Luxe lip product sales surge in UK as Britons seek affordable treats
That's according to research specialist Circana, which said that overall sales of prestige lip products in the UK rose by 16% to £80.4 million in the the first half of this year.
The findings, reported in The Times, showed britons using items like balms and lip liners to boost they mood as the cost-of-living squeeze continues. That 16% jumps in sales of the UK's prestige lip market was almost double the growth rate of the make-up category overall. It was also triple the rate of growth in the eye make-up category.
It's a very clear example of the so-called lipstick effect in action. That's where consumers by affordable luxuries when times are tough and while it's a term originally coined to relate to lipstick sales, it's now used to illustrate spikes in sales of many more affordable categories.
But this time, it's clearly lip products that are benefitting from the lipstick effect. And unlike in the past when shoppers might have simply wanted a strong colour to show for their money, this time they're looking for skincare benefits. Sales of hydrating balms and oils rose by 21% year-on-year, boosted by social media and influencer marketing.
The study cited Charli XCX's role as a brand ambassador for Laneige and her mentions of its products online as affecting sales.
'While 2025 has been a challenging year and while many consumers have become selective on their spend, they are still splashing out on affordable luxuries like lipstick and other beauty buys to boost their mood,' June Jensen, vice-president of Circana's UK prestige beauty team, said, citing 'moments of private indulgence and pleasure that provide refuge from a chaotic world'.
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Luxe lip product sales surge in UK as Britons seek affordable treats
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Luxe lip product sales surge in UK as Britons seek affordable treats
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2 days ago
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Luxe lip product sales surge in UK as Britons seek affordable treats
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