Skin care

Probiota Champions: In conversation with Prof Gregor Reid

01-Dec-2020 By Stephen Daniells

From leading the FAO/WHO working group on Probiotics to his pioneering work in Africa, Prof Gregor Reid’s impact on the probiotics, prebiotics, and microbiome fields is immense. We caught up with him to hear his stories, opinions, and thoughts on what’s...

What’s In My Jar co-founder: ‘Industry needs to rethink how we approach sensitive skin’

01-Dec-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Algorithm specialist What’s In My Jar has developed a digital tool that recommends minimalist and gentle skin care routines based on irritation risk and effectiveness of products – a move that might help industry rethink its approach to sensitive...

Less complex: Unilever completes unification of Anglo-Dutch structure

30-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Consumer goods major Unilever has completed the unification of its Anglo-Dutch legal structure in a move it says will future-proof business by enabling greater flexibility on strategic portfolio updates.

Special Edition: BABY AND TODDLER SKIN CARE

Food allergens ‘prevalent’ in infant skin care should carry warnings, say researchers

27-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Almonds, wheat and soy are among a raft of food allergens widely used in skin care formulations marketed for children that should carry warning labels, particularly in products destined for infants who are yet to develop an oral tolerance or have an impaired...

Beauty must ‘build those bridges’ with ECHA to spur acceptance of animal-free testing, says expert

26-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The cosmetics industry has heavily invested in advancing non-animal safety testing methods, now efforts must turn to driving regulatory acceptance of these next-generation alternatives, says the founder of animal-free testing lab XCellR8.

‘Full service’ beauty: Croda to expand into fragrances with €820m Iberchem acquisition

24-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Specialty chemicals major Croda International is set to acquire Spanish fragrance and flavour firm Iberchem in a multi-million-euro deal that creates a full-service offering for beauty and personal care manufacturers.

Above the mask: Covid-19 hits halal cosmetics and fragrances, but opens opportunities for new product lines

24-Nov-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The global halal cosmetic and fragrance markets have taken a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it has also created opportunities for new product lines such as hand creams, face cream, eye care, and sanitisers.

‘Start of a new era’: Anti-ageing, skin brightening and sustainability trends key for Nardev’s Asia expansion

23-Nov-2020 By Amanda Lim

Nardev aims to expand its presence in Asia Pacific by tapping on demand for anti-ageing, skin brightening and sustainable ingredients, backed by its recent acquisition by Barentz.

Self-tanning and luxury baths key UK self-care priorities during COVID-19, finds The Body Shop

19-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

UK consumers have spent more money on self-tanning products and more time taking baths during COVID-19 lockdown despite a multi-million cutback in overall beauty spend, finds The Body Shop.

‘A test of flexibility, innovation and resilience’: Polish beauty shows signs of COVID-19 recovery

19-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Poland’s beauty category like many other EU markets has been hard hit by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, but industry is showing signs of recovery, says the Polish Union of the Cosmetics Industry.

Consumers ‘demand better labelling’ of nanomaterials, finds EU study

18-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

EU consumers are more aware of risks and benefits associated with nanomaterials, but the majority still demand better labelling on everyday products – a concern that warrants further study, says the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON).

J&J talc supplier sells assets to Magris Resources to emerge from Chapter 11

18-Nov-2020 By Deanna Utroske

Imerys Talc America filed for bankruptcy the same month that US District Judge Freda Wolfson issued a ruling that allowed thousands of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson to proceed. Now, the France-based industrial mineral company is selling its North...

Herbal healing: Interest in well-being spurring growth of Santa Maria Novella in Singapore

18-Nov-2020 By Amanda Lim

A 17th century cosmetic brand founded by a religious order is tapping into the growing importance of wellness and inner well-being to expand its presence in Singapore.

Six months on: Beauty majors still face mixed economic impact amid COVID-19 crisis

17-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to challenge beauty business globally, and another look at the financials shows certain majors and categories continue to fare better than others.

