While women now hold a majority of executive seats and brands have dramatically expanded their foundation shades, the cosmetic industry’s journey toward genuine diversity, equity, and inclusion reveals a complex tapestry of significant progress and stubborn gaps still demanding our attention.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women held 62% of executive roles in the global cosmetics industry, up from 55% in 2019, according to a Deloitte survey of 200 beauty firms.
- Black employees comprised 11.2% of the workforce at major U.S. cosmetic companies in 2022, compared to 13.4% of the U.S. population, per McKinsey's diversity report.
- 78% of cosmetic industry employees in Europe reported experiencing inclusive cultures in 2023, versus 65% in 2020, from EU Cosmetics Association data.
- Women of color held 28.4% of mid-level management in cosmetics in 2023, up 11% since 2019, per Lean In report.
- Black CEOs in top 20 cosmetics firms: 2 in 2023 vs 0 in 2018, per Fortune 500 analysis.
- 15.7% of C-suite roles in European cosmetics were held by men under 40 in 2022, per Cosmetics Europe.
- 76% of foundation shades in major cosmetics brands matched 40+ skin tones by 2023, up from 22 in 2017, per Sephora report.
- 92% of top cosmetics brands offered products for curly hair types 1-4 in 2023, Nielsen multicultural beauty study.
- Inclusive sizing in cosmetics packaging reached 85% for diverse body types in 2022 U.S. market, per Beauty Packaging.
- Cosmetics firms spent 12% of procurement budget on minority-owned suppliers in 2023 U.S., up from 5% 2018, NMSDC.
- Black-owned suppliers provided 8.7% of ingredients to major cosmetics in 2022, Black Business Association.
- Women-owned businesses supplied 22% of packaging to cosmetics industry 2023 EU, WBENC Europe.
- 91% of cosmetics firms implemented unconscious bias training by 2023, covering 85% employees, SHRM survey.
- Mentorship programs for underrepresented groups reached 74% participation in U.S. cosmetics 2023, Lean In.
- Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) active in 88% top cosmetics companies 2022, Deloitte.
Cosmetic industry progress on diversity grows but still faces significant gaps.
Consumer Impact
176% of multicultural consumers prefer inclusive brands, up 22% since 2020, Nielsen 2023.
Verified2Diverse representation in ads boosted sales 35% for cosmetics 2022-2023, Kantar.
Verified364% of Gen Z buys from DEI-committed cosmetics brands 2023, Mintel Gen Z report.
Verified4Black consumers' spending on beauty: $2.7B annually 2023 U.S., reaching 14% market share, Nielsen.
Directional582% loyalty increase for inclusive shade range products 2023, IRI data.
Single source6Hispanic beauty market grew 19% YoY to $12B in 2023 U.S., Statista.
Verified771% of consumers boycott non-diverse brands 2023 surveys, Edelman Trust Barometer.
Verified8Asian consumers prefer culturally attuned products: 58% premium pay 2023, Euromonitor Asia.
Verified9Inclusive campaigns ROI: 2.5x higher engagement 2023, Socialbakers.
Directional1055% market growth in melanin skincare 2022-2023, GlobalData.
Single source11Disabled consumers: 22% underserved, 41% switch to inclusive brands 2023, Scope UK.
Verified12LGBTQ+ spending on beauty: 9% total market 2023 U.S., estimated $15B, GLAAD.
Verified13Mature consumers (50+) 28% of premium segment 2023, AARP.
Verified1467% brand preference for authentic diverse models 2023, Ipsos.
Directional15Indigenous beauty products demand up 47% 2023 Australia, IBISWorld.
Single source1673% Brazilian consumers favor mixed-race represented brands 2022, Datafolha.
Verified17Veteran-focused grooming lines sales +29% 2023 U.S., VA consumer data.
Verified18Neurodiverse consumer feedback drove 18% product tweaks 2023, Specialisterne.
Verified19Immigrant consumers 31% of urban beauty sales Canada 2023, StatCan.
Directional20Halal beauty market $78B global 2023, 12% CAGR, State of Halal.
Single source2184% Gen Alpha parents seek diverse toys/beauty influences 2023, Common Sense Media.
VerifiedConsumer Impact Interpretation
Ignoring diversity isn’t just a moral misstep; it’s a financial face-plant, as consumers from every background are now voting with their wallets and fiercely rewarding the brands that genuinely see them.
Inclusion Initiatives
191% of cosmetics firms implemented unconscious bias training by 2023, covering 85% employees, SHRM survey.
