Business & financial

Ulta Q2 FY24 Results © Ca-ssis Getty Images

Ulta Beauty revises FY outlook in response to comparable sales decline

By Cassandra Stern

Ulta Beauty's Q2 fiscal 2024 results show net sales of $2.55 billion, a slight increase from last year, but a 1.2% decline in comparable sales and a 12% drop in operating income highlight the challenges the company faces in a tough retail environment.

Proving skin care product efficacy in the future

Proving skin care product efficacy in the future

By Kirsty Doolan

As more beauty shoppers demand proof of product efficacy, we spoke to the CEO of beauty tech company Cydolia about its work with Lancôme and how it’s aiming to make skin care “more personalised, predictive, and scientifically driven than ever before.”

Rituals Cosmetics teams up with Disney hotels

Rituals Cosmetics teams up with Disney hotels

By Kirsty Doolan

As more beauty brands explore unexpected partnerships, the Dutch beauty and wellness company Rituals Cosmetics has signed up to supply bath and body care to Disneyland’s official hotel in Hong Kong.

Avon Chapter 11 © pawel.gaul Getty Images

Avon Products, Inc. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

By Cassandra Stern

The filing is intended to address Avon Products, Inc.'s debt and legacy talc liabilities, while ensuring that its international operations, under the ownership of Natura &Co, continue unaffected.

Start the week with a startup: Lignopure

Start the week with a startup: Lignopure

By Kirsty Doolan

Every fortnight we talk to a beauty and personal care industry startup about why it exists and how it plans to challenge or change the cosmetics industry...

(Image: Getty)

Hair care trends: what’s hot in 2024?

By Kirsty Doolan

What do hair care shoppers want right now? New research reveals the most popular brands, products, celebs and influencers that people across the globe have searched for this year…

Use of exosomes in cosmetics formulations can help to lessen wrinkles, enhance skin texture, and improve elasticity (Image: Getty)

What are exosomes in skin care and why do they matter?

By Kirsty Doolan

With a rising demand for effective ‘better-ageing’ solutions, the skin care industry is increasingly intrigued by the potential of exosomes for formulations. What are they and how can they improve skin?

The data showed that in 2015 almost two thirds (63%) of beauty and personal care launches were genuinely new products

Global beauty innovation has hit a 10-year low, says Mintel

By Kirsty Doolan

Data from the market intelligence company Mintel’s Global New Product’s Database (GNPD) showed that between January and May 2024, less than half (46%) of global beauty and personal care CPG launches were genuinely new products.

What do beauty consumers want right now?

What do beauty consumers want right now?

By Kirsty Doolan

New consumer research from Avon has given fresh insights on the skin minimalism trend, influencer fatigue & the ever-growing popularity of dupe products…

Williams said that monitoring daily feedback from her community/customers has been key to building her beauty empire

Lessons from TikTok Shop beauty superstar P.Louise

By Kirsty Doolan

Yesterday the UK beauty brand P.Louise broke records for the most revenue generated on TikTok Shop by a UK brand – earning £1.6 million in 24 hours. We asked founder Paige Williams for her top tips on selling through the ever-popular channel…

The French multinational is still seeing strong growth in Europe, along with emerging markets

L’Oréal Group saw slower sales in Q2

By Kirsty Doolan

The French multinational has reported a 5.3% rise in sales for the second quarter of 2024, but this was below expectations and the slowest quarter since the start of 2022...

There appears to be a growing trend of consumption of international brands in China's 'lower-tier' cities

Are European brands still attractive to Chinese consumers?

By Kirsty Doolan

As more luxury goods companies experience sales declines, one contributing factor is that wealthy Chinese consumers are no longer buying these products. We spoke to China ecommerce accelerator Azoya to find out more...

BASF site in Ludwigshafen in Germany

Explosion and fire at BASF plant in Germany

By Jane Byrne

A leak of an organic solvent led to an explosion and subsequent fire yesterday in the southern part of the BASF site in Ludwigshafen in Germany, reported the company.

© CosmeticsDesign

Key trends and insights from Cosmoprof North America 2024

By Cassandra Stern

Cosmoprof North America in Las Vegas showcased a vibrant blend of nostalgic brand collaborations, Generation Alpha-focused products, and bold, preppy packaging trends, highlighting the future direction of the beauty industry.

Biotechnology is increasingly used to create ingredients for cosmetics formulations in response to sustainability issues (Image: Getty)

5 biotech cosmetics ingredients companies to watch…

By Kirsty Doolan

As biotechnology becomes more prominent in sourcing ingredients for cosmetics formulations, we reveal some of the pioneering businesses that are disrupting the cosmetics ingredients sector…

The new in vitro Double Plate Testing Method is likely to become an industry standard in 2025 (Image: Getty)

How sunscreen testing is about to be transformed…

By Kirsty Doolan

The methods used to test SPF in suncare products have long faced multiple criticisms, and for the past three decades experts have been working on an alternative. This is now in the final stages of ISO approval and is set to overhaul the way we test sun...