diff --git a/src/app/globals.css b/src/app/globals.css
index 5a0fe441c..ab0a5d0b1 100644
--- a/src/app/globals.css
+++ b/src/app/globals.css
@@ -16,15 +16,19 @@ body {
   }
 }
 
-/* Search input placeholder — WCAG AA contrast on dark indigo hero background */
+/* Search input placeholder — WCAG AA contrast on dark indigo hero background.
+ * Bumped to 1.0 (was 0.85): at indigo-600 corner of bg-gradient-to-br the
+ * 0.85 placeholder composites to 4.21:1 against the effective bg, failing
+ * 4.5:1 AA. Full-opacity white placeholder composites to 5.16:1 on the
+ * lightest gradient stop. (BUY-65459) */
 .search-input::placeholder {
-  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1);
 }
 
 .search-input::-webkit-input-placeholder {
-  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1);
 }
 
 .search-input::-moz-placeholder {
-  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1);
 }
diff --git a/src/app/page.tsx b/src/app/page.tsx
index 63e5bb5c5..261dfc97c 100644
--- a/src/app/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/page.tsx
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ export default function HomePage() {
       <main id="main-content" role="main" tabIndex={-1} aria-label="Main content">
       {/* Hero */}
       <section role="region" aria-label="Content section" className="bg-gradient-to-br from-indigo-600 via-indigo-700 to-indigo-900 text-white">
-        <div className="max-w-6xl mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 py-16 md:py-24">
+        <div className="max-w-6xl mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 py-16 md:py-20 xl:py-24">
           <div className="max-w-3xl mx-auto text-center mb-4">
             <div className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-white bg-white px-3 py-1 text-sm font-bold text-indigo-900 shadow-sm mb-6">
               <span className="w-2 h-2 bg-green-600 rounded-full"></span>
diff --git a/src/components/HomeProductSearch.tsx b/src/components/HomeProductSearch.tsx
index 45519034f..c18c003cb 100644
--- a/src/components/HomeProductSearch.tsx
+++ b/src/components/HomeProductSearch.tsx
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export function HomeProductSearch() {
         <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 lg:flex-row lg:items-stretch lg:gap-3">
           <div className="relative min-w-0 flex-1">
             <Search
-              className="pointer-events-none absolute left-5 top-1/2 h-6 w-6 -translate-y-1/2 text-indigo-100"
+              className="pointer-events-none absolute left-5 top-1/2 h-6 w-6 -translate-y-1/2 text-white"
               aria-hidden="true"
             />
             <input
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export function HomeProductSearch() {
                 }
               }}
               placeholder="Search products..."
-              className="search-input w-full rounded-xl border-2 border-white/20 bg-white/10 py-5 pl-14 pr-4 text-lg text-white placeholder-white/85 transition-all focus:border-white focus:bg-white/20 focus:outline-none focus:ring-4 focus:ring-white/20"
+              className="search-input w-full rounded-xl border-2 border-white/20 bg-white/10 py-5 pl-14 pr-4 text-lg text-white placeholder-white transition-all focus:border-white focus:bg-white/20 focus:outline-none focus:ring-4 focus:ring-white/20"
               aria-label="Search products"
               aria-invalid={Boolean(error)}
               aria-describedby={error ? errorId : undefined}
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export function HomeProductSearch() {
               {error}
             </p>
           ) : (
-            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-2 text-sm text-indigo-100">
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-2 text-sm text-white">
               <span>Try</span>
               {exampleQueries.map((example) => (
                 <button
diff --git a/src/components/TrustLayer.tsx b/src/components/TrustLayer.tsx
index 31376ddec..f5c10b7dd 100644
--- a/src/components/TrustLayer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/TrustLayer.tsx
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ const trustIndicators = [
 
 export function TrustLayer() {
   return (
-    <section className="py-16 bg-gray-50 border-t border-gray-100" aria-labelledby="trust-heading">
+    <section className="pt-10 pb-16 bg-gray-50 border-t border-gray-100" aria-labelledby="trust-heading">
       <div className="max-w-6xl mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6">
         <div className="grid lg:grid-cols-2 gap-12 items-center">
           <div>