Asia Pacific: region spotlight
First up, we consider the latest from the Asia Pacific region.
Known for rapid-paced innovation and fast fashion-inspired trends, Korea has been a market leading innovation on the global scene for a while now.
A more established beauty market, Japan is also seen to be a bastion of innovation, with more of a focus on tech efforts and high performing ingredients.
Anti-ageing, or indeed ‘pro-ageing’ or ‘healthy ageing’, as the trend is fast becoming known, is one area in which the APAC region has pushed forward of late.
Indeed, speaking to our Asia website, Olay (and parent company Procter & Gamble) recently explained its research into the ingredient niacinamide, describing it as a sort of ‘Fountain of Youth’. Find our full report here.
Another company in the APAC region innovating in the anti-ageing space is Japan's Shiseido.
The global giant was recently recognised for its R&D team's strides with tackling areas of skin that are prone to wrinkling due to the mobility of the face.
The company took home first and second prizes at the China Association of Fragrance, Flavour and Cosmetics Industries’ recent Academic Research Conference for its research.
North, Central and Latin America (LATAM)
North, Central and Latin America (LATAM) together have been making impressive strides in the area of formulation and science lately too.
Chemyunion has, in an exclusive interview with Cosmetics Design, explained its approach to hair care formulation, with a specific focus on how to respond to trends in the LATAM region. Find the full article here.
Troy is another ingredients space leading innovation.
It recently expanded its natural preservative line, responding to a key rising demand in the industry.
Lastly for this region, industry players in Costa Rica are responding to the need for smart naturals production: one ‘regenerative’ farm says it is paving the way for better botanicals. Read our report here.
Efforts from Europe
Last but by no means least, European industry players have been making exciting steps forward with beauty formulation and science too.
BASF and Givaudan have announced that they have teamed up on animal testing alternatives, looking to prove the efficacy of a specific new test that could open up next generation sensitisation testing. Find our full report here.
And finally, Mintel, a market research provider, recently suggested a series of hair care ingredients to watch for future innovation in the category. That report is available here.