In this month’s Beauty Buzz, here’s the latest news.

U.S. prestige beauty industry sales remained flat in Q1 of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, according to Circana LLC. In comparison, mass-market beauty sales experienced a year-over-year dollar increase of 3%. It was the first time in several years that the mass channel outpaced prestige.

Price increases contributed to the stronger performance in the mass market, as unit sales were down 1%. Overall softness for prestige beauty in Q1 was driven primarily by consumer pullback in January, which improved in February and March, when in-store sales got a lift. All beauty categories experienced prestige market growth in March.

Fragrance Remains on Top, Circana Reports

Fragrance remains the top-performer, with Q1 dollar sales up 4% in the prestige channel and 8% in the mass market. In prestige outlets, gift sets outperformed thanks to mini and travel-size sets, with an increase of 45%. 

The largest prestige beauty category based on sales volume, prestige makeup, experienced a slight decline of 1% based on dollars. Though the face and eye segments were challenged, stick formats have been a hit. While lip makeup sales were flat, lip liner and other lip makeup grew.

The skincare category experienced a 3%-dollar decline, but units sold grew by 1% in the prestige channel. In mass, the category posted growth, even though skincare was the “most challenged” beauty category in prestige retail. 

Skincare’s prestige performance was driven by declines in facial skincare, notably key areas such as face serum, face exfoliator, and lip treatment. Conversely, body and sun care segments continued to grow. 

The hair category was one of the strongest within prestige beauty in Q1, growing by 4% in dollars and experiencing single-digit growth in the mass market. In prestige, styling products were at the top, and hair wellness and scalp care products continued to grow sales-wise.

“The beauty industry will continue to stabilize following its tremendous growth streak in prestige, even as some categories such as fragrance will continue to surge,” said Larissa Jensen, global beauty industry advisor at Circana—and a member of Beauty Packaging’s Board of Advisors.

“The macro landscape of 2025 presents a complex mix of factors that will shape industry dynamics. When navigating through what we can’t control, we as an industry must prepare where we can—through strategies that include creating brand value beyond price and focusing on compelling value propositions and high-margin innovations to appeal to consumers.”

NJPEC Names 2025 Packaging Hall of Fame Inductees 

On May 15, NJPEC (New Jersey Packaging Executives Club) celebrated its newly named Class of 2025 inductees to the organization’s Hall of Fame at their annual dinner. The awards are presented to packaging industry recipients “who have advanced the packaging profession within their specialized areas of expertise.” 

NJPEC’s 2025 Inductees

The 2025 inductees, recognized by their peers, are: 

• Dave Heubach, Director of Packaging & New Product Development – O.Berk Company
• Philip Tarrant, Executive Director, Global Cross Brand Packaging and Engineering – Estée Lauder
• Leslie Artesona, Package Development – Retired
• Karen Hadden-Wolf, Vice President of Sales – CO II Packaging
• Derek Schmidt, Head of New Product Engineering – LG H&H Americas/The Avon Company
• Charles F. Del Rosso, Regional Sales Manager – Holmen Board & Paper
• Jamie Matusow, Editor-in-Chief, Beauty Packaging magazine

Discover Beautyworld Middle East in Dubai 

Beautyworld Middle East in Dubai, the region’s largest trade show for the beauty industry, will return to the Dubai World Trade Center on October 27-29, 2025.

“This show is a key international hub and point of entry to the growing beauty market in the Middle East,” says Ravi Ramchandni, Show Manager Beautyworld Middle East. Organized by Messe Frankfurt, the three-day event will feature over 2,000 exhibitors covering 11 product categories. Nearly 79,000 attendees from 170 countries are expected. 

Attending Beautyworld Middle East in Dubai is an opportunity to learn about this international market—and beauty consumers with distinctly unique preferences. “Dubai is a hotbed for growth in the global beauty and wellness ecosystem,” says Ramchandni. “UAE consumers have a higher disposable income and are willing to spend on premium products, so luxury packaging is in high demand.”

Beautyworld Middle East spans 17 halls and 11 product categories. Of the 2,000 exhibitors, approximately 20% are suppliers, including packaging companies, contract manufacturers, fragrance formulators, and raw material suppliers.