Skin care

EC’s aloe extracts ban raises further questions as industry assesses implications

30-Mar-2021 By Will Chu

The European Commission (EC) is to ban botanical species containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives (HADs) that includes aloe extracts in a decision set to have implications for the nutrition and nutricosmetic industry.

Human touch: How Shiseido is using tech to make 2021 ‘the year of the empowered beauty consultant’

30-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

Shiseido is adamant that human contact is still essential to drive beauty sales but believes it can be enhanced greatly by tools such as Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality, according to its chief digital officer.

Epigenetic cosmetics: Beauticians are ‘the main reason we built this product’, says Craith Lab CEO

29-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Belgium-based startup Craith Lab has shunned the direct-to-consumer (D2C) model for its epigenetic skin care brand, opting instead to distribute products via trained beautician and salon networks – a necessity when working with such complex formulations,...

Silab to quadruple biotech production: ‘This is a capacity and innovation investment’, says exec

25-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

French ingredient major Silab is ramping up its biotechnology capacity to plug rising demands for actives derived from yeast, bacteria and microalgae in skin care and hair care.

Natrue study finds ‘naturalness’ top driver in EU beauty purchases

25-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Naturalness is the most important aspect of a beauty product for consumers in Germany and France, but there are mixed views on what the term means and how it translates into cosmetics, finds natural and organic certifier Natrue.

‘Second nature’: UK-based, Beijing-born twins taking on major brands in China’s male beauty category

25-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

UK-based male beauty brand Shakeup Cosmetics sees ‘huge potential’ for the brand in China where it is going toe-to-toe with heavyweight brands like Chanel and Tom Ford.

Circular Beauty: The future of sustainable sourcing, green chemistry and eco-design

24-Mar-2021 By CosmeticsDesign-Europe Senior Reporter

The global beauty industry is working hard to make circularity a mainstream reality, reinventing and reconsidering all aspects of complex supply chains. But what does the future truly hold as industry tries to close the loop?

‘Expand our horizons’: India’s Juicy Chemistry targets US, European and domestic expansion following funding boost

24-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

India-based organic beauty brand Juicy Chemistry has its sights set on the US, Europe and domestic expansion, while at the same time exploring a raft of organic NPD opportunities after securing $6.3m in Series A funding.

‘You don’t drive change by standing outside the main conversation’: Five Dot Botanics lands Lookfantastic deal

23-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

British indie brand Five Dot Botanics has secured listings with The Hut Group on two of its mass beauty sites Lookfantastic and Mankind – a move set to take the natural, minimalist skin care conversation mainstream, its founder says.

The no waste era? Every beauty brand can ‘reformulate, reposition and renew’

23-Mar-2021 By Natasha Spencer

As the beauty and personal care world explores how it can achieve circular beauty, consumers want to see zero waste and supply chain transparency made a reality in the burgeoning category they define as ‘clean’, say beauty experts.

L’Oréal kickstarts green sciences transition: ‘We are convinced of the essential need to change’

23-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has kickstarted a company-wide project to transition to green sciences across its entire global portfolio and plans to ramp up communication efforts to ensure consumers fully understand the move.

Special Edition: CANNABIS BEAUTY – INNOVATION AND SCIENCE IN CBD AND CANNABINOIDS

Cannabis beauty: CBD is ‘an exciting area for innovation’, says expert

22-Mar-2021 By Natasha Spencer

Interest in cannabis beauty continues to rise, fuelled by a tide of interesting cannabidiol (CBD) product launches and fast-evolving science, but there remain challenges ahead for brands operating in the space, an expert says.

BioGaia forms investment arm with the gut microbiome in mind

22-Mar-2021 By Will Chu

Swedish probiotics firm BioGaia is to form a new investment subsidiary that looks to identify and invest in smaller companies that includes one developing products to strengthen the skin microbiome.

