Beauty brands P.Louise and Refy make list of the fastest-growing businesses in Britain

Beauty and wellness brands are among Britain’s fastest-growing companies as entrepreneurs across the country tap into blossoming lifestyle trends, The Sunday Times 100 list shows.

The Sunday Times 100 2025 is an "exclusive guide to Britain’s fastest-growing private companies" that make under £250 million in annual revenues.  This year, the list found that wellness brands take the cake in terms of business growth.

In the number two spot is Healf, a London-based retailer selling health products from vitamins and minerals to fitness watches and sleep masks. The company’s sales increased more than fivefold on average over the past three years, with it making £40 million in the latest year, the research found.

Nala’s Baby, which sells skincare and haircare products for children and babies, was number 10 in the rankings, having enjoyed sales growth of 175% over the past three years. The brand was founded by Casyo Johnson – otherwise known as Krept, one half of UK rap duo Krept & Konan – with co-parent Sasha Ellese in 2022.

Ancient + Brave, a brand selling collagen and dietary supplements, came in just below at spot number 11. The company reported sales growth of 174.32% to £19.9 million.

Hair Syrup was the only haircare brand to make the list, placing at number 13. The brand, seen on Dragon's Den, offers a range of results-driven, natural pre-wash hair oil treatments to provide solutions for a range of scalp & hair concerns. It reported growth of 167.37% to £5 million. 

Rheal, a Sunderland-based superfoods retailer, was next up in spot 19. The company saw 141.97% growth to £25.5 million.

Coming into cosmetics and skincare, P. Louise and Refy made this year's cut at numbers 37 and 61, respectively. Interestingly, both beauty brands were founded by influencers, showcasing the power and dominance influencer-founded beauty brands have in British business.

P. Louise, the viral beauty brand, has exploded into a global, multi-category label with a cult-like following and record-breaking sales. This year, according to the list, it grew by 109.7% resulting in £71 million in sales.

Refy, the beauty and skincare brand launched by influencer Jessica Hunt, saw growth of 80.96% to £40.4 million.

The Sunday Times 100, a network of reporters from across the Times newspapers, compiled the fourth annual list by examining sales growth figures across private companies, excluding those selling their technology, which feature in a separate table.

The research also found that, of the 100 companies featured in the rankings, more than a third (36) are based in London, with the rest spread throughout the country.

There were 28 businesses included this year that have female founders or co-founders, including fashion brand Odd Muse, in fourth place, and jewellery business D.Louise, in ninth.

About half of the companies on the list trade internationally, according to the research.