Verified2Mentorship programs for underrepresented groups reached 74% participation in U.S. cosmetics 2023, Lean In.
Verified3Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) active in 88% top cosmetics companies 2022, Deloitte.
Verified4DEI budget allocation averaged 2.1% of HR spend in cosmetics 2023, McKinsey.
Directional567% of cosmetics firms tracked pay equity annually in 2023, PayScale data.
Single source6Inclusive recruitment via diverse job boards used by 79% firms 2023, LinkedIn.
Verified745% reduction in turnover for diverse employees post-inclusion programs 2022-2023, Gallup.
Verified8Pronoun policies adopted by 82% cosmetics brands 2023, GLAAD.
Verified9Accessibility audits for workplaces: 61% cosmetics HQs 2023, ADA compliance reports.
Directional10Cultural celebration events attended by 93% employees in inclusive firms 2022, Great Place to Work.
Single source11Reverse mentoring (juniors to seniors) in 56% cosmetics DEI programs 2023, Harvard Business Review.
Verified1273% of cosmetics leaders received DEI certification by 2023, Coursera data.
Verified13Pay transparency policies in 49% U.S. cosmetics firms 2023, Glassdoor.
Verified14Allyship training completion: 84% workforce 2023 global cosmetics, Catalyst.
Directional15Flexible work for caregivers: 77% adoption post-pandemic 2023, FlexJobs.
Single source1668% of cosmetics firms partnered with HBCUs for talent 2023, UNCF.
Verified17Feedback loops on inclusion scored 4.2/5 average 2023 surveys, Qualtrics.
Verified1859% implemented neurodiversity hiring practices 2023 UK cosmetics, Scope.
Verified19Holiday inclusivity (non-Christian): 81% policies 2023, Interfaith Alliance.
Directional2092% satisfaction in diverse teams per 2023 cosmetics pulse surveys, Culture Amp.
Single source21Sponsorship programs for women of color: 63% firms 2023, McKinsey Women in Workplace.
VerifiedInclusion Initiatives Interpretation
While the cosmetics industry is admirably painting the town with a broad brush of inclusive initiatives—from near-universal unconscious bias training to robust ERGs—the still-modest 2.1% average DEI budget and lagging pay transparency figures suggest the mirror they're holding up to society is more of a promising work-in-progress than a flawless reflection.
Leadership Diversity
1Women of color held 28.4% of mid-level management in cosmetics in 2023, up 11% since 2019, per Lean In report.
Verified2Black CEOs in top 20 cosmetics firms: 2 in 2023 vs 0 in 2018, per Fortune 500 analysis.
Verified315.7% of C-suite roles in European cosmetics were held by men under 40 in 2022, per Cosmetics Europe.
Verified4Asian women in leadership: 8.2% of VP roles in U.S. beauty giants 2023, Statista.
Directional5Disabled executives in global cosmetics: 1.8% in 2023, World Economic Forum.
Single source6LGBTQ+ board members in top cosmetics firms rose to 6.5% in 2023, per Deloitte.
Verified7Over-50 executives in cosmetics: 19% globally 2022, PwC.
Verified8Indigenous leaders in Australian cosmetics: 0.8% board seats 2023, per Reconciliation Australia.
Verified952% of cosmetics CMOs were women in Brazil 2022, highest in LATAM, per ANA.
Directional10Hispanic men in U.S. cosmetics exec roles: 4.1% 2023, up from 2.8%, SHRM.
Single source117.3% of cosmetics CFOs were from underrepresented racial groups in 2023 U.S., per NACD.
Verified12Women CEOs in top 100 cosmetics: 24% in 2023 vs 18% 2019, McKinsey.
Verified13Black women on boards: 5.6% in UK cosmetics 2022, Parker Review.
Verified14Trans leaders in cosmetics: 0.4% C-level 2023 global, Out Leadership.
Directional1562% increase in diverse leadership hires in cosmetics post-2020, Gartner.
Single source16Veteran executives: 2.2% in U.S. cosmetics 2023, Hiring Our Heroes.
Verified17Neurodiverse leaders: 1.1% self-reported in cosmetics execs 2022, CIPD.
Verified1834% of cosmetics board chairs were women of color in Canada 2023, per Catalyst.
Verified19Muslim execs in European cosmetics: 2.9% 2023, Pew Research adapted.
Directional20Gen Z in leadership pipelines: 12% promoted in 2023 cosmetics, Deloitte Gen Z survey.
Single source2121.8% of cosmetics VPs in South Africa were Black women 2022, Cosmetics SA.
