Breaking News on Cosmetics Formulation & Packaging - Europe US edition

Boots launches its first organic cosmetics range

Boots is joining a growing number of major retailers with the launch in October of its first ever private label range of organic cosmetics.

Ales reports tumbling profits

Natural cosmetics and perfume player Ales Group reported a slump in half year operating profit as costs escalated.

Decision News Media seeks Managing Editor for Montpellier, France

Decision News Media is seeking a Managing Editor to lead the editorial team in Montpellier, France.

Colipa tests consumer exposure to cosmetics products

A new study, conducted under the European trade association Colipa, better approximates consumer exposure to cosmetics products.

Former perfume boss fined for illegal reselling

The former CEO of perfume retailer Marionnaud was ordered to pay damages to several top manufacturers after a French court ruled yesterday he had illegally resold samples.

PZ Cussons to invest ₤18m in Nigeria

PZ Cussons has announced its plans for significant investment into its manufacturing facilities in both Nigeria and the UK following a successful year in both markets.

Cosmetics packaging made from disposed milk cartons

Cosmetics packaging products made from plastic milk cartons found in landfills are soon to be launched onto the global market.

Special Interview

Weleda executives explain green challenges and plans

Growing concern about global warming and ecological issues is prompting consumers to seek out cosmetics that are both natural and environmentally-friendly. CosmeticsDesign.com spoke to Weleda executives to explore the challenges that the emerging trend presents.

Russia enters the beauty food market

A Russian producer of healthy food products announces the release of its first beauty drink, illustrating the increasing sophistication of the Russian cosmetics market.

Environmental and labeling issues to hit sales of natural products

Environmental concerns and a regulatory crackdown are likely to hit sales of natural personal care products, according to Euromonitor.

New Oriflame perfumes tap into expert endorsement trend

The direct sales firm Oriflame is looking to tap into the market for professionally endorsed perfumes with a new collection inspired by gemstones.

PCAS's cosmetics and perfume sales catapult

Sales in PCAS's perfume-aroma-cosmetics division leapt up by 43 per cent in six months, a rise the company attributed to the work of distributors in the US and Japan.

Symposium investigates stem cell therapy for the skin

LVMH Recherche's 7th Symposium took place last week in Paris, entitled Stem Cells and the Skin, concentrating on the latest discoveries in regenerative medicine and skin science.

Skin care range inspired by yogic principles

Artdeco has released its new skin care range Skin Yoga Face. Based on ancient yogic principles the range taps into the trend for holistic cosmetics influenced by ancient practices and spiritual ideas.

Silab uses HBA to showcase Osilift

Having won the HBA technology award for its Coheliss anti-aging ingredient, Silab was also using last week's show as a platform for its latest anti-aging innovation, Osilift.

Tackling cynicism is vital for high beauty supplement sales

Breaking public cynicism and maintaining an association with health benefits are the keys to continued growth in the UK beauty supplement market, says Mintel.

Fragrance improves the mood of skin care users

Scientific evidence that perfumed skin care products enhance the mood of users suggests that mind over matter is the key to developing commercially successful beauty products.

Capsugel offer iridescent options for oral cosmetics

Capsugel has extended its line of supplement capsules by adding a light reflecting pigment, which the company expect to appeal to the oral cosmetics market.

Anti-irritant properties of essential oils in antiperspirants

Antiperspirant manufacturers should exploit the anti-irritant activity of essential oils and fragrance raw materials in their formulations, according to a new study.

Symposium on natural marine extracts

The Santé Mer International Symposium will be held in Normandy in early October to investigate the possible applications of marine based ingredients in the cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Roundtable heralds advent of sustainable palm oil

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) says it is on the cusp of delivering on its promise to put sustainable oil on the market, and will be unveiling its certification system at its next meeting in November.

L'Oreal is accused of illegal selling in a French court

L'Oreal faces renewed accusations in the French Court of Appeal in Paris that it illegally sold luxury cosmetics in Russia and then diverted the profits through screen companies and tax havens.

