In brief
Beauty heavyweight L’Oréal has warned that the surge in GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs is altering how people shop for skin‑care, prompting the firm to design new products that help counter loose skin. CEO Nicolas Hieronimus said the trend is an "important phenomenon" affecting skin‑care consumption, and the company beat analysts on quarter‑over‑quarter sales. With brands like SkinCeuticals and Kiehl’s rolling out formulations to support collagen and elasticity, L’Oréal has also expanded its stake in dermatology specialist Galderma and is testing anti‑sagging treatments on GLP‑1 users.
L’Oréal has confirmed that the growing popularity of GLP‑1 weight‑loss medicines – such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro – is influencing how consumers purchase beauty and skin‑care products.
In a recent investor call, head Nicolas Hieronimus said the beauty market is resilient but that the rise of GLP‑1s is a "very important phenomenon for us" and is noticeably affecting skin‑care sales.
Q3 sales rose 7.7%, topping analyst expectations, but the company notes that the shift is partly driven by consumers seeking treatments for the side‑effects of rapid weight loss.
While GLP‑1 drugs themselves do not directly cause loose skin, many users report sagging skin – especially around the face – after losing significant weight.
To meet this new demand, L’Oréal’s brands SkinCeuticals and Kiehl’s have launched lines designed to work alongside GLP‑1 therapy, aiming to improve firmness and elasticity in skin affected by rapid weight loss.
L’Oréal also increased its stake in dermatology firm Galderma to 20% last December, and both companies are testing anti‑sagging products on GLP‑1 users in separate clinical trials.
Galderma holds popular aesthetic products such as Sculptra, which stimulates collagen production, and Restylane, a dermal filler, and its own survey found that most weight‑loss medication users note changes to their facial appearance.
Read more about how these drugs are transforming the battle with obesity here.