Bon Voyage: how beauty brands can redefine the future of wellness travel

18-Mar-2021 By Deanna Utroske

Cosmetics Design recently checked in with travel, beauty, and wellness expert Edyta Satchell to find out how brands can best innovate to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers, and why now is the time to do so.

IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas Digital Summit is back for 2021

17-Mar-2021 By Stephen Daniells

After a record-breaking 2020 Digital Summit, the IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas is back for 2021 with a dynamic extended program, a more immersive platform with new features, and more on-demand content.

PODCAST: A global beauty view on COVID-19 – hottest acquisitions, flashy innovations and biggest challenges

15-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

CosmeticsDesign editors break down the beauty and personal care acquisitions, product innovations and challenges that have arisen under the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Special Edition: Advances in sun protection - skin science and ingredients innovation

Military precision: Danish startup launches ‘extreme condition’ sunscreen brand

12-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Danish startup Operators Skincare has developed a line of sun care products to withstand extreme conditions and highly active lifestyles experienced by military personnel and cater to needs in outdoor adventure sports.

Special Edition: Advances in sun protection - skin science and ingredients innovation

Sun, skin care and supplements: French nutricosmetics startup wants to ‘break barriers’ in sun care with co-branding push

12-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

There remains significant scope to advance beauty supplements that care for sensitive skin exposed to the sun and even greater potential for smart co-branding with sun care brands, says the founder of D+ For Care.

Special Edition: Advances in sun protection - skin science and ingredients innovation

A history of sunscreen: Egyptian blends, ultraviolet filters and 'rising' research on visible light protection

12-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The sunscreen category has slowly advanced over several decades, but the last ten years of research has highlighted a true need for formulas that provide photoprotection beyond ultraviolet rays, notably visible light, according to a review.

Listen to Beauty 4.0 - A podcast by CosmeticsDesign-Europe

Real personalised beauty: ‘Technology is the only way to be able to help customers at scale’

11-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Technology is required to provide beauty consumers true personalised offerings at scale, and brands and retailers need to be smart about tailoring the shopper experience because consumer demands are certainly there, says Nidhima Kohli, founder of Beauty...

Beauty for all: Getting inclusivity right is ‘difficult’ but ‘vital’ for big brands, says GlobalData

11-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty inclusivity has soared into the spotlight in recent years and whilst many brands have changed advertising, upgraded product formulations and shifted social messaging, it remains a complex area to navigate, says a consumer analyst at GlobalData.

Colgate-Palmolive on 2021 design-led innovation: ‘This is a huge change in our approach’, says tech chief

10-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care giant Colgate-Palmolive is shifting away from traditional line extensions, taking a design-led innovation approach that considers user experience and trends from start-to-finish, with teams focused on opportunities in active oral care, the...

‘Company with a mission’: Two years in D2C skin care startup Typology secures B Corp status

10-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

French direct-to-consumer (D2C) startup Typology has achieved B Corp certification just two years after launch – a move of great significance to its founder who wants to carve out a positive impact brand.

Beauty Bites Gallery

From nice-to-have to need-to-have: Experts say sustainability must be considered a ‘cost of doing business’

10-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

Companies need to rethink how they implement sustainability initiatives and should integrate them it into the ‘heart’ of their business models, a panel of experts at the Global Fragrance Summit organised by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA)...

‘A new era of beauty’: Unilever to remove word ‘normal’ from beauty packaging and ads

09-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Unilever is revamping its packaging and advertising to remove the descriptor ‘normal’ in a move aimed at fuelling inclusivity and positivity across its global portfolio to align better with consumer expectations.

Beauty Tech Deal: molecular-level skin assessment technology for smartphones

09-Mar-2021 By Deanna Utroske

On Monday, trinamiX (a BASF brand) and VIAVI announced partnering on a tech development project that will put near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy into consumer hands.

A ‘milestone’ moment: Garnier now Leaping Bunny certified globally

09-Mar-2021 By Kacey Culliney

L’Oréal’s Garnier brand has received Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny approval on its entire global portfolio after months of work with its vast supplier network – a move that proves exactly what is possible on a mass beauty scale, says the...

