Beauty companies could face a challenging 2026

Lots of fashion companies called it quits or struggled in 2025 (think Forever 21 or SAKS Global, whose CEO Marc Metrick just stepped down). Glossy, a media brand focused on the beauty, fashion and wellness industries, predicts that 2026 could become another unsettling year. The online publication says many of the economic pressures that weighed on brands’ finances, including tariffs, higher living and business costs and reduced consumer spending, could also wreak havoc in 2026, though it noted that those with strong consumer connections would fare better. “We’ll likely see more closures, especially among brands caught in the middle,” retail expert Albert Varkki told author Danny Parisi. “Brands that lack a clear value proposition, operational discipline or loyal customer base will struggle regardless of the broader market.”