CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com – the Top 5 stories of 2012

Treatments promoting hair growth was also a key area this year, and this publication made every effort to bring you the most up-to-date news on the latest innovations; so much so that the first big hitter was from this very segment…

Being the first to bring you breaking news​

Back in June, Cosmetics Design exclusively revealed that L’Oreal was set to launch a new active that increases hair density​, in what proved to be the biggest industry story of the year.

Then, L’Oréal researcher Michelle Rathman-Josserand had told this publication that the development involving its patented molecule stemoxydine was ‘potentially game-changing’ due to its’ extensive research into hypoxia and its effect on hair follicles'.

In keeping with our core focus to be the first to bring you breaking news, we also confirmed in October that Albéa was in fact acquiring Rexam’s​ Personal Care division, after months of industry speculation.

The combined businesses will be focusing on building on both companies’ market position and create a leading packaging group with a global platform.

Keeping with the hair loss theme…​

The next highest hitting story was again in the hair care development segment, after researchers in the UK announced that they may have discovered that a drug used to treat glaucoma, could help those who suffer from balding​.

The research report demonstrated how the FDA-approved glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, causes human hair to regrow on the scalp; having only been commercially available as a way to lengthen eyelashes previously.

Other big hitters were more business related ​

Elsewhere, Lush made major waves in the industry after its founder Mark Constantine, stated that an inside source had told him that The Body Shop was being groomed for sale​ due to “no longer fitting L’Oreal’s strategy​.”

Its rival immediately hit back stating that despite all of the media furore; “There is absolutely no truth in the rumour​" whilst further pointing to a recent interview with L'Oreal CEO in The Financial Times who had stated that "The Body Shop is a kind of treasure that we are very happy to have​."

Conflicting animal testing policies​

The number five slot went to the Co-operative Asset Management Group after it declared that it had sold its entire holdings of Avon shares​, due to recent revelations that the company tests its cosmetics on animals.

The news came after PETA had focused the spotlight on Avon back in February, announcing that it had removed it from its ‘cruelty free’ list after discovering that it was performing animal testing.