Skin care

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.

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...

H Beauty to ‘cement’ Harrods as leading beauty and wellness retailer: Euromonitor

13-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Luxury British retailer Harrods has opened its first 'H Beauty' specialist store in the UK – a move set to solidify its position and long-term vision on upgrading how consumers shop for cosmetics, says an expert.

Skin-telligent solutions: Perfect Corp develops new skin analysis tool as COVID-19 accelerates digital skin care services

13-Oct-2020 By Amanda Lim

Taiwan-based beauty tech firm Perfect Corp is eyeing opportunities in digital skin care services as novel coronavirus (COVID-19) measures like social distancing are creating demand for contactless solutions.

‘For the Instagram generation’: Plant-based refillable deo startup Fussy preps 2021 launch

12-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

UK startup Fussy has developed a line of refillable plant-based deodorants packed in modern, durable containers that aim to create fresh appeal in bathroom sustainability, its founders say.

‘Leg care has enormous scope’: Legology secures Harrods H Beauty listing, eyes further expansion

08-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Leg care specialist Legology is expanding into Harrods’ latest luxury retail concept H Beauty – a move set to stretch the brand’s UK presence even further and contribute to wider global expansion goals.

Coty takes KylieSkin ecommerce overseas

08-Oct-2020 By Deanna Utroske

D2C beauty is everything in 2020. So cosmetics, personal care, and fragrance brands of every size are investing and expanding to get in front of consumers online. And that’s just what Coty is doing with KylieSkin in 4 new markets.

‘Hands in the spotlight’: Aromas and actives key to remaining competitive in COVID-19 hand care boom

07-Oct-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has thrust hand care into the spotlight and beauty brands ought to focus product development on multi-hybrids with aromas and active ingredients that protect and inspire wellness, says WGSN.

‘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.

Targeted exfoliation: Dermalogica launches multifunctional mask that offers personalised solutions with ‘touch-activated’ delivery

06-Oct-2020 By Amanda Lim

Cosmeceutical brand Dermalogica has launched a new multi-functional product that can be personalised to suit different skin needs and concerns that have emerged during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

'Success on a larger scale': LYCL reveals strategic growth plans after landing $5m funding with Beiersdorf

05-Oct-2020 By Amanda Lim

Korean skin care and tech start-up LYCL Inc. has outlined strategic plans to advance its expansion beyond its home market and into new product categories following a fresh injection of funding from Beiersdorf and other investors.

New data on postbiotic LactoSporin shows anti-acne and anti-aging benefits

01-Oct-2020 By Deanna Utroske

Sabinsa makes specialty ingredients for the food, pharma, and beauty industries. In early 2019, the company launched LactoSporin into the realm of microbiome skin care. Now this year, the company has published data pointing too additional skin care benefits.

'Not easy to build a brand in this sector': Typology builds mark with consumer-adapted cosmetics

01-Oct-2020 By Shane Starling

French direct-to-consumer cosmetics startup Typology is only 18 months old but growing up fast in a hyper-competitive cosmetics scene it has vowed to ‘demystify’ with minimalist ingredient lists and a matching genderless aesthetic.

Back in time? Symbiome targets ‘ancestral microbiome’ with proprietary postbiotic skin care range

30-Sep-2020 By Shane Starling

Direct-to-consumer skin care brand Symbiome will debut a product range formulated with postbiotics sourced from plants from the Brazilian Amazon, aimed at restoring and rebuilding resilience in the modern microbiome.

Spot correction: Shiseido study suggests blood vessels density can deter improvement of hyperpigmentation

30-Sep-2020 By Amanda Lim

A new study by the Shiseido Company has discovered that the concentration of blood vessels under the skin can hinder the improvement of skin pigmentation spots.

Kohl’s expands beauty business with addition of Lauren Conrad Beauty

30-Sep-2020 By Deanna Utroske

Next month, the newly launched clean, vegan beauty brand will be available in store and online at the US department store chain.

Consumer Confidence: TULA Skincare plans to spark a movement

29-Sep-2020 By Deanna Utroske

In 2020, skincare, self-care, clean beauty, and probiotics are all quite buzz-worthy in the beauty marketplace. And while TULA Skincare fits into all of those categories, the brand hopes to direct consumer attention elsewhere with a new empowerment movement...

