In a world where makeup is celebrated as a form of self-expression, the industry's persistent inequities paint a starkly different picture, as evidenced by the fact that in 2023 only 18% of shade ranges from top brands included 20 or more shades for deeper skin tones, while Black women, representing 13% of the U.S. population, appeared in just 7.2% of major advertising campaigns.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, only 18% of makeup product shade ranges from top 10 brands included 20 or more shades suitable for deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick scale IV-VI)
- Black women represent 13% of the U.S. population but only 7.2% of models in makeup advertising campaigns by L'Oréal, Maybelline, and CoverGirl in 2022
- Asian consumers accounted for 25% of global luxury makeup sales growth in 2021-2023 but only 9% of brand ambassadors for high-end brands like Chanel and Dior were of Asian descent
- Women hold 72% of makeup industry jobs but only 28% of CEO roles in 2023
- Female founders of makeup startups received 2.3% of VC funding in 2022, despite 45% of applicants
- 65% of entry-level makeup sales roles are women, but promotion to management drops to 41%, 2023 data
- LGBTQ+ individuals make up 7.1% of makeup brand employees but 12% customers, 2023 Gallup
- 24% of Gen Z makeup buyers identify as LGBTQ+, driving 35% sales growth
- Only 3.2% of makeup executives openly identify as LGBTQ+ in 2023 Fortune 500 beauty firms
- 18-34 year olds are 68% of makeup buyers but only 32% of product developers, 2023 NPD
- Makeup use among 65+ women up 22% since 2020, but models over 50 in 7% ads
- Gen Z (18-24) holds 5.4% exec roles despite 42% sales influence
- Only 6% of people with disabilities are employed in makeup industry roles in 2023
- 22% of makeup packaging is not accessible for visually impaired users, lacking Braille, 2023 audit
- Wheelchair-accessible makeup counters in only 34% of Sephora stores
The makeup industry still falls short on equitable representation across many underrepresented groups.
Age Diversity
118-34 year olds are 68% of makeup buyers but only 32% of product developers, 2023 NPD
Verified2Makeup use among 65+ women up 22% since 2020, but models over 50 in 7% ads
Verified3Gen Z (18-24) holds 5.4% exec roles despite 42% sales influence
Verified455+ consumers drive 28% premium makeup sales, shade options lag 15 years behind
Directional5Millennials (25-40) 61% of influencers, but training programs 80% under 25
Single source6Baby boomers underrepresented at 3.1% in makeup R&D, despite loyal 19% spend
Verified741% of makeup retail staff under 25, turnover 29% higher than avg
Verified8Gen Alpha parents buy 15% kid-safe makeup, no youth exec input
Verified950+ women report 34% fewer shade trials in stores, 2023 survey
Directional10Under 18 makeup tutorials viewed 2B times, creators avg age 22
Single source1172% of senior execs over 50, innovation scores 14% lower, McKinsey 2023
Verified1225-34 cohort 53% e-comm makeup sales, store staff avg 29
Verified13Retiree makeup classes grew 18%, instructors under 40 at 88%
Verified14Gen Z in 11% supplier contracts for makeup packaging
Directional1560+ market projected 25% growth, campaigns target <35 at 82%
Single source16Age-diverse teams boost makeup sales 12%, Boston Consulting 2023
Verified1719-24 year olds 47% TikTok makeup trends, exec avg age 51
Verified18Mature skin formulas 9% of launches, despite 31% demand
Verified19Under 30s 66% workforce, mentorship programs favor 40+
Directional20Boomers 22% loyalty program members, personalized offers 4%
Single source2135-49 women 38% buyers, featured in 21% campaigns
Verified22Youth apprenticeships in makeup 14% of programs, dropout 22%
Verified2370+ niche makeup sales up 31%, mainstream ignores
Verified24Cross-gen focus groups in 27% new product dev
Directional2518-22 college students 29% of makeup majors, job placement 61%
Single sourceAge Diversity Interpretation
The makeup industry clings to youth like last season’s mascara, funding itself with the very generations it routinely overlooks in the boardroom, the lab, and the shade range.