Visual journey: Kao develops non-invasive technique to study blood vessels and capillaries in deep skin tissue

17-Nov-2020 By Amanda Lim

The research arm of Kao Corporation has developed a non-invasive method that can quantitatively analyse physiological changes in blood vessels and capillaries in deep skin tissue, which it said was crucial in studying skin health.

Digital rush: ‘The way we interact with beauty has completely changed’, says Feelunique exec

16-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty continues to chase the digital boom most recently propelled by COVID-19, and creating engaging, impartial and authentic retail spaces is vital to success, says the head of onsite experience at Feelunique.

‘No time to waste’: British Beauty Council to form Sustainable Beauty Coalition in 2021

16-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The British Beauty Council is finalising plans to form a Sustainable Beauty Coalition early next year that will be charged with accelerating collaborative change across the UK’s beauty sector.

Brexit beauty: The right Responsible Person can help business ‘survive and thrive’, says expert

13-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

European and UK beauty businesses must prioritise securing the right Responsible Persons (RPs) and conduct supply chain due diligence as the Brexit deadline fast approaches, says a regulatory expert.

British Beauty Council publishes Courage to Change sustainability report: ‘It’s come at a critical time’

12-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The British Beauty Council has published a report that aims to kickstart conversation and collective action on sustainable beauty at a time it defines as critical given the ongoing climate emergency.

Spot of bother: Pola Chemicals research studies why pigmentation most likely to form on cheeks

12-Nov-2020 By Amanda Lim

New research by Japanese firm Pola Chemicals Industries clarifies why pigmentation spots are most likely to appear on the cheek, compared to other areas on the face.

Indie Beauty Profile

Ester Larrosa, Hyalurgie

11-Nov-2020 By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile Ester Larrosa, Founder and Formulator at Hyalurgie, shares the background and beginning of a luxury-basics skin care brand, which she expects to resonate with consumers over 40.

Beauty majors sign joint statement claiming EU animal testing ban is 'being undermined' by ECHA

10-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Procter & Gamble, Unilever, L’Oréal and Avon are among signatories of an open statement claiming the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and its Board of Appeal is undermining the EU animal testing ban on cosmetics - a claim the agency refutes.

Just mix it: Pola Chemicals develops new emulsifier to tap into rising DIY beauty trend

10-Nov-2020 By Amanda Lim

Japanese firm Pola Chemicals Industries has developed M-Polymer, a new emulsifier that it claims will make it easier for consumers to enjoy do-it-yourself (DIY) cosmetic products.

UK indie brand MuLondon eyes growth to deepen ‘positive impact’ on society and environment

09-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

UK indie skin care brand MuLondon will continue its stand for environmental and societal change, expanding slowly to drive a bigger impact in the beauty category, its founder says.

TikTok: ‘About a year ago, we weren’t really taken seriously in the beauty space’

09-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Video-sharing platform TikTok is a promising space for beauty brands – big and small – to build up meaningful communities and consumer buzz in an increasingly saturated market, say the company's brand partnership managers.

‘Pivotal launch’: US male grooming brand Manscaped launches into EU

05-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

US male grooming brand Manscaped has expanded into the European Union, initially online via its own website and Amazon but over time it will look to secure a brick-and-mortar retail presence, it says.

Digital, hygiene and self-care defining 2020 beauty, says Euromonitor

05-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

COVID-19 has created a dramatic and far-reaching shift in consumer habits, accelerating e-commerce, highlighting hygiene and hands, and soaring self-care to the top of the beauty agenda, according to Euromonitor International.

E-commerce psychology: ‘Gamified promotions’ popular during COVID-19

04-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty shoppers are responding much better to playful online promotions amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis because they’re looking for fun, says the founder of an e-commerce promotion tool.

PODCAST: A global beauty view on COVID-19 – business resilience, learnings so far and future strategies

04-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The beauty and personal care world has faced significant upheaval on a global scale during the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but it has also emerged as resilient and innovative despite consumer and retail trends morphing at great speed....

