Colour cosmetics

World’s second largest palm oil producer makes sustainability pledge

18-Nov-2015 By Simon Pitman

Golden Agri-Resources, the world’s second biggest producer of palm oil, has agreed to re-engage with The Forest Trust in an effort to improve its sustainability profile.

Biotechnology companies continue to invest in cosmetics and skin care

17-Nov-2015 By Deanna Utroske

This week VDF FutureCeuticals and RXi both announced new initiatives in the beauty space and are moving ahead to develop products formulated with novel ingredients.

Evonik obtains new Halal certificate for 112 cosmetic ingredients

13-Nov-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

German ingredients supplier Evonik announces that a number of its silicone-based products for personal care are, for the first time, complying with Halal requirements, as it looks to expand on the opportunity in this growing market.

Symrise achieves new all-time highs for growth as cosmetics ingredients boosts Scent & Care

12-Nov-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Ingredient supplier Symrise outperformed the overall market in the first nine months of 2015 and significantly boosted its earnings, thanks to strong demand in all of its segments and regions. 

Research firm says cosmetics can improve quality of life

12-Nov-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

For the first time, Data Mining International (DMI) claims that cosmetic products and interventions could not only improve someone’s physical appearance but also their quality of life, giving new weight to the look good, feel good mantra.

Dispatches from Bangkok

Multi-functional in 2015 is about 'new formulations based on existing materials', says expert

10-Nov-2015 By Michelle Yeomans

Multi-functional materials are revolutionizing the cosmetics industry - not just for consumers, but also at production level. Cosmetics Design discussed the evolving segment with the director of the Institute of Personal Care Science, Belinda Carli.

Appearance and texture the driving force behind nail polish preference

05-Nov-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Appearance and texture could be the major factors that drive a consumer's overall liking of nail polishes, according to a new study by Kansas State University, meaning that to achieve a higher overall acceptability, nail polish brands should focus...

Merck acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich boosted by sale of parts of business to Honeywell

27-Oct-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Honeywell will buy parts of Sigma-Aldrich’s solvents and inorganics business in Europe in a deal which will help the completion of Merck’s acquisition of the latter.

Sephora in Brazil partners with logistics company CEVA

27-Oct-2015 By Deanna Utroske

The cosmetics retailer has been operating in Brazil since 2012 and just selected a new supply chain partner to centralize and accelerate its business.

BASF’s 'new palm positioning' on RSPO certification in Asia

27-Oct-2015 By Michelle Yeomans

BASF is expanding its commitment to only source RSPO-certified sustainable raw materials with upstream traceability for palm oil and palm kernel oil fractions and edible oil esters by 2025.

CTPA refutes any suggestion that cosmetics cause breast cancer

22-Oct-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) has moved quickly to play down claims that cosmetics products could contain chemicals linked to an increased cancer risk.

ISO maintains tabled guidelines aim for consistent framework and to encourage innovation

22-Oct-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

With no harmonised technical data on natural and organic cosmetics in place, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) tabled draft guidelines (16128) which it maintains will create a consistent framework and encourage a wider choice of...

Will neuro-cosmetics be the next big trend?

15-Oct-2015 By Simon Pitman

Tapping into the big trend for wellbeing and sensory enhancement, a number of cosmetic ingredients targeting neurological stimulation could be the start of something new.

Danish EPA finds most preservatives used in cosmetics are safe

13-Oct-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed its latest assessment of preservatives in cosmetics products and found that most are safe for use in their current permitted concentrations.

BASF expands production capacity for emollients and waxes in China

13-Oct-2015 By Michelle Yeomans

In an effort to strengthen its presence in China, BASF has invested in an additional production facility to ramp up its production of wax esters, emulsifiers and primary surfactants in Jinshan.

Givaudan inaugurates cosmetics actives range for Soliance

06-Oct-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Givaudan has inaugurated its new active cosmetic ingredients industrial line for Soliance products in Pomacle, France, as it looks to enhance and expand its position in the ingredients market once more.

Researcher assesses alternative methods to sensory profiling for cosmetics

30-Sep-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The sensory qualities of a cosmetic product are essential nowadays and consequently sensory analysis methods are being used more to support projects more efficiently, according to a new paper.

