Hair care

Shiseido sustainability actions: Firm unveils two new beauty initiatives with the launch of SBAS

04-Nov-2020 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics conglomerate Shiseido Company has announced a refill service for its flagship serum and a new planet-friendly lip palette with the launch of its new Sustainable Beauty Actions (SBAS) initiative.

Beauty Bites Gallery

Beauty business: Are you prepared for Brexit?

30-Oct-2020 By Tjaša Grum, CE.way Regulatory Consultants

It is high time the beauty industry prepares for Brexit and companies complete all the necessary steps to stay compliant in the EU and in the UK after the end of the transition period.

Male consumers more interested in sustainability during COVID-19 pandemic, finds global survey

29-Oct-2020 By Deanna Utroske

P&G’s razor and personal care brand Gillette announced a 2030 sustainability plan this week and simultaneously shared data from a survey of 5,000+ men across 11 countries conducted in partnership with Lucid.

Can biotechnology make PFAS and other so-called forever chemicals degradable?

27-Oct-2020 By Deanna Utroske

Degradability is increasingly important in the cosmetics and personal care industry. And whether per- and poly-fluorinated compounds are in beauty formulations as an ingredient or a trace contaminant, they persist in the environment and are (as a result)...

‘Strategic choices taken’: L’Oréal reports global Q3 sales rise amid Western Europe declines

26-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has reported a global sales rise for the third quarter of 2020 despite operating in a market still reeling from COVID-19, though Western Europe sales declined.

Unilever reports Q3 net sales dip as outlook remains ‘unpredictable’

22-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Unilever has reported a net earnings dip for the third quarter of 2020 despite signs of volume-led growth across the business, particularly in skin cleansing.

‘Strong momentum’: P&G raises 2021 fiscal outlook as Q1 net sales bloom

21-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Procter & Gamble (P&G) has reported a net sales rise for its first quarter of fiscal 2021 and raised its full-year outlook as the company continues to fare well despite COVID-19 headwinds.

At-home versions of pro beauty products increase as pandemic wears on

21-Oct-2020 By Deanna Utroske

This month, the Colgate-Palmolive brand PCA SKIN launched a Micro Peel At-Home Kit—it's just the latest DIY / pro skin treatment hybrid product to hit the market and help consumers keep up with their pre-pandemic routines.

Nutrafol targets hair growth in menopausal women

20-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Wellness company Nutrafol recently revealed results from its new clinical trial on its hair growth supplement designed for menopausal women.

D2C indie brand Chāmpo: ‘It feels like quite an exciting time for the hair care market’

20-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The founder of direct-to-consumer (D2C) hair care startup Chāmpo says it’s an exciting time to innovate in a category that has traditionally lacked creativity, as consumers seek out high performance, modern and visually aesthetic brands.

Social media woes? Cosmetic brands ‘cannot govern' spread of information, claims study

15-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

A study analysing Sephora and Ulta Beauty’s Twitter activity and networks has suggested cosmetic brands only have limited control over communications within their networks, opening up important points of discussion for industry, the researchers say.

L’Oréal 2021 exec shuffle: CEO succession and high-level research push

15-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has announced a series of changes at its helm for next year, including the succession of its current CEO and creation of a new business division merging research, innovation and technologies.

EC adopts Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability – ‘most harmful’ substances to be phased out

15-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The European Commission (EC) has adopted a Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability to further strengthen protection of human and environmental health, including a phase out of the most harmful substances and simplification of the risk assessment process.

Fixing confidence: Clinical study shows Sabinsa’s hair serum formulation can reduce hair loss

14-Oct-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Sabinsa’s patented hair serum formulation has been found to increase hair growth and reduce hair loss in healthy participants after three months of use.

COSMED and FEBEA: COVID-19 crisis hits French beauty hard, particularly ‘vulnerable’ SMEs

13-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has hit French cosmetics firms hard, with very few experiencing growth opportunities and many looking for additional support moving forward, according to market analysis conducted by The French Cosmetics Association for SMEs...

‘A key milestone’: Roquette Beauté opens dedicated expertise centre

07-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Plant-based ingredients major Roquette has opened a high-tech cosmetics expertise centre in Paris that it says will stimulate co-creation and innovation targeting key global beauty trends.

'One and the same': Beauty NPD must integrate EU cosmetic claims early on, says consultant

28-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Claims development must happen simultaneously with new product development to ensure beauty products stand up to scrutiny under EU law, says an expert cosmetic claims consultant.