New technology could improve cosmetics testing

The accuracy and reliability of cosmetics testing could be set to improve after a study published this week confirmed the efficacy of a new technology to grow human tissue.

HBA Show opens its doors to more visitors

The 15th annual HBA show opened its doors in New York City on Tuesday, with organizers estimating that visitor numbers were up 5 percent on the first day.

Scientists call for further research on parabens

The movement of parabens across the skin barrier significantly increases with repeated applications of the chemicals, according to new research.

Ingredients specialist launches personal care inventory

Symrise is to release a inventory of personal care products to help manufacturers and suppliers keep abreast of industry developments.

Men invest in skin care to look good at work

Male skin care is the fastest growing product category in the industry as men seek to get ahead at work by looking professional, a recent study has found.

Major players feed global organic and natural growth

Global sales of natural and organic cosmetics are escalating thanks to increased investment from top players, and the mainstreaming of once-niche products.

Natraceutical buys natural food brand with beauty potential

Natraceutical has paid €2m for a beta-glucan brand, citing potential for the natural food ingredient in the beauty sector as a motivating factor.

Increase in certification within the naturals and organic market

Market saturation within the North American natural and organic sector is pushing manufacturers to obtain organic and natural certification for their products, according to a recent report.

US sales slump causes Clarins' profits to fall sharply

Luxury cosmetics group Clarins has suffered a sharp decline in profits over the first half of the year following a sales crisis in the US.

Managers at Estee Lauder are found guilty of bullying

Estee Lauder has made an out-of-court compensation payment after an employment tribunal in the UK ruled in favour of an epileptic woman who accused the company managers of bullying.

Active ingredients produced by plant cell cultures in lab

The advantages of deriving active ingredients for cosmetics products from plant cell cultures were discussed at this year's congress, 'Plants for Human Health in the Post Genomic Era', held in Helsinki.

Elizabeth Arden reformulates ceramide-based beauty capsules

Picking up on the growing trend for lipid-based products, Elizabeth Arden has reformulated its ceramide skin care capsules, claiming to make the treatment more effective in fighting facial and throat skin ageing.

Biotech firm launches marine enzyme for skin care

A Norwegian marine biotechnology company is introducing its all-natural, marine-based enzyme onto the global cosmetics market at the upcoming HBA exhibition in New York, aiming to tap into the increasing popularity of such ingredients.

Professor compares nanomaterials to asbestos

Nanomaterials used in cosmetics have been compared to the invisible airborne killer, asbestos, by a high-profile chemistry professor at the BA Festival of Science in York.

European north-south divide revealed in survey

A cross cultural survey reveals significant differences in beauty attitudes in North and South Europe, but shows the vast majority of women to be in pursuit of the natural look.

Strong China retail market still being driven by cosmetic sales

Despite global financial markets being in turmoil the Chinese retail market is continuing to speed ahead. Indeed, due in part to strong sales of cosmetic and personal care products, the World Bank has raised is forecast for the country's economic growth by nearly 1 per cent.

Mary Kay chases increasing Indian cosmetic spend

Global direct sales player Mary Kay is making a $20m investment in the Indian market for cosmetics and personal care products in an attempt to tap into fast-growing sales in this rapidly evolving market.

Kimberly-Clark builds 100-acre facility in Russia

Personal care giant Kimberly-Clark has announced plans to build a 100-acre manufacturing facility in Russia in an attempt to accelerate growth in the emerging markets.

Body Shop founder Anita Roddick dies

One of the pioneers of ethical and green business practices for the cosmetics industry, Dame Anita Roddick, died yesterday in England at the age of 64, following a brain hemorrhage.

L'Oreal challenges eBay over counterfeit goods

Cosmetics giant L'Oreal has reportedly challenged eBay, in five European countries, for failing to combat the sale of counterfeit goods through its internet auction website.

