L'Oreal says weight loss drugs are impacting beauty and skincare sales
Source: BBC Business ↗ (cross-verified by 2 outlets — full list below)
L’Oreal’s chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus told investors that the surge in use of GL‑1‑based weight‑loss drugs is “a very important phenomenon for us,” noting that the drugs are reshaping beauty and skincare consumption. He explained that rapid weight loss associated with medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro can lead to loose skin, particularly around the face, prompting the company’s brands—including SkinCeuticals and Kiehl’s—to develop products aimed at counteracting skin sagging. In the three months to September, L’Oreal reported a 7.7 % rise in sales, outpacing analyst forecasts, underscoring the market’s resilience despite broader economic challenges.
The rise of GLP‑1 drugs has created a new consumer segment concerned with the aesthetic side‑effects of rapid weight loss, driving L’Oreal to expand its clinical‑aesthetic portfolio. The group increased its stake in dermatology firm Galderma to 20 % in December and is conducting joint clinical trials with the company to test products on GLP‑1 users worried about facial laxity. Galderma, which markets injectables such as Sculptra and Restylane, released a report last year documenting that most users of weight‑loss medications observed noticeable changes to their facial appearance, reinforcing the commercial relevance of targeted skincare solutions.
These developments suggest a broader shift in the beauty industry toward medically informed product lines that address the side‑effects of popular pharmaceuticals. As GLP‑1 prescriptions continue to grow, L’Oreal’s strategy of aligning its skincare and aesthetic offerings with the needs of this emerging demographic could set a precedent for other beauty conglomerates. The company’s proactive stance may also influence future research collaborations between cosmetics firms and dermatology specialists, potentially reshaping product development cycles and marketing approaches across the sector.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economylow impact
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🌍 Effects for your country
The U.S.'s central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The U.S.'s economy is growing at 2.3% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the U.S.'s own central bank rate closely. With the U.S.'s unemployment at 4.4%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the U.S. depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UK's central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UK's economy is growing at 0.8% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UK's own central bank rate closely. With the UK's unemployment at 5.6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UK depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
France's central bank rate currently stands at 2%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. France's economy is growing at 0.9% with inflation at 1.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track France's own central bank rate closely. With France's unemployment at 7.9%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is already under strain. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in France depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
Romania's central bank rate currently stands at 6.5%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. Romania's economy is growing at 0.7% with inflation at 7.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track Romania's own central bank rate closely. With Romania's unemployment at 6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in Romania depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UAE's central bank rate currently stands at 3.65%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UAE's economy is growing at 3.1% with inflation at 2.5%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UAE's own central bank rate closely. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UAE depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.