Hot topics: Top 5 beauty and cosmetics stories trending on our socials right now

1 – Colour theory: GoPlay moves to target US market with new and improved DIY lipstick system​

Singapore-based beauty start-up GoPlay looking to zero in on the US market following the rebirth of its new and improved DIY lipstick system​ this coming November.

GoPlay's Lipskit is a make-up tool that lets you make any lip colour in various textures, from long-lasting opaque mattes to sheer tints.

Since unveiling the Lipskit in August 2019, the beauty market has experienced huge shifts triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which impacted the beauty start-up greatly.

Like many online direct-to-consumer brands, it benefitted greatly from the great online shift of 2020.

2 – Shroom protection: Mushroom Material targets cosmetics sector with sustainable alternative to styrofoam and cardboard packaging

New Zealand start-up Mushroom Material has developed a sustainable mushroom-based material​ as an alternative to polystyrene styrofoam and cardboard packaging and is targeting the cosmetics sector for its first products.

Made from the vegetative part of mushrooms called mycelium and fiberous agricultural waste, the material is robust to withstand impacts, yet is biodegradable within six weeks.

Suitable for products from cosmetics to cutlery, the packaging is customisable to any shape, size and surface finish, is stronger than concrete pound for pound, has a better thermal insulator than fiberglass, is odourless, mould resistant and non-toxic.

The company was founded by Shaun Seaman in 2020 after observing the huge amounts of waste material produced globally.

3 – Ready to fly? First insect-based skin oil brand Point68 eyes China and Macau as potential markets

The brand behind a skin oil derived from black soldier fly larvae​ extract is looking to expand into China and Macau following its recent launch in Hong Kong.

Point68 Insect Beauty, is a joint venture between US organic and clean-beauty brand SIBU Sea Berry Therapy, and Asia-based insect industry professional Josh Galt.

There is only a single product, a youth regenerating face oil, which is a luxury face oil formulated to improve skin hydration with cellular healing and rejuvenation.

Galt told CosmeticsDesign-Asia: “We have sold fairly well compared to our initial first year targets, both through international distributors and direct to consumer online sales.”​

4 – ‘Sephora for men’: MensXP CEO outlines how the company plans to conquer India’s male grooming sector

India-based e-commerce platform MensXP has its sights set on becoming the Sephora of the Indian male grooming market​ and has laid out a three-pronged strategy to achieve it.

MensXP is a men’s lifestyle e-commerce platform that was acquired by media conglomerate Times Group eight years ago.

Speaking to CosmeticsDesign-Asia​, founder and CEO Angad Bhatia expressed his excitement for the men’s grooming space in India, attributing its growth potential to the underlying shifts in consumer lifestyle and attitudes.

“Masculinity in India has gone through a transformational shift. It's no longer about the broad macho image of the Indian man that was depicted earlier in Bollywood movies. The new Indian man is more progressive; he cares about mental health and is alternative in his fashion sense,”​ said Bhatia.

5 – ‘Beauty BFF’: Newly POPxo beauty brand targets young consumers looking for affordable easy-to-use product

Digital platform POPxo enters beauty space with brand targeting young consumers​ looking for affordable and easy-to-use products and is aiming to have a revenue run rate of U$13.9 in the next 12 months.

POPxo is a digital community under the Good Glamm Group umbrella, a South Asian digital conglomerate that also owns the direct-to-commerce (D2C) brand MyGlamm.

Recently, POPxo made its entry into the beauty space with its very first make-up collection, which consists of 13 beauty kits that are available for under U$6.70.

The collection was designed to be accessible to a wide range of consumers with its affordable price tag and convenient kit concept.