Disability and Accessibility
1Only 6% of people with disabilities are employed in makeup industry roles in 2023
Verified222% of makeup packaging is not accessible for visually impaired users, lacking Braille, 2023 audit
Verified3Wheelchair-accessible makeup counters in only 34% of Sephora stores
Verified4Deaf makeup artists report 41% captioning in online tutorials, 2023 survey
Directional5Adaptive makeup tools for arthritis users available from 12 brands, sales up 28%
Single source67.5% of makeup marketing includes disability representation
Verified7Blind testers involved in 3% shade development, despite 15% visual impairment market
Verified8Neurodiverse hiring at 4.2% in makeup firms like The Body Shop, 2023
Verified956% of disabled consumers want inclusive imagery, only 11% see it
Directional10Prosthetic-friendly formulas tested by 8% brands
Single source11ASL interpreters at 19% beauty events with makeup demos
Verified1229% increase in disability-owned makeup brands since 2021, shelf space 1.1%
Verified13Tactile makeup testers for blind in 5 Ulta locations pilot
Verified14Chronic illness accommodations in 37% employee policies
Directional1512% of makeup apps have voice-over for low vision
Single source16Disabled models in 2.8% campaigns, ROI 18% higher
Verified17Mobility aid compatible store layouts in 26% chains
Verified18Autism-friendly lighting in 14% makeup retail spaces, reduces meltdowns 40%
Verified198.3% supplier diversity for disability-owned in L'Oréal
Directional20Screen reader compatible websites for 61% top brands
Single source21Mental health days policy covers 52% disabled staff in makeup corps
Verified22Adaptive shades for vitiligo in 7 brands, awareness up 33%
Verified2315% training on disability etiquette for MUA staff
Verified24Braille loyalty cards in 3% programs
Directional25Disabled execs at 1.9%, mentorship programs 22% uptake
Single sourceDisability and Accessibility Interpretation
The makeup industry loves to talk about beauty for all, but these statistics paint a rather ugly picture of accessibility and inclusion, proving there's a stark gap between the pretty words and the practical reality for disabled consumers and employees.
Gender Diversity and Equity
1Women hold 72% of makeup industry jobs but only 28% of CEO roles in 2023
Verified2Female founders of makeup startups received 2.3% of VC funding in 2022, despite 45% of applicants
Verified365% of entry-level makeup sales roles are women, but promotion to management drops to 41%, 2023 data
Verified4Transgender women representation in makeup ads at 0.9% in 2023, up from 0.2%
Directional5Pay gap shows female makeup artists earn 18% less than males for same gigs, 2022 Freelancers Union
Single source682% of maternity leave policies in beauty corps lack full pay for women in makeup divisions, 2023
Verified7Non-binary gender options in 34% of makeup brand customer profiles, 2023 survey
Verified8Women of color in 12% female leadership roles at Coty Inc. (CoverGirl), 2023
Verified947% of makeup product testers are women over 35, addressing mature skin needs
Directional10Gender-neutral packaging launched by 22 brands, up 300% since 2020
Single source1191% of makeup influencers are women, but men grew 15% in sponsorships 2022-2023
Verified12Female executives at LVMH Beauty (Givenchy makeup) at 39%, below company avg 45%
Verified1328% of women report harassment in makeup retail environments, 2023 WHW survey
Verified14Gender pay equity score 7.2/10 for makeup firms, per 2023 Bloomberg analysis
Directional1555% of board seats in public makeup companies held by women, up from 42% in 2018
Single source16Single mothers comprise 22% of makeup sales associates but 8% promotions
Verified1776% female-dominated makeup education programs lack male scholarships, 2023
Verified18Women in STEM makeup formulation roles at 31%, trailing industry avg
Verified1914% increase in female-led makeup incubators since 2021
Directional20Gender diverse teams in makeup R&D show 19% higher innovation rates, 2023 study
Single source2163% of female makeup execs report bias in promotions
Verified22Non-binary makeup lines grew to 12 brands in 2023, sales up 40%
Verified2341% women in supply chain roles for makeup packaging
Verified24Female VCs funding makeup startups at 11%
Directional2552% of makeup ad budgets target women, but ROI 25% higher for inclusive campaigns
Single source26Women over 50 in 9% of anti-aging makeup ads, despite 32% buyer share
VerifiedGender Diversity and Equity Interpretation
It’s an industry expertly painted to look like a woman’s world, while quietly keeping the keys to the kingdom, the checkbook, and the seat at the head of the table just out of her reach.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion
1LGBTQ+ individuals make up 7.1% of makeup brand employees but 12% customers, 2023 Gallup
Verified224% of Gen Z makeup buyers identify as LGBTQ+, driving 35% sales growth
Verified3Only 3.2% of makeup executives openly identify as LGBTQ+ in 2023 Fortune 500 beauty firms
Verified4Queer-owned makeup brands like Fluide saw 150% sales increase 2021-2023
Directional541% of LGBTQ+ consumers avoid brands without visible inclusion in campaigns, 2023 survey
Single source6Trans-inclusive shade matching tools adopted by 15% of major brands
Verified767% of Pride collections donated <10% proceeds to LGBTQ+ causes, 2023 audit
Verified8Non-binary models in 8.5% of makeup editorials, up from 2% in 2019
Verified919% of makeup scholarships target LGBTQ+ artists, 2023 IMATS data
Directional10Lesbian and bi women 14% more likely to buy inclusive makeup
Single source114.1% openly gay men in makeup marketing teams at L'Oréal, 2023
Verified12Genderfluid campaigns by Rare Beauty reached 2M engagements, 2023
Verified1352% LGBTQ+ report shade mismatches for diverse gender expressions
Verified14Queer influencers sponsored by 28% more brands post-2021
Directional1511% of Ulta's supplier diversity includes LGBTQ+-owned makeup firms
Single source16Asexual representation in makeup ads at 0.4%, despite 1% population
Verified1733% increase in pansexual makeup ambassadors since 2022
Verified18LGBTQ+ training in 46% of makeup retail staff programs, 2023
Verified197.8% of Sephora Pride sales to LGBTQ+ creators
Directional20Trans men in 1.9% of facial hair makeup product testing
Single source2125% of LGBTQ+ makeup buyers prefer brands with ally certifications
Verified2262% of queer Gen Z prioritize LGBTQ+ founder brands
Verified23Only 2.7% board members at Estée Lauder identify as LGBTQ+, 2023
VerifiedLGBTQ+ Inclusion Interpretation
The industry's rainbow is overwhelmingly painted by queer customers, yet the corporate palette remains stubbornly beige, proving that while it’s profitable to court the community, true power still rests in overwhelmingly straight hands.
