Cosmetica 2026 Spotlights India’s $30 Billion Beauty Industry
India’s beauty and personal care market, now estimated at over $30 billion, is set for significant growth, according to organisers of Cosmetica 2026, held at Bengaluru’s Palace Grounds from June 19-21. The exhibition brought together stakeholders across the value chain, with rising disposable incomes, urbanisation and e-commerce cited as key growth drivers. Organisers highlighted opportunities in premium skincare, colour cosmetics, men’s grooming and Ayurvedic beauty, alongside trends like clean beauty, sustainable packaging and AI-driven personalisation. Triune Exhibitors’ Managing Director, Ceyril Perira, noted that global brands increasingly view India as a hub for innovation and manufacturing, not just consumption. The event was organised with major industry bodies including AIHBA and PBA.
I-Beauty: How India Is Positioning Itself as Beauty’s Next Big Market
India’s beauty industry is emerging as the next global movement, “I-beauty”, blending Ayurvedic ingredients like turmeric and neem with modern actives such as vitamin C, according to a new BMI report. Following K-beauty and J-beauty’s global rise, Indian brands are gaining traction through rising exports and major acquisitions, including Estée Lauder’s full buyout of Forest Essentials and Hindustan Unilever’s stake in Minimalist. BMI expects I-beauty to gain meaningful international momentum between 2026 and 2030, though a crowded global market and consumer fatigue remain key challenges ahead.
L’Oréal India’s New Centre to Train 3,000 Annually in Beauty Skills
L’Oréal India inaugurated its largest Beauty Skilling Centre in Mumbai, developed with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), capable of training 3,000 people annually in hairdressing, makeup and beauty services. The launch coincided with L’Oréal’s first Socio-Economic Impact Study, conducted by Asterès, which found every direct L’Oréal India job supports 39.5 additional jobs, sustaining 90,500 roles nationwide. The study also highlighted that 95% of domestically sold products are locally manufactured, with exports to 25 markets. Over the past decade, L’Oréal has upskilled 3.3 million hairdressers and 42,000 women, with beneficiaries reporting a 44 per cent average rise in household income and a 25x social return on investment, per a 2025 PwC study.
India-UK Trade Deal to Cut Cosmetics Tariffs From July 15
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will come into force on 15 July 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the G7 summit in Evian. Signed last July after over three years of negotiations, the deal will see India reduce or eliminate tariffs on British goods, including cosmetics, alongside whisky and gin, making UK beauty products more affordable in the Indian market over time. In return, the UK will lower tariffs on Indian exports such as gems, jewellery and engineering goods. Modi said the agreement, welcomed by both him and UK PM Keir Starmer, would significantly boost bilateral trade and open new opportunities across sectors.
Beauty Chain Bodycraft Secures ₹120 Crore for India Expansion
Bengaluru-based Bodycraft Clinic and Salon has raised ₹120 crore in a Series A round led by Singularity AMC, a Mumbai-based private equity firm focused on growth-stage and pre-IPO investments. The funding, Bodycraft’s first major round in nearly nine years, will support 30 new locations across its network, which currently operates 67 clinics and salons offering beauty, wellness, and medical aesthetic services. The capital will also fund clinical technology upgrades and AI-driven operational improvements. CEO Sahil Gupta called it “the beginning of an exciting new chapter,” as India’s clinical aesthetics market is projected to grow from around $2 billion in 2024 to over $7 billion by 2033.
Purplle Pauses PE Fundraising as Founders Buy ₹90-100 Crore Stake
Omnichannel beauty retailer Purplle has paused fundraising talks with private equity investors amid valuation disagreements, according to people familiar with the matter. Meanwhile, founders Manish Taneja, Rahul Dash and Suyash Katyayani are buying shares worth ₹90-100 crore from angel investors and some employees, at a valuation of about ₹11,300 crore, roughly 11 per cent above the company’s 2024 funding round led by ADIA, which valued it at ₹10,000 crore. Purplle, which competes with Nykaa in India’s beauty e-commerce space, more than doubled its FY25 operating revenue to ₹1,367 crore and is reportedly preparing for a potential IPO in 2026. .