GCC Color Cosmetics Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2024-2030)

GCC Color Cosmetics Market Analysis

The GCC color cosmetics market generated revenue of USD 1,501.2 million in 2023, which is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.1% during 2024–2030, to reach USD 2,415.7 million by 2030. The market in GCC countries is booming due to the rising concerns of individuals for their appearance and the increasing disposable income in regional countries, such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E.

The changing lifestyles; rising consumer awareness of beauty products, personal care, fashion trends, and organic cosmetic goods; technological improvements in color cosmetics; and appealing packaging are also fueling the market expansion.

Moreover, the increasing demand for organic color cosmetics, rising number of digital marketing channels and influencers, and growing working women population are playing a pivotal role in the flourishing of the color cosmetics industry in Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

GCC Color Cosmetics Market Trends & Drivers

Surging Demand for Organic Color Cosmetic Products Drives Industry

• The demand for organic color cosmetic products has been expanding at a high pace. Further, market players are constantly exploring ways to deliver new functionalities and features and offering diverse products for different skin types (oily, sensitive, and normal). The increasing consumer awareness about the benefits of organic products is also fueling the demand for these products in the region. Several factors, such as hormones, diet, smoking, stress, and anxiety, affect the health and appearance of the skin negatively. Moreover, the usage of the wrong products can trigger allergic reactions. As a result, there has been an increase in the focus on organic that help tackle issues specific to various skin types.
• Furthermore, the soaring environmental issues and strengthening focus on sustainability will continue helping the market gain traction. The manufacturing of green products is more eco-friendly as compared to conventional products, and these products also have fewer side-effects.
• With the growing appearance consciousness among people, they are adopting high-end color cosmetics, including eye shadow palettes, , nail paints, and hair color products. Moreover, their consumption is rising due to the increasing number of elderly citizens, who are in a constant search for products that fulfill their aspirations and desire to look young. Similarly, these products are widely used by young and working women in order to look beautiful.
• Moreover, the use of photo-based social media sites is now a central part of adolescents’ lives. Such platforms, which emphasize physical appearance, allow people to share their photographs with peers. This behavior is further leading to the growing consciousness about appearance, which, in turn, is driving the demand for color cosmetics.

Increasing Number of Digital Marketing Channels and Influencers

• Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and personal beauty blogs are the main digital marketing channels influencing consumers to try new cosmetic products. Manufacturers are collaborating with social media influencers for marketing their products.
• In the U.A.E., there were approximately 1,000 beauty influencers, as of August 2021, including Elnaz Golrokh, Eljammi Gozali, Joelle Mardinian, Samira Olfat, Alreem Saif, Huda Heidi Kattan, Najla Kaddour, Sonia Ali, and Fyza Ali, who have created an influence over people regarding color cosmetics. Thus, the digital platform is a crucial marketing tool for producers, where they can directly interact with consumers or promote their products.

Rising Awareness Regarding Environment and Animal Protection

• Environment protection is a key concern across the world. All GCC countries have broadcast their efforts for the protection of the environment. Most of the color cosmetics have harmful chemicals.
• Moreover, toxic ingredients do not vanish in the ecosystem; rather, they harm the life in the sea and on land. In addition, the plastics used for packaging these products harm the sea life, microbiome, and ecosystems.
• Moreover, color cosmetics should be tested in order to provide people with better products. In order to ascertain the safety and hypoallergenic properties of cosmetic products, they are mostly tested on animals, such as mice, rats, monkeys, dogs, and guinea pigs. This process is often harmful to the animal subjects, and it is opposed by animal rights activists and conscious individuals.

Major Opportunity Areas

• The market outlook for color cosmetics in GCC countries is positive, as their production and demand are expected to grow in the coming years. The surging working women population, the growing tourism sector, and the increasing consumer spending in the region will propel the market during the forecast period.
• Moreover, due to the large population and the increasing number of tourists in the U.A.E., the country is expected to emerge as a key color cosmetics market in the coming years in the region. As a result of this, companies offering such products are investing heavily in scaling up their operations, and creating brand awareness in the nation, which is expected to result in the growth of the U.A.E market in the future.

