Insight - Beauty & Personal Care 2026

Flat‑lay image of a small jar of skincare cream surrounded by green leaves on a pale background, symbolising beauty and personal care

The Beauty and personal care sector remains one of the most resilient consumer categories - but the growth logic is shifting.

After years of price-led growth, 2026 puts the focus back on how growth is created: through volume, innovation, customer experience and portfolio architecture. M&A remains a key tool to accelerate growth and acquire capabilities (DTC/data/tech).


Key Takeaways:

  • Growth remains robust, but less “inflation-driven”: price levers are flattening; volume and mix matter more.

  • Value pools are shifting: emerging markets and premium tiers are growing disproportionately, while mature markets underpin profitability.

  • Omnichannel becomes the operating model: e-commerce is structurally large; specialty retail wins on experience; travel retail is normalising.

  • M&A remains active: focus on scalable premium niches and capability acquisitions; multiples have normalised from earlier peaks.


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