BASF expects strategy to grow despite challenging environment

30-Sep-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Chemicals company BASF says that it expects its 'We create chemistry' strategy to grow and make the company more profitable, despite a challenging environment, according to its chairman of the Board of Executive Directors.

Symrise opens multi-million euro expanded cosmetic ingredients production plant

29-Sep-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Symrise has opened its new multi-million euro expanded cosmetic ingredients production site in Holzminden, Germany, as it looks to strengthen its market position, both in its home market and globally.

Make-up trends driving UK colour cosmetics sales for the ‘selfie generation’

29-Sep-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The rise in beauty trends that are aided by online sharing and the popularity of selfies are driving growth in the prestige make-up market in the UK.

AkzoNobel furthers South East Asia investment in Vietnam

29-Sep-2015 By Michelle Yeomans

AkzoNobel is investing in its performance coatings business in Vietnam, aiming to increase its workforce by 20 per cent to cater to customers in Southeast Asia, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Lonza forms partnership in South America with ingredients player Lamberti

24-Sep-2015 By Simon Pitman

The Lonza Consumer Care Business has signed a long-term commercial collaboration with Lamberti as a means of extending its reach in the personal and home care ingredients market in South America.

L'Oréal's ‘Makeup Genius’ app sees success in China with 4.7 million downloads

23-Sep-2015 By Michelle Yeomans

According to L'Oréal, its 'Makeup Genius' app which allows shoppers to test the brand's products using their mobile phones or tablets as a virtual mirror, has racked up 4.7 million of a total 14 million global downloads, from China...

Gattefossé's investment in a new Mumbai facility represents Asia success

15-Sep-2015 By Michelle Yeomans

The center, officially inaugurated on September 11th, features a 'state-of-the-art' personal care laboratory which the France-based active ingredients supplier says reinforces the activity of its affiliate, Gattefossé India.

Out-of-date make-up linked to meningitis and septicaemia

08-Sep-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

A new study which finds that out-of-date make-up could carry serious health risks, serves as a stark warning to consumers to keep cosmetics bags and tools clean and to store products correctly.

Global color cosmetics set for industry-leading growth

03-Sep-2015 By Simon Pitman

The global market for color cosmetics looks like a safe bet to invest in as latest market research predicts the category will deliver market-leading growth over the next five years - with the US, UK and India the ones to watch out for.

Does Crayola beauty fad offer pencil company an opportunity in the make-up market?

03-Sep-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Earlier this year one of the latest online trends saw a number of teenage girls using Crayola pencils as a low-cost substitute for eyeliner, and while this practice has been condemned by the brand and almost everyone else, it may signal to the pencil...

Givaudan acquires Induchem as Cosmetics Actives strategy continues

01-Sep-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Swiss ingredients player Givaudan has continued its efforts to build its science-based active cosmetics ingredients business with the acquisition of Induchem.

Study points to plastic particles found in cosmetics as damaging

01-Sep-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Face scrubs, cosmetics and cleaning products that contain microbeads could be harming the environment and in particular marine life, according to a new study by Plymouth University.

New eye and skin irritation test guidelines for make-up and personal care products

26-Aug-2015 By Deanna Utroske

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has published two novel eye irritation testing protocols and updated several skin testing guidelines.

Axilone redesigns lipstick packaging with simplicity in mind

25-Aug-2015 By Simon Pitman

According to the US-based packaging provider Axilone, its packaging engineers have come up with a lipstick concept that is simple, economical and can be opened and applied with one hand.

Bill proposed to phase out animal testing of cosmetics in Russia

25-Aug-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Russian MPs have prepared a new cross-party bill, the first of its kind in the country, which aims to phase out all animal testing for cosmetics and their ingredients by 2020.

New database helps formulators quantify long-term ingredient exposure

24-Aug-2015 By Deanna Utroske

Just how much personal care and cosmetics product are loyal consumers in contact with? That’s what a team of researchers from the US and Europe – including two pros from P&G – set out to discover.   

