Beauty retail is entering 2026 with momentum concentrated around scale, science, and strategic international expansion. Across Ulta Beauty, Target, Sephora, and key UK retailers, brands are accelerating from DTC and social proof into wide physical disruption, with biotech skincare, functional fragrance, menopause, and wellness categories moving firmly into the mainstream. The UK, in particular, is emerging as a high-growth launch market, driven by Sephora’s rapid footprint expansion, Boots and M&S leaning into exclusives, and Space NK and Cult Beauty acting as gateways for global brands.Here are the retail moves that caught the attention of the BeautyMatter team in January.Ulta BeautyRare Beauty by Selena Gomez has launched nationwide at Ulta Beauty, rolling out to more than 1,500 stores and the Ulta website. The launch marks its first major retail expansion beyond Sephora since debuting in 2020. The curated assortment of products will highlight hero categories like blush and bronzer, while the partnership introduces Ulta Beauty’s first guest donation program with a brand, this one supporting both the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation and Rare Beauty’s Rare Impact Fund.Built on an inside-out approach, Timebeam debuted at Ulta Beauty. The move reflects a rapid operational scale with a mission to make skin health fun at every level.Vimi Joshi launches exclusively at Ulta Beauty Dubai, marking the Middle East debut of the founder-led brand created by globally renowned makeup artist Vimi Joshi.