‘Greater scrutiny’: Why European policy changes will create challenges for APAC’s cosmetics firms

09-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

An increasing emphasis on environmental issues will have a profound effect on the Asia Pacific cosmetics industry, said regulations experts, with the impact of policy changes in Europe likely to filter down to the region.

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...

Layer of defence: Kao confirms fine fibre tech’s protective abilities against pollution and mask irritation

01-Mar-2021 By Amanda Lim

Kao has conducted new research into its fine fibre technology and confirmed its ability to protect the skin against pollution and mask irritation.

Face care for you: Beiersdorf launches AI-powered D2C personalised face care brand O.W.N

26-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Beiersdorf has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) powered personalised vegan face care range that blends formulas based on individual skin needs using a proprietary algorithm and scientific questionnaire.

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...

Beyond Clarisonic? L’Oréal files patent on voice-cue smart skin treatment device

24-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has developed a motorised skin treatment device that offers a range of cleansing and massaging options in response to vocal cues from users; it then provides smart audio feedback and guidance via an integrated speaker...

Trend Alert: beauty consumers are ready for immunity-boosting skin care

24-Feb-2021 By Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu

The COVID19 pandemic has had far-ranging consequences on our lives and wellness, with the most immediate impact being concerns over our overall health both physically and mentally. At the same time, wellness and skin care are converging; and as a result,...

Masstige move? Estée Lauder to acquire Deciem in two-part deal

23-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Prestige beauty major The Estée Lauder Companies will up its investment in mass functional beauty player Deciem, establishing terms for full ownership in three years – a move that will diversify it into the increasingly important masstige market, an expert...

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.

CBD startup raises €1.15m to kickstart goal of creating ‘The Hut Group of cannabis’

22-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

London-based startup South West Brands is primed to launch its first two cannabidiol (CBD) beauty brands after raising enough capital to kickstart business, a move its CEO says is the start of plans to develop a house of compelling brands that can democratise...

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

L’Oréal Active Cosmetics president: COVID-19 has turned skin health into a ‘core expectation’ for skin care

19-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has propelled skin health to the top of the beauty agenda, as consumers seek out brands that plug new needs around skin barrier protection, hydration and cleansing, says the president of L’Oréal Active Cosmetics.

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...

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

‘Waterfall moment’ in cell culture tech: Asia startup launches fish cell-based multifunctional protein for active beauty

17-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Cell culture biotech startup Avant has launched a multifunctional protein for the active beauty market made from cultivated fish cells – an ingredient it says will carve out an entirely new segment in anti-ageing and protective skin care.

‘Portfolio evolution’: Unilever to divest select beauty and personal care brands

17-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Unilever has begun the process of separating out some of its smaller beauty and personal care brands as part of a portfolio reshuffle that will also see potential acquisitions in prestige beauty, according to its CEO.

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...

Special Edition: Active Skin Care - protection and healing in a post-COVID world

Active beauty peptides: The ‘most relevant’ problems are bioavailability and stability, finds review

16-Feb-2021 By Kacey Culliney

Peptides are increasingly used as active beauty ingredients which has brought the bioavailability and stability of these amino acid chains under increased scrutiny, with many novel chemical and physical methods now being tested to improve these aspects,...

Skin beauty revival: Shiseido outlines plans for key brands as it seeks to recover from COVID-19 slump

16-Feb-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido Company has highlighted its plans for its key brands like SHISEIDO and ELIXIR as it focuses on building a powerful portfolio centred on skin beauty.

Bridging the gap: SK-II turns to personalisation to forge closer consumer connections via e-commerce

15-Feb-2021 By Amanda Lim

Procter & Gamble-owned skin care brand SK-II is reinforcing its e-commerce business with personalised beauty initiatives to deepen its bond with consumers in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CosmeticsDesign-Europe

Resources