Beauty and Personal Care in Western Europe

January 2024

While high inflation has been encouraging trading down among some consumer segments, increasing the attractiveness of private label, for example, it has failed to put much of a dent in the ongoing dermocosmetics or clean beauty trends. Consumers continue to look for natural ingredients, with health and wellbeing concerns having been accentuated by the pandemic. However, while growth is expected in the overall Western European market in the coming years, it will generally be relatively modest.

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Key findings

Sun care and fragrances continue their strong recoveries

Fragrances continued its strong recovery in 2022 from the pandemic-induced losses suffered in 2020. With social and work patterns returning to normal, so were occasions for wearing fragrances. On the other hand, sales in bath and shower declined again in 2022 following the major demand spike seen in 2020, when sales of products like liquid soap and hand sanitisers were booming amidst the COVID-19 hygiene concerns.

Hybrid products helping to slim down skin care routines

Skin care routines have been slimming down among UK consumers as they adopt a “less is more” mentality, which intensified as a result of the recent inflationary pressures, and as hybrid colour cosmetics were beginning to erode the need for multiple steps in a skin care routine.

Health and beauty specialists lead, but e-commerce still gaining share

Health and beauty specialists still account for 41% of sales in beauty and personal care, in spite of losing share during the pandemic. Although its gains have slowed since 2020, e-commerce continues to increase its sales and share. Online sales now make up more than 18% of retail value regionally and a regional high of 36% in the UK. High inflation and rising prices were helping discounters to gain share in 2022, although this still remains a relatively small channel.

Private label a popular choice in an inflationary environment

Like most countries in the region, high inflation has been plaguing Spain in the post-pandemic period. This helped further boost the popularity of private label, which has an overall market share of 14% but makes up more than 30% of sales in some categories (baby products; bath and shower). While L’Oréal is ahead of retailer Mercadona in NBO company share terms, the latter’s Deliplus private label holds a greater share than any brands.

Scope
Key findings
Western Europe seeing below-average growth
Modest growth expected after pandemic and inflation hit sales in 2020 and 2022
Skin care category makes up nearly a quarter of beauty and personal care sales
Dermocosmetics outperforming the overall market in most countries
Colour cosmetics a major casualty of the pandemic, with recovery proving slow
Major sales losses in France and the UK over 2017-2022
Natural products and ingredients enjoying increasing popularity in many countries
Health and beauty specialists lead distribution in Western Europe
E-commerce share gains continue to slow in 2022
Relatively fragmented competitive landscapes in Western European markets
L’Oréal a strong leader in Western European beauty and personal care
Leading players are present across Western Europe
Indie and mass dermoscosmetics brands performing strongly in the UK
Modest annual growth expected over the forecast period
“Clean beauty” increasingly a prerequisite for French consumers
Austria: Market Context
Austria: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Belgium: Market Context
Belgium: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Denmark: Market Context
Denmark: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Finland: Market Context
Finland: Competitive and Retail Landscape
France: Market Context
France: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Germany: Market Context
Germany: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Greece: Market Context
Greece: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Ireland: Market Context
Ireland: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Italy: Market Context
Italy: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Netherlands: Market Context
Netherlands: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Norway: Market Context
Norway: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Portugal: Market Context
Portugal: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Spain: Market Context
Spain: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Sweden: Market Context
Sweden: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Switzerland: Market Context
Switzerland: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Turkey: Market Context
Turkey: Competitive and Retail Landscape
UK: Market Context
UK: Competitive and Retail Landscape

Beauty and Personal Care

This is the aggregation of baby and child-specific products, bath & shower, deodorants, hair care, colour cosmetics, men's grooming, oral hygiene, fragrances, skin care, depilatories and sun care. Black market sales and travel retail are excluded.

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