What to expect at MakeUp in Paris 2026
MakeUp in Paris will be held at the Carrousel du Louvre on 17th and 18th June 2026
Almost one month to go before MakeUp in Paris opens its doors, and this year, for the first time, it will be held in conjunction with Luxepack édition spéciale (otherwise known as LuxePack Green), focusing on sustainable packaging innovations.
Diversifying into all areas of beauty
For a few years now, the MakeUp in have started to diversify into skincare and haircare. The boutique show that started as an ode to make-up is slowly expanding its categories, with most exhibitors serving make-up, skincare, body care, and hair care.
I see Paris as the go-to place for cosy meet-ups with beauty professionals. It's right in the centre of Paris at the Louvre Carrousel, and easily accessible with a métro ticket, or a bike ride (who drives in Paris anyway!).
About 150+ exhibitors from formulators, ingredient suppliers, packaging specialists, contract manufacturers & accessory experts, and about 4000+ expected visitors.
I’ve heard in the corridors. It's full of Chinese now. Well, there are Chinese but also Korean exhibitors, and I’d like to say that the Chinese of today are not the ones of yesterday. This is where we, “European”, might not see true potential until it's too late. I think Chinese companies are now bringing a lot of innovative designs and never-before-seen innovations, and they still hold skills that are not replicable anywhere else. I recommend visitors look at it twice. Speaking with the organisers, they mentioned having a rigorous selection process for exhibitors, ensuring that everyone brings something to the game. Let’s keep an open mind.
Content program
On the content front, MakeUp in Paris will host a programme of conferences mixing trends agencies, talks and roundtable discussions with industry experts. The conference will offer three topic tracks.
- Beauty and identity, the new maps of the world where makeup is no longer a standard; it is a language. From K-beauty, C-beauty, A-beauty, I-beauty: navigating a rapidly evolving landscape. And also a focus on C-Beauty versus K-Beauty, or the new influences of beauty: A-Beauty, I-Beauty and the Polycentric World
- Formulation and innovation, or what goes into your products, with AI compressing years of R&D, biomimicry and inspiration from nature, new skincare actives, makeup pigments from botanicals enhanced by science, and smart devices: a product ecosystem in transformation.
- Experience and well-being for a beauty that lasts and cares. Skincare routines are becoming highly perceived-value rituals. Dermocosmetics, longevity, and wellbeing: which segments should be activated?
This year's one talk will focus on French Beauty. With the rise and influence of beauty from Korea, and Korean rituals taking centre shelf at many retail stores, how can France play its role to come back centre stage with a well-recognised science-backed skincare? Consumers are going back to science and dermocosmetics as a retaliation from “clean” beauty and, dare I say it, greenwashing… now it's all about efficacy and proof, where French Beauty has all the cards to win the game. Could we all team up together to make France great again! (pardon the pun), as Korean beauty does?
IT awards
As usual, MakeUp in Paris will host the ‘IT’ awards, presenting the ‘IT' beauty product (think ‘IT’ bag, not I.T. as Information Technology), which will be showcased at the heart of the show. From formulation to packaging, full service and accessories, a panel of experts will judge the latest launches coming from exhibitors to help visitors decipher beauty innovations. More than 100 submissions were received for the 2026 edition, a record for the competition.
Every year, the Innovations & Trends Awards spotlight the most outstanding innovations in the cosmetics industry. Breakthrough ingredients, unprecedented textures, and packaging that reinvent the gesture: these exhibitor innovations are a true barometer of tomorrow’s cosmetic trends.
MakeUp in Paris, will open its doors on Wednesday, the 17th of June at 10am, and visitor badges will give access to both MakeUp in Paris and Luxepack édition spéciale.