In-Depth Segmentation Analysis

Type Insights

• In the GCC, the demand for luxury products is expected to grow at a higher CAGR, of more than 7.4%, during 2024–2030. This can be ascribed to the increasing personal income and surging consumer spending.
• Moreover, the changing lifestyles, rising consumer awareness of cosmetics, and appealing packaging are expected to stimulate the sales of luxury products in the future.

During the study, we have analyzed two types of color cosmetics in the report:

• Luxury Products (Faster-Growing Category)
• Mass Products (Larger Category)

Product Analysis

• The facial makeup products category held the largest market share, of around 30%, in 2023, and it is expected to witness the fastest growth, with a CAGR of 7.8%, during the forecast period. The availability of an extensive range of facial make-up products and a large youth population are supporting the growth of the market in this category.
• In addition, teens are demanding a greater diversity of cosmetics and fragrances and spending more on products that improve their appearance. Nowadays, the teenage group is involved in social events, partying, and other activities, which has led to the rising demand for color cosmetics, including facial makeup, in order to improve appearance and create a good impression on peers.

Products covered in the report:

• Nail Products
• Lip Products
• Eye Makeup Products
• Facial Makeup Products (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Hair Color Products
• Special Effects Products
• Others

Consumer Group Insights

• Color cosmetic products used by women held more than around 45% revenue share in the market in 2023. This is mainly due to women's growing spending power, surging population of working women, rising GDP per capita, availability of better products, growing awareness of females of diverse products, and increasing advertising activities for active color cosmetics for females.
• During 2018‒2020, the employment rate of women aged 40‒54 years increased by around 20%, and that of the age group of 18‒39 years increased by at least 10% in Saudi Arabia.
• The private-sector employment of Saudi women, on the other hand, grew among most economic activities, with the majority showing an increase of over 10%. Female employment in labor-intensive sectors, such as construction, manufacturing, and accommodation and food, grew by 9%, 14%, and 40%, respectively, from 2019 to 2020.
• In addition, teens are demanding a greater diversity of cosmetics and fragrances and spending more on things that improve their appearance. Nowadays, the teenage group is involved in social events, partying, and other activities, which has led to the rising demand for color cosmetics and fragrances in order to improve the appearance, smell better, and create a good impression on peers.

Consumer groups covered in the report includes:

• Men
• Women (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Unisex

Saudi Arabia Holds 40% Share

• Geographically, Saudi Arabia held the largest market share, of around 40%, in 2023, and it is also expected to witness healthy growth during the forecast period. This will majorly be due to the increasing per capita expenditure on cosmetic products, growing population of working women, and surging sales of cosmetics through online channels. Moreover, consumers are increasingly purchasing products after viewing information about them on social media websites and blogs. Thus, the number of consumers regularly purchasing products via the internet will continue to grow over the coming years.
• Consumers in the country are spending increasing amounts of money on their personal appearance. The rising number of self-conscious consumers, penetration of organized retail channels, growing younger population, and rising demand for male grooming products are fueling the market's expansion.
• Furthermore, the country's market growth is attributed to the rising interest in natural, herbal, halal, and innovative products with eco-friendly packaging.
• On the other hand, U.A.E. is the fastest-growing market, advancing at a CAGR of over 7.7% during 2024–2030. This is on account of the surging consciousness among people about their appearance, older women’s growing population, increasing population of working women, and rising disposable income.
• Working women of all age groups, college students, and men in the country are now strongly conscious of their appearance. Most of the adults in the U.A.E. are employed, due to which they try to look flawless in the workplace. Most people feel confident when they are dressed well and have good makeup, which is leading to the rising demand for color cosmetics.
• Thus, the sale of color cosmetics, including nail paints, blushes, eyeliners, and eye shadows, is burgeoning in the country. Additionally, it has become important for a manufacturer to ensure that the makeup product is safe for consumers and packed in an environmentally responsible way.

The countries analyzed for this report include:

• U.A.E. (Fastest-Growing Market)
• Saudi Arabia (Largest Market)
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Bahrain
• Oman

Competitive Analysis

The GCC color cosmetics market is fragmented, with the presence of major players. In recent years, they have been involved in product launches and acquisitions in order to stay ahead of their competitors.