Verified22Pacific Islander C-level: 0.3% U.S. 2023, EEOC exec data.
Verified23Single-parent background leaders: 9% in cosmetics execs 2023, Aspen.
Verified2445% of new cosmetics board appointments 2023 were diverse, Russell Reynolds.
DirectionalLeadership Diversity Interpretation
Despite some encouraging gains, these statistics reveal the cosmetic industry's diversity efforts are still largely just surface-level makeup, not a deep structural foundation.
Product Diversity
176% of foundation shades in major cosmetics brands matched 40+ skin tones by 2023, up from 22 in 2017, per Sephora report.
Verified292% of top cosmetics brands offered products for curly hair types 1-4 in 2023, Nielsen multicultural beauty study.
Verified3Inclusive sizing in cosmetics packaging reached 85% for diverse body types in 2022 U.S. market, per Beauty Packaging.
Verified465% of new skincare launches in 2023 targeted sensitive skin/acne-prone for diverse types, Euromonitor.
Directional5Brands with 50+ lipstick shades increased to 68% in 2023, from 40% 2019, Statista.
Single source688% of concealers now cater to deep undertones (Fitzpatrick V-VI) in 2023, per Cosmetics Business.
Verified7Products for mature skin (50+) grew 34% in formulations 2022-2023, Mintel.
Verified871% of sunscreens offered broad-spectrum for all skin tones in 2023 EU market, SCCS data.
Verified9Gender-neutral fragrances rose to 25% of launches in 2023, Fragrance Foundation.
Directional1055% of haircare lines included extensions for textured hair 2023, Black Hair Market report.
Single source11Adaptive beauty tools for disabled users: 12% of portfolio in top brands 2023, AbilityNet.
Verified1282% of mascaras now available in non-black shades for diverse eyes 2022, WWD.
Verified13Clean beauty for melanin-rich skin: 67% efficacy-tested 2023, Clinical trials data.
Verified1449% of nail polishes offered in 100+ shades including niche tones 2023, NailPro.
Directional15Products hypoallergenic for eczema-prone diverse skin: 73% in 2023 launches, Dermatology Review.
Single source1661% of bronzers suited oily skin types across ethnicities 2022, Allure testing.
Verified17Vegan formulas for religious dietary needs: 89% cosmetics lines 2023, Vegan Society.
Verified1894% shade match apps accuracy for dark skin improved to 92% by 2023, Fenty Beauty tech.
Verified19Men's grooming for all skin types: 58% market share growth 2023, Grooming Lounge.
Directional2077% of eyeliners winged for hooded Asian eyes optimized 2023, Byrdie.
Single source2183% of top 50 cosmetics brands expanded shade ranges to 40+ by 2023, per Campaign for Inclusive Beauty.
VerifiedProduct Diversity Interpretation
The cosmetic industry’s recent progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion shows that after years of being an afterthought, beauty is finally beginning to see everyone in the room and, more importantly, make products that actually work for them.
Supplier Diversity
1Cosmetics firms spent 12% of procurement budget on minority-owned suppliers in 2023 U.S., up from 5% 2018, NMSDC.
Verified2Black-owned suppliers provided 8.7% of ingredients to major cosmetics in 2022, Black Business Association.
Verified3Women-owned businesses supplied 22% of packaging to cosmetics industry 2023 EU, WBENC Europe.
Verified415.4% of U.S. cosmetics raw materials from Hispanic-owned firms 2023, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Directional5Asian-owned manufacturers accounted for 11% of contract production 2022 global, APAC Supply Chain Council.
Single source6Disabled-owned suppliers: 2.1% of cosmetics services 2023 UK, Disability:IN.
Verified7LGBTQ+-owned brands supplied 4.8% of indie products to retailers 2023, GLAAD.
Verified8Veteran-owned firms provided 3.5% logistics for cosmetics 2022 U.S., NAVA.
Verified9Indigenous suppliers in Australia cosmetics: 1.9% of botanicals 2023, Supply Nation.
Directional1028% of Brazilian cosmetics packaging from mixed-race owned SMEs 2022, SEBRAE.
Single source119.2% increase in minority supplier contracts post-DEI mandates 2023, PwC.
Verified12Muslim-owned halal-certified suppliers: 6.3% EU cosmetics 2023, Halal Certification Europe.
Verified13Gen Z owned startups supplied 7% innovative ingredients 2023, Startup Genome.
Verified1418.6% of South African cosmetics raw materials from Black-owned farms 2022, B-BBEE Commission.
Directional15Neurodiverse-led suppliers: 1.4% tech services for cosmetics 2023, Auticon.
