Hair care

L’Oréal CEO talks of ‘great business resilience’ amid global sales decline for H1 2020

04-Aug-2020 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has reported a sales drop across its entire business for the first half (H1) of 2020, but its CEO says the company has shown resilience in a challenging time, particularly through e-commerce.

Big brand talks: In conversation with Unilever, REN, Beiersdorf, Bulldog and Beauty Kitchen

Loop power: Big beauty brands see ‘great opportunity’ in reusables

29-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Unilever, REN, Beiersdorf, Bulldog Skincare and Beauty Kitchen are all dedicated to continued innovation around durable beauty with TerraCycle’s spin-off Loop, but each brand says there remain challenges ahead.

Natural alternative: South Korean researchers discover plant extract that works as well as minoxidil

28-Jul-2020 By Amanda Lim

The Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources (NNIBR) and Jeju National University have conducted a joint study confirming that Viola verecunda extract is as effective at protecting against hair loss as conventional treatments such as minoxidil.

Cannabis beauty: Testing for ‘safety, quality and effectiveness’ crucial, says Frost & Sullivan

24-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Cannabis in beauty and personal care has mushroomed in recent years and created a growing need for raw material testing, but current solutions remain fraught with challenges, says Frost & Sullivan.

‘True strength of Unilever’: Hygiene helps fuel H1 10% net earnings rise

23-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Unilever has reported a slight dip in total net sales for the first half of 2020 but a 10% surge in net income, largely driven by a strong performance across its hygiene business.

30-minute watch – Episode 6

Clean & Ethical Beauty Video Series Episode 6: Brainstorming the future

21-Jul-2020 By Amanda Lim

In our final episode of the Clean & Ethical Beauty Video Series, we discuss how the events of today will impact how the clean and ethical beauty category might look in the future. Scroll down to watch episode 6.

EC poised to publish endocrine disruptor ‘Fitness Check’ findings

21-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The European Commission will soon publish its final synopsis report and evaluation of findings from public, stakeholder and SME consultations on current EU assessment and management of endocrine disruptors.

Hair relaxer: New study by Kao reveals that carbonic acid can enhance the effects of hair styling ingredients

21-Jul-2020 By Amanda Lim

A new study by Kao Corporation has suggested that carbonic acid can improve enhance p-Toluenesulfonic acid (pTS salt) penetration into hair and improve the effects of styling treatments.

Collagen a ‘hero ingredient of the moment’, says Mintel

20-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Using collagen in beauty products – specifically ingestibles – is highly relevant amid today’s burgeoning consumer trend towards holistic health and wellness, says Mintel.

Durable beauty: Unilever, Nivea and Bulldog among flurry of brands in Loop UK zero-waste pilot platform

16-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

TerraCycle spin-off Loop has launched its UK pilot e-commerce platform in partnership with Tesco, offering a selection of personal care and beauty brands in waste-free, reusable packaging.

Green paradox: Meeting consumer expectations remain ‘key challenge’ in sustainability efforts

16-Jul-2020 By Amanda Lim

Beauty retailer and pharmacy chain A.S. Watson is pushing forward with multiple sustainability initiatives but says meeting consumer consumers expectations in terms of product design and cost remains a challenge.

Hands-on experiences: DIY beauty trend gaining prominence as at-home wellness gains traction

15-Jul-2020 By Amanda Lim

Beauty brands have the opportunity to innovate and develop do-it-yourself products as consumers are increasingly looking such products for well-being entertainment during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

'Intense, personal and emotional': How beauty communities saved Indies during COVID-19

10-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Independent beauty brands are fiercely nimble and highly engaged with their consumers, which has given them power to face business difficulties during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, an indie expert says.

Retail experts: Why pop-ups and pick-ups may spell beauty's future

08-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty has weathered waves of uncertainty during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and pop-up stores or curbside pick-up locations could be the key to a much-needed business boost, say two retail experts.

Monroe Skincare on 2020 launch: ‘We thought, let's break the rules'

08-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Monroe Skincare is primed to re-launch this summer after an extensive facelift from two beauty moguls who have morphed the brand into a simple, shareable and genderless skin care range.

30-MINUTE WATCH – EPISODE 4

Clean & Ethical Beauty Video Series Episode 4: Getting the message right

07-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Communicating the concept and credentials of clean and ethical beauty in a market without any unanimous industry or consumer definition remains a big challenge, but there are plenty of clear opportunities when navigating this space. Scroll down to watch...

Bulk Homme forced into digital-first Europe expansion – it’s ‘quite a challenge’, says exec

03-Jul-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Japanese male skin care brand Bulk Homme faces a more challenging European entry after delays and changes owing to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, its chief global officer says.

