In-demand skin care brands

GlamGlow, NYX, Le Labo, Ren, and Dermalogica are among several of the hottest formerly Indies sold in the intense string of beauty acquisitions over the past two years, according to Happi. Meanwhile, the independent beauty brands millenials, Generaration Z, baby boomers, and multi-cultural groups are the experiencing growth of nearly 19% in 2014 are the acquisition candidates explored in Kline’s recently published report Beauty’s Most Buyable Brands: Analysis of Booming Independent Brands in the United States.

With the evaluation of about 100 privately-owned beauty brands and the subsequent selection of top gems, the study goes beyond regular analysis and points to which are the most buyable ones. While the overall cosmetics market grew at a compound annual growth rate of over 3% between 2009 and 2014, independent brands as a whole experienced double-digit growth of nearly five times the market average during the same period.

Last year, 20 independent brands post double- or triple-digit growth. Among the 10 fastest growing is a blend of brands targeting various niche needs from eyebrow care to skinccare remedies to natural oral care products. These brands often referred to as indies, drive acquisition activity in the industry. While they are a driving force for larger companies and PE firms, being acquired also serves as a catalyst for their own growth as it opens new doors, creates a greater investment in research and development, and helps bring these products to a larger number of consumers.