Major beauty conglomerates revealed divergent financial outcomes for 2025, with L’Oréal reporting strong performance and e-commerce exceeding 30 percent of total sales. Unilever also achieved margin expansion while continuing to reshape its brand portfolio. Amorepacific returned to profitability in Q4, driven by robust international growth.
However, not all giants fared well. Shiseido forecasts a record annual net loss of ¥52 billion. In contrast, South Korean company APR announced KRW 1.53 trillion in record 2025 revenue.
Significant corporate restructuring is underway. Glossier eliminated 30 percent of its workforce as CEO Colin Walsh initiated a turnaround plan. Revlon appointed Mario Rivera as Chief Operations Officer. Elemis is reportedly considering a sale following senior leadership departures.
Mergers, acquisitions, and property deals continue. Warpaint London secured Barry M for £1.4 million. Hermès purchased a US$400 million Rodeo Drive property, a record sum for the location. European expansion for K-beauty sees Olive Young partnering with Gabona for distribution.
Regulatory attention remains high. Estée Lauder is suing Walmart over alleged counterfeit products. Scotland is tightening rules on cosmetic procedures. The US FDA is cracking down on unapproved GLP-1 drugs.
Retail expansion persists, with Superdrug planning 30 new UK stores in 2026. Sociolla also detailed aggressive store rollouts across Southeast Asia.
Brand and marketing efforts show innovation. Dove's r/eal reviews campaign centres on consumer feedback. Rare Beauty promoted Joyce Kim and Ashley Murphy to key brand and marketing leadership roles. Shiseido named LISA its global ambassador for ULTIMUNE.
The health and wellness sector continues its intersection with beauty. Hims & Hers adjusted its weight-loss pricing structure.
