Editor’s Pick: the top articles of 2014
1. Top 10 Future Beauty Concepts
Predicting the future is often pure guesswork. Should we look at the past to guess what happens next? Or is what’s happening around us a better predictor for future trends?
Well, in this gallery from June, market expert Imogen Matthews outlined ten top concepts for beauty innovation, some that are already established and others brand new, based on Datamonitor's findings.
2. Unilever announces next generation Axe deodorant design
Unilever had the body spray packs of its' leading deodorant brand Axe made over back in February as it attempted to breathe new life into the range.
Axe, known as Lynx in the UK, stayed with previous designer Seymourpowell for the new look, having worked with the company in 2005 on its existing aerosol, called ‘Neutron’.
The new Icon2 design was developed to set up the brand for the future with a more premium feel, and remaining consistent with a more premium product, thanks to Unilever’s engineering team, and DCA who worked with them.
“We see it as our responsibility to stay a step ahead of future trends and break the conventions of our category,” said Michal Berski, Axe Global Brand Manager at the time.
3. Hair loss problem? the industry steps up innovation...
Hair loss remains a problem for many, but there have been major advances in the area of treatments, particularly in the last year that suggest it could soon be a thing of the past.
This round-up article focused on the latest work from companies in the area of hair treatment.
Germany based Evonik launched a skin-identical sphingolipid that it says prevents hair loss by addressing scalp health and rebalancing the lifecycle of hair.
Provital was also highlighted for developing a new ingredient to market that focuses on promoting follicle growth. The active, Baicapil, is described as being created by combining the plants Scutellaria baicalensis, Triticum vulgare and Glycine max.
4. P&G develops first approved non-animal alternative for skin allergy testing
P&G scientists announced in January a milestone of having developed the first non-animal alternative method for skin allergy testing approved by European authority.
Dr Harald Schlatter, Principle Scientist Communications from P&G tells CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com that skin allergy is a critical safety question for all manufacturers, particularly P&G, given the broad portfolio of products coming into contact with the skin.
“The development of the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) marks a milestone in overcoming the need for animal testing.While contact allergy is a complex process, it is something which is an important safety aspect for almost all ingredients,” says Schlatter.
5. EU cosmetic claim substantiation could be a time-bomb
Following the adoption of the EU Cosmetics Directive last summer, one expert expressed their belief that companies are now going to have to be extra vigilant about product claims.
The regulation, introduced in 2013 and now fully in force, states a ‘common criteria’ for cosmetic claims in the European Union.
However, according to a recent presentation given by Dr. Karl Lintner, a consultant specialising in cosmetic claims, who was speaking at the NYSCC Science Symposium in New York City last month, this common criteria looks rather less cohesive when placed under the microscope.
