Cosmetic and Beauty Supply Stores NAICS 456120

Mar 6, 2026 - Asian Beauty Retailer Targets US Market Growth

• Expansion by Asian beauty retailer Sukoshi highlights evolving competition in the US cosmetics and beauty supply store industry, according to a report in Personal Care Insights. The Canadian-based chain has opened six US stores since 2025 and plans to operate about 40 locations by the end of 2026, expanding into states including Illinois, California, Texas, and New Jersey. A recent Washington store opening drew hundreds of shoppers, underscoring strong consumer interest. Sukoshi differentiates itself with a curated assortment of more than 200 Asian beauty brands, including K-beauty, J-beauty, and C-beauty, alongside low-price items such as $1 face masks. Industry experts say Asian beauty trends are reshaping North American skincare and cosmetics preferences. For US beauty supply stores, Sukoshi’s growth signals rising competition from specialty retailers offering trend-driven products and value-oriented pricing.
• According to a report by Global Cosmetic Industry, the US cosmetics and beauty supply store industry showed continued growth in 2025 despite economic pressures. Citing Circana data, the report revealed prestige beauty retail sales increased 4% to $36 billion, while mass beauty sales rose 5% to $72.7 billion, with unit sales up 2% year over year. Growth occurred across several product categories. Fragrance was the fastest-growing mass segment, with dollar sales and units both rising about 15%, while prestige fragrance sales increased 5%. Makeup remained the largest prestige category, growing 4%, and hair care was the fastest-growing prestige segment, driven by treatments, styling products, and scalp care, which recorded double-digit growth for the third consecutive year. Overall, the data suggests steady demand for beauty products across price tiers, supporting sales opportunities for cosmetics and beauty supply retailers as consumers continue to view beauty as an accessible indulgence.

• Competition for the $129 billion US beauty and personal care market is intensifying as consumers increasingly rely on social media, AI tools, and e-commerce rather than in-store advisors, according to a report in US News and World Report. Sephora and Ulta, which disrupted department stores starting in the late 1990s with self-service, experiential formats, now face pressure to keep innovating as Amazon accounts for nearly half of online beauty sales and TikTok Shop ranks seventh nationwide. Sephora is renovating all 720 North American stores, streamlining checkout and enhancing digital tools, while Ulta is expanding services such as ear piercing, robotic manicures and planned robotic lash extensions. Social media drives trends, “dupes” discovery and purchasing behavior, reducing store loyalty. Retailers are racing to blend technology, services and convenience to remain relevant in an increasingly digital-first beauty landscape.
• The Body Shop, a popular British beauty business that operated storefronts in the US, returned to US sales in October 2025 through a dedicated US website and an Amazon storefront, according to a report in Retail Dive. The brand will offer bath, body, skin care, and hair care products and expects to expand into fragrances, with a focus on the company's "purpose-led" and "cruelty-free" mission against product testing on animals. The Body Shop was bought by a group of investors in 2024, out of UK administration. The Body Shop's US stores operated from 1988 to 2024, before ceasing operations after the US arm filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2024. The company said the new US presence is part of its plans to rebuild its international presence.