First steps: Aussie brand hopeful cruelty-free entry into China will lead to more opportunities

29-Sep-2020 By Amanda Lim

Australian natural beauty brand Subtle Energies is optimistic that with changing regulations it will be able to expand its business and tap into the emerging trends in China.

'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.

Eco champion: Organic Riot aiming to capture international market with strong sustainability and traceability angle

24-Sep-2020 By Amanda Lim

New Zealand-based Organic Riot is eyeing huge opportunities in mature beauty markets such as the US, where it believes its emphasis on sustainability and traceability has helped it to stand out in a saturated natural and organic skin care market.

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.

UK facial care surges – ‘skin health is the big driver’, says Mintel

23-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Use of facial skin care products has risen in the UK during COVID-19 as consumers turn to cleansers, masks and toners to improve their overall skin health and boost wellbeing, finds Mintel.

Acne achievement: Postbiotic achieves same results as standard benzoyl peroxide treatment - Study

23-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The postbiotic LactoSporin has been found to have the same efficacy for treating mild to moderate acne as the conventional medication benzoyl peroxide.

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.

Maintaining elasticity: Kao study determines the effect ageing and UV exposure has on crucial protein linked to elastin

22-Sep-2020 By Amanda Lim

The Biological Science Research Laboratory of Kao Corporation has published new research confirming that ageing and ultraviolet exposure decreases the levels of a vital protein that leads to a loss of skin elasticity.

‘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...

Go sweat: NZ’s Ultrella outlines local and overseas expansion plans with natural demi-perspirant range

18-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

New Zealand-based Ultrella is looking to expand locally and overseas with its natural deodorant ‘demi-perspirant’ products.

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.

Democratising beauty: Tech startup Mayku wants to support ‘massive flourishing’ of indie cosmetic creators

15-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has inspired a wave of cosmetic creators eager to develop and refine product concepts at-home, and design and engineer specialist Mayku wants to support this growth with its desktop vacuum former.

Beauty of science: NZ’s Antipodes signs new distribution agreement to expand into pharmacy channel in France

15-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

New Zealand’s natural skincare beauty company Antipodes has signed a new distribution agreement with French distributor Eoyls Beaute, to expand into the pharmacy channel in the country.

‘Multi-faceted brand experience’: Beiersdorf pilots smart packaging across Nivea Men via Google Lens

14-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Beiersdorf has partnered with image recognition technology Google Lens to develop limited edition interactive packaging on its Nivea Men range in Germany.

Probiotic skin therapy improves eczema in children, says pilot study

11-Sep-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A topical probiotic treatment can reduce eczema severity and increase quality of life for children as young as three, according to the results of an early, open-label study.

Beauty boost: Charlotte Tilbury talks 'critical' big data omnichannel push

10-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

UK cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury has deployed Google Cloud’s business intelligence and analytics platform Looker to accelerate omnichannel growth and support consumer-led innovation.

What men want: Increasing knowledge of skin care among men driving demand for solution-driven products

10-Sep-2020 By Amanda Lim

An increasingly sophisticated knowledge of skin care is driving male consumers to seek out high-performing solution-driven male beauty products, says an industry insider specialising in the category.

‘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?

Amyris produces CBG for skin care at commercial scale

08-Sep-2020 By Deanna Utroske

Cannabinoid ingredients are increasingly popular in personal care. And with its engineered yeast and fermentation process, the biotech company Amyris is now equipped to manufacture cannabigerol, or CBG, commercially.

Unilever science exec: Educating consumers on blue light exposure ‘is our responsibility’

07-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Blue light exposure has risen in importance as consumers spend more time on laptops and mobile phones during COVID-19 lockdowns and working-from-home models, and so the beauty industry must ramp-up education on potential risks, says Unilever’s global...

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

Natural cosmetics must create ‘net environmental good’ amid global biodiversity crisis, says Wildlife Friendly startup Seilich

03-Sep-2020 By Kacey Culliney

Scottish floral water brand Seilich has built its entire model on biodiversity balance and giving back to the environment – a way of doing business that all beauty companies should take on, according to its founder.