Waste No More: why upcycled ingredients are the compost heap in green beauty’s backyard

25-Sep-2020 By Deanna Utroske

As sustainability goals in the cosmetics, personal care, and fragrance industry advance to become circularity initiatives, new and novel raw materials that would have otherwise been waste are showing up in the beauty ingredient marketplace.

A deep dive into CosmeticsDesign's Skin Microbiome Webinar

The future of the skin microbiome? ‘It’s mind blowing’ – think oral care, intimate care and makeup

24-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

There will be a proliferation of newly carved out product categories targeting the skin microbiome in coming months, as consumer interest spikes and development capabilities advance, say experts.

Cosmetics claims expert: Social media a ‘virulent source’ of misinformation

23-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The social media boom has created an architecture of misinformation that, if left unchallenged, will have damaging long-term effects on the beauty industry, warns a cosmetic claims consultant.

Prune power? Zero-waste plum kernel oil ‘carving out a niche of its own’, says supplier

22-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Plums and prunes discarded by the agri-food sector can be used to develop zero-waste emollient oils for skin care and hair care, tapping into widespread demand for sustainable, plant-based innovation, says UK supplier Kerfoot Group.

‘Skin care is surging’: A.S Watson reveals Middle East growth strategy after inking Dubai partnership

22-Sep-2020 By Amanda Lim

Hong Kong-headquartered beauty retailer A.S. Watson is eyeing what it sees as a gap in the market for skin care and masstige segments for success in its first venture into the Middle East.

Microplastics restriction: ECHA has a ‘very restricted and narrow view’ of our industry, says Cosmetics Europe chief

18-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has displayed a very narrow view of the cosmetics and personal care industry in its proposal to restrict microplastics, underestimating the true value and complexity of the sector, says the director-general...

The physical-digital blur is ‘an absolute given’ for beauty in 2020, says retail expert

17-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty brands and retailers must blur physical retail with digital experiences to engage consumers in a post-pandemic world, and plenty can be learned from China, according to a retail design expert.

Natura & Co and L’Oréal ranked most ‘inclusive and diverse’ beauty majors in the world: Refinitiv report

17-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Natura & Co and L’Oréal are two of the top 10 most inclusive and diverse publicly traded companies worldwide in 2020, according to financial market insights firm Refinitiv.

‘Accelerating action’: Johnson & Johnson outlines 2030 goals on plastic packaging, ingredients transparency and preventive health

16-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Johnson & Johnson has outlined a range of measures in its ‘healthy lives mission’ program that aim to boost sustainability and improve the health of consumers over the next ten years.

Greta Thunberg learnings: Beauty can target conscious consumerism with ‘cathedral thinking’ led innovation

16-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The beauty industry can draw inspiration from climate change activist Greta Thunberg to develop purpose-led and sustainable brand strategies that will thrive in a post-pandemic world, says a retail design expert.

‘Made-to-order’: L’Oréal files patent on smart robotic system for personalised hair dye kits

15-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has designed a means to manufacture custom-made hair dye kits, integrating e-commerce orders from consumers directly into a smart robotic filling system.

‘Beauty-savvy’ move: APAC retailer Watsons to open 100 stores in Middle East by 2025

09-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Asia-Pacific beauty retail major A.S. Watson Group is primed to expand into Gulf Cooperation Council countries under an exclusive franchise agreement with regional conglomerate Al-Futtaim.

Serious about the skin microbiome: Science, regulation and opportunities in 2020

09-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The skin microbiome continues to ignite interest as science fast advances and product innovations hit shelves, but where exactly are the biggest opportunities for industry and what will be the key challenges moving forward?

Cargill Beauty MD: E-commerce, plastic, transparency and veganism just a ‘few challenges’ in 2020

04-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has fuelled seismic change worldwide, but consumers are also increasingly online, dismissing plastic, demanding transparency and choosing vegan – all significant challenges for today’s beauty industry, says the managing director...

Special Edition: Naturals Ingredients & Claims

CBD ‘weed washing’ a big problem in beauty, says startup Moia Elixirs

03-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained huge interest recently across the beauty world, but there continues to be serious issues with mislabelling and dishonest brand positioning, says the founder of Moia Elixirs.

Special Edition: Natural Ingredients & Claims

Green beauty: Industry must stretch beyond ‘natural’ given environmental crisis, says expert

03-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Interest in natural cosmetics continues to hold strong but industry must go beyond ‘natural’ claims to remain relevant in today’s global environmental crisis, considering more holistic criteria like end of life and biodegradability, says an expert consultant.

