Editors' Top Reads: News from Pat McGrath Labs, Megi Wellness, TikTok Shop and more...
Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.beauty team.
Discovery-led shopping drives 60% surge in TikTok Shop beauty sales
TikTok Shop has recorded a 60% year-on-year surge in beauty sales, highlighting the growing dominance of social commerce in one of the UK’s most competitive retail categories.
This growth is being driven by TikTok Shop’s “discovery-first” approach to shopping. Rather than arriving with a specific brand in mind, consumers are increasingly embarking on a “search-learn-buy” journey - discovering products through content focused on skin concerns, routines and ingredients.
Education-led content has also fuelled the rise of more immersive shopping experiences. Beauty LIVE shopping sessions on TikTok Shop jumped by 90% in 2025, with over 6,000 sessions now hosted every day across the UK, blending entertainment, expertise and instant purchasing.
It’s no secret that TikTok has emerged as a major force in commerce - and these numbers only reinforce its growing influence. Read more here.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
Pat McGrath Labs files for bankruptcy
2016 throwbacks are all the rage right now, but for me, nothing defined that year quite like Pat McGrath Labs. From the first swipe of Skin Fetish highlighter to the magnetic pull of every seasonal launch, the brand became a staple in my kit. So, it certainly stung to read that the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
According to the filing, Pat McGrath Labs will continue operating "in the ordinary course of business" while working on a financial restructuring. The announcement came just one day before the brand’s assets were scheduled for public auction, a process facilitated by Hilco Global, which would have included both Pat McGrath Cosmetics LLC assets and collateral tied to founder Dame Pat McGrath.
The statement from the brand read: "Pat McGrath Labs remains committed to its community, customers, partners and stakeholders as it continues delivering its signature, high-quality products and culture-defining artistry and innovation."
It’s bittersweet. Pat McGrath Labs has always been about more than make-up. It's a cultural force and a benchmark for artistry. But perhaps that focus is part of the challenge. The brand has long catered to professional beauty lovers and collectors, rather than the broader consumer market, which may have limited its runway for growth outside its devoted fanbase.
For now, fans can continue to buy and experience the products we’ve long adored, while the company works through its next chapter. How that story unfolds will be one of the most closely watched in beauty this year.
Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer.
Majority of AI shoppers still don’t trust payments - with Gen Z most cautious
It was intriguing to read this week that, despite the rapid adoption of AI ‘agents’ by consumers in product discovery, payments remain the ‘friction frontier’ preventing true end-to-end AI shopping, according to new research by the Retail Technology Show (RTS).
Out of 1,000 UK shoppers surveyed, 60% said they don’t yet trust AI agents to complete end-to-end shopping missions from discovery through to payment, while 57% have “specific concerns” around the payments issue, such as AI agents transacting without authorisation.
What was really interesting, however, was that mistrust rose to 70% among Gen Z - the first true generation of digital natives - and 69% of Millennials (the youngest of whom were the first to experience digital). Apparently, they still don’t trust AI agents to transact autonomously, preferring to retain “final control” of payment authorisations. Well, if they don’t trust it yet, then I certainly don’t!
According to Matt Bradley, founder and Event Director of RTS, as the rise of AI takes over more aspects of consumers’ day-to-day lives and shopping behaviours, “retailers are racing towards meeting rapidly evolving customer expectations.”
As yet, it’s only really scratching the surface. How soon AI end-to-end shopping becomes the norm remains to be seen, but it may beat jumping in the back of a driverless car to get to the shops!
Tom Bottomley, Contributing Editor.
The Interview: Megi Wellness founder on changing the narrative around female hair loss
Hair thinning and hair loss remain some of the most emotionally complex and misunderstood challenges women face, particularly during periods of hormonal change. Megi Wellness was created to change that conversation...
In this interview with TheIndustry.beauty, founder and CEO Aneta Mortlock shares the personal journey that led to the brand’s creation, the science behind its system-led approach, and why education, transparency and evidence-based innovation sit at the heart of everything Megi Wellness does.
She also reflects on her most significant achievements in building Megi Wellness, alongside the challenges she faced -and the lessons learned - while preparing the business for its next phase of growth. Read the full interview here.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
