Only 7% of British consumers view personal care as purely a treat, according to the British Beauty Council's new Impact of Beauty report — a finding that dismantles the assumption that beauty is an easy cutback when household budgets tighten.

The report, produced with Oxford Economics and supported by L'Oréal Groupe, goes beyond standard economic metrics to quantify what beauty enables: personal wellbeing, human connection and the survival of local high streets.

"Beauty and personal care are not trivial luxuries. They are absolute necessities integrated into the fabric of British daily life," writes Millie Kendall, CEO of the British Beauty Council, who authored the report's commentary.

What do the headline numbers show?

The sector's economic weight remains the foundation of the Council's advocacy:

• £28.3bn GDP contribution in 2025
• 595,000 livelihoods supported across the UK
• Nearly £9bn generated for the Exchequer

"These numbers are staggering, vital and undeniable, but numbers alone do not tell the whole story," Kendall said.

How does beauty spending rank against other categories?

The data shows households prioritise beauty and grooming spend ahead of gym memberships, streaming services and eating out. That ordering holds even in tough economic conditions, contradicting what Kendall calls "a lazy assumption that consumers view beauty as an easy cutback."

The average adult spends 13 minutes every single day on their personal care routine. Three quarters of regular beauty users say their routine has a direct, positive effect on how they feel about themselves. Nearly half report that personal care helps them feel more positive day to day.

Why does this matter for the professional sector?

For salons, barbershops and independent brands, the report reframes the argument from discretionary spending to essential services. When clients protect beauty budgets ahead of subscriptions and dining out, professional services can position themselves within that protected spend category rather than competing against it.

The wellbeing findings also give the professional community a stronger evidence base. The Council argues the sector's social contribution — daily routine as an anchor for mental health and resilience — deserves recognition alongside its £28.3bn economic output.

What comes next?

The Impact of Beauty report signals the Council's intent to argue for the sector using both economic and social evidence in future policy discussions, with the Oxford Economics data giving professional beauty a quantified case for its role in British daily life.