In this month’s issue, we showcase the Top 20 Global Beauty Companies by financial standings for FY 2019. While our list has remained relatively stable year over year, certain rankings have changed. In some cases, earnings turned out to be less than forecasted, others surpassed sales goals. Overall, the industry continues to flourish, in part due to what Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and chief executive officer, L’Oréal—which retains its long-time position as the No. 1 company on our list with 2018 sales reaching an astounding $30.8 billion—calls “the insatiable desire for beauty across all countries and cultures.”

Agon’s statement incorporates the tremendous reach of online sales, as well as the booming travel retail market, which he says, if it were a country, it would rank No. 3 behind the U.S. and China (which saw plenty of growth of its own).

Much of this quest for beauty, particularly among many consumers of our Top 20, encompasses Prestige beauty, a category that rang up a record $14.9 billion for The Estée Lauder Companies in 2018.

And activity is not slowing. According to a new report by Allied Market Research, the luxury cosmetics market is expected to reach $81 billion by 2026, with strength in both makeup and skincare. In terms of revenue, Allied researchers say the skincare category will “rule the roost,” within the luxury cosmetics market, and is expected to dominate throughout the forecast period. Demand for makeup manufactured using organic and plant-based ingredients is also anticipated to drive growth.

One major focus for nearly all the behemoths on our list has been a continuous strengthening and expansion of environmentally responsible packaging and CSR initiatives. It’s a definite nod to the years ahead. As Larissa Jensen, executive director, industry analyst, Beauty, The NPD Group—and a member of Beauty Packaging’s Board of Advisors—says in her Expert’s View at BeautyPackaging.com, “We are just at the beginning of what the future holds for sustainability.”

Trade Show Indicators

CSR and environmentally responsible packaging have been key topics of supplier news at all industry trade shows for the past few years—and especially during 2019—as you’ll read in this month’s in-depth coverage of Cosmoprof NA, MakeUp in NewYork and ADF&PCD New York. Having just returned from Luxe Pack Mon-aco (please stay tuned for my review in the December issue), I can attest to the same focus among many additional high-end European exhibitors.

It seems an investment in “clean beauty” and environmental thinking can help spread beauty further around the globe.

We hope you enjoy this issue,