At the Beauty Business event organized by CEW France on March 13, 2026, at the Salons Hoche in Paris, Claire Marty, Vice President of Beauty at NielsenIQ, provided an overview of the global beauty market and identified several growth drivers for brands through 2026. Despite a challenging economic climate, the sector continues to demonstrate strong resilience.
The economic climate continues to be marked by strong caution among households. According to the expert, only 17% of consumers say they can spend freely, while sales of fast-moving consumer goods declined by 0.2% in volume in 2025.
Beyond budget constraints, geopolitical and political concerns are also weighing on consumer sentiment. This situation is reflected in contrasting purchasing behaviors: some plan to cut back on beauty spending, while another segment, on the contrary, plans to increase it.
This polarization reflects a growing trade-off between premium products and more affordable solutions, a dynamic that is expected to shape the market in 2026.
At the same time, several societal shifts are influencing consumption. NielsenIQ notes, in particular, that 21% of Gen Zers say they are less interested in certain traditional life milestones, such as buying a home or starting a family. Meanwhile, 40% of consumers report spending more time at home. “In this context, beauty products continue to represent relatively accessible indulgence purchases,” comments Claire Marty.
Global growth remains strong
Despite these tensions, the cosmetics sector continues to show positive momentum. “Globally, the market is growing by 10% in value. This growth is primarily driven by emerging markets. …
