Cosmetics Compact: Coty merge confirmation, Unilever buying again, sunscreen and more...

Whether in your lunch break, on your commute, or proudly displayed in your office, the compact is a great way to catch up on some the highlights of the last few weeks.

In this edition we begin with the confirmation that Coty will merge 43 of P&G’s fragrance, colour cosmetics and hair brands​ in a deal thought to be worth $12.5 billion.

Another company busy on the acquisition trail, as it has been all year, is Unilever who have announced its acquisition of professional skin care brand Murad​, joining Dermalogica, Kate Somerville and REN before.

Sunscreen has also been on the agenda in the last few weeks, as in the UK concern was raised over labelling and whether it was confusing to consumers​. While there have been calls for changes, industry experts have also backed up the EU requirements saying they are the best in the world right now.

Another study into the full range of UV ray damage to the skin​ has also been published by Newcastle University, which says it could prove to be an ‘invaluable tool’ in the development of anti-ageing products.

Still on the topic of sun care, Shiseido announced tennis player Ana Ivanovic as the ambassador for its WetForce sun protection technology​, which claims to enhance UV protection on contact with seat or water.

And finally, the new UEBT Biodiversity Barometer reveals that cosmetics companies are among the only brands consumers ‘strongly identify’ with biodiversity​.

Please get in touch using the normal methods, or using Twitter​ and Facebook​ .