Hair care

Our First Cosmetics Design Summit: What Does the Skin Microbiome Industry Look Like?

02-Jul-2019 By Natasha Spencer

On 24th-25th June, we held our inaugural Cosmetics Design Summit on the skin microbiome in Amsterdam to ask, converse and answer the questions dominating the new space that meets beauty, health and wellness.

Trade war, regulations and trends: ACA Leaders’ Forum 2019 highlights most pressing issues affecting cosmetics sector

02-Jul-2019 By Amanda Lim

The impact of the US-China trade war on the global cosmetic industry’s supply chain, along with new regulations in China and Indonesia, will have a major impact on the beauty industry in the year ahead.

Globalising K-beauty: Multi-brand retailer Olive Young launches global e-commerce site

02-Jul-2019 By Amanda Lim

South Korean health and beauty retailer Olive Young has launched its global e-commerce platform to extend its footprint overseas.

GALLERY: Our top 10 most-read stories of June

02-Jul-2019 By Amanda Lim

Check out our recap of the most read cosmetics stories of April, featuring the latest in beauty innovation, trends and regulations.

The Science and Storytelling of Skin Microbiome

28-Jun-2019 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Our inaugural Cosmetics Design Summit, held in Amsterdam on 24th-25th June, focused on the current skin microbiome landscape, challenges and opportunities — asking is it a trend or a key cosmetics segment?

5 Movements Impacting Beauty and Personal Care

27-Jun-2019 By By Natasha Spencer

Beauty and personal care industry growth peaked at its highest levels in a decade in 2018, and the sphere is expected to continue this success in 2019 and beyond. So what’s propelling its flourishing popularity?

Korea focus: Our most-read stories on the K-beauty industry

27-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

We round up our top stories on the South Korean beauty market, featuring the Swiss potential of K-beauty, Sephora’s K-beauty ambitions and more

“For a better world”: Amorepacific plots 2020 sustainability goals in newly published annual report

26-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

K-beauty conglomerate Amorepacific has published a new report detailing its sustainable practices and its 2020 goals that focus on three strategic directions -promotion of a sustainable lifestyle, contribution towards a cyclical economy, and ensuring...

Korea duty-free cosmetics concerns: New labelling system to prevent illegal re-selling

26-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

The Korea Custom Service has introduced a new labelling system for duty-free cosmetics as part of a drive to crackdown on the illegal buying and reselling of products.

Private equity firm to acquire financially-strapped K-beauty brand Skinfood for $171m

25-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

South Korean beauty brand Skinfood is in the process of being acquired by private equity firm, Pine Tree Partners, for ₩200bn.

Relentless wave: South Korea’s cosmetics exports rocket 26.5% to surpass $6bn

25-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

The Korean wave shows no signs of abating with the nation's cosmetics sector recording 26.5% growth in 2018 with the market now topping US$6bn.

Halal beauty: How the thriving segment is reshaping Asia’s cosmetics landscape

24-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

Once a niche segment, halal beauty is now affecting Asia’s personal care landscape in tremendous ways in terms of trends, opportunities and regulation.

Profit jump: New sales strategy pays off for L’Occitane as net profits grow 21.8%

20-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

Hong Kong-listed L’Occitane has seen profits grow by 21.8% to €118.6m ($131.8m) in first year of new ‘pulse’ sales strategy.

Japan focus: Our top stories featuring Japan’s cosmetics industry

20-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

We round up of our most-read news pieces on Japan, featuring Intercos’ Japan expansion, Kewpie’s new egg-based ingredient, Shiseido’s ambitious new targets and more.

From The Editor’s Desk

Is CBD hair care set to make a big splash?

19-Jun-2019 By Simon Pitman

CBD skin care is shaping up to be one of the biggest trends of 2019, but is the buzz translating into product launches that target the hair care market?

Beyond the hype: How one company uses social media to create hit brands

19-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

Singapore-based beauty brand Supernova says it is redefining how beauty products and brands are created for the millennial-driven beauty market, with the help of social media.

Recycling revolution: Amorepacific aims to recycle 100% of its empty bottles by 2025

19-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

Beauty conglomerate Amorepacific has signed an MOU with TerraCycle to step up its efforts in recycling empty bottles, with the firm hoping to hit the 100% milestone by 2025.

