UK COVID-19 And BPC: A Year On Market Report 2021

The UK BPC report identifies consumer attitudes towards beauty and personal care in the UK. The Market report covers the market size, market forecast, market segmentation and industry trends for the UK BPC Market in the UK. 

 Current Market Landscape 

The COVID-19 pandemic saw major changes to the lives of many consumers, with national lockdowns throughout 2020 and into 2021 causing many to spend more time at home. COVID-19’s impact on the beauty industry also saw a shift in how consumers purchased and used BPC products.

• The value of the UK BPC market declined by 27% to £18.7 billion in 2020.
• The lipstick effect continues to drive demand as 51% of BPC consumers have bought beauty/grooming products since the start of the pandemic.
• personal appearance has become less important to 24% of adults since the start of the outbreak.

The reduction of social occasions during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the usage and spend across several BPC categories, with fragrances and colour cosmetics amongst the hardest hit. While social occasions return and see demand recover, there will be residual effects as consumers have embraced a lower-maintenance approach to beauty and grooming.

 Future Market Trends in UK BPC Market 

The biggest threat currently facing the post-COVID BPC industry will be price competition. Consumers are looking for value, and the sudden growth in the online channel will exacerbate the issue as it aids price comparison behaviours. This will make it easier for BPC consumers to buy lower-priced products, especially with the economic impact of the pandemic limiting many budgets.

Innovations in BPC products will buoy the BPC industry demand as consumers remain willing to spend where there is a perceived return on investment, with 35% of BPC consumers saying the effectiveness of a product has grained more importance since the start of the pandemic. This means the biggest opportunities in the post-COVID BPC market is asserting product efficacy through data and science-backed claims, as well as increased awareness over diversity.

Read on to discover more details or take a look at all of our UK Beauty and Personal Care market research.

Quickly understand

• The impact of COVID-19 on the UK BPC market size and forecast.
• How the pandemic and economic disruption has shaped consumer behaviour.
• The long-term implications of beauty and grooming routine changes.
• The outlook for BPC retailing, including online and offline opportunities.
• Post-pandemic priorities when buying beauty and grooming products.

Covered in this report

Brands: Byredo, Next, Codex Beauty, L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, Alterna Haircare, Boots, Mankind, The Modern Man, Cult Beauty, H Beauty.

Expert analysis from a specialist in the field

This report, written by Samantha Dover, a leading analyst in the Beauty and Personal Care sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.

COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for the UK BPC market, driving a significant decline in spending on both BPC products and professional services. Whilst spend will recover as restrictions are eased, there will be a lasting impact as consumers prioritise value and favour low-maintenance routines. However, as consumers invest in beauty and grooming to lift their mood, and results remain important, consumers will be willing to spend both time and money on BPC where there is a perceived return on investment. There are also opportunities to create a more seamless online and offline experience as consumers adopt a more hybrid approach to shopping.
Samantha Dover
Senior Beauty and Personal Care Analyst