Beauty Connect Investment Playbook

The latest beauty investment report exploring fundraising, M&A, investor priorities and the commercial trends shaping the beauty industry.

Produced by Beauty Connect Series, these complimentary reports combine exclusive survey data with perspectives from beauty brand executives, founders, and leading investors to explore where capital is flowing, and what separates investment-ready businesses in H2 2026.

We've created two versions specific to the challenges of scaling brands at different stages, one for Emerging Brands (<$20m) and the other for Mid-size & Multinational Strategic Brands (>$20m).

Download for free.

Access the Emerging Brands Report (opens in a new tab)

Access the Mid-size and MNC Strategic Brands Report (opens in a new tab)

Investment Playbook

Beauty investment in H2 2026 is entering a new phase.

While overall deal volume remains below previous highs, capital continues to concentrate behind fewer, higher-quality opportunities. Investors are prioritizing businesses with stronger commercial momentum, differentiated positioning and a credible path to long-term growth, while M&A activity has shown renewed momentum during 2026.

The Beauty Investment Playbook explores how these market dynamics are reshaping fundraising, investment and growth across the beauty industry.

It combines exclusive survey data, founder quotes, and market analysis to provide a practical view of today's investment landscape - helping founders, executives and investors understand what will define success over the next six months.

Developed with the Beauty Connect community, including leaders from emerging and established beauty brands, venture capital firms, private equity investors and investment banks.

Organisations include:

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What's Inside the Beauty Investment Playbook?

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Investment Outlook

The trends reshaping beauty investment in H2 2026 and what they mean for founders, executives and investors.

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Fundraising Priorities

How investor expectations are evolving and the commercial signals influencing funding decisions.

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Beauty M&A Landscape

Where strategic buyers are returning to the market and the factors driving renewed acquisition activity.

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Category Outlook

The beauty categories attracting the greatest investor interest, from skincare and wellness to fragrance and emerging opportunities.

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Brand Perspectives

How beauty brands are approaching fundraising, growth and strategic investment in today's market.

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Executive Recommendations

Practical takeaways for founders, leadership teams and investors navigating the next phase of beauty growth.

Key Takeaways:

Whether you're preparing your next fundraise, evaluating acquisition opportunities or tracking the future of beauty investment, the investment playbook provides practical insights to support strategic decision-making.

Download the investment playbook to understand:

  • Where beauty investment is flowing in H2 2026
  • What investors are looking for before committing capital
  • How fundraising strategies are changing across beauty
  • Which categories are attracting the strongest investor attention
  • How brands are preparing for institutional investment, recapitalisation and strategic exits
Investment playbook key takeaways

Access the Complimentary Report

Emerging Brands

Mid-Size & Mulitnational Strategic Brands

Built by Beauty Connect Series

Beauty Connect Series produces executive research informed by the leaders shaping modern beauty, including founders, CEOs, investors, retailers and product innovators, to deliver practical intelligence for an industry that is evolving faster than ever.

Rather than reporting on trends after they've happened, we work with the Beauty Connect community to identify the commercial shifts shaping what's next.

From investment and retail to AI, product innovation and consumer behaviour, every report is designed to help beauty leaders make more informed strategic decisions.