Consumers in the UK are increasingly drawn to holistic wellness and self-care in hand, body, and footcare products, with 63% of HBF users expressing an interest in bodycare that supports…
UK
Bodycare
simple
UK Hand, Body and Footcare Market Report 2025
"Usage increased in 2025, driving market growth. Continued growth is expected, though at a slower pace due to widespread value-focused purchasing behaviours."
UK Hand, Body and Footcare Market – Trends and Insights
Consumers in the UK are increasingly drawn to holistic wellness and self-care in hand, body, and footcare (HBF) products, with 63% of HBF users expressing an interest in bodycare that supports lymphatic drainage. This presents opportunities to merge wellness-focused claims with science-backed functionality.
Consumers remain price-sensitive, with 44% of HBF buyers opting for mass-market products in the past year, posing challenges for premiumisation within the category. However, consumers are interested in experimentation and trading up, suggesting a dual strategy is needed to cater to both budget-conscious shoppers and those seeking premium offerings.
Innovation in climate-adaptive products aligns with consumer interests in sweat/odour prevention. Brands integrating sensorial experiences (e.g. cooling), multi-functional attributes (e.g. deodorising) and seasonal relevance will remain well-positioned to tap into the evolving needs of UK consumers.
Key Topics Analysed in the Report
Changes in hand, body and footcare usage, and notable growth of specific types of products
Methods used to remove body hair and opportunities to target shavers with bodycare products
Retail channels used when purchasing hand, body and footcare products, trading-up/down behaviours, and factors that encourage increased spend in the category
Hand, body and footcare scent preferences and alignment with the adjacent SBS category
Consumer interest in innovation and behaviours related to hand, body and footcare usage and purchase
Opportunities for the hand, body and footcare market
Combine hand, body and footcare with science-backed wellness
Leverage scent and texture to improve the user experience
Future-proof sales by adapting to the changing climate
Market dynamics and outlook
Market size and forecast
Market predictions for hand, body and footcare
The hand, body and footcare market is set to continue its path of growth
Graph 1: market size for hand, body and footcare products, 2019-30
Outlook by sub-category
What consumers want and why
Hand, body and footcare usage increases
Bodycare repertoires benefit from multi-step routines
Graph 2: repertoire of hand, body and footcare used, by sub-category, 2025
Graph 3: hand, body and footcare product usage, 2025
Provide shavers with targeted bodycare offerings
Graph 4: methods used to remove body hair, 2025
Hand, body and footcare purchase behaviours are polarised
Graph 5: types of retailers used to purchase hand, body and footcare products, 2025
Graph 6: changes in hand, body and footcare purchases in the last 12 months, 2024
Functional benefits remain a priority
Graph 7: factors that encourage trading up in hand, body and footcare, 2025
Fragranced products hold sensorial appeal
Graph 8: hand, body and footcare scent preferences, 2025
Graph 9: select hand, body and footcare usage and purchase behaviours, 2025
Advance science-backed claims in hand, body and footcare
Graph 10: select hand, body and footcare usage and purchase behaviours, 2025
Innovation and marketing
Genuine NPD grows its share of total launches
Graph 11: hand, body and footcare launches, branded vs private-label, 2021-25
Graph 12: hand, body and footcare launches, by launch type, 2021-25
Embrace the senses in product design
Engage and educate via social media
Add playfulness and fun to bodycare
MARKET DYNAMICS
Market size
Usage trends and masstige innovation boost spending
Graph 13: retail value sales of hand, body and footcare products, 2021-25
Social media content connects the dots between bodycare and wellbeing
Market forecast
Forecast – note on US trade disruption
Impact of US trade disruption for hand, body and footcare market
Multistep routines will sustain growth
Graph 14: market size for hand, body and footcare products, 2019-30
Hand, body and footcare could be the new affordable luxury
Opportunities
Threats
Market segmentation
A return to early 00s trends drive bodycare growth
Pair function with sensorality to revive footcare
Facial skincare inspires footcare innovation
Premium handcare minis could accelerate growth
Multistep routines mean mass brands are stealing spending away from premium brands
Other BPC categories are a priority when consumers are worried about money
Market share
Leading brands outperform in bodycare…
…as derma skincare spending disperses
Science-backed bodycare begins to mainstream
Own-label struggles in footcare…
…while Canesten, Daktarin and Scholl succeed
Consumers are looking for value in handcare…
…boosting demand for own-label handcare
Channels to market
Value and convenience attract HBF consumers to grocery retailers
Tap into online growth with bodycare subscriptions
Draw consumers back to specialists by elevating in-store expertise
Market drivers
Average wages have increased more than prices
Graph 15: CPI inflation rate and total pay growth rate, 2021-25
Private-labels set to become a new powerhouse
Graph 16: purchase of own-label and branded BPC products – bodycare, by gender, 2024
An increasingly diverse society brings opportunity for the market
Graph 17: ethnicity of population, by age, 2021
Rising temperatures pose challenges…
…but also opportunities
Graph 18: select behaviours related to BPC and climate change, 2024
Social media gives an edge to hand, body and footcare
Graph 19: select behaviours related to beauty/grooming content on social media, 2025
