The global beauty and pharmacy industries are waiting with bated breath to see who will be victorious in the current battle to acquire Boots from Walgreens Boots Alliance.

The venerated British chain is the largest beauty retailer in the UK and plans to remain so. Last September, the company announced the rollout of 30 new beauty halls across the UK.

Boots has also added more than 65 new beauty brands to its roster over the past two years and has introduced “trend zones” instead of beauty counters to attract younger consumers.

Earlier this month, Boots also reported a significant rebound in its second quarter sales. Revenues increased 22 per cent compared to the same quarter last year. Beauty sales led the resurgence.

Using collected data from Google Trends, Mintel and Boots.com, Boots have pinpointed six major trends expected to impact beauty sales for the rest of the year.

  • Expert skincare is top of the list as more consumers seek out solutions to leading skin concerns. Facial skincare sales at the retailer have increased by 41 per cent year-on-year. CeraVe sales have jumped by 54 per cent and La Roche-Posay revenues are up 41 per cent.
  • Anti-stress beauty routines will continue to be top-of-mind, says Boots, as Gen Zers and younger Millennials struggle with increased anxiety and stress.
  • Affordability will become more of a prime mover in beauty purchasing as inflation pressures mount worldwide. Popular brands such as The Ordinary have also played a major part in educating consumers that quality doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Boots currently offers 170 SKUs priced at AU$9 or lower.
  • Diversity and sustainability will continue to impact beauty buying intentions. Boots launched its #AllTogetherBeautiful campaign in March to re-affirm its commitment to being the most inclusive beauty retailer.
  • Stress and anxiety can lead to scalp problems or increase the onset of major conditions such as dandruff. Scalp-focused haircare for men and women is enjoying a major spike in sales in the UK and Boots reports that search terms including the word scalp have increased by 170 per cent over the past 12 months.
  • Maximalist makeup has been trending strongly as leading global markets emerged from pandemic lockdowns and restrictions. Boots believes that girls will continue to want more fun and hone their creativity as summer approaches in the Northern Hemisphere. Recent launches by the company include Revolution Beauty and Kylie Cosmetics.

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