Key takeaways on Unilever 2025 results Unilever reported solid 2025 growth in Beauty & Wellbeing (4.3%) and Personal Care (4.7%).Premium innovation and science‑led product launches fuelled performance across Dove, Vaseline, Hourglass and K18.Wellbeing brands including Nutrafol, Liquid I.V. and OLLY delivered double‑digit growth.Strong Asia Pacific Africa performance supported fourth‑quarter momentum.Operating margins reflected increased brand investment behind Power Brands and premium categories.
In 2025, Unilever’s strategic reshape accelerated, as the business put more focus on its Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care categories.
“We are moving at speed to build a business that drives desire at scale in our brands, execution excellence across all channels and cost discipline,” explained CEO, Fernando Fernandez. “We have set clear priorities for growth – building a brand portfolio for the future, with more Beauty, Wellbeing and Personal Care, prioritising premium segments and digital commerce, and anchoring our growth in the US and India.”
Vaseline and Dove boost beauty growth
The Beauty & Wellbeing division, representing 25% of group turnover, reported underlying sales growth of 4.3%, with 2.2% from volume and 2.1% from price.
Growth was driven by double‑digit increases in Wellbeing, Vaseline and Dove, which have all focused on science‑led, premium innovations.
Fourth‑quarter growth reached 4.7% (with 2.8% from volume), supported by improved performance across several key markets in Asia Pacific and Africa.
Wellbeing continued to outperform its category, although growth had slowed down.
Hair Care grew at a low single‑digit rate, with positive pricing partially offset by negative volume. Dove haircare grew double‑digit with balanced volume and price, driven by the launch of its new fibre‑repair technology range. This was partially offset by portfolio rationalisation and weaker performance in some emerging markets, affecting brands such as Sunsilk and Clear.
Core Skin Care delivered mid‑single‑digit growth, with positive contributions from both volume and price. Vaseline led the performance with double‑digit growth for the third consecutive year.
Wellbeing delivered double‑digit growth, driven primarily by volume. Nutrafol and Liquid I.V. posted double‑digit growth, while OLLY grew at a high single‑digit rate, supported by premium gummy innovations.
Prestige Beauty grew at a low‑single‑digit rate, led by pricing. Growth was driven by strong double‑digit performance in Hourglass and K18. Dermalogica and Paula’s Choice declined but returned to growth in the second half.
Underlying operating profit for the division was €2.5bn, down 3.2% year‑on‑year.
Personal Care performance strengthens despite mixed market conditions
Meanwhile, Personal Care, which represents 26% of group turnover, delivered underlying sales growth of 4.7%, with 1.1% from volume and 3.6% from price.
Growth was led by commodity‑driven price increases, while volume was supported by premium innovation – particularly in Dove, which grew at a high single‑digit rate.
Strong volume growth in developed markets was partially offset by a decline in Latin America, however the business still outperformed the market.
Fourth‑quarter growth remained strong at 5.1%, with positive volume and accelerating price growth.
Deodorants grew at a low single‑digit rate, with positive contributions from both price and volume. The growth was led by double‑digit expansion in Dove, supported by the continued success of Whole Body Deodorants. This was partly offset by volume declines in Latin America.
Q4 growth improved to mid‑single‑digit levels, supported by early progress on actions taken to improve format mix in Brazil.
Skin Cleansing grew at a mid‑single‑digit rate, driven by pricing and premiumisation. Dove grew mid‑single digit, while Lifebuoy was flat due to volumes being impacted by commodity‑driven price increases.
Oral Care grew mid‑single digit, driven by strong performance in Closeup and Pepsodent as both brands launched premium innovations, including whitening and naturals ranges.
Underlying operating profit for Personal Care was €3bn, down 1.4% on the prior year.
Looking at sales for 2026, Fernandez said that despite slowing markets across the world, he still had plenty of confidence for the year ahead.
