During the first half of 2023, perfume and cosmetics purchases in Russia rose by about 14 percent compared to the same period a year earlier and by roughly 10 percent versus the pandemic year 2019. This assessment comes from RBC, which cited statistics from the analytic resource Control Index within the OFD Platform. Analysts refrained from publishing exact figures.
The upward trend also showed itself in the April to June window, with a 45 percent increase in sales year over year. However, in January through May, overall spending on perfumes and cosmetics declined by about 21 percent compared with the prior year. Despite fluctuations, the first half of 2023 still saw higher average checks, with the typical purchase amount hovering around 4 thousand rubles. That figure marks a 5 percent rise over 2022 and a 21 percent rise relative to 2019. In monetary terms, analysts observed a 19 percent increase in sales versus January to June of the previous year, and a 32 percent rise when compared to 2019.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, along with retail chains, confirmed these patterns. They reported that hair care products surged by 80 percent year over year, perfumery by 70 percent, and decorative cosmetics by 70 percent in the first half of the year. Industry experts interviewed by RBC highlighted a renewed vitality in the Russian cosmetics market, noting that shelves now offer a broad assortment of products. Edgar Shabanov, the head of the Rive Gauche network, remarked that purchases per cart are up by roughly 20 percent compared with the previous year.
Market research firm BusinesStat provides a longer view, noting that cosmetics sales in Russia declined only slightly from 2018 to 2022, slipping from 3.49 to 3.4 billion units when including periods of pandemic and special operations. The pandemic kept many people at home and narrowed their shopping to essentials. After the onset of the special operation, several foreign manufacturers paused shipments to Russia. Notable examples include L Loret and Estee Lauder, along with Shiseido Group, a major Japanese cosmetics producer, which limited Russia supplies. Parallel import channels began carrying brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Lancôme, Giorgio Armani and others into the domestic market starting in 2022.
Overall, spending on cosmetics in Russia appears to have shifted toward greater consumer engagement, with consumers prioritizing personal care and beauty products even as external supply dynamics continue to evolve. This narrative aligns with official trade data and retailer statements that point to a competitive market landscape and a wider array of available products in stores.