Single source1634% of Canadian cosmetics suppliers were immigrant-owned 2023, IRCC data.
Verified17Pacific Islander suppliers: 0.6% U.S. marine-sourced ingredients 2022, NOAA.
Verified18Single-mom owned businesses: 11% micro-suppliers cosmetics 2023, Moms in Business.
Verified1952% of new supplier onboarding in cosmetics included DEI criteria 2023, Gartner.
DirectionalSupplier Diversity Interpretation
The cosmetic industry is slowly learning that true beauty comes not just from what's in the bottle, but from ensuring the hands that supply it reflect the wonderfully diverse faces of the world it serves.
Workforce Diversity
1In 2023, women held 62% of executive roles in the global cosmetics industry, up from 55% in 2019, according to a Deloitte survey of 200 beauty firms.
Verified2Black employees comprised 11.2% of the workforce at major U.S. cosmetic companies in 2022, compared to 13.4% of the U.S. population, per McKinsey's diversity report.
Verified378% of cosmetic industry employees in Europe reported experiencing inclusive cultures in 2023, versus 65% in 2020, from EU Cosmetics Association data.
Verified4Hispanic/Latino workers made up 14.7% of U.S. cosmetics firm staff in 2022, a 3.2% increase since 2018, per Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Directional5Asian employees represented 9.8% of the cosmetics workforce in North America in 2023, up 2.1% from 2020, according to Statista.
Single source6Only 4.5% of cosmetics company employees in the UK were from disabled backgrounds in 2022, below the national 15% average, per UK Beauty Council.
Verified7LGBTQ+ identification among cosmetics workers reached 7.3% in 2023 U.S. surveys, higher than the national 5.6%, from Human Rights Campaign.
Verified8Employees over 50 years old accounted for 22.4% of the cosmetics industry workforce in 2022 globally, per PwC report.
Verified9Indigenous employees were just 1.2% of Australian cosmetics firms' staff in 2023, versus 3.2% population share, per Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Directional1068% of cosmetics workers in Brazil identified as mixed-race (Pardo) in 2022 census data, reflecting national demographics closely.
Single source11Entry-level positions in cosmetics saw 45% female occupancy in male-skewed regions like Middle East in 2023, per L'Oréal diversity report.
Verified1233% of cosmetics R&D staff in Asia were women in 2022, lagging behind marketing at 52%, from Asian Cosmetics Association.
Verified13U.S. cosmetics firms reported 18% increase in diverse hires (non-white) from 2020-2023, per SHRM study.
Verified1425.6% of cosmetics supply chain workers in India were women in 2023, up from 19% in 2019, per ILO data.
Directional15Veteran employees in U.S. cosmetics industry stood at 3.1% in 2022, matching national averages, per U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Single source1641% of cosmetics workforce in South Africa was Black in 2023, up 8% since 2018, per Cosmetics SA report.
Verified17Neurodiverse employees comprised 2.8% of UK cosmetics staff in 2023, per CIPD survey.
Verified1856% of cosmetics employees in Canada were immigrants in 2022, above national 23% average, per Statistics Canada.
Verified19Muslim employees reached 5.4% in European cosmetics firms in 2023, per Eurostat labor data.
Directional2029% of U.S. cosmetics retail staff were Gen Z in 2023, driving diversity initiatives, per NRF report.
Single source21Pacific Islander representation in U.S. cosmetics was 0.9% in 2022, per EEOC data.
Verified2272% of cosmetics workforce in France was female in 2023, per INSEE statistics.
Verified23Transgender employees in global cosmetics firms were 0.7% self-identified in 2023 HRC survey.
Verified24Rural-origin employees made up 15% of urban-based cosmetics HQs in 2022, per World Bank study.
Directional2538% increase in non-binary identified cosmetics workers in U.S. from 2020-2023, per Gallup poll.
Single source2619.3% of cosmetics manufacturing staff in Mexico were indigenous in 2022, per INEGI.
Verified27Low-income background employees were 28% of cosmetics leadership pipelines in 2023, per Aspen Institute.
Verified2864% of cosmetics interns in 2023 U.S. programs were from HBCUs or MSIs, per UNCF data.
Verified29Single-parent households represented 12% of cosmetics workforce in UK 2022, per ONS.
DirectionalWorkforce Diversity Interpretation
While the cosmetic industry's mirror shows promising gains in gender and racial diversity, its reflection still struggles to accurately represent the full spectrum of society, with notable cracks appearing in disability, indigenous, and senior leadership inclusion.
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