In Review 2025: Top 10 beauty features of the year
In 2025, TheIndustry.beauty continued to deliver inspiring stories, in-depth retail insights, and thoughtful analysis from across the beauty industry. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re reflecting on some of our favourite features from 2025 - showcasing the stories, trends, and voices that defined the year.
In depth: The secret to a successful pop-up
With 47% of shoppers seeking more immersive, entertainment-driven retail experiences, demand is growing for concepts that go beyond simple transactions. Brands that respond with engaging activations are well positioned to benefit from this shift in consumer behaviour.
This approach has become particularly popular within the beauty sector, with brands increasingly turning to experiential activations such as pop-ups to attract consumers and drive brand awareness, engagement and sales.
TheIndustry.beauty took an in-depth look at the benefits of pop-ups and what beauty businesses should consider when developing these concepts, featuring exclusive commentary from Beauty Pie, VIEVE, Glow For It and Jo Malone London, alongside insights from James Barnes, co-founder and business director at creative agency Backlash, on the secrets to a successful pop-up.
Space NK’s next chapter: New flagship, Ulta backing and a bold strategy to lead premium beauty retail
Space NK has remained firmly in the spotlight this year, most notably following its acquisition by US retail giant Ulta Beauty, and has since made headlines again with the launch of its new flagship store concept at London’s Oxford Circus.
As competition across the UK beauty retail landscape intensifies - with Sephora accelerating its British expansion, Boots enhancing its beauty halls and preparing to debut a dedicated fragrance concept, and Superdrug rolling out ‘beauty playgrounds’ across 30 stores - one thing is clear: Space NK is not simply competing; it is positioning itself to lead. The new flagship underscores the brand’s ambition to strengthen its status as the go-to destination for premium beauty.
Ahead of the store’s opening, TheIndustry.beauty took a closer look at Space NK’s expansion plans, the potential impact of its Ulta Beauty acquisition, and the strategies it is deploying to win customer loyalty as it seeks to redefine the future of premium beauty retail in the UK.
How Rituals plans to redefine wellness with first UK ‘Mind Oasis’
Rituals opened its Mind Oasis concept on London’s Oxford Street last month, introducing a new approach to in-store wellbeing that combines evidence-based relaxation treatments with immersive, sensory-led design. Following successful launches in Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona, the London opening marked the concept’s UK debut, offering a calm retreat designed to help visitors pause, reset and reconnect amid the pace of city life.
Sitting at the intersection of retail and wellbeing, the store reflects a growing shift towards experiential spaces that prioritise self-care and mindful living. Visitors are invited to take part in guided sessions aimed at promoting mental relaxation and physical restoration, using multi-sensory experiences and mindfulness practices to create moments of stillness within a high-energy retail environment.
Speaking exclusively to TheIndustry.beauty, Annemarie Forsyth, UK & IE Managing Director, and Couro Seck, Head of Concept, Mind Oasis, at Rituals, discuss the inspiration behind the Mind Oasis concept, the brand’s continued retail growth, product development strategy, and future ambitions.
The Business Athlete: The new consumer powering the supplement industry
The supplement industry is big business, having evolved far beyond its traditional focus on fitness enthusiasts. Today, supplements are increasingly used to support everyday wellbeing - helping consumers feel energised, focused, and ready for the demands of modern professional and social lives.
With information readily available on the benefits of hydration, optimal protein intake, and ingredients such as creatine, collagen, and ashwagandha, supplements are no longer niche. Instead, they are being embraced by a broader audience seeking practical ways to enhance performance, resilience, and overall health as part of a busy daily routine.
TheIndustry.beauty explores the new consumer driving growth in the supplement sector and examines the brands rising to meet this demand.
From struggle to strategy: Industry experts unpack Harvey Nichols’ retail revival
Once a shining star of British luxury retail, Harvey Nichols has faced mounting challenges in recent years, grappling with shifting consumer habits, intensifying competition, and a broader slowdown in the luxury sector.
However, the department store is seeking to reclaim its former glory, having announced plans this year to "transform" the business through a renewed focus on fashion, beauty, and hospitality earlier this year.
