Beauty has blown up to be a $532 billion industry - and analysts say that these 4 trends will make it even bigger

Undated handout image of Glossier products. REUTERS/Glossier/Handout

Reuters

Glossier has become a leader in the beauty space.

  • The beauty industry is valued at $532 billion and is on a rapid upward trajectory, according to a new report from retail analytics firm Edited.
  • Cosmetics and personal-care companies will continue to benefit from social media influencers and brand ambassadors, even as they increasingly pivot to sustainable beauty and increased transparency in both manufacturing and pricing, the report stated.
  • Here are the four major trends Edited analysts say to look out for in the beauty industry as it moves into the future.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The beauty industry is growing faster than ever before. Today it's valued at an estimated $532 billion and counting, according to a new report from retail analytics firm Edited.

The rise of beauty vloggers sharing YouTube tutorials and posting about their favorite lipstick on Instagram continues to change the way consumers discover new products and engage with brands. In recent years, many cosmetic companies and direct-to-consumer beauty brands have started eschewing traditional advertising altogether, in favor of tapping into the power of influencer marketing and brand ambassadors.
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Read more: The Influencer Marketing Report: Research, strategy & platforms for leveraging social media influencers

At the same time, social platforms have evolved to be more shoppable by allowing consumers to purchase items they see in a post directly from the app. Thanks to features like Instagram Shopping and Pinterest's shoppable Pins, if consumers see an item they like, they can click on it to learn more and subsequently make a purchase.

According to the Edited report, there are several burgeoning beauty trends that will help the industry continue to grow. Here are the four key factors Edited believes will advance the beauty market:
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1. Traditional retailers experiment with beauty

1. Traditional retailers experiment with beauty

According to data from the Edited report, UK H&M's assortment of beauty products increased by a staggering 94.8% from 2018 to 2019. At the same time, luxury e-commerce companies like Net-a-Porter also began offering a wider beauty inventory, which increased by 26% in the same period.

Meanwhile, Lululemon recently announced its first foray into personal care with a collection of gender-neutral "self-care" products, including shampoo, deodorant, and lip balm.

"Brands are realizing that when tapped properly, the beauty sector can be a lucrative one," the Edited analysts wrote in the report.

2. Targeted pricing helps reach new demographics

2. Targeted pricing helps reach new demographics

As more retailers begin launching their own beauty brands, they have the benefit of controlling pricing to better appeal to specific demographics of shoppers. As a result, many are offering a wide range of price points: For example, H&M's beauty line starts at about $2 for wet wipes and goes up to $45 for a leather makeup bag.

Moving forward, Edited said brands will benefit from getting smarter about what millennial and Gen Z shoppers truly want when it comes to beauty.

"The beauty industry is becoming increasingly dominated by millennials who are willing to spend on good quality products and this knowledge is utilized with targeted price points," the analysts wrote.

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3. Increased transparency

3. Increased transparency

Beauty brands are beginning to take a page from the playbook of apparel companies like Everlane, which has gained support for its "Radical Transparency" model that lists the sources and origin of materials and the true cost of manufacturing.

The Edited report notes that startups and direct-to-consumer companies have an advantage due to their ability to more easily experiment with transparent models, and it cited Beauty Pie, a new luxury skincare subscription company. Beauty Pie members receive a full pricing breakdown of every product, as well as lower prices as a result of cutting out the middleman.

4. Sustainable alternatives

4. Sustainable alternatives

The clean beauty movement continues to gain traction, as more shoppers seek out products free from toxins and other harmful ingredients. Paired with federal protocols like the Personal Care Product Safety Act — which was passed in May 2017 and gives the FDA further oversight to regulate cosmetics and personal-care products — brands are more cautious about what they use in their formulas and many are introducing features like recycled packaging for the first time.

"Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to transparency-minded customers who want to know where our products come from and how they are made," the analysts said in the report.

"No longer can beauty giants get away with wheeling unsubstantiated claims as they once did, and brands are properly doing their research in respect for their wised-up customers."

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