Colour cosmetics

Lush brings in immigration expert to advise concerned staff on Brexit

21-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Lush, an outspoken brand when it comes to the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU, has announced it will be offering immigration expert advice to support any of its staff concerned about the impact of Brexit.

Black Beauty and Fashion Awards 2017 launched at UK parliament

20-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

This week saw the launch of the Black Beauty and Fashion Awards. The launch took place in the UK parliament, with UK MP Chi Onwurah saying black beauty will be political until the day it is seen as normal.

Novacap acquires specialty chemicals player Chemoxy

20-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Novacap, a worldwide player in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Chemoxy International Ltd, a leading contract manufacturer for specialty chemicals and environmentally friendly solvents.

Unilever is keeping ahead of its markets

20-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

In its half-year results, Unilever has revealed that it is enjoying profitable growth, keeping it ahead of its market with its profits jumping by a fifth.

Univar expands European distribution with Hallstar partnership

19-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Univar BV, subsidiary of Univar Inc., is extending its exclusive agreement in Italy with Hallstar, and the arrangement will now include five additional countries: Spain, Portugal, Greece, France and Benelux.

Lush begins accepting bitcoins for payment

19-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Global beauty brand Lush has announced it will accept bitcoins for its bathbombs.

Direct-to-consumer beauty startup Glossier targets Europe

19-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Glossier is a US beauty startup that operates a direct-to-consumer distribution model: it is now making strides into the European market.

Estée Lauder ventures into chatbots

18-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Estée Lauder has launched a chatbox that will build its augmented reality beauty offering, allowing users to search, virtually try and then purchase lipsticks, all directly through Facebook Messenger.

‘Cruelty-free’ cosmetics market to grow by over 6% in coming years

18-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

A new report suggests that there is still a lot of life in consumer appetite for cruelty-free product claims, with the market set to grow by 6.1% in the period 2017-2023.

Walgreens launches UK brand Sleek MakeUP in the States

18-Jul-2017 By Deanna Utroske

The drugstore chain announced this week that it's bringing color cosmetics brand Sleek MakeUP to the US market, not only at Walgreens locations but also at Ulta Beauty.

Microbial diversity: 'key benchmark in the coming Third Wave cosmetic revolution'

14-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

The impact of the microbiome on skin care is fast becoming a key area of research and innovation for the beauty and personal care industry. We caught up with a brand at the forefront of development.

European consumers assert: ‘Yes, cosmetics matter’

13-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Sometimes considered non-essential, consumers have come out in support of cosmetics in a recent survey conducted by trade association Cosmetics Europe.

Benefit ‘first-to-market’ with digital brows via augmented reality

13-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Beauty brand benefit has stepped up its augmented reality offering in a new partnership with global cosmetics app developer Meitu.

L’Oréal enters new global partnership to leverage YouCam Makeup potential

11-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Ever apparently on the lookout for new ways to maximise on digital beauty, L’Oréal has announced a new partnership to integrate its makeup collections across worldwide brands into YouCam Makeup, an augmented reality app.

How the European cosmetics industry contributes to growth and sustainability

07-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Cosmetics Europe, the leading trade association for the region, has released an updated version of its report on the industry’s efforts towards sustainability.

Sustainable Beauty Awards open for entries

07-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Ecovia Intelligence has announced the launch of its annual Sustainable Beauty Awards, saying it is now accepting submissions.

L’Oréal digital push turns to voice search

07-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

The beauty multinational has also said that despite huge investments in digital in recent years, it struggles to record the return on investment.

One stabilizer, many emulsions

06-Jul-2017 By Deanna Utroske

Researchers have created a particle emulsifier that can stabilize both oil-in-water emulsions and water-in-oil emulsions. The work suggests the possibility of a truly universal particle-based emulsifier and that similarly effective particles can now be...

Science of preserving beauty: staying ahead of consumer and regulatory demands

06-Jul-2017 By Diaraf Yaradou

As consumers become more sensitive to the contents of their cosmetics, manufacturers may find they need to come up with new formulations, says PLG’s Diaraf Yaradou in this guest article.

L’Oréal ranked among top 5 ‘dynamic companies’

06-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

The global beauty giant has been picked out as among the top five most dynamic companies worldwide by Universum’s ‘World’s Most Attractive Employers’ ranking.

RSPO European edition gives rise to new partnerships on palm oil

06-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) held its European Roundtable event recently in London, at which it disclosed key data on the strengthening profile of the RSPO project, and saw the launch of new partnerships.

Nail polish adhesion rig to allow for ‘smudge free, fast drying’ products

05-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Stable Micro Systems, a texture analysis equipment manufacturer, has designed a Nail Polish Adhesion Rig, which it says will give cosmetics manufacturers an accurate measurement of nail polish drying time.

Coconut oil: P&G, Cargill and BASF join for sustainable certified, transparent supply chain

05-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

BASF, Cargill, Procter & Gamble (P&G) have entered a partnership by which they aim to help establish a sustainable certified and transparent supply chain of coconut oil in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Blue light and anti-pollution skin care: where the trend is heading

04-Jul-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

With everyone from ingredients manufacturers to finish product formulators keeping an eye on the blue light trend in skin care, we shine a spotlight on the trend.

Proving claims to maximise on beauty trends

30-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Ahead of a new Open Academy for the industry in Europe, we caught up with one of the speakers on the challenges facing formulators in the region when it comes to cosmetics testing.

How to turn formulations and products into meaningful brand identities

30-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Ahead of a new Open Academy for the industry in Europe, we caught up with one of the speakers on ‘The Formulation of Cosmetics - Creating a Product Brand’.

