The beauty and personal care industry is largely considered recession-proof, but the unique economic, legislative and lifestyle factors surrounding consumption in the current circumstances of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic pose unprecedented challenges for the industry in 2020 and beyond, as we begin to see inevitable shifts in consumption patterns, channel dynamics and beauty routines. The discretionary nature of many beauty categories makes them especially vulnerable to economic slumps, as well as highly exposed to lockdown measures, selective retail closures and travel restrictions.

In Euromonitor’s baseline scenario, global beauty and personal care values sales are set to record a decline of 2.0% in constant terms in 2020, compared to 1.9% growth in 2019. Given the ongoing uncertainty with COVID-19, Euromonitor has also presented a series of future scenarios. In Euromonitor’s C19 pessimistic scenario 1, beauty and personal care value sales may decline by 2.7% globally, while scenarios 2 and 3 predict a decline no steeper than 4.0% in 2020. 

Post-pandemic: Which trends will persist?

Many of the trends that were influencing the beauty and personal care industry in 2019 will be amplified in 2020, and beyond this:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating all wellness-related micro-trends, with the basic principles of health and keeping diseases at bay as a core priority. The “clean” to “conscious” movement will be reinforced, as consumers recognise that natural does not necessarily translate as better, and rather than dismissing entire ingredient groups will opt for a more considered and personalised approach to treating their skin concerns. Consumers will be searching for brands or products with a strong alignment to health, safety, immunity, therapeutics and an association with overall wellness.
  • Additionally, channel diversification and digital engagement will be more important than ever. Existing e-commerce disruption has prepared beauty players for a more permanent shift to this channel, with e-commerce sales in beauty and personal care growing by a 19% CAGR over 2014-2019, supported by an acceleration in digital tools that offset in-store sensorial trial. Beauty players should aim to build better virtual experiences while cementing new points of sale within social networks and live streaming. The shift to digital should also be seen as a longer-term opportunity to create online platforms and communities for product discovery, advice and sharing at a time of heightened uncertainty, insecurity and anxiety.Beyond 2020

    Asia Pacific will continue to be a bright spot for the industry, due to the region’s systematically better response to the pandemic. It is expected to recover ahead of other regions. However, a slower global recovery is expected due to potential for a second wave, with projections of global beauty and personal care value sales growing 1.5% CAGR from 2019 to 2024, at constant 2019 prices. These forecasts are a U-turn from the industry’s 2014-2019 CAGR of 5.0% globally.

    ** Source: Euromonitor, 28th of September 2020. By Gabriella Beckwith & Kayla Villena.