TheIndustry.fashion took an in-depth look at Harvey Nichols, featuring exclusive commentary on the challenges it faces and expert insights into how it might successfully navigate its transformation.
What can we learn from the demise of REN? Experts have their say...
One of the most significant beauty industry developments this year was the announcement that REN Clean Skincare would cease trading, sparking an outpouring of reaction and debate across the sector.
Following the conclusion of a collective consultation period, the Unilever-owned skincare brand confirmed it was taking formal steps to close the business, citing a combination of internal challenges and wider market pressures that have left it “unable to sustain long-term success” in recent years.
Speculation around REN’s future had been circulating earlier this year, with industry sources indicating the brand was undergoing a strategic review. The company now expects to cease trading by the end of Q3 2025. We heard from beauty industry experts on the closure and what the sector can learn from it.
The rise of inner beauty
The UK wellness industry is one of the largest in Europe, with an estimated value of more than US$223 billion (Statista, 2024). In an economic climate where beauty brands are under increasing pressure to find new routes to growth, the question arises: should they be looking to the ‘inner beauty’ category as a strategic opportunity for lateral expansion?
Once the preserve of athletes and fitness enthusiasts, health supplements such as electrolytes, protein powders and probiotics have moved from the gym bag to the bathroom cabinet. Today’s consumers are being actively educated on their potential benefits for skin health and overall wellbeing, helping to propel the category into a fast-growing and highly commercial space.
With the pursuit of longevity and youthful skin as enduring priorities, hydration, elasticity and gut health have become key focus areas within the supplement market. Here, we explore the products leading the charge in driving beauty from within.
Fan power or market potential? Pleasing’s sexual wellness launch sells out 'in minutes'
With a name like Pleasing, a foray into sexual wellness had seemed almost inevitable. Earlier this year, the Harry Styles-founded beauty brand expanded into the category with Pleasing Yourself, debuting with a Double-Sided Vibrator and The PleasingLube.
The move marked a bold new chapter for the brand, but Pleasing emphasized that this expansion wasn’t about provocation, chasing trends, or offering prescriptions. Instead, the brand framed its launch as "an invitation to a broader, more open conversation around sex - as a space for connection, self-expression, and self-awareness for everyone."
The debut certainly caused a stir: both products reportedly sold out within minutes in the US and UK. While this rapid success underscored Pleasing’s strong market impact, it raised a key question: was this a signal of real growth potential in the sexual wellness market, or did it simply reflect the purchasing power of Styles’ devoted fanbase? TheIndustry.beauty took a closer look.
Where bold meets bare: 5 beauty trends from LFW SS26
At SS26 London Fashion Week, beauty took bold, boundary-pushing turns, offering a striking contrast between minimalism and maximalism. From barely-there, natural skin to unapologetically dramatic statements on eyes, lips, and hair, the season celebrated the full spectrum of expression.
As designers explored innovative silhouettes and forms on the runway, beauty mirrored this experimentation, expanding the narrative beyond clothing alone. Lips became canvases, showcasing everything from timeless elegance to avant-garde artistry. Eyes dominated several shows, serving as a vehicle for character, attitude, and architectural precision. Across the season, a surreal, doll-inspired aesthetic also emerged, adding a whimsical yet edgy dimension to the runway.
Following a jam-packed LFW schedule, TheIndustry.beauty reviewed the season’s highlights, exploring the key trends, innovations, and creative directions that set SS26 apart.
A love letter to 'service in beauty'
Beauty expert Tracey Woodward recalls her beginnings in the industry, starting with her first job at a Clinique counter in 1985. From nervously attending her interview in borrowed shoes to completing intensive training at Grosvenor Street, Woodward learned the fundamentals of skincare, makeup, and customer service, laying the foundation for her career.
Her role at Debenhams Croydon gave her independence and confidence, teaching her to connect with customers, understand their lives, and empower them through beauty. She mastered everything from product knowledge to sales techniques, embracing the vibrant, energetic culture of 1980s department stores.
Looking back, Tracey credits her early experiences with shaping her professionalism, eloquence, and ambition. Surrounded by inspiring colleagues and the stories of her clients, she cultivated the skills and mindset that would guide her through a successful career in the beauty industry, all while savoring the music, fashion, and friendships of the decade.
