Gen Z, non-metro India drive 50 pc growth in Flipkart Beauty; Glam Up Fest 2026 highlights emerging trends
New Delhi, June 21
Gen Z consumers and shoppers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are driving rapid growth in India's beauty market, with Flipkart's Beauty and Personal Care category recording 50 per cent year-on-year growth, the company said in a press release.
The company said GenZ now drives nearly 60 per cent of all beauty purchases on the platform, while shoppers from non-metro cities are increasingly shaping trends and purchase decisions.
"Two in three beauty searches on Flipkart originate from non-metro cities such as Cuttack, Bardhaman, Gorakhpur, Kottayam, Guntur, Jamnagar, Sangli among several others," the release noted.
The fourth edition of Glam Up Fest brought together 100+ leading beauty brands and 6,000+ creators, influencers, and celebrities under the theme 'Beauty for Every Moment'.
The category's growth spans multiple segments. Flipkart said premium beauty has grown over 60% year-on-year, perfumes over 45%, and men's grooming has emerged as the standout category, up 65% as consumers incorporate skincare, grooming, and wellness into everyday routines. Searches for "Sunscreen for Men", "Facewash for Men", "Hair Serum for Men" are very high.
With 12 beauty products bought every second on the platform, demand continues to grow. Beauty on Flipkart Minutes has grown 5x over the past year, ranking among the top three performing categories on the service.
At the fest, Flipkart unveiled its Annual Beauty Trends Report 2.0 developed with Quantum Consumer Solutions, mapping a shift toward premium and science-backed skincare and growing experimentation with global trends. The platform's consumer-first interface, aided by Virtual Try-On and Live Video Commerce, is supporting discovery and personalisation.
Sakait Chaudhary, Senior Vice President, Head of Softlines, Grocery and Marketplace, Flipkart, said, "The beauty category in India is being shaped by GenZ consumers who are more informed, trend-conscious, and have made beauty into a daily ritual. At the same time, we are seeing strong momentum from shoppers across Bharat, where demand is expanding well beyond traditional categories into premium, specialised, and globally inspired products."
Flipkart also launched its Global Luxe Beauty Store, unveiled by Janhvi Kapoor, offering 100+ international brands, including Calvin Klein, Gucci, Eucerin, Medicube, CeraVe, Beauty of Joseon, and SKIN1004.
The on-ground fest will be followed by Flipkart's in-app Glam Up Sale from June 19-27, 2026, with limited-time offers and new launches.
The company is also expanding Glam Up Fest to non-metro cities, kicking off in Guwahati on June 16 with 600+ creators, with more Tier-2 and Tier-3 city editions planned through the year.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a guy, I'm happy to see the "Sunscreen for Men" searches going up. We used to just use whatever soap was available, but now even in small towns like Gorakhpur, men are taking skincare seriously. Good change, honestly.
50% growth is impressive but I hope they're also focusing on quality and authenticity. With so many fakes in the market, Flipkart needs to ensure these international brands are genuine. Also, prices need to be reasonable for non-metro consumers.
Gen Z driving 60% of beauty purchases? That explains why my sister (she's 19) orders something every other week! 😂 But seriously, this is a sign of how aspirational Bharat has become. Small-town kids are no longer waiting to go to big cities to access global trends.
The Glam Up Fest in Guwahati is a great move! Northeast consumers often get ignored by mainstream beauty events. Hope they also include cities like Imphal, Shillong, and Silchar in future editions. Makeup and skincare are universal, after all. 🌸
Flipkart Minutes delivering beauty products in 10 minutes? That's dangerous for my wallet! 😅 But seriously, it's good to see the platform adapting to the quick commerce trend. Virtual Try-On also makes sense for makeup - no more buying the wrong foundation shade.
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