New Rituals: Brand debuts first standalone Hong Kong store as it targets APAC expansion

18-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

Home and body cosmetics brand Rituals has opened its first standalone store in Hong Kong as it seeks to strengthen its presence in the ‘dynamic’ Asia-Pacific region.

Beiersdorf: the multinational’s 2019 performance so far

17-Jun-2019 By Lucy Whitehouse

Beiersdorf, German parent company of major skin care brands including Nivea and Eucerin, kicked off 2019 with a new strategy and an additional investment program announced. We take a look at where it’s got to so far this year.

Skin Science: Our top stories on cosmetic formulation and science

14-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

We dive into our most-read stories on formulation and science, featuring Kewpie’s egg-based collagen booster, the cosmetic potentials of mangosteen extract and more.

China Focus: Our top stories featuring China’s cosmetics industry

13-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

We round up of our most-read news pieces about China, featuring insight into China’s changing beauty landscape, Meitu’s new skin devices, L’Oréal’s acne-fighting tech and more.

Will new data change beauty makers’ foam formulation strategy?

12-Jun-2019 By Deanna Utroske

An article on the dynamics of collective bubble collapse, published last month in the online peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports, outlines 2 mechanisms by which foams collapse and proposes a next research approach to discover how to formulate more...

From The Editor's Desk

Natura’s Avon acquisition creates the first Latin American beauty powerhouse

12-Jun-2019 By Simon Pitman

Natura’s acquisition of Avon was significant not only because of the magnitude of the deal, but also because it has created the first ever major Latin American multinational.

Changes, challenges and opportunities: ACA President on sustainability and regulation in APAC

12-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

Consumer demands, sustainability concerns and regulatory developments amid a backdrop of global trade disputes will take centre stage at the ASEAN Cosmetics Association’s Leaders' Forum next month, the organisation’s president Le Chau Giang told...

Boots struggles in UK: retailer responds to claims 200 stores could close

11-Jun-2019 By Lucy Whitehouse

Boots, UK retail chain owned by Wallgreens Boots Alliance, is struggling in the face of fierce competition in beauty and personal care retail from discounters and online specialists.

L’Oréal: the multinational’s personal care performance 2019 so far

10-Jun-2019 By Lucy Whitehouse

In this Editor’s Spotlight, we pick out some of the key news from L’Oréal this year, including digital innovations like an acne app and its latest artificial intelligence on Amazon Beauty.

Gallery: Top 10 most-read cosmetics stories of May

10-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

Here's a recap of the most read cosmetics stories of May, featuring the latest in beauty innovation, trends and regulations.

Cosmetics in China: regulatory updates by COSMED

07-Jun-2019 By Lucy Whitehouse

Cosmed, a professional association for the beauty industry, here presents its latest insights in the China market for beauty players: e-commerce, new draft regulation, animal testing and more.

From The Editor's Desk

Watch out for indie beauty in Latin America

05-Jun-2019 By Simon Pitman

Latin America is increasingly proving to be a big opportunity for indie beauty brands to take advantage of market conditions that are designed to encourage domestic businesses.

Japan’s hair care trends: Kao taps into demand for anti-ageing conditioners and more mild shampoos

05-Jun-2019 By Amanda Lim

Kao’s chemical division has created two new hair care solutions, which it believes taps into two of the most pressing demands from Japanese consumers – namely products with anti-ageing benefits and more mild properties.

Unilever: the multinational’s personal care performance 2019 so far

03-Jun-2019 By Lucy Whitehouse

From pioneering new pigments for recycling packaging, to more major acquisitions in its sights, to commitments on gender equality and ingredients transparency, we take a look at what Unilever has been up to so far this year.

Skin health probiotics “thriving market full of opportunity to grow”, new report finds

31-May-2019 By Lucy Whitehouse

A new report into the market potential for skin microbiota-related products has revealed that digitisation will be the biggest force shaping skinbiotics in the coming years.

Amorepacific seeks SEA e-commerce growth after inking deal with Lazada

31-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

Amorepacific has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with e-commerce firm Lazada Group to bid to reinforce its brand outreach in the South East Asian region.

