Colour cosmetics

Beauty brands can ‘definitely galvanise’ rising consumer engagement in sustainability: WWF

08-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Consumers continue to show increased interest in sustainability and are placing more importance on individual responsibility – an aspect brands can shift into real action with the right business approach, says a senior partnership manager at the World...

China animal testing: Exemptions for testing on ‘ordinary’ cosmetics start in May - officials

08-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

Imported ‘ordinary’ cosmetics will not be required to undergo animal testing from May 1 this year, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has confirmed in its finalised regulations.

‘Consumers expect full transparency from brands and companies’, says incoming L'Oréal CEO

05-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty consumers worldwide are demanding open and honest brand communication on product formulations and ingredients in a digital world strained by unreliable and biased information, says the deputy CEO of L’Oréal.

Beauty buzz: TikTok expands Shopify partnership in Europe to help brands boost social reach

02-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

TikTok has expanded its partnership with Shopify across Europe, giving beauty brands direct access to run and manage social media ad campaigns via the e-commerce platform – a move that will create buzz amongst a highly engaged and diverse mass of beauty...

Just swipe: Chinese team develops easy-to-remove hemp-based foundation to minimise skin damage

02-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

A team of Chinese researchers from Sichuan University have developed a liquid foundation made from hemp cellulose nanocrystals to tackle skin barrier damage caused by excessive cleaning.

Listen to Beauty 4.0 - A Podcast by CosmeticsDesign-Europe

High-res imaging for diverse skin tones can propel NPD and build efficacy claims: Avon

25-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

High-resolution 2D facial imaging is a powerful tool when integrated into clinical trials or product development projects, particularly when working to cater to diverse skin types and tones, says Lisa DiNatale, senior manager for clinical efficacy and...

Special Edition: Halal cosmetics developments

Can nail polish be halal? Concerns over breathable and water-permeable claims of wudu-friendly nail polish

25-Feb-2021 By Amanda Lim

Concerns remain surrounding the breathability and water-permeability of wudu-friendly nail polish products, leading some to question exactly how halal nail polish can be.

Critical state: Kao must make ‘bold upfront investments’ in digital to secure growth of cosmetics division – CEO

23-Feb-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese personal care major Kao Corporation is prioritising investments in digital technology as part of its plans to radically reform its cosmetics unit which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Special Edition: Active skin care - protection and healing in a post-COVID world

Blemished skin care blooming: Lady Green to expand makeup and face care to plug demand

18-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Demands for natural, organic and effective beauty products developed for acne-prone and blemished skin are rising fast, particularly with the onset of COVID-19 and prolonged mask-wearing causing flare-ups, says the founder of French beauty brand Lady...

Global game-changer? EU Chemicals Strategy could create watershed moment if ‘properly implemented’

18-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The European Commission’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability has the potential to set an example to the world if concrete actions and legislative proposals build it out into something meaningful over the coming years, says the Center for International...

Net zero beauty: ‘You need to decide whether you want to be on the leading end of that wave or trailing it’, says Climate Neutral CEO

17-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Many beauty brands, suppliers and retailers have made pledges to reduce total carbon emissions in the long- and short-term and with the race to ‘net zero’ now truly on, it will be critical consumers are adequately engaged and informed, says the CEO of...

L’Oréal reports 5% net profit drop for 2020 despite strong Q4 and ‘record year’ in actives

12-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has reported an overall loss in net profit for the full year of 2020, despite a spike in sales for the fourth quarter, most notably in active cosmetics and across China.

Mental wellbeing, digital discovery and eco-ethical key global beauty trends in 2021: Mintel

10-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Total wellness is now integral to beauty routines and COVID-19 has driven many consumers to prioritise more ethical brands, add in rising expectations around digital experiences and product quality and 2021 has plenty of important movements to watch,...

Shiseido’s struggles: Japanese giant reports net sales declines in Q4 and 2020 against tough COVID-19 conditions

10-Feb-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics major Shiseido Company saw its financial performance continue to dip in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 18.6% decrease in net sales and an 86.9% loss in operating profits for the full year of 2020.

New retail standards: A.S Watson highlights the five trends that are shaping the future of its retail business

09-Feb-2021 By Amanda Lim

Health and beauty retailer A.S. Watson has identified a set of trends that it believes will influence the future of the retail industry and its business.

Beauty boost? Revlon eyes global brand extensions ‘for significant long-term revenue’ via MDR Brand Management

08-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major Revlon has partnered with MDR Brand Management to create a global brand extension strategy that takes it into new spaces and drives deeper consumer engagement across the EMEA, APAC and Americas.

