GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Beauty Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts beauty industry growth, consumer loyalty, and innovative representation efforts.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

67% of consumers say diversity and inclusion influence their purchasing decisions

Statistic 2

55% of beauty consumers say they want products that cater to specific skin tones

Statistic 3

60% of Black beauty consumers say they prefer brands that celebrate their culture

Statistic 4

58% of consumers say they are more likely to buy from brands with inclusive product ranges

Statistic 5

53% of consumers are more loyal to brands that promote sustainability alongside diversity

Statistic 6

73% of Millennials prefer brands that are transparent about their diversity efforts

Statistic 7

86% of beauty consumers support brands that actively participate in social justice movements

Statistic 8

64% of consumers believe that more diverse representation leads to more innovative beauty products

Statistic 9

70% of beauty brand founders believe that embracing diversity gives a competitive advantage

Statistic 10

Only 17% of beauty brands are led by people from diverse backgrounds

Statistic 11

Brands with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their competitors

Statistic 12

Less than 3% of beauty industry executives are Black women

Statistic 13

35% of beauty industry workers are from diverse backgrounds

Statistic 14

Only 12% of beauty industry founders are women of color

Statistic 15

55% of beauty professionals believe diversity and inclusion are essential for industry growth

Statistic 16

The percentage of beauty workers of color has increased by 20% over the past five years

Statistic 17

48% of beauty company CEOs say diversity initiatives have positively impacted their bottom line

Statistic 18

53% of beauty industry executives cite lack of diversity as a barrier to innovation

Statistic 19

The global diversity cosmetic market is projected to reach $56 billion by 2027

Statistic 20

78% of different ethnicity consumers feel more loyal to brands that embrace cultural diversity

Statistic 21

54% of Black women feel underrepresented in mainstream beauty advertising

Statistic 22

72% of Gen Z consumers prefer brands that showcase diversity

Statistic 23

45% of beauty brands have implemented inclusivity initiatives in the past three years

Statistic 24

80% of women of color say they want more representation in beauty advertising

Statistic 25

Only 10% of beauty campaigns feature models of color

Statistic 26

60% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that promote inclusivity

Statistic 27

Only 5% of mainstream beauty ads feature transgender models

Statistic 28

81% of consumers want brands to take a stand on social issues including diversity

Statistic 29

65% of beauty brands report they lack sufficient diversity in their product offerings

Statistic 30

68% of non-white consumers have experienced discrimination in retail and beauty settings

Statistic 31

47% of consumers believe beauty standards are becoming more inclusive

Statistic 32

52% of beauty brands have plans to increase diversity in their marketing teams

Statistic 33

The percentage of beauty brands featuring LGBTQ+ models increased by 25% between 2020 and 2023

Statistic 34

43% of women of color feel their skin tone is not adequately represented in mainstream beauty products

Statistic 35

69% of consumers agree that brands should actively employ diverse models to reflect society

Statistic 36

38% of beauty campaigns in 2022 featured models aged 50 and above, indicating a push for age diversity

Statistic 37

70% of people with disabilities feel excluded by mainstream beauty marketing

Statistic 38

42% of Black women feel there are fewer beauty products suited to their skin, compared to 18% of white women

Statistic 39

60% of beauty companies have made public commitments to improve diversity and inclusion

Statistic 40

65% of beauty consumers believe that beauty should embrace all ages, ethnicities, and genders

Statistic 41

Less than 15% of marketing budgets in beauty are allocated to diversity initiatives

Statistic 42

41% of beauty brands have faced public criticism for lack of diversity in their campaigns

Statistic 43

29% of beauty products are now formulated to cater to a wider range of skin tones, up from 12% in 2018

Statistic 44

49% of Black consumers feel that mainstream beauty brands do not do enough to celebrate Black culture

Statistic 45

42% of beauty consumers say they are more likely to stay loyal to brands that actively promote diverse representation

Statistic 46

32% of beauty products are now marketed with inclusivity as a central theme, up from 15% five years ago

Statistic 47

Only 22% of beauty ads feature models of non-binary gender

Statistic 48

59% of consumers believe that greater diversity in the beauty industry leads to better mental health outcomes

Statistic 49

95% of beauty brands acknowledge the need for increased diversity and inclusion, but only 40% have actionable plans

Statistic 50

61% of beauty consumers want to see more multicultural beauty campaigns

Statistic 51

70% of beauty brands plan to increase their investment in diversity and inclusion initiatives within the next year

Slide 1 of 51

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

67% of consumers say diversity and inclusion influence their purchasing decisions
Only 17% of beauty brands are led by people from diverse backgrounds
54% of Black women feel underrepresented in mainstream beauty advertising
72% of Gen Z consumers prefer brands that showcase diversity
45% of beauty brands have implemented inclusivity initiatives in the past three years
80% of women of color say they want more representation in beauty advertising
The global diversity cosmetic market is projected to reach $56 billion by 2027
Only 10% of beauty campaigns feature models of color
60% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that promote inclusivity
55% of beauty consumers say they want products that cater to specific skin tones
Only 5% of mainstream beauty ads feature transgender models
78% of different ethnicity consumers feel more loyal to brands that embrace cultural diversity
60% of Black beauty consumers say they prefer brands that celebrate their culture

From the runway to retail shelves, the beauty industry is at a pivotal crossroads: with 67% of consumers citing diversity and inclusion as key factors influencing their purchasing decisions, yet only 17% of brands led by people from diverse backgrounds, it’s clear that embracing true representation is not just a moral imperative but also a lucrative business strategy.