Beauty Bites Gallery

Stability and hydration of jojoba oil even more relevant amid COVID-19, says supplier

30-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Jojoba oil has great potential in skin and hair care because of its significant stability and hydration properties, notably when blended with other oils – properties more relevant than ever with the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, says Israeli...

L’Oréal rolls out sustainability impact scores across Garnier hair care range

30-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has developed a digital labelling system that scores the environmental and social impact of a product from A to E and has kickstarted use on Garnier hair care products in France.

Puig-owned bee beauty brand Apivita launches in US market

30-Jun-2020 By Deanna Utroske

Thanks to a deal with Amerikas Beauty Distribution Services, over 50 products from the personal care brand—known for formulas featuring propolis, honey, beeswax, royal jelly, and bee-pollinated plant extracts—will soon be available here in the States.

The long-read: In-depth on L’Oréal’s ‘For the Future’ 2030 Sustainability Plan

‘Entering a new era’: L’Oréal outlines 2030 sustainability goals on plastics, carbon emissions and more

29-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

L’Oréal has outlined a range of sustainability measures in its ‘for the future’ program, including 2030 targets for all plastic packaging to be recycled or bio-based, all sites and centres to be carbon neutral and 95% of ingredients to be bio-based, derived...

Europe is 'all about texture': Mielle Organics expands into UK retail and partners with Lookfantastic

25-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Textured hair care specialist Mielle Organics has expanded into the UK and will build out European presence through a partnership with major online retailer Lookfantastic from September.

Coty files patent for personalised perfumes to plug ‘significant unmet need’

24-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major Coty has filed a patent on a method to personalise perfumes by blending scent additives into existing products or building customised blends using a broad-spectrum starter formulation.

Special Edition: Sustainable Sourcing and Waste Reduction

Cradle to Cradle exec: Collaboration and innovation ‘at the heart’ of a circular economy

23-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The beauty and personal care industry must innovate and collaborate to drive forward circular business models, especially in the pre-competitive space, says an executive at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

30-minute watch – Episode 2

Clean & Ethical Beauty Video Series Episode 2: Behind the Brands

23-Jun-2020 By Amanda Lim

In the second episode of our Clean & Ethical Beauty Video Series, we speak to two beauty trailblazers to find out what are the opportunities and challenges they have experienced in the beauty and personal care market. Scroll down to watch Episode...

‘This industry is not dying’: COVID-19 beauty innovation just needs to be sustainable

22-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty innovation during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic should continue, but it must be centred on sustainability because the health of people and planet is now front of mind, say brand owners.

Under the lens Part II: REACH microplastics restriction

REACH microplastics restriction: Worst-case and best-case scenarios ‘already clear’, says Cosmetics Europe chief

18-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The proposed EU restriction on microplastics is edging closer and there is now a very clear sense on how this will impact beauty and personal care, says the director-general of Cosmetics Europe.

Under the lens Part I: REACH microplastics restriction

Industry poised to continue fight against ‘extremely disproportionate’ EU microplastics restriction

18-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Cosmetics Europe and its member associations will continue their argument that the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) proposal to restrict microplastics on the EU market remains disproportionately weighted against beauty and personal care.

Clean, ethical and community: Top consumer concerns in a post-COVID beauty world

17-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated and morphed consumer trends globally, with most shoppers now seeking out beauty brands and products perceived as clean, ethical and community-focused, experts say.

30-MINUTE WATCH - EPISODE 1

Clean & Ethical Beauty Video Series Episode 1: Why it matters

16-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Clean and ethical beauty has evolved significantly in recent years, fuelled by various environmental, societal and business factors, but why does this burgeoning category matter more today? Scroll down to watch Episode 1.

'A business look': Clean & Ethical Beauty 2020 video series launches

15-Jun-2020 By Global Editorial Team

CosmeticsDesign is launching a Clean & Ethical Beauty online video series this week, compiling the latest trends, data and expert opinions on how and why the business opportunities are evolving in this growing space.

‘A new shopping experience’: Lush poised to reopen England stores

11-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Cosmetics major Lush will start reopening shuttered stores across England next week as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions ease, though business will look very different much like elsewhere in Europe.

SPECIAL EDITION: SUSTAINABLE SOURCING AND WASTE REDUCTION

Wild beauty: FairWild Foundation says certification protects threatened plant species

11-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Wild plants are used extensively in beauty and personal care formulations, but the conservation status of many species remains unknown so certification programmes offer real value in securing sustainable supply, says the FairWild Foundation.