COVID-19 Consumer Shifts Close-Up - Part II

Beauty can expect ‘two waves’ of sustainability interest post-COVID

08-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has accelerated consumer focus on sustainability and planetary change, with a first wave of dominant interest set to splash over the next 18 months and drive sentiments mainstream by 2022, says an expert consultant.

COVID-19 Consumer Shifts Close-Up - Part I

COVID-19 has triggered an ‘enduring focus on the home’, says expert

04-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Consumers worldwide are increasingly focused on the space they call home during the COVID-19 crisis, as professional and personal lines blur with work-from-home models. And this has created an important shift in how consumers integrate beauty into their...

French exemptions on China animal testing a ‘template for other countries to follow’, says P&G

03-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The move by France to provide a government platform enabling beauty manufacturers to qualify for exemptions when exporting general-use cosmetics to China should carve out a path for other countries to follow, says a Procter & Gamble executive.

Beauty Bites Gallery

The future of beauty design? Think 3D printing, lab-grown ingredients, and real-time devices

28-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty 4.0 will see smart, sustainable and ultra-personalised devices and formulations come to the fore, as industry shifts thinking and priorities towards improved user experience and planetary good, says Mike Webster, director of 3D structure and experience...

Beauty retail 2021: Digital convenience and holistic experiences to soar, says expert

27-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Convenience has surged to the forefront of shopping priorities in health and beauty as lockdown measures and social distancing continue during COVID-19, but opportunities remain to offer something beyond the traditional product assortment, says a senior...

FEBEA: Claire app provides ‘transparent, useful and simple’ detail on cosmetic ingredients

26-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The French Federation for Beauty Companies (FEBEA) says its recently developed digital app Claire will help industry professionals provide consumers with clear and concise ingredient information – ever more important given digital and social trends.

P&G ‘optimistic’ for post-COVID future as net sales continue to rise

25-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) has reported a net sales rise for its second quarter (Q2) of fiscal 2021, continuing its upwards trajectory globally despite challenges associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Special edition: Holistic Health & Wellness – Formulating for wellbeing and anti-ageing

The Organic Pharmacy eyes US and European expansion: ‘LA would be the dream’

22-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

London-based holistic wellness retailer The Organic Pharmacy recently opened a flagship concept store in Marylebone and has plans to edge deeper into the European market, according to its founder.

Prestige precision: L’Oréal Perso lipstick device debuts under YSL

21-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

L’Oréal has officially launched the beta version of its AI at-home personalised cosmetics device as a lipstick variant under its prestige Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) brand.

Unilever commits to €2bn annual spend with ‘diverse’ suppliers by 2025

21-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Unilever has set aside more money to conduct business with suppliers owned or managed by under-represented groups, including those led by women and people with disabilities.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY PART II: REFLECTING ON WHAT’S TO COME IN 2021

Cosmetics Europe: Microplastics and digital services part of ‘intense regulatory change’ in 2021

20-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The European Green Deal will be the biggest policy challenge for the cosmetics and personal care industry in 2021, but industry must also focus on upcoming change around microplastics and digital services, says the director-general of Cosmetics Europe.

‘Monumental’: British beauty secures sector representation in UK govt

20-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The British beauty industry has secured formal, sector-specific representation within the UK government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – a move industry leaders says finally gives the sector the spotlight it deserves.

French beauty firms can now qualify to export ‘ordinary’ cosmetics into China without animal testing

18-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

France has become the first EU country to qualify for exemptions on animal testing for general-use cosmetics exported to China after its National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) developed a dedicated platform enabling manufacturers...

The Hut Group needs own-brand and premium beauty edge to stay ‘ahead of rivals’: GlobalData

14-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

UK e-commerce major The Hut Group has aggressively expanded in recent months, propelling it way ahead of competitors in health and beauty, but it must now deepen its customer base to continue leading in such a crowded market, says GlobalData.

Listen to Beauty 4.0 – A podcast by CosmeticsDesign-Europe

Retail expert: COVID-19 has ‘turbo-charged’ the digital beauty experience

14-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The future of beauty retail will see a unified commerce approach connecting online and offline that relies on data to provide highly tailored shopper journeys, experiences and products, says Simon Hathaway, EMEA MD of retail strategy agency Outform.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY PART I: REFLECTING ON WHAT’S TO COME IN 2021

Cosmetics Europe chief: Industry will fight to be recognised as ‘essential’

13-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The cosmetics and personal care industry must continue its fight to get products recognised as essential to consumer lives in the coming year given ‘essentiality’ governs so many strategies set to be rolled out under the European Green Deal, says the...

