L’Oréal outperformed the market in three of its four divisions last year, for an overall rise in reported sales of 12.1 percent to €25.26 billion for full year 2015 (up 4.1 percent like-for-like).

The Active Cosmetics Division demonstrated ‘great momentum’ with a 9.4 percent rise to €1,816.3 million, while L’Oréal Luxe delivered another year of ‘robust growth’, jumping 16.7 percent to €7,230 million and the Professional Products Division ‘continues to improve steadily’, climbing 12.1 percent to €3,399.7 million. The Consumer Products Division failed to outperform the market, but managed to put in sales growth of 2.5 percent to €11,844.2 million, helped by ‘powerful acceleration in the make-up category’.

On a regional basis, North America and Africa and the Middle East exhibited the strongest growth, up 23.5 percent and 28.1 percent respectively. Sales in Eastern Europe dropped 3.5 percent, while Latin America scraped a 0.9 percent rise.

The Body Shop reported a 10.7 percent in reported sales (-0.9 percent in like-for-like sales).

“In a year marked by worldwide economic slowdown and increased international volatility, L’Oréal achieved strong growth in 2015, supported by a positive monetary effect, and outperformed the market in three of its four divisions,” commented Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO. “In a volatile and uncertain economic environment, particularly in some emerging countries, the Group can rely on its balanced footprint across beauty categories, distribution channels and geographic zones. We are entering 2016 with the ambition to outperform the cosmetics market and achieve another year of sales and profit growth.”

Agon noted the rapid growth of the French beauty giant’s e-commerce presence, with sales for the channel reaching €1.3 billion, representing 5 percent of the total.