Consumer Preferences and Behavior

67% of consumers say diversity and inclusion influence their purchasing decisions
55% of beauty consumers say they want products that cater to specific skin tones
60% of Black beauty consumers say they prefer brands that celebrate their culture
58% of consumers say they are more likely to buy from brands with inclusive product ranges
53% of consumers are more loyal to brands that promote sustainability alongside diversity
73% of Millennials prefer brands that are transparent about their diversity efforts
86% of beauty consumers support brands that actively participate in social justice movements
64% of consumers believe that more diverse representation leads to more innovative beauty products
70% of beauty brand founders believe that embracing diversity gives a competitive advantage

Consumer Preferences and Behavior Interpretation

In an industry where beauty is often said to be in the eye of the beholder, the rising consumer demand for diversity, inclusion, and cultural authenticity signals that brands ignoring these principles risk not only losing market share but also missing out on the true innovation and loyalty driven by a more global and conscientious audience.

Industry Diversity and Leadership

Only 17% of beauty brands are led by people from diverse backgrounds
Brands with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their competitors
Less than 3% of beauty industry executives are Black women
35% of beauty industry workers are from diverse backgrounds
Only 12% of beauty industry founders are women of color
55% of beauty professionals believe diversity and inclusion are essential for industry growth
The percentage of beauty workers of color has increased by 20% over the past five years
48% of beauty company CEOs say diversity initiatives have positively impacted their bottom line
53% of beauty industry executives cite lack of diversity as a barrier to innovation

Industry Diversity and Leadership Interpretation

Despite a growing recognition that diversity fuels innovation and profitability in the beauty industry, only 17% of brands are led by diverse leaders, highlighting a stark gap between the acknowledged benefits and concrete representation that risks stifling true industry renewal.

Market Trends and Consumer Loyalty

The global diversity cosmetic market is projected to reach $56 billion by 2027
78% of different ethnicity consumers feel more loyal to brands that embrace cultural diversity

Market Trends and Consumer Loyalty Interpretation

As the global beauty industry races toward a $56 billion future, it becomes clear that brands embracing cultural diversity aren't just doing the right thing—they're cultivating loyal customers who can make or break their profits.

Representation and Inclusivity in Marketing

54% of Black women feel underrepresented in mainstream beauty advertising
72% of Gen Z consumers prefer brands that showcase diversity
45% of beauty brands have implemented inclusivity initiatives in the past three years
80% of women of color say they want more representation in beauty advertising
Only 10% of beauty campaigns feature models of color
60% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that promote inclusivity
Only 5% of mainstream beauty ads feature transgender models
81% of consumers want brands to take a stand on social issues including diversity
65% of beauty brands report they lack sufficient diversity in their product offerings
68% of non-white consumers have experienced discrimination in retail and beauty settings
47% of consumers believe beauty standards are becoming more inclusive
52% of beauty brands have plans to increase diversity in their marketing teams
The percentage of beauty brands featuring LGBTQ+ models increased by 25% between 2020 and 2023
43% of women of color feel their skin tone is not adequately represented in mainstream beauty products
69% of consumers agree that brands should actively employ diverse models to reflect society
38% of beauty campaigns in 2022 featured models aged 50 and above, indicating a push for age diversity
70% of people with disabilities feel excluded by mainstream beauty marketing
42% of Black women feel there are fewer beauty products suited to their skin, compared to 18% of white women
60% of beauty companies have made public commitments to improve diversity and inclusion
65% of beauty consumers believe that beauty should embrace all ages, ethnicities, and genders
Less than 15% of marketing budgets in beauty are allocated to diversity initiatives
41% of beauty brands have faced public criticism for lack of diversity in their campaigns
29% of beauty products are now formulated to cater to a wider range of skin tones, up from 12% in 2018
49% of Black consumers feel that mainstream beauty brands do not do enough to celebrate Black culture
42% of beauty consumers say they are more likely to stay loyal to brands that actively promote diverse representation
32% of beauty products are now marketed with inclusivity as a central theme, up from 15% five years ago
Only 22% of beauty ads feature models of non-binary gender
59% of consumers believe that greater diversity in the beauty industry leads to better mental health outcomes
95% of beauty brands acknowledge the need for increased diversity and inclusion, but only 40% have actionable plans
61% of beauty consumers want to see more multicultural beauty campaigns
70% of beauty brands plan to increase their investment in diversity and inclusion initiatives within the next year

Representation and Inclusivity in Marketing Interpretation

While 95% of beauty brands acknowledge the need for diversity and inclusion, the fact that only 10% of campaigns feature models of color and a mere 22% include non-binary models suggests that the industry’s acknowledgment remains more talk than transformative action.