Cruelty-free cosmetics: China’s animal alternative methods have room for improvement

11-Jan-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

China’s alternative methods for animal testing can be further improved and standardised, according to a leading expert in the country.

Prestige beauty in UK, France and Germany shows ‘signs of recovery’, says NPD Group

07-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Luxury cosmetic and fragrance markets in the UK, France and Germany have all shown signs of recovery thanks to growth in e-commerce, particularly in prestige perfumes and skin care, finds The NPD Group.

Cosmetic ingredient safety: SCCS closes comment period on endocrine disruptor and nano toxicity prelim opinions

07-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The comment period on four preliminary safety opinions from the European Commission’s Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) addressing endocrine disruption and nano toxicity concerns has now closed.

In conversation with the CTPA and British Beauty Council

UK beauty needs ‘timely and tailored’ government support to survive latest lockdowns

06-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Specific financial support from government will be critical if UK cosmetic and personal care businesses are to survive the latest nationwide lockdowns, say trade association heads.

Special Edition: Holistic Health & Wellness - Formulating for wellbeing and anti-ageing

Blue light protection ingredients and claim substantiation to soar: Review

06-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Cosmetic ingredient launches for blue light protection will continue to surge as industry learns more about the mechanism of damage occurring in the skin and testing methods to verify claims evolve, finds a review.

Cost hurdles remain for organic cosmetics in Middle East despite ‘high level’ of awareness: Study

05-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Female consumers in Saudi Arabia are highly aware of organic cosmetics and the environmental implications of these products, but price remains a factor impeding use among many, a study finds.

Puig eyes €3bn in sales for 2023 after carving out Derma division

04-Jan-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Spanish luxury beauty and perfume major Puig has carved its business into three divisions, creating a new Derma unit as part of plans to re-spark growth following a tough 2020 disrupted by COVID-19.

Beauty Bites Gallery

Dreaming up Lipstick 4.0: Think smart, refillable and statement 3D colour-printing devices

23-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The humble lipstick has hardly changed in decades, but one design agency believes there is great scope to transform it into a digital 3D colour-printing machine for sustainable, statement beauty.

Patents of 2020: Beauty majors target skin microbiome, personalisation and naturals

23-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

There was a raft of patent filings this year from industry’s biggest beauty companies, including Unilever, L’Oréal, Beiersdorf and Colgate-Palmolive. Here, CosmeticsDesign-Europe rounds up our coverage of this year’s patent-worthy innovations.

A year of renewal? Top 5 EMEA beauty trends to watch in 2021

22-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Curiosity for digital, a need for inclusivity and heightened demand for green beauty are just some of the key trends set to shape the European, Middle East & African beauty market next year – here are our Top 5 EMEA trends to watch.

Trend reflections: 9 ways COVID-19 changed beauty consumption in 2020

22-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has mightily impacted consumer behaviour, with many upcoming beauty trends fast-forwarded and new purchase and usage patterns appearing. Here, CosmeticsDesign-Europe brings you the nine ways beauty consumption...

Beauty can thrive post-Brexit given ‘huge appetite’ for digital, says e-commerce exec

21-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

UK and EU beauty brands and retailers will certainly face new challenges in a post-Brexit world, but there remain plenty of opportunities to flourish with the right strategy and focus, particularly online, says an executive at e-commerce specialist Global-e.

Non-compliance on fragrance allergens in EU ‘far from satisfactory’

18-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The level of non-compliance in Europe on required fragrance allergen labelling and declarations in beauty products is unsatisfactory and must change given the serious consumer health implications, says the Council of Europe’s European Directorate for...

12-MINUTE WATCH: TRENDS 2021 BY COSMETICSDESIGN EDITORS

15 global beauty trends to watch in 2021: From CosmeticsDesign’s Editors

16-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Multicultural beauty, sophisticated hygiene and green products for all will take the spotlight next year, as consumers turn to relatable and engaging concepts that fulfil their needs. CosmeticsDesign’s global editors take you through the top 15 global...

Listen to Beauty 4.0 – A Podcast by CosmeticsDesign-Europe

Reflecting on beauty in 2020: CTPA chief talks COVID-19, Brexit and The European Green Deal

16-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The beauty industry has faced a challenging year, shaped by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, regulatory changes under Brexit and incoming sustainability legislation at EU level. But industry has learned so much and remains innovative and driven in its approach...

L’Oréal invests in social-selling software to increase ecomm revenue above 25%

16-Dec-2020 By Deanna Utroske

This month, the multinational beauty maker’s venture capital fund announced a minority investment in Replika Software, a tool that lets brands create a ‘retail partnership’ with any individual active on social or streaming platforms.

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