Breaking News on Cosmetics Formulation & Packaging - Europe US edition

Shiseido hits losses on falling Japanese demand

Just one week after financial analysts reinforced a top credit rating for leading Japanese cosmetic company Shiseido, the company has posted a drop in profits as the domestic market wanes.

Avon growth falls as restructuring hits profits

Avon Products has announced a significant drop in its profits as restructuring charges hit the bottom line and the company's performance in Europe came in below expectations, despite big increases in the Turkish and Russian markets.

L'Oreal wins copyright claim from Dutch Supreme Court

L'Oreal has won a landmark victory for one of its leading Lancome fragrances, following claims that a Dutch fragrance company replicated the design as well as the fragrance itself.

Beauty fails to catapult Tupperware sales

Tupperware Brands, the US-based retailer of kitchenware, cosmetic and beauty products, has announced a disappointing second quarter in Europe and the US, further exacerbated by falling cosmetic and beauty sales.

Dark-skinned people more likely to die from skin cancer

Although the incidence of skin cancer is rarer amongst individuals with darker skin, lack of awareness means that the mortality rate is higher than those with fair skin - leading experts to reiterate advice for everyone to use sunscreen.

Germany maintains lead as packaging supplier for cosmetics

Germany remains a world giant in the packaging material and machine sector, with a high demand, especially for plastics, about to reach record levels according to a new report.

Course tackles latest issues in dermato-cosmetic science

The University of Vrije, based in Brussels, Belgium, is holding a course to highlight the latest advances in dermato-cosmetic sciences. It will deal with issues related to sensitive skin, allergies and anti-ageing treatments as well as EU legislations relating to these areas.

Internet sales boom in the UK, but France is the one to watch

The UK has overtaken Germany to become the largest market in Europe for internet sales - a market that has already proved to be rich pickings for personal care producers. But research suggests the French market is set for even bigger growth.

DNA-tested cosmetics come to Europe

Genelink's Dermagenetics brand has been making a big splash in the US with its DNA-tested and tailored anti-ageing treatments. Now available in Europe, the company is claiming that its approach could be set to revolutionise the approach to cosmetic treatments worldwide.

Colgate profits dip on restructuring costs

Colgate-Palmolive has announced broad top-line growth for its second quarter on the back of strong sales, adding that hefty restructuring charges hit profits.

EU bans 22 hair dye substances on consumer safety fears

The European Commission has banned 22 hair dye substances following research by its Scientific Committee that links certain product to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Weekly comment

Vanity fayre: cosmetic foods are not nutraceuticals

Functional foods are generally defined as products imbued with additional nutrients with health-promoting properties. But the industry needs to be wary of foods that present no actual health benefit from piggy-backing on the popularity of the category and watering down its reputation.

Rexam expands personal care packaging manufacturing in Poland

UK-based Rexam, one of the world's leading consumer packaging manufacturers, has extended its presence in the central and eastern European region with the opening of a production facility for home and personal care packaging in Poland.

RPC unveils the future of lipstick packaging

RPC beauté Thornaby has patented a new innovation in lipstick packaging that offers unique functionality and decoration together with a simplified and less costly manufacturing process.

Analysts favor industry growth prospects

Shares in leading cosmetic companies were boosted on the New York Stock Exchange after leading investment analysis gave the sector a good report.

Polimoon makes another acquisition to further boost cosmetics packaging

Norway-based packaging company Polimoon has made its biggest acquisition to date, having announced an agreement to buy Pastohm, a France-based European-wide manufacturer of beauty, healthcare and pharmaceutical packaging.

Beiersdorf puts German soap factory up for sale

As part of on-going restructuring to its supply chain and general operations Beiersdorf is putting its Hirtler soap manufacturing facility up for sale.

New study suggests sunbathers do not use sunscreens correctly

A new study by UK charity Restoriation of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT) suggests that most sunscreen users do not use products adequately enough to fully protect themselves form cancer-causing UVA rays.

Marinova fucoidan facility to target cosmetic uses

Marinova's new fucoidan facility in Hobart, Tasmania, is on schedule to commence operations from next month, offering fucoidans from a broader range of microalgae species for cosmetic and nutraceutical use.

Avon goes full throttle in China

Avon Products China says it has now employed 114,000 sales staff in China and is in the process of hiring a further 31,000 recruits just four months after it was awarded its first direct sales license in the country.

Mercatura Cosmetics buys two companies to expand in Germany

German biotech cosmetics player Mercatura says it has acquired the Munich-based businesses Ulrich Krause Kosmetics and the Sternmark Cosmetics as part of plans to expand its fragrance business.

Silab launches ingredient that repairs DNA

French ingredients provider Silab has announced the launch of its latest anti-ageing innovation, Heliomoduline, an ingredient that is said to repair DNA through the stimulation of proteins that naturally exist in the skin's dermal layer.