What is COSMOS certification? Organics and naturals in UK market

30-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Finished product brands and ingredients manufacturers alike across Europe now have the opportunity to get their products accredited with a region-wide certification.

Alternatives to animal testing widely used in Europe, but more work needed

29-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Formulators are using alternatives to animal testing for at least one endpoint in 89% of substances analysed in Europe, says the European Chemicals Agency.

L’Oréal doing it for the women: gender equality award win

29-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

In a sign that the major global employer is working towards a strong profile on internal gender equality, L’Oréal has received Equileap’s award for the issue.

How software can help you stay ahead with regulatory affairs

29-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Ahead of a new Open Academy for the industry in Europe, we caught up with one of the speakers on ‘Software Tools for Formulation and Regulatory Affairs’.

Cosmetics Europe Week proves knowledge sharing success

28-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Cosmetics Europe Week held a successful edition for 2017 in Brussels, discussing global trends and latest industry developments.

FreeFrom Skin Care Awards 2017: shortlist announced

28-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Organisers of the sixth annual FreeFrom Skincare Awards have announced the 200 products from over 100 brands that have made this year’s shortlist.

L’Oréal sale of The Body Shop signed with Natura Cosmeticos

27-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

L’Oréal has announced that the contract for the sale of The Body Shop to Natura has been signed.

What’s new for cosmetic products in Switzerland?

27-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Swiss regulations recently changed to be harmonized with European ones. In this guest article, COSMED analyzes the main changes to come.

Meitu launches augmented reality beauty to its app with Clinque, Bobbie Brown, YSL and more

27-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

MakeupPlus, an augmented reality cosmetics app, has just launched a new ‘Counter’ function, bringing in major name beauty brands.

Listen to Cosmetics Design on Beauty is Your Business

27-Jun-2017 By Deanna Utroske

Senior Correspondent Deanna Utroske is the guest on the latest edition of Beauty is Your Business, in which she chats with the podcast’s hosts about the indie beauty revolution, the latest ingredient trends, and much more. Take a break from the daily...

Alternatives to animal testing for next generation ingredients

23-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Ahead of a new Open Academy for the industry in Europe, we caught up with one of the speakers on alternative testing methods.

Avon Products says this is the last leadership change, for now

22-Jun-2017 By Deanna Utroske

This week the direct sales beauty company announced the appointment of a new chief operating officer. And in making the announcement, Avon Products assured investors, the industry, and the public that the company is now moving full speed ahead toward...

Carbios makes progress on biorecycling of PET plastic

22-Jun-2017 By Simon Pitman

French bioplastics player Carbios says it has made significant advances in the production of PET oligomers made out of terephthalic acid derived from its biorecycling process of PET plastic bottles.

Ingredient maker Evonik targets the active beauty market

21-Jun-2017 By Deanna Utroske

The specialty chemical company showed an expanded collection of market-ready prototypes, known as the Active Lifestyle Concept, at the NYSCC Suppliers Day event earlier this year in New York City. And with this offering, Evonik is looking to be a go-to...

Hourglass will become Unilever’s first color cosmetics brand

21-Jun-2017 By Deanna Utroske

The personal care company announced on Tuesday that a deal has been struck to acquire the makeup brand Hourglass. It’s the latest in a string of Unilever acquisitions to bring prestige personal care and beauty brands onboard.  

Britain’s beauty market set to hit £2 bn this year: makeup on the up

21-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

New research reveals that sales of colour cosmetics in the UK are set to reach £2 bn this year, up 7.2% from £1.8bn in 2016.

BASF steps up sustainable palm oil efforts

20-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

With 20 of its production sites worldwide now accredited in line with RSPO standards, BASF has announced ‘good progress’ has been made in its efforts to move away from palm oil that is not certified sustainable.

Organic spotlight: Azelis earns new COSMOS certification for UK specialities business

16-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

Azelis, a leading specialty chemicals player, has announced it is expanding its organic specialities business, looking at ‘new markets and growth opportunities’.

L’Occitane announces ‘record highs’ in annual results for FY2017

16-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

L’Occitane has released its FY2017 results, and sees its net profit up 16.2% to EUR 132.4 million, the highest since its listing, while gross margin reached a ‘historical high’ of 83.3% (up 0.5 points).

L’Oreal presents ‘connected beauty’ innovations

16-Jun-2017 By Lucy Whitehouse

L’Oréal has presented its flagship connected beauty innovations this week at the Viva Technology Paris show, with Lancome’s custom made foundation technology and an updated Makeup Genius (augmented reality app) version the key items.

Symrise scoops gold status for sustainability management

15-Jun-2017 By Simon Pitman

Symrise has made the sustainability of its supply chain a key part of its business strategy and that goal has paid off with a gold status award from EcoVadis for its sustainability management.

A new president for Avon Products

14-Jun-2017 By Deanna Utroske

At the start of 2017 the direct sales beauty company moved its global business offices from the US to the UK. And in the intervening months there have been several leadership changes at Avon Products. Now, John Higson is retiring and a new global president...

L’Oréal teams up with partner to bridge digital skills gap

14-Jun-2017 By Simon Pitman

L’Oréal has teamed up with educational provider General Assembly to create a digital training programme aimed at CMOs and hiring managers.

The strategy behind Natura’s offer to acquire The Body Shop

13-Jun-2017 By Deanna Utroske

The Brazilian personal care and cosmetics manufacturer has been keeping its investors up to date on the reasoning and planning behind the company’s proposal to buy The Body Shop from L’Oréal.  For Natura, the brand aligns well with its existing portfolio...