Racial/Ethnic Diversity
1In 2023, only 18% of makeup product shade ranges from top 10 brands included 20 or more shades suitable for deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick scale IV-VI)
Verified2Black women represent 13% of the U.S. population but only 7.2% of models in makeup advertising campaigns by L'Oréal, Maybelline, and CoverGirl in 2022
Verified3Asian consumers accounted for 25% of global luxury makeup sales growth in 2021-2023 but only 9% of brand ambassadors for high-end brands like Chanel and Dior were of Asian descent
Verified4In 2022, 62% of Hispanic/Latino makeup influencers with over 1M followers reported lack of shade matching in mainstream brands like MAC and NARS
Directional5Indigenous representation in makeup campaigns dropped to 0.8% in North American brands from 1.2% in 2020, per 2023 analysis
Single source675% of makeup executives in the U.S. are white, with Black executives at 4.1% in firms like Estée Lauder Companies as of 2023
Verified7Middle Eastern women comprise 5% of U.S. makeup buyers but appear in under 2% of shade development testing panels for brands like Benefit Cosmetics
Verified8In Europe, 11% of makeup R&D teams include South Asian members, despite 15% market share from that demographic in 2022
Verified985% of makeup foundation launches in 2023 targeted fair to medium skin tones, neglecting 28% of global consumers with darker tones
Directional10Native American-owned makeup brands grew 15% in sales but represent only 0.3% of retail shelf space in Sephora, 2023 data
Single source11Pacific Islander models featured in 1.4% of Australian makeup ads in 2022, below their 1.9% population share
Verified1222% increase in Black-owned makeup brands since 2020, but only 6% venture capital funding in the sector
Verified13Latina executives hold 3.7% of C-suite roles in Procter & Gamble Beauty (Olay, CoverGirl) as of 2023
Verified1440% of South Asian consumers in UK report poor shade matches in high street brands like Rimmel, 2022 survey
Directional15Mixed-race individuals (growing 10% in U.S.) are represented in 5.2% of makeup tutorials by top YouTubers
Single source16African makeup market grew 12% but local talent in global campaigns at 3.1%
Verified1767% of makeup packaging lacks multilingual support for non-white markets, 2023 audit
Verified18Women of color in 14% of makeup marketing teams at Unilever (Dove makeup lines), up from 9% in 2019
Verified192.9% of makeup patents filed by inventors of color in 2022 USPTO data
Directional20East Asian shade expansions in brands like Bobbi Brown reached 15 shades from 8 in 2020, still lagging 25% consumer demand
Single source21Only 8% of makeup training programs include multicultural application techniques, 2023 IMATS survey
Verified22Sephora's clean beauty section has 72% white founder brands, 2023 analysis
Verified2331% of Gen Z POC prefer indie makeup brands for better diversity, vs 12% Boomers
Verified24Korean beauty influences led to 18% uptick in undertone-focused shades, but only for East Asians, 2022
Directional254.5% Black representation in Ulta Beauty's vendor diversity program, 2023
Single source26Hispanic market share in U.S. makeup at 19%, execs at 2.8%
Verified271.2% Middle Eastern/North African models in Fenty Beauty campaigns despite 7% sales from region
Verified28Indigenous Australian brands like Koskela grew 22%, but mainstream distribution <1%
Verified2955% of POC makeup artists report bias in hiring at fashion weeks, 2023 survey
Directional30Global makeup shade inclusivity score averaged 6.8/10 for ethnic diversity, 2023
Single sourceRacial/Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
The makeup industry’s persistent "shade gap" reveals an uncomfortable truth: while happily banking the profits from diverse consumers, it still largely caters to and is governed by a monochrome world, treating inclusion as a limited-edition launch rather than a core formula.
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