Australasian cosmetics markets still a 'blokes thing'

Although the market for male-specific cosmetics products in Australia and New Zealand has grown enormously in recent years, experts say that the characteristics of the market mean that 'the bloke's bloke still reigns supreme'.

Parlux CEO withdraws buyout, giving way to possible sale

As Parlux Fragrances CEO Ilia Lekach withdraw his share buyout offer on the back of pressure from shareholders, investor confidence in the company is sending share prices into a dramatic fall, which is likely to spell take-over bids.

Estee Lauder establishes Turkey affiliate

Tapping into significant market growth, US cosmetic and fragrance giant Estee Lauder says it is to establish an affiliate company in Istanbul, Turkey, with more than 300 employees and talk of further growth to come.

Australia makes its mark on the men's grooming market

Having soft launched a new range of men's grooming products on the Australian retail market, Eyre BioBotanics says it is readying to unleash the naturals-based line on the European retail market.

UK initiative encourages recycled PET beauty packaging

Leading UK beauty retailer Boots has participated in an initiatives to encourage the adoption of more sustainable PET packaging for a broad range of its personal care products on sale throughout Europe.

Which? tests casts doubt on manufacturers sunscreen claims

UK watchdog Which? has carried out independent tests on a range of high protection sunscreens, claiming that its results show that a number of products currently on the market do not fulfill the manufacturer's claims.

US cosmetics growth spells opportunities for ingredients suppliers

Favorable demographics are helping to drive strong growth in the US cosmetics and toiletry industry, with the needs of the graying baby boomer generation, males and different ethnic groups leading to a growth in demand for both natural and active ingredients.

Revlon Q2 results hit by poor Vital Radiance performance

Cosmetics giant Revlon has confirmed that its preliminary Q2 results have been hit by weaker than expected sales of its news Vital Radiance cosmetic range for older women.

Airless Systems launches new packaging aimed at men

In answer to the growing demands for men's personal care and the lack of differentiation for packaging, France-based Airless Systems has launched a new personal care packaging line designed around the needs of the male consumer.

Beiersdorf claims European-wide success for anti-cellulite treatment

Tapping into the latest major growth market, Beiersdorf has claimed an international coup for the launch of its Nivea Good-bye Cellulite Gel, which has helped the company to capture the No.1 market position for the body care category in France, Belgium Italy, Portugal and Turkey on the back of an aggressive marketing campaign.

UK launches review of nanotechnology policy

The UK government launches a review of its nanotechnology policy, part of a move to assess the implications of current developments in the emerging science of tiny dimensions and its impact on the cosmetics industry.

Italian cosmetics industry set for growth spurt

Despite slow general economic conditions in Italy, the country's Cosmetics Companies Association, Unipro has reported that sales of cosmetics and toiletries are set to grow by 2.6 per cent this year to reach €8.1bn.

Body Shop International donates to Fairtrade chocolate

Body Shop International has donated its shares in Fairtrade chocolate enterprise, The Day Chocolate Company - giving the money back to the cocoa farmers who originally founded the business.

RPC buys up Crown Risdon facilities

Leading rigid packaging provider RPC group has acquired two of the Crown group's Crown Ridson facilities in France and Italy, a move that will help the company expand its packaging offerings in Europe.

AarhusKarlshamn restructures European cosmetics distribution

Sweden-based AarhusKarlshamn (AAK) is reorganising its European cosmetics distribution network as part of efforts to consolidate and strengthen its position on the market for oil- and fat-based ingredients.

Filling and capping machine ups manufacturing capabilities

French manufacturer Serac has launched Cronos, a filling and capping line specifically designed to focus on the issues of flexibility, precision and cleanliness in cosmetic and pharmaceutical production.

Scientists make nano-organogels for cosmetics

Fundamental research from the US suggests that an enzyme could convert sugars in the presence of olive oil to form 'nano organogels' - potentially leading to novel delivery systems for additive ingredients.

Jamaican scientists develop natural cosmetic products

The Jamaican government's plan to rapidly expand into the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industry has culminated in a three year program carried out by the Jamaican Scientific Research Council (SRC) to develop a host of natural-based cosmetic products.

EU pledges to protect its cosmetic consumers

Following a presentation at the Cosmetics Business Summit in Brussels on Friday, European Commission Günter Verheugen has pledged to protect and honour its consumers through three main channels - REACH, the end of animal testing and improving the quality of regulation.

Nivea Beauté packaging gets new look

The rebranding of Beiersdorf's Nivea Beauté range has involved a comprehensive re-design of the brand logo and packaging by German company DieterBakicDesign.

Can industry learn from ancient Roman cosmetic preparations?

Despite all the new technology and science, the basic idea behind cosmetic products has remained the same for thousands of years, as a recreation of ancient Roman cosmetic has demonstrated in Wales.