The beauty/makeup industry covers a wide variety of personal products such as skin care; color cosmetics; hair care; and fragrances, beauty appliances such as hair dryers; brushes; and combs, services such as salons; day spas, and related functions such as packaging; and supply chain.
Skincare, haircare, make-up, perfumes, toiletries and deodorants, and oral cosmetics are the main product categories of the cosmetic market.
In 2018, United States topped the list of the leading consumers of beauty products worldwide based on value. According to a survey, the highest-quality beauty products come from Japan, the United States, and France respectively, and the consumers have placed Japanese products in the number one position.
There are three unique circumstances that continue to prop up the beauty industry:
- Consumers, especially women, are on a journey of exploration. They are experiencing new products and discovering new brands. This is part of a wider generational shift of younger consumers rejecting the large brands their parents preferred and seeking out locally-made, artisanal, natural products in all consumer categories.
- Young, individualistic brands are supporting a surge in creativity. It seems like every day there is a new brand with a new idea about how to become or remain beautiful. Entrepreneurship is boiling over in the beauty industry. These young brands are backed by the physical retail beauty channel.
- Acquisitions by the major beauty companies of ever-smaller companies at very high values are hauling in more founders and driving more creativity every day. The acquisitions are catching place because the big beauty brands are imperiled by the young, independent brands that consumers want now.
These sets of circumstances have been running for a long time in the beauty industry. There are numerous make-up companies in the world. Out of these, the Top 10 are listed below:
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L’Oreal
L’Orealis the biggest cosmetics and makeup products company in the cosmos. Basically, it’s a French-based company and it has its headquarters in Paris. It is focused on engaging in the field of production and marketing of centering on hair colors, skincare, perfumes, and fragrances, make-up, and styling products. At present, this company generates over USD 30 billion annually by selling beauty products.
Unilever
Unilever, one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world, has managed to carve its place in the cosmetics/makeup industry. It sells popular brands such as Axe, Lynx, Dove, Lifebuoy, Pond’s, Close-up, TRESemme, Suave, Sunsilk, and Vaseline as well. In 2017, it announced the creation of a new company, which is named Unilever Cosmetics International.
Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skincare, make-up, fragrance, and hair care products in the cosmos. The company holds a distinct portfolio of 25+ brands sold in 150 countries. Since its initiation in the 1940s, the company has been leaving an enduring mark on all aspects of the beauty industry. Today, Estee Lauder continues to push boundaries in the global premium cosmetics market, making it one of the world’s most popular cosmetics companies.
Proctor and Gamble
This company is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. P&G holds a notable position in the skincare and haircare business with various well-known brands including Aussie, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Ivory, Olay, Old Spice, Pantene, Safeguard, Secret, Crest, Oral-B, Scope, Art of Shaving, and more. The company offers a wide range of makeup/beauty and personal care products for men and women, as well as babies and kids.
Coty
Coty is a New York-based company that has created up its beauty business through acquisitions in recent years. The company is a big performer in fragrance, professional hair care, and color cosmetics. The company owns brands such as Adidas, Clairol, CoverGirl, David Beckham, Katy Perry, Max Factor, Rimmel, Sally Hansen, and Wella. It also owns some luxury brands such as Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Chloe, Gucci, Hugo Boss, and Philosophy.
Shiseido
Shiseido, founded in 1872 in Ginza, Tokyo, was the first Western-style pharmacy in Japan. This Japanese company makes all types of personal care products including skincare, fragrance, hair care, sun care, body care, and makeup. Some of its popular brands include Shiseido, Za, Senka, Anessa, Sea Breeze, Nars, and Bare Essentials.
Beiersdorf
Beiersdorf its establishment for more than 130 years. The company has a wide range of personal care products including skincare and body care brands. Some of its most well-known brands include Nivea, Eucerin, Labello, Florena, and La Prairie. The company caters to all sorts of needs and operates across different markets including the mass market, dermo-cosmetics, and the premium cosmetics market.
Johnson and Johnson
Despite being a pharmaceutical company, J&J has become appreciated for its beauty products across the world. This includes products for baby care, skincare, and oral products. Its most famous brands include Johnson’s Baby, Neutrogena, Aveeno, and Listerine.
Amore Pacific
Amore Pacific is a beauty products company in South Korea. The company launched its cosmetics brand AMOREPACIFIC in 2002. The company primarily focuses on developing natural beauty products and has slowly made a name for itself in the beauty industry, profiting from the K-beauty trend in recent years. The company’s popular brands include Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Mamonde, Innisfree, Etude, Lolita Lempicka, and Annick Goutal.
Kao Corporation
Kao Corporation is listed in the Forbes ranking as a USD 34.4 billion company. The company has its headquarters in Japan and it sells products in all cosmetic categories including color cosmetics, skincare, facial and body cleansers, and hair care. Popular brands of this company include Biore, Jergens, John Frieda, and Goldwell.