Edition #26: Beauty’s New Playbook | What Gen Z & Gen Alpha Want Now | Plus Retail Headlines

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What if I told you that the future of beauty and wellness is being shaped by the youngest consumers we’ve ever had?

In this week’s newsletter, we explore how Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining everything - from skincare routines and creator-led discovery to the rise of hybrid beauty-wellness products. And beyond that, we’ve rounded up the most important global and India retail headlines, key appointments, and standout deals from the week - all in one sharp, scroll-friendly edition of Retail Detail.

The Gen Z & Gen A Effect - How Younger Consumers Are Reshaping Beauty & Wellness

Gen Z and Gen Alpha aren’t just “the next beauty consumers.” They are actively reshaping what beauty and wellness mean — merging skincare with self-expression, merging wellness with identity, and demanding more transparency, more science, more storytelling, and more value.

• They trust creators, not campaigns.

• They want instant results and long-term health.

• They expect inclusivity, sustainability, and products that make them feel good, not just look good.

Key Stats

• A significant majority of Gen Z & Gen Alpha already follow a daily skincare routine, starting earlier than any generation before.

• Surveys show well over 50% of Gen Z consider sustainability and ethics crucial when choosing beauty products.

• Gen Alpha’s future global spending power is estimated to reach multi-trillion-dollar levels.

• Beauty is becoming a top priority within wellness — younger consumers are investing more in appearance, confidence, and self-care rituals.

What It Means for Retail & Consumer Brands

• Science + Storytelling: Clinical claims must be backed by culture, community, and emotion.

• Creator-led influence: Micro-creators and GRWM content are the new discovery engines.

• Accessible premium: Value matters, but so does the feeling of “trading up.”

• Beauty + Wellness convergence: Stress-relief formats, sleep, gut health, hybrid skincare-makeup — all are rising.

• Omnichannel, social-first: AR try-ons, shoppable video, and creator storefronts must seamlessly integrate with retail shelves.

Sources:

WWD (Gen Z & Gen Alpha Impact on Beauty & Wellness) | LA Times (Gen Alpha’s Early Obsession with Skincare) | eMarketer (What Gen Alpha’s Beauty Obsession Means for Brands) | Mintel (How Gen Alpha Is Redefining Beauty) | Attest (Gen Z Beauty Trends) | McKinsey (Future of Wellness: Youth Trends) | Firework (Beauty Industry Trends)

🌍 World Retail Headlines

• Amazon sued over ‘punitive’ handling of employee absences

• Myntra’s social commerce now drives 10% of revenue

• Amazon slashes nearly 700 jobs in New York

• Dillard’s posts strong Q3 earnings

• Skims hits $5B valuation in new funding round

• Apple launches $229.95 “iPhone Pocket” sock

• Guests ejected mid-stay as Sonder collapses

• Valve unveils new console to rival Xbox & PlayStation

• AI could cut retail headcount by two-thirds

• Paramount, Comcast & Netflix prepare bids for Warner Bros

• Under Armour drops Curry Brand in restructuring

• China’s Singles’ Day sees modest growth

📰 India Retail News

• Cantabil bets on Tier 2–3 expansion to hit ₹1,000 crore by FY27

• Air India losses drag down Singapore Airlines’ profits

• India’s data privacy law finally comes into force

• Disney takes major write-downs on JioStar and Tata Play

• Godrej Consumer acquires Muuchstac for ₹450 crore

• Haldiram’s unveils next-gen QSR ambitions

• Apple launches Digital ID feature via Apple Wallet in India

🔥 Top Funding & Key Appointments

• Palmonas in talks to raise ₹200–250 crore from Xponentia

• Anand Burman, Mohit Burman & Aditya Burman to join Religare Board

Let me know 💬

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