Brand news: Sol de Janeiro; The Body Shop; Chanel & Shiseido
Sol de Janeiro forced to deny body cream “attracts wolf spiders”
In a somewhat bizarre twist, Gen Z-favourite body care and scent brand Sol de Janeiro has had to defend its newly launched Delicia Drench Body Butter against one US-based customer’s review that claimed it “attracted wolf spiders”.
The reviewer believed that “the spider wanted to eat whatever ingredient it is so bad that it chased me.”
The testimonial went viral across social media, and picked up even more attention after a user on Reddit cited research that suggested that farnesyl acetate and hexadecyl acetate ― two chemical compounds that can be used in skin care products ― may mimic pheromones from “sexually receptive” female spiders
The L’Occitane-owned brand, which has seen tremendous sales growth over the past year, took to Instagram Stories to explain that its products did not contain any of these ingredients that could apparently attract spiders.
“While they may attract a lot of attention from people, they won’t from arachnids (even though we love all creatures at Sol de Janeiro),” read the statement.
Spider experts have also gone on the record to say that it is highly unlikely that this combination of ingredients would attract the attention of wolf spiders.
Chanel expands retail in India
According to the publication India Retailing, French luxury fashion house Chanel has opened the doors of its first fragrance and beauty store in Mumbai. The new store is in the Phoenix Palladium mall in Lower Parel and is the third Chanel Fragrance & Beauty store to open in India.
The other two stores are located at shopping centres in New Delhi.
As India’s middle class continues to grow, many beauty companies are expanding their operations in the country.
Coty has also recently put a focus on India and signed an agreement with the distribution and marketing company House of Beauty.
The Body Shop gains 100% vegan certification
The Body Shop’s entire range is now 100% and certified by The Vegan Society across all product categories and the beauty business says it’s the world's first global beauty brand to offer this (as of December 2023).
The company set this target for itself in 2021, at a point when 60% of its products already carried The Vegan Society trademark.
Throughout 2024, the brand said it planned to further expand its breadth of vegan offerings. On 15th January, it plans to launch its Full Flowers premium fragrance range: Full Magnolia.
Then on 12th February it will expand its Peppermint foot care range beyond feet to include Peppermint Shower Gel and Peppermint Body Lotion.
The Body Shop, which has always placed high emphasis on animal rights and social responsibility, was recently sold by Brazilian company Natura Cosméticos to German investment fund Aurelius in mid-November 2023 for around €238m.
Shiseido acquires Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
Japanese beauty company Shiseido has signed an agreement to acquire DDG Skincare Holdings LLC, which owns prestige brand Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare.
The dermatology-led skin care brand was launched in 2000 by former skin cancer researcher and dermatologist, Dr. Dennis Gross, and his wife Carrie, and is built on strong clinical foundations.
Shiseido said with the acquisition it sought to accelerate and strengthen its core prestige skincare business, which includes brands SHISEIDO and Clé de Peau Beauté.
Chairman and CEO of Shiseido, Masahiko Uotani, stated: “Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare is the perfect complement to our global portfolio of prestige brands as their core values are aligned with ours in terms of their scientific and innovative approach to beauty and our people-first culture.”
He added that he was “confident Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare will accelerate our growth in the Americas.”
