Beauty and well-being drive Unilever's first-quarter 2024 results

Beauty and well-being sales dominated Unilever's sales in the first quarter of 2024, rising 3.1% year-on-year, higher than other divisions, to €3.2 billion. Meanwhile, personal care sales rose 0.4% year-on-year to €3.4 billion.

CEO Hein Schumacher noted in the results: "In the Beauty and well-being space, we are focused on three key priorities that will drive our brands’ undeniable strengths: Elevate our core haircare and skincare brands to increase premiumization; fueling the growth of prestige beauty and health and well-being with selective international expansion;and continuing to strengthen our beauty and well-being capabilities."

The top performers were hair care products, particularly the Dove brand, Sunsilk and TRESemmé. The skincare market was driven by India, offset by declines in North Asia. The industry also benefited from Vaseline and Pond's. Brands such as Nutrafol and Olly are driving growth in the beauty and well-being sector, while the strength of brands such as Tatcha, Hourglass and Living Proof is also driving growth in the premium beauty sector.

Finally, personal care benefits are supported by deodorants, including full-body solutions. Meanwhile, skin cleansing was flat. That said, Dove grew in the high-single digits while oral care was boosted in particular by Closeup.