COVID-proof? Unilever to merge Anglo-Dutch structure for ‘greater strategic flexibility’

11-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Consumer goods major Unilever will unify its split Anglo-Dutch legal structure into a single parent company in the UK – a move set to future-proof business, especially important during COVID-19, its CEO says.

Clean beauty 2020: Two-thirds of women worldwide want greater label transparency, finds survey

10-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Female shoppers worldwide want greater labelling transparency on clean beauty products, with many claiming brands do not provide sufficient ingredient information on-pack, a survey finds.

Post-pandemic beauty: Blockchain and biotech set to thrive as safety fears soar, says expert

10-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has accelerated and morphed consumer trends, catapulting safety and hygiene to the fore and increasing the relevance of blockchain and biotech in beauty, says a trends expert.

Non-animal testing: ECHA report shows ‘significant uptick’ of in vitro chemical tests

08-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Non-animal tests on chemical substances continue to be widely used in the EU, with read-across studies most popular and in vitro methods gaining traction, according to the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) latest report.

Tax relief: International cosmetics brands set for boost as China mulls over change

08-Jun-2020 By Amanda Lim

A proposal to end taxation on cosmetic products in China could provide a major boost to international cosmetic companies retailing in the country.

‘Born in a pandemic’: The how and why behind beauty innovation in the face of a global crisis

04-Jun-2020 By Staff Writer

The ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has halted life as we know it, with beauty hit especially hard and forced to reassess how it can remain relevant. But some brands have continued with product development and launches – prepared...

Special Edition: Sustainable sourcing and waste reduction

A sustainable surfactants future? Demand ‘bound to increase’ in coming years, says review

03-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Sustainable surfactants continue to rise in popularity and there has been plenty of innovation in recent years, but low costs and strong performance associated with conventional surfactants means an eco market transition will prove difficult, a review...

Albéa completes divestments to Silgan and refocuses on ‘legacy’ divisions

02-Jun-2020 By Kacey Culliney

French packaging major Albéa has completed the divestment of its dispensing systems, metal and Brazil businesses to US packaging firm Silgan, now refocusing on tubes, rigid cosmetic packaging and beauty solutions, its CEO says.

Scalp Care, Science, and Sustainability: Clariant Active Ingredients launches EquiScalp

02-Jun-2020 By Deanna Utroske

The personal care ingredient maker’s newest scalp care launch leverages plant stem cell technology and promises to decrease scalp desquamation (that is, peeling skin).

Beauty at home: Res Pharma eyes potential for new multifunctional emulsifier in several APAC markets

29-May-2020 By Amanda Lim

Italian cosmetics ingredient company Res Pharma Industriale has launched an ‘easy-to-manage’ emulsifier it believes has considerable potential for the Asian beauty market, after receiving initial interest from China and Thailand.

‘Cosmetics cannot live in a bubble’: Industry calls to cancel 2020 events mount

28-May-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The European Organization of Cosmetic Ingredients Industries and Services (UNITIS) has called on tradeshow organisers to cancel all 2020 cosmetics events, stating a need to remain sensitive to the reality and constraints currently facing industry.

Beauty during COVID-19: ‘The whole definition of retail is no longer clear’

28-May-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The beauty retail landscape has morphed dramatically during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, with brands forced online and cross-channel marketing more critical than ever in what will soon become the new normal, an online marketing expert says.

IN-DEPTH ON KANTAR’S 2020 BRAND FOOTPRINT

Top beauty and personal care brands 2020? Colgate, Lifebuoy, Sunsilk and Nivea ‘most chosen’

27-May-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Colgate, Lifebuoy and Sunsilk are the most chosen beauty and personal care brands in the world, but Nivea steals the top spot in Europe, according to Kantar Worldpanel’s 2020 Brand Footprint.

‘Not appropriate’: Industry open letter calls for 2020 cosmetic events to be cancelled

26-May-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients (EFfCI) has called on tradeshow and conference organisers to cancel any events this year, stating industry cannot work with so many in a short space of time and that its members do not feel confident it...

Highs and lows: Beauty giants report mixed economic impact amid COVID-19

25-May-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the face of beauty business as we know it, and a dig into the financials shows some majors and categories have weathered the storm better than others.

Superdrug sees at-home hair and self-care products surge during lockdown

19-May-2020 By Kacey Culliney

UK health and beauty retailer Superdrug has reported a significant uplift in DIY hair colour kits and self-care facial masks and body creams during coronavirus lockdown, signalling continued consumer interest in looking and feeling good, it says.

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