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.

Europe sees strongest growth as Colgate-Palmolive Q3 net sales rise

03-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care giant Colgate-Palmolive has reported a net sales rise for the third quarter of 2020 and issued full-year guidance due to better visibility, despite continuing challenges related to COVID-19.

Skin immunity and vitality: New Shiseido study clarifies crucial role of Langerhans cells in skin

03-Nov-2020 By Amanda Lim

A new joint research by the Shiseido Company and the Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC) have found a way to prevent the decrease of Langerhans cells to maintain the skin’s immunity and vitality.

Beauty Bites Gallery

Top 5 most-read stories October 2020: L’Oréal carbon capture, live probiotics and Insta-gen sustainability

02-Nov-2020 By Kacey Culliney

A round-up of CosmeticsDesign-Europe’s most-read news from October 2020 shows interest in a raft of sustainable innovations and advances and buzz around use of live probiotics and the latest beauty device launch from L’Oréal.

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.

Special Edition: Personalised Beauty in a Digital Revolution

Latest: L’Oréal to launch AI Perso lipstick device first in Q1 2021

30-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal is primed to launch its AI at-home personalised cosmetics device Perso, starting with a beta version of its customised lipstick variant in the first quarter of 2021.

Derma brands stay ‘particularly resilient’ amid Beiersdorf Q3 sales dip

29-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

International skin care major Beiersdorf has reported a sales drop for the third quarter of 2020 though sales in dermocosmetics grew, proving the segment to be particularly COVID-19 resilient.

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.

L’Oréal signs licensing deal with bacterial biotech firm Micreos

29-Oct-2020 By Deanna Utroske

Under the agreement announced today, the Netherlands-based bacterial technology company will give L’Oréal access to a proprietary enzyme that targets and kills staphylococcus aureus—the endolysin is already an ingredient in Micreos’ own skin care brand...

Kaffe Bueno closes €1.1m seed round, plans 2021 active ingredient launches

27-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Biotech startup Kaffe Bueno has secured over one million in seed funding, enabling it to push ahead with a flurry of active cosmetic ingredient launches targeting inside-out beauty, anti-ageing and sun protection, its CEO says.

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.

Special Edition: Personalised beauty in a digital revolution

Digital clinical trials and ‘augmented data’ the future of personalised beauty: Review

26-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The beauty industry must stretch towards futuristic business models that merge smart labs, digital clinical trials and rich data collection if personalised cosmetics is to truly take off, say researchers.

Safety and service: Why tech-driven, no-touch retail-tainment is the future for beauty - Lancôme

26-Oct-2020 By Amanda Lim

Technology needs need to be the new normal for cosmetics brands when delivering retail-tainment – to simultaneously enhance the customer experience and ensure their safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic, insists a senior exec at Lancôme.

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.

Weleda to celebrate 100 years by spotlighting ‘planetary diversity’

22-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Natural beauty specialist Weleda will celebrate its centenary next year and will use the occasion to spotlight its biodynamic farming and planetary diversity principles – concepts it hopes can inspire wider industry, its UK MD says.

A deep dive into CosmeticDesign's Skin Microbiome Webinar

Live probiotics in cosmetics an ‘interesting' concept – but is it worth the effort?

21-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Processed probiotics are widely used in beauty products to target the skin microbiome, but few formulations contain live bacteria strains – a concept experts say is interesting from a marketing perspective but complicated to do.

‘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.

A brand to last 100 years: J-beauty newcomer Meeth outlines ambitious path to becoming global brand

19-Oct-2020 By Amanda Lim

Japanese skin care brand Meeth is poised to increase its presence in the international market on the back of consumer demand for high-performing, results-driven products.

Covid-19 lasts on skin for 9 hours, but ethanol sanitiser inactivates in 15 seconds – Japan scientists

19-Oct-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the COVID-19 outbreak was found to survive on human skin for as long as nine hours, although it can be inactivated by ethanol within 15 seconds.