Make-up trends help boost UK blusher and bronzer sales

20-Aug-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Sales of bronzer and blusher in the UK were boosted so much in 2014 by the various make-up trends circulating, particularly on social media that they have become the strongest selling beauty products in the face colour cosmetics market.

May the force be with… Max Factor and CoverGirl

18-Aug-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Max Factor and CoverGirl are collaborating with Walt Disney subsidiary Lucasfilm for the launch of an expansive promotional campaign in support of the latest Star Wars film The Force Awakens which is released later this year.

What the new Brazilian biodiversity regulation means to cosmetics companies

17-Aug-2015 By Simon Pitman

With a new Brazilian regulation aiming to generate more research and cultivation of indigenous plant species, cosmetics companies look set to benefit but will also be expected to foot the bill.

Celebrity status not enough for today’s make-up consumer

14-Aug-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

There used to be a time when celebrity endorsement was enough to sell a product but those days may be gone now as consumers would rather see an ambassador as a person who represents their age in make-up ads.

EC bans eyebrow enhancer in Bulgaria labelling benzalkonium chloride levels as ‘serious risk’

11-Aug-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The European Commission has banned an eyebrow enhancer from being sold in Bulgaria after finding that it does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation as it contains high levels of the cationic surfactant benzalkonium chloride.

Safety First! How consumers read beauty and personal care labels

11-Aug-2015 By Deanna Utroske

A newly released Harris Poll shows that well over half of women shopping for beauty and personal care products read the label before making a selection and that many are looking for formulations that exclude particular ingredients.

New Google Glass to colour match using technology from skin tone app

06-Aug-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Google has turned to Techkon to provide the know-how to allow the new version of its Glass products to capture and match specific colours, based on the technology used in the German firm’s ‘Catch Your Skin Tone’ app which matches consumers with cosmetics...

Is anti-sweat make-up the next beauty niche?

05-Aug-2015 By Simon Pitman

In recent months both Bobbi Brown and a new player, Sweat Cosmetics, have launched make-up ranges with anti-sweat claims.

Fraunhofer refines method to analyse nanoparticles in cosmetics

05-Aug-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

German research institute Fraunhofer has developed a process to calculate the nanoparticles in sunscreens and cosmetics by advancing and refining an existing method.

Sun Chemicals acquires UK decorative color cosmetics provider

04-Aug-2015 By Simon Pitman

New Jersey-based Sun Chemical and parent company, DIC, have acquired Kingfisher Colours Limited, a privately-owned decorative cosmetics color manufacturer with a global footprint and based in Reading, United Kingdom.

Nordic natural market boosted by consumer spending based on environmental concerns

04-Aug-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Nordic consumers take ethical and environmental concerns very seriously when it comes to cosmetics and personal care products and this is helping to drive the market forward.

New Pen/ App combo product aims to make nail-biting a thing of the past

30-Jul-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Belgium-based company Raylex, has come up with a new product that helps consumers stop biting their fingernails by applying a bitter taste of grapefruit peel in the hope that it will put people off.

EU Commission amends Annex III restricting hair dye and eyelash ingredients

30-Jul-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The EU Commission has announced it will amend Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products, in a move that sees a number of hair dye ingredients and one eyelash ingredient added to the list...

Evonik opens new US facility

27-Jul-2015 By Deanna Utroske

The specialty chemicals company cut the ribbon on its Richmond Business and Innovation Center last week, setting the stage for further growth in North America and a new innovations strategy across the Evonik business.

Research finds bee propolis is a beneficial additive in lipsticks

22-Jul-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Researchers in Poland have, for the first time, explored the influence of beeswax on the rheological properties of lipstick and found that those with added propolis are more brittle and prone to crushing.

Euromonitor: What the Iran Nuclear deal could mean for the cosmetics industry

17-Jul-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Iran and world powers reached a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for economic sanctions to be lifted; and while it could open up a new market for Western beauty manufacturers, it will be difficult to displace the local players...

Coty to merge P&G brands in $12.5bn deal

10-Jul-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Confirmation has come through that Coty will acquire 43 fragrance, colour cosmetics, and hair care brands from Procter & Gamble in a deal valued at $12.5 billion (€11.2bn).