L'Oréal closed the first half of 2026 with new progress in both sales and profitability. The French group recorded an attributed net profit of 3,547 million euros, 5.3% more than in the same period of the previous year. Sales reached 23,776 million euros, representing an increase of 5.8% in reported terms and 6.8% at constant exchange rates and comparable scope.
The second quarter was especially positive: between April and June, turnover grew by 8.2% year-on-year, to 11,624 million euros. The result confirms the acceleration of L'Oréal's business in a beauty market that continues to show uneven evolution by categories and geographies.
Professional Products and Dermatological Beauty drive growth
Among the group's four major divisions, Professional Products once again positioned itself as one of the main engines of expansion. Its sales increased by 14.7%, to 2,921 million euros. The division benefits from the good momentum of the premium haircare segment, with brands such as Kérastase and Redken, as well as the development of an omnichannel strategy that combines the professional channel with the growth of e-commerce. In adjusted comparable terms, Professional Products advanced 11.6% during the semester.
Dermatological Beauty also registered outstanding performance, with growth of 9.3% and sales of 4,216 million euros. The division continues to rely on the dynamism of brands such as La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, and SkinCeuticals, in addition to the growing interest in beauty proposals linked to science and dermatology. For its part, L'Oréal Luxe invoiced 7,997 million euros, up 4.4%, while Consumer Products reached 8,643 million, with growth of 2.7%.
Europe gains weight in the group's evolution
Europe positioned itself as one of the best-performing regions for L'Oréal. Sales increased by 8%, to 8,134 million euros. In adjusted comparable terms, growth was 6.1%, above the evolution of the region's beauty market. Within the continent, Spain and Portugal stood out especially, along with Poland. The growth was also accompanied by a strong evolution of the online channel, which L'Oréal considers one of the main ways to attract new consumers.
In Europe, Professional Products maintained its upward trajectory thanks to the demand for premium haircare products, while L'Oréal Luxe grew above the market driven by fragrances and the recovery of skincare. Dermatological Beauty also accelerated, supported by La Roche-Posay and CeraVe.
Asia recovers ground while SAPMENA-SSA maintains pace
The geographical evolution also shows a progressive recovery of North Asia, where sales grew by 2.3%, to 5,514 million euros. China's performance continues to be especially relevant for the group, which observes signs of recovery in the region. Above this evolution was SAPMENA-SSA, a region comprising South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Turnover grew by 9.2%, to 2,247 million euros. Latin America also maintained strong dynamism, with an increase of 9%, to 1,814 million euros, while North America advanced by 4.2%, to 6,067 million.
E-commerce grows almost double the market
Beyond turnover figures, one of the indicators that best reflects the transformation of L'Oréal's business is the digital channel. E-commerce sales grew by double digits and practically at double the speed of the market, consolidating itself as one of the main levers for acquisition and growth for the group's brands.
The strategy combines this digital expansion with a strong commitment to innovation. According to Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L'Oréal, the semester's growth was widespread across categories, divisions, and regions and was driven by the execution of the innovation strategy and the group's leadership in e-commerce.
More growth and record profitability
The evolution of sales was accompanied by an improvement in profitability. The operating margin reached 21.3%, 20 basis points more than a year earlier, while operating profit grew by 6.8%, to 5,063 million euros. The gross margin also improved, to 74.8%. Net profit excluding non-recurring items stood at 3,959.6 million euros, up 4.7%.
For the second half of the year, L'Oréal maintains a positive outlook. The company is confident that global beauty demand will remain strong and that it will continue to grow above the market, despite the economic and geopolitical context.
The first semester confirms one of the French giant's main trends: growth no longer depends on a single category or region, but on a combination of innovation, premiumization, dermatology, haircare, and digital expansion that allows L'Oréal to continue gaining ground in the global beauty market.