The British Beauty Council has published The Impact of Beauty, a new report produced by Oxford Economics and supported by L’Oréal Groupe. It reveals the social, cultural and economic value of the UK beauty and personal care sector beyond GDP.

The report draws on a nationally representative YouGov survey of 2,116 UK adults, carried out in July 2026, and a geospatial analysis of beauty and personal care businesses across the UK. It builds on previous Oxford Economics research showing that in 2025 the sector contributed £28.3 billion to UK GDP, supported 595,000 jobs and generated £8.8 billion in tax revenues.

Beauty is a necessity, not a luxury

• Only 7% of respondents describe spending on beauty and personal care as entirely a treat, and around one in five describe it as more of a treat than a necessity.
• Consumers rank beauty and personal care above gym and fitness memberships, streaming subscriptions and eating out, and roughly alongside clothing and fashion.
• Respondents spend an average of 13 minutes a day and £27 a month on beauty and personal care, rising to £35 a month among frequent users.
• Over half of all adults (52%) use skincare daily, and the average adult visits a hairdresser or barber every two months.

Connection, community and the high street

• 44% of frequent users have had a meaningful conversation with a personal care service provider in the past six months, and 42% have discussed personal matters, life events or concerns.
• 18% of frequent users say that, in some weeks, visiting a personal care provider is one of the few times they interact with other people. This rises to 42% of men aged 18-24, compared with 13% of women in the same age group.
• 55% of respondents’ most recent appointments took place on a high street or in a town centre. In 86% of those cases, the appointment was the main reason for the visit, and half of these visits also led to spending at nearby businesses.
• There are more than 190,000 beauty and personal care businesses in the UK, accounting for almost one-third of leisure and recreation amenities across UK retail zones. On small high streets, they make up 36%, and hair and beauty salons alone account for around 20%, the same share as pubs, bars and cafés combined.

A story beyond London

• 39% of beauty and personal care amenities are located outside large cities.
• Greater London has approximately 2.5 amenities per 1,000 residents, while Greater Manchester has 2.9, and Devon and Torbay, Lancashire, and York and North Yorkshire each have more than three.
• In 52 parliamentary constituencies, the sector accounts for more than 35% of all leisure and recreation. All but one of these, Croydon East, lie outside London.

The wellbeing effects of beauty

• 75% of frequent users say personal care products and services have a positive impact on how they feel about themselves, including 81% of women and two-thirds of men.
• 45% say they would not feel as confident about their appearance without them, and 48% say beauty helps them feel more resilient when facing daily challenges.
• 52% say their personal care or grooming routine helps improve their mood.
• 64% enjoy social occasions more when they feel good about their appearance, and 54% say it makes them more willing to attend.
• In the workplace, 56% say taking care of their appearance helps them make a positive first impression, and 51% say it helps them feel more confident.
• Among 18-24-year-olds, 55% say their routines reinforce their sense of self and 53% see them as an outlet for creativity and experimentation.

For more information, visit britishbeautycouncil.com.