Continue to target gift givers
The premiumisation of handcare continues…
…with science-backed products set to disrupt the segment in the future
Wellness trends can unlock growth
WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY
Usage of hand, body and footcare products
Hand scrub usage benefits from multi-use launches
Graph 20: hand, body and footcare product usage, 2025
Elevate the appeal of body lotions
Create masks for specific body parts
Oils rise in popularity
Graph 21: hand, body and footcare usage – oils, 2024 and 2025
Target young men with body oils
Drive hand and footcare usage through social media engagement
Graph 22: repertoire of hand, body and footcare products used, by sub-category, 2025
Body hair removal methods
Non-electrical tools still dominate body hair removal
Premium bodycare appeals to electrical device users
Target wax users with post-hair removal care
Graph 23: bodycare products used, by body hair removal method, 2025
Create body butters with a cooling effect
Purchase channels
Grocers can create impulse purchase opportunities
Graph 24: types of retailers used to purchase hand, body and footcare products, 2025
Unlock the spending potentials of Generation X
Graph 25: types of retailers used to purchase hand, body and footcare products – select channels, by generation ,2025
Leverage the high conversion rate from social media recommendations
Graph 26: agreement with ‘I have bought a hand, body or footcare product that was recommended to me on social media’, by purchase channels, 2025
Leverage expertise into private label innovation
TikTok Shop is an effective channel for HBF sales
Establish a presence on TikTok Shop
Change in purchasing
Value guides purchase choices
Mass brands still appeal with their value for money proposition
Graph 27: select changes in hand, body and footcare purchases in the last 12 months, by annual household income, 2024
Encourage older generations to spend more
Graph 28: net of changes in hand, body and footcare purchases in the last 12 months, by age, 2024
Broaden the reach of more traditional channels
Target premium-seeking men
Trade-up drivers
Consumers look for function over fun in hand, body and footcare
Cut through the noise on key claims
Graph 29: factors that encourage trading up in hand, body and footcare, 2025
Cater to parents’ desire for naturalness
Engage young men with wellness benefits
Graph 30: select factors that encourage trading up in hand, body and footcare, by gender, 2024
Link naturals to their benefits to drive HBF appeal
Pair scent with function
Captivate with visuals
Scent preferences
Ensure unscented products remain luxurious
Graph 31: hand, body and footcare scent preferences, 2025
Provide a harmonised bathroom self-care routine
Graph 32: scent preference for hand, body and footcare products, 2025
Graph 33: soap, bath and shower scent preferences, 2025
Encourage layering among gourmand fans
Close the gap between NPD and consumer preferences
Ethnic minorities crave more scent variety
Graph 34: scent preference for hand, body and footcare products, by ethnicity, 2024
Location, Location, Location
Graph 35: select scent preference for hand, body and footcare products, by area, 2024
Usage behaviours
Consumers are positive about wellness benefits…
…but perceptions around wellness need clarifying
Formulate with layering in mind
Graph 36: hand, body and footcare layering behaviours, 2025
Deodorising bodycare gains momentum
Adapt to hotter climate concerns
Men surpass women in cuticle treatment usage
Graph 37: cuticle treatment usage in the last 12 months, by gender and gender/age, 2024
Provide hustlers with leg-soothing products
Social media’s impact on hand, body and footcare purchasing
Social media drives engagement and sales in bodycare
Graph 38: social media’s impact on hand, body and footcare purchasing, 2025
Diversify advertising and marketing campaigns to build trust
INNOVATION AND MARKETING TRENDS
Launch activity and innovation
Genuine NPD increases its share of total launches
Graph 39: hand, body and footcare launches, by launch type, 2021-25
Fashion brands enter the category
New launches target young consumers
Private label steps up
Graph 40: hand, body and footcare launches, branded vs private label, 2021-25
Brands focus on affordable innovation
Embrace the senses in product design
Graph 41: hand, body and footcare launches, by sub-category, 2021-25
Provide a fully sensorial experience to improve wellness
The rise of skin glow and shimmer claims in bodycare
Appeal with anti-ageing claims
Recycling is still top of mind for consumers
Graph 42: hand, body and footcare launches, by top 10 claims (based on 2024), 2023 and 2024
The lines between bodycare and deodorants blur
Advertising and marketing activity
HBF diverts more spend to social media in 2024
Learn from CeraVe to build a professional brand image
Leverage the seasonal appeal of products in marketing
Lush makes bath and body routines fun
Kenvue and Beiersdorf lead ad spend
Graph 43: total above-the line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on hand, body and footcare, by top 10 companies, 2024
Aveeno uses expert education to build trust
Major brand adverts focus on ingredients
Birkenstock introduces dedicated social media accounts to promote its new footcare range
O’Keeffees features occupation examples
APPENDIX
Supplementary data
TURF analysis – trade-up drivers for hand, body and footcare products
Market forecast data and methodology
Market size and forecast at constant and current prices (value)
Market forecast and prediction intervals (value)
Forecast methodology
Report scope and definitions
Market definition
Abbreviations and terms
Consumer research methodology
Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
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