Nanorod technology enhances titanium oxide sunscreen

By creating cavities in titanium oxide nanorods, scientists claim to have made the sunscreen ingredient able to absorb more UVA and UVB solar radiation.

Boots hands out free sun cream to pub goers

Boots has teamed up with the Laurel Pub Company in the UK to offer sachets of free sun cream to its customers; in an attempt to curb the increase in sunburn resulting from the smoking ban.

MeadWestvaco acquires Keltec Dispensing Systems

Virginia based packaging company, MeadWestvaco, has announced its acquisition of Keltec Dispensing Systems, which specializes in airless packaging systems.

Irish cosmetics market holds untapped potential

The market for personal care and cosmetic products looks like it has finally kicked off in Ireland, where market growth has failed to keep up with the fast pace of economic growth in the country.

Cognis taps into demand for exotic natural ingredients

With the sourcing of natural ingredients becoming more and more of a problem as demand rockets, Germany-based supplier Cognis has extended its naturals portfolio with the launch of an Amazonian clay-based exfoliating ingredient.

European Parliament criticises flight restrictions

The European Parliament has called for the scrapping of flight restrictions on liquids, putting pressure on the European Commission to allow all beauty products back onto planes.

DNA markers in packaging as an anti counterfeit measure

Applied DNA Sciences is to take its DNA marker technology, which protects products against fraud and counterfeiting, to the 'Future of Ink on Packaging' conference in London next week, in the hope of bringing its product to the European market.

Financial woes for UK personal care firms, claims study

A highly competitive market is forcing UK personal care companies to operate with margins that are so tight that almost a quarter are in financial danger, according to a contentious market report.

Dutch packaging company makes Antipodean investment

Impress has increased its worldwide footprint in the aerosol packaging segment by buying up Amcor's New Zealand and Australian Food Can and Aerosol business.

Avon receives criticism over mascara advert

Global cosmetics company Avon has incurred criticism from the UK's Advertising Standards Agency regarding its Astonishing Lengths Mascara catalogue advertising.

Beyond Beauty 2007 focuses on industry's emerging trends

Beyond Beauty 2007 is set to open its doors in the first week of October, reacting to the industry's major trends with an improved and enlarged Naturals section, and conferences focusing on current major trends such as nutraceuticals.

China's President makes vow over product safety

President Hu Jintao of China said this week that his country is going to make a concerted effort to up product safety standards with the help of the international community, following a spate of China-made product seizures worldwide that have included toxic toothpaste.

India booms and heads upmarket

India's personal care market is booming and is set to become more sophisticated as the country westernizes, according to a recent Kline & Company report.

Chinese laws may affect new overseas business

Anti-monopoly laws introduced by the Chinese government have been heralded as a foundation for a 'fair and uniform law system' for doing business in the country, but international business groups believe it could spell further hurdles to establishing new business in the country.

RPC colour technology adds packaging gloss

Making packaging stand out is one of the most important criteria in today's overcrowded colour cosmetics market, a challenge that UK-based RPC Group has countered with technologies that include partial electroplating to differentiate the latest Lancôme lipshine.

Cosmetics push organic sales up by a quarter

The booming market for organic cosmetics has helped push annual UK spend on organics up by almost a quarter last year, according to a Soil Association report.

Dermasalve Sciences signs South African deal for sensitive skin products

A UK-based company providing solutions for sensitive skin, has announced a deal to distribute its hand cleanser and skin moisturiser in South Africa; a decision aimed at tapping into significant growth in this emerging market.

European upturn fuels global fragrance growth

European fragrance sales have grown beyond expectations and are fuelling a strong global market that is being held back by a slump in the US.

L'Oreal sales power ahead fueling further possible acquisitions

Having announced strong growth in sales and profits L'Oreal CEO Jean-Paul Agon says that the company has never before been so engaged in the process of considering new acquisitions.