‘Beyond packaging materials’: How can beauty brands rethink sustainability strategies and ‘recapture value’?
Beauty brands have been urged to overhaul their sustainability strategies beyond the linear lifecycle of packaging in order to meet consumer expectations and regulatory demands.
In an era where sustainability remains a top concern for beauty consumers globally, the beauty industry has found itself under increasing pressure from environmentally conscious consumers as well as regulation.
For instance, as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has become a focal point in the legislative landscape, companies are being challenged to take responsibility for their brands from production onwards.
Addressing this challenge, Spencer Ball, creative director of design agency SGK, suggested that a pivotal starting point is looking upstream.
‘Super exciting’ times: Gen Z’s enthusiasm for perfumery unveils tremendous opportunities in Asia
Generation Z’s growing passion for perfumery has been presenting huge opportunities for the future of Asia’s burgeoning fragrance market.
In the last decade, the Asian fragrance market has changed drastically. Perfumes have gone beyond their brands and the celebrities that represent them. The consumer now has a heightened appreciation for the art and craftsmanship behind each scent.
Beauty majors such as L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Coty have been observed robust fragrance sales, especially in Asia, where it has outpaced other categories.
Much of the growth we see today can be attributed to the Asia’s increasingly sophisticated Gen Z demographic.
Sleep matters: Sleep-centric beauty demand grows while regulatory constraints remain
Beauty companies that want to tap into the surging demand for sleep-boosting cosmetic products have been coming up against regulatory hurdles that prevent them making direct claims.
With today’s hectic lifestyle, a full eight hours of sleep is a luxury. Quality sleep plays a crucial role in promoting both physical and mental well-being, supporting a range of functions that are vital for overall health – and skin.
“We’re all facing more stress in our daily lives. And this obviously impacts the skin as well as impact sleep,” said Belinda Carli, cosmetic chemist and director of the Institute of Personal Care Science.
However, while there is potentially massive demand, the problem is that manufacturers are not able to make any direct claims related to sleep, resulting in a grey area for both brands and consumers.
‘You won’t be compared to anyone else’: How Gen AI can accelerate beauty inclusivity in Asia
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity to foster inclusivity in the Asian beauty landscape through its ability to hyper-personalise and cater to diverse needs and concerns.
The societal impact of generative AI has been extensively discussed, including its effects on the beauty industry.
Dove, a leader in pushing back against unrealistic beauty standards, has come out to say that “artificial intelligence presents a new threat to real beauty” and that it was emerging as “a clear threat to women’s wellbeing”.
However, Anastasia Georgievskaya asserted that gen AI has a place in beauty and can even be a tool to aid diversity and inclusivity.
Skin-mind connection: Psychodermatology will play key role in tackling oily skin, scalp health concerns in APAC
Asia Pacific will see the emerging concept of psychodermatology play a larger role in tackling oily skin and scalp health concerns, according to a leading formulation expert.
When we are under stress, our bodies release cortisol, one of the stress hormones. The overproduction of cortisol can impact our mental health and skin greatly.
It can increase inflammation, slow down wound healing, increase oil production, and negatively affect skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
With an increased interest in mental health, the connection between our psychological well-being and skin health – psychodermatology – has emerged as a compelling concept.
Big rise of beauty minis: The implications on trends, packaging innovation and sustainability
Beauty minis are helping to reshape trends, driving packaging innovation, and raising sustainability concerns across the industry.
Miniature formats of your favourite beauty items have been trending across social media, with creators showing off collections of travel-size lipsticks, perfumes, and serums.
Creators like @the_little_beannn on TikTok garnered millions of views by packing their designer micro bags with tiny versions of mascaras, powder compacts, and sunscreens on camera.
Brands like Fenty Beauty and Tarte have sections dedicated to mini-sized products and so do retailers like Sephora.
In many cases, the big appeal of these tiny formats boils down to cost for consumers.
Unlocking potential: Australian olive oil producers urged to upcycle pomace for cosmetics as health, wellness interests surge
Australian olive oil producers have a huge opportunity to upcycle pomace as cosmetic ingredients to tap into health and wellness trends, according to industry experts.
A fellowship report published earlier this year dove into the potential cosmetic use of byproducts from olive oil production.
“Upcycling olive oil waste has the potential to not only reduce the olive oil industry’s carbon footprint and move close to a circular economy, but also to capture the valuable antioxidants which remain within the waste and give them a purpose of their own,” wrote author Catherine Cervasio, a natural skincare product development specialist who also founded the brand Aromababy.
Speaking to the Beauty Broadcast, Cervasio emphasised that olive oil processing produces a huge amount of waste.
Anti-scar RNA patch maker says it can expand technology to tackle eczema, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles
RNAscence Biotechnology said its RNA patch technology can broaden its impact beyond scar treatment to tackle a variety of skin issues from eczema to hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Recognising a major gap in scar treatments, Singapore-based RNAscence Biotechnology developed a patch with dissolvable hyaluronic acid microneedles that deliver RNA directly into the skin to reduce the appearance of scars.
“This patch is a breakthrough technology. It’s in a category of its own we call active scar care. It’s the only product in the world that targets the root cause of scarring with our proprietary RNA active ingredient,” said Diana Chor, general manager, RNAscence Biotech.
The application of BioRNA Anti-Scar is no different from any common adhesive plaster and is also waterproof, allowing users to go about their day with ease if they wish.