Special Edition: Natural Ingredients & Claims

Euromonitor: Natural beauty claims ‘might not be quite enough’ in 2020

02-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

‘Natural’ will continue to be a popular product claim across beauty and personal care this year, but as consumer education deepens and concerns broaden, industry will have to be smarter about what attributes it spotlights, says a beauty expert.

Special Edition: Natural ingredients & claims

Sweet find? Henkel files patent for saccharose natural hair styling formula

01-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

German personal care major has developed a hair styling blend with saccharose and starch that enables the complete replacement of synthetic polymers without impacting product efficacy.

DSM launches bio-sourced 1.3 propanediol with ‘microbiome-friendly’ certification

01-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Royal DSM is commercialising a bio-sourced 1.3 propanediol (PDO) that it developed with French biochemical specialist Metex and has obtained a microbiome-friendly certification for the ingredient.

FEBEA contests ‘harmful cosmetics’ list published by French National Consumer Institute mag

01-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The French Federation for Beauty Companies (FEBEA) has denounced the methodology used by consumer magazine 60 million de consommateurs to compile its list of ‘harmful cosmetics’.

Decoding behaviour: How beauty companies are deploying AI marketing tools to gain consumer insight

01-Sep-2020 By Amanda Lim

Beauty companies such as Estée Lauder, John Masters Organics and Neogence are increasingly using AI-powered marketing tools to identify patterns within consumer behaviour and then tailor their engagement with them.

UK beauty to decline 10% in 2020: ‘Cosmetics has taken a backseat’

26-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The UK cosmetics and toiletries sector will see a €1.8bn (£1.7bn) value decline in 2020, after a tough year largely defined by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. But growth will return in 2021 with the right investments, says GlobalData.

Energetic and fun shades: Hair colour to take on ‘new importance’ in 2022

26-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Over the next two years, consumers will use hair colour to express individuality as mask-wearing becomes the new normal in a post-COVID world, propelling a raft of opportunities in DIY hair treatment and dye kits, says WGSN.

UK proposes law to cut deforestation from big companies’ supply chains

25-Aug-2020 By Flora Southey

The UK is considering new legislation that would see larger businesses fined for using forest-risk commodities – such as palm oil, soy, and beef – that have not been produced according to relevant local laws.

Shorter showers: Unilever files patent on fast-acting anti-dandruff shampoo

24-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Unilever has developed a rinse-off shampoo formulation targeting dandruff that acts quicker, enabling reduced shower or bath time to appeal to sustainable living.

‘A Christmas unlike any we’ve seen before’ – 2020 to see significant online rush

21-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty brands and retailers must build a strong online presence and smart digital engagement strategies to capture the rush of consumers favouring e-commerce this Christmas, says user-generated content and e-commerce specialist Bazaarvoice.

Special Edition: Natural Ingredients & Claims

Novel herbs offer ‘elevated’ natural promise in cosmetics: Review

20-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Novel herbal ingredients can be incorporated into a range of natural skin and hair applications for both cosmetic and therapeutic benefits and will rise in importance in coming years, say researchers.

'Sheer size and scale': Alibaba and Amazon to dominate health and beauty e-commerce boom

20-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Digital retail moguls Alibaba and Amazon will grasp the lion’s share of a burgeoning online health and beauty category over the next five years, and brands must seriously consider shifting onto these platforms, says a retail expert.

‘Great news’ for industry: Christmas beauty spend to stick in 2020, finds survey

18-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

After a difficult start to the year with COVID-19, the beauty and personal care category is set to see sales soar as usual during the Christmas holiday season with consumers maintaining spend and shopping online, according to marketing firm Rakuten Advertising.

Titanium dioxide safe? SCCS seeks comment for use in cosmetics

18-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The European Commission’s Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) has published its preliminary opinion on the safety of titanium dioxide (TiO2) in cosmetics and is now seeking comment.

In depth on sustainable beauty – The long read

The sustainable beauty rush: L’Oréal’s 10-year plan a real ‘step up’ - expert

12-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

L’Oréal is one big beauty brand setting out on a race to the top in sustainability, but the path ahead won’t be easy – particularly when targeting consumer-use impact, says an expert consultant.

Crowd support: Social commerce crucial for brands to overcome recessionary behaviours in pandemic economy

12-Aug-2020 By Amanda Lim

The adoption of social commerce is becoming more crucial for beauty brands as consumers are expected become more selective about their purchases amidst the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

CosmeticsDesign-Europe

Resources