India’s Beauty Market Continues to Shine for L’Oréal
New Delhi (Economy India): French beauty giant L’Oréal reported that its business in India continued to accelerate during the first half of 2026, supported by robust demand for haircare and skincare products. The company also announced its plan to acquire a majority stake in Indian personal care company Innovist, a move that is expected to strengthen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing beauty markets.
The performance highlights India’s growing importance in L’Oréal’s global growth strategy as rising disposable incomes, premiumisation, and increasing consumer awareness continue to boost demand for beauty and personal care products.
Strong Regional Performance
L’Oréal said its SAPMENA-SSA region—covering South Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa—recorded an adjusted like-for-like growth of 13.8% during the first half of 2026.
According to the company’s earnings statement, India emerged as one of the strongest-performing markets in the region.
“Growth continued to accelerate in India, driven by haircare and skincare,” the company said.
The company also highlighted outstanding growth in Vietnam and very strong performance in the Australia-New Zealand cluster.
Haircare and Skincare Drive Demand
The accelerating growth in India was primarily supported by increasing demand for:
- Haircare products
- Skincare solutions
- Premium beauty products
- Personal care innovations
The trend reflects changing consumer preferences, higher spending on self-care, rapid urbanisation, and wider availability of premium international brands through both online and offline retail channels.
Innovist Acquisition to Expand Market Presence
L’Oréal’s proposed acquisition of a majority stake in Innovist, an Indian personal care company, is expected to strengthen its product portfolio and expand its reach in India’s fast-growing beauty and wellness sector.
The acquisition aligns with the company’s strategy of investing in high-growth markets and strengthening its local brand ecosystem.
Gulf Markets Face Challenges
While India and several Asia-Pacific markets delivered strong growth, L’Oréal noted that consumption across the Gulf countries has been affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
However, Saudi Arabia remained relatively resilient despite regional geopolitical challenges.
India Remains a Strategic Growth Market
India has become an increasingly important market for global beauty companies due to:
- Rising disposable incomes
- Expanding middle-class population
- Growing e-commerce penetration
- Increasing awareness of skincare and wellness
- Higher demand for premium beauty products
- Rapid digital and social commerce adoption
Industry experts expect India’s beauty and personal care market to continue expanding over the coming years, making it a key investment destination for multinational consumer goods companies.
With strong momentum in haircare and skincare, along with its planned investment in Innovist, L’Oréal is well-positioned to deepen its presence in India. The company’s continued focus on innovation, premium brands, and local market expansion is expected to support long-term growth in one of the world’s fastest-growing beauty markets.
(Economy India)
