Editor’s Comment

With proposed April reopening dates in England and Scotland, and promising progression across the UK, 2021 is finally looking brighter.

While we wait for the big day, it’s been encouraging to see a significant shift in the shop-local trend, with news this month that beauty salons are among the top 10 types of local, independent businesses that consumers have pledged to support during the pandemic. Meanwhile, analyst Mintel predicts that eco-ethical considerations will drive beauty spend this year, with more focus on supporting local businesses and less on price. See page 11 for more on both of these stories. 

While there’s no denying that the beauty industry has been among the hardest hit during the pandemic, with the NHBF’s latest report showing that salons took an average cash hit of £17,000 last year (see page 12), experts are also predicting a faster recovery for beauty, compared to other sectors, once restrictions lift. Cosmetics giant L’Oréal recently predicted a boom in make-up sales as people return to socialising “like the Roaring ’20s”. And, as Australian Bodycare director Fiona Peerless points out in our interview on page 41, people will also be desperate for the touch and social interaction that salons and spas provide, and are likely divert some of their spend while they can’t travel.

With hopes for a brighter spring, we also look ahead to the season’s trends in this issue. Our adult acne feature on page 54 takes an in-depth look at the condition, which is being exacerbated by stress and mask-wearing; and we also outline for you the major nail (page 45) and make-up (page 51) looks and products for SS21.

Editor