue, a menstrual cycle tracking app, to study how hormonal cycles affect skin health.
This partnership brings together L’Oréal's skincare expertise and Clue's extensive menstrual cycle data from 12 million users across 190 countries. Dermatologists, endocrinologists, and gynecologists will also contribute, enhancing this research.
This effort aims to improve personalised skincare routines for all consumers, from their first menstrual cycle to menopause, focusing on skin health, beauty, and well-being. [Source: 5]
In China, McKinsey's research found that online sales for beauty companies increased by 20% to 30% during the outbreak. [Source: 11]
The Boots UK pharmacy chain said its total sales dropped by two-thirds from March 25 to April 3, 2020, partly because of lower sales of beauty products. [Source: 11]
In 2020, prestige brands experienced a 55% drop in cosmetic sales and a 75% drop in fragrance sales compared to 2019. [Source: 11]
In China, Alibaba saw a 150% increase in eye-cosmetic sales from the previous month during the week of February 18, 2020. [Source: 11]
Sales of luxury hand soap in France increased by 800% in the week of March 16, 2020, as tracked by NPD, which monitors consumer spending and point-of-sale data, when the country entered lockdown. [Source: 11]
Zalando, Europe's biggest online fashion and lifestyle store, saw a huge increase in sales of pampering and self-care items like candles, aromatherapy, and detox products.
Their sales of skin, nail, and hair care products jumped 300% from 2019. [Source: 11]
In 2022, the average sale price for products from 56 health and beauty online retailers in the Digital Commerce 360 Top 1000 reached $93, which is a 12% increase from the $83 in 2021. [Source: 12]
The increase can largely be attributed to inflation, which was 6.5% in December 2022. Meanwhile, the average conversion rate in this category fell to 4.0% in 2022 from 4.1% the previous year. [Source: 12]
The median monthly unique visitors to merchants' websites in this category dropped 13.3% to 853,182 in 2022, from 983,885 in 2021. [Source: 12]
In March 2023, Digital Commerce 360 and Bizrate Insights conducted a survey of 1,053 online shoppers to learn about their buying habits in the health and beauty category. [Source: 12]
70% of people who shop online purchase beauty products at least once a month. [Source: 12]
The beauty industry is growing by using new technology and online shopping, which has become more popular due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Successful companies like L'Oréal are partnering with tech apps to offer unique products and make shopping easier.
To stay ahead, brands need to focus on creating special marketing and personalised products for their customers.
Hair Care Industry Statistics
The demand for hair care products that reduce damage is growing due to problems like hair loss and scalp issues, leading to market growth.
Customers want natural, organic, and customized products, prompting companies to create new items.
Shampoos, especially those with organic and clean ingredients, are the most popular products. Also, there is increasing interest in hair colour, hair oil, and conditioners.
In 2021, most stores and hair salons reopened, and online sales went up, following their closures in 2020. [Source: 5]
In the U.K., hair services are the most popular beauty service, with spending reaching £6.3 billion. Other beauty treatments follow, totaling £1.4 billion in spending. [Source: 6]
A variety of products and services helped the industry contribute to the GDP.
Hair services had the biggest impact, adding £3.9 billion or 31% of the industry's total direct contribution to the UK's GDP. [Source: 6]
About 81% of jobs in the beauty services industry are in hair services. Of the 121,400 people working in this area, such as hair cutting and barbering, they make up 33% of the total jobs in the beauty industry.
This percentage is higher than the 31% contribution of hair services to the industry’s GDP. [Source: 6]
The worldwide hair care market is expected to increase from $106.91 billion in 2024 to $213.47 billion by 2032, growing at a rate of 10.4% each year. [Source: 13]
More people colouring their hair and more men growing their hair long have made hair care products more popular.
As different hair colours become more accepted due to changing fashion and social norms, there's a higher demand for products like shampoos, conditioners, and treatments that protect coloured hair. [Source: 13]
According to a 2020 survey by Garnier, a cosmetic brand owned by L’Oreal S.A., 42% of 2,000 Americans found new methods to colour gray hair. [Source: 13]
According to a January 2022 report by the Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery Institute, almost two-thirds of Americans over 35 years old are experiencing hair loss and thinning. [Source: 13]
The Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA) reports that hair care product sales in Europe totaled $16.88 billion for the year ending in March 2021. [Source: 13]
In 2021, the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) reported that there were over 46,000 hair and beauty businesses in the U.K. [Source: 13]
According to the World Bank, the percentage of women working or looking for work in the U.S. increased slightly from 56.39% in 2019 to 56.76% in 2020. [Source: 13]
The worldwide market for hair and scalp care is predicted to grow to $134.3 billion by 2028, with an annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2021 to 2028. [Source: 14]
The hair care market is doing well because people want healthier hair and prefer natural products. Companies are responding by making new products that meet these needs.
The industry is also getting a boost from beauty services, especially in the U.K., where hair services are very popular. Trends like hair colouring and using special products to keep hair looking good are helping to keep the market growing.
Frequently asked questions
How many beauty influencers operate across Instagram and YouTube?
There are 1,288 beauty influencers active on Instagram, 1,090 on YouTube, and 167 on TikTok. [Source: 1]
Which platform has the most beauty influencer followers on average?
Despite having fewer beauty influencers, TikTok boasts the highest average number of followers for these influencers. [Source: 1]
What age group follows Instagram beauty influencers the most?
Nearly half of Instagram beauty influencer followers fall within the 25-34 age range. [Source: 1]
Who has the best engagement rates on Instagram?
Beauty micro-influencers tend to have the highest engagement rates on Instagram. [Source: 1]
Where does the U.S. stand in terms of beauty influencer followers?
The U.S. has the largest audience for Instagram beauty influencers, indicating a strong interest in beauty content among American users. [Source: 1]
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