Hot Topics: Top 5 trending beauty and cosmetics news stories on social media

31-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

In our round-up of the top five stories trending online, we highlight Intercos’s expansion into Japan, how young Chinese consumers are changing beauty and more.

Biodiversity awareness blooming in Asia: Consumer awareness higher than UK, US or Germany, says new report

31-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

A new report revealed that Asian consumer awareness of biodiversity has increased over the last decade and they now expect companies to have morals in line with their own – a development that could have profound implications for cosmetics and personal...

Beauty online: Our most-read stories on the online beauty market

30-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

We round up our top stories on e-commerce developments featuring @cosme’s APAC expansion, Tmall’s push to include more beauty products on its platform and more.

Eco-friendly demand: Hotels demanding environmentally-friendly options for personal care amenities - Groupe GM

30-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

Luxury hotel brands are leading the charge for more eco-friendly personal care amenities in both Hong Kong and Macau, according to Groupe GM.

How to make microbiome skin care products resonate with consumers

29-May-2019 By Simon Pitman

The microbiome trend is sweeping the industry right now, but making this type of product resonate with consumers can be a big challenge. Cosmetics Design spoke to a leading expert in the area to find out more.

Securing sandalwood: Demand for sustainability and quality boosts Australia’s dominance

29-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

Increasing demand for high-quality sustainable sandalwood oil will continue to increase Australia’s global market share, with India’s slice of the sector set to slip.

Beauty in baobab: Super oil from Africa poised to go mainstream in Asia

29-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

The demand for baobab oil has been rising in the Japanese market in recent years and one supplier believes it will soon spread to more parts of Asia.

L’Oréal and L’Occitane leading the discussion on the skin’s microbiome

28-May-2019 By Lucy Whitehouse

Major name brands and manufacturers are set to lead our upcoming conference into the huge potential of the skin’s microbiota, Cosmetics Design Summit: Skin Microbiome Innovation.

Himalaya doubles down on Dubai R&D centre to drive Ayurveda advances

27-May-2019 By Richard Whitehead

Indian ayurvedic cosmetics, personal care and drugs manufacturer Himalaya will launch a global research center in Dubai in 2021.

Beauty Broadcast

WATCH: Bespoke beauty – How personalisation is changing the way consumers and companies think about beauty solutions

24-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

Like many bespoke or tailor-made products, personalised beauty used to be expensive, but new advances in technology are driving down costs and helping increase consumer demand.

Cosmetics Design to talk Beauty & Bacteria at AIRS Conference

23-May-2019 By Deanna Utroske

May 31 and June 1 in Barcelona, Spain, the Institute for the Advancement of International Rehabilitation Standards is hosting a second International conference on Genomics and Microbiomics. And Cosmetics Design Editor Deanna Utroske will be there, speaking...

P&G and Unilever among brands caught up in India’s ‘profiteering’ dragnet

22-May-2019 By Richard Whitehead

A semi-judicial body set up after the roll-out of India’s new goods and services tax in 2017 has been taking action against a string of FMCG companies, after accusing them of not reducing prices on a range of products even though tax had been cut on these.

Brazil’s economy contracts, cosmetics players show the strain

21-May-2019 By Simon Pitman

The indications are that the much anticipated continued revival of Brazil’s economy is not happening, which is putting a strain on cosmetic and personal care players.

Green is the new black: Where does the green beauty movement stand in APAC?

14-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

Green is in, or is it? A lack of awareness and understanding, as well as a premium price tag, may be some of the reasons why the green beauty movement has yet to properly take off in APAC.

Special Edition Newsletter: NYSCC Suppliers Day

Is it still too soon for waterless personal care products?

14-May-2019 By Simon Pitman

Waterless has been on the radar of industry observers for many years now, so why is that there are still relatively few products offerings on store shelves?

L’Oréal pushes forward with sustainable development

14-May-2019 By Lucy Whitehouse

L’Oréal’s recently released annual report into its sustainability programme’s progress reveals it is pushing forward with meeting goals for ‘Sharing Beauty with All’.

How a K-beauty start-up grew its business by 80% with the help of video commerce

14-May-2019 By Amanda Lim

South Korean male beauty brand Grafen is expanding its presence in SEA after successfully growing its presences in Korea with the help of video commerce.