7 trends influencing colour cosmetics & skincare innovation
At the Luxe Pack Global show in Monaco this week, formulations expert Luisa Oliva revealed what is currently influencing the makeup R&D landscape and why.
Market trends
Across the CD-Verse: September 2025
This month’s roundup of CosmeticsDesign’s global coverage includes an in-depth look at scientific developments, sustainable innovation, and notable brand launches.
Is this the future face of travel-retail customer service?
TFWA in Cannes surprised its audience with a Q&A session featuring Ameca, a humanoid robot who shared insights about the travel-retail industry and speaks virtually every language known to humankind.
How beauty brands can stay relevant in 2025: Mintel insights
From the stratospheric rise of fragrance to what investors are looking for in brands, Mintel’s Head of Beauty Jane Henderson shares strategic insights to navigate the future of beauty.
Aveda & Keracol’s new molecular method redefines hair colour longevity
The new research, which monitors how hair dye fades at a molecular level, offers deeper insight into hair colour retention.
Kenvue at EADV: Can micro-peptides reverse collagen decline?
The multinational said the ‘pre-ageing’ skincare movement is gaining ground, as it targets collagen decline with its new patented micro-peptide technology.
Taurine and TauT: a new frontier in anti-ageing skincare?
BASF unveiled its bio-based innovations at IFSCC Congress 2025, including the use of taurine for skin care longevity.
Are we judging age wrong? New ΔAge benchmark could reshape skincare
A new AI-based study that was unveiled at the IFSCC 2025 congress reveals human beauty biases and pioneers the ‘ΔAge’ concept that could shape the future of personalised skincare.
Can Sephora’s new creator platform rival Amazon & LTK?
As Sephora bets big on influencer-driven beauty sales, we spoke to an affiliate marketing expert to explore what this means for the retailer, as well as the wider beauty creator economy.
Future focus: Naolys globally expands its custom exosome development and innovation
French biotech company Naolys has announced two new strategic partnerships in Europe and Asia to scale its technology.
8 key takeaways from IFSCC 2025
The 35th International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) Congress was hosted by the Société Française de Cosmétologie (SFC) in Cannes from 15–18 September. We explore some key takeaways from the congress.
Q&A: The gut-skin-brain axis and the future of microbiome beauty
The gut-skin-brain axis is scientifically proven to influence skin health, mental well-being and overall beauty. Stress and inflammation are major factors impacting the skin-gut-brain axis, with new research highlighting how interconnected they are.
Scalp skinification driving Symrise’s innovation in APAC hair care
German cosmetics ingredients company Symrise has expanded its APAC footprint with localised patented actives and manufacturing sites.
Vichy unveils longevity-led skincare and haircare at EADV
Longevity science drives Vichy’s new anti-ageing innovations, as the brand is targeting mature skin and scalp with biotech breakthroughs
Sephora launches affiliate storefronts for beauty creators
The LVMH-owned retailer is tapping into the social shopping boom and will allow influencers to curate shoppable storefronts directly on sephora.com
Teeth whitening disruptor brand Icy Bear launches PAP tech into Boots
Celebrity dentist-founded brand Icy Bear recently launched into high street retailer Boots. We spoke to founder Dr Hanna Kinsella to find out more.
Gemstone skincare for busy lives: inside new brand Gem & Tonic
TV actress Gemma Atkinson has launched a new gemstone-infused beauty brand to cater to active women. We spoke to the MD to find out more about why and how the products were created.
Curated Beauty London launches simplified wellness-led skincare
We spoke to the new beauty brand that was created to cut through the clutter.
Why formulators must rethink colour cosmetics for sustainability
How eco-friendly makeup ingredients are driving next-gen formulations.
Middle East beauty market embraces clean & conscious innovation
Sustainable beauty trends are increasingly shaping product development in GCC.
Is the gut-skin-brain axis the future of beauty innovation?
As the beauty-from-within trend gains scientific momentum, our special broadcast will explore this topic with experts in this field.
Holland & Barrett pilots ingestible beauty focus with 7% sales uplift
Against a backdrop of growing consumer interest in inside-out beauty products, UK wellness retailer Holland & Barrett has unveiled a new beauty category transformation.
Sustainable naturals: IFF invests €10m in Grasse expansion
IFF Scent has invested €10 million to expand its LMR Naturals site in Grasse to create more sustainable natural ingredients for fragrance.
Makeup rebounds as Puig outpaces global beauty market
For H1 2025, Puig has continued to outpace the global premium beauty market, thanks to strong fragrance sales, a recovering makeup segment, and geographic diversification.
Multifunctional mists: the future of fragrance and skincare
In recent years, brands like Sol de Janeiro have gained a cult following and made body mists fashionable. What’s coming next for fragrance mists?
New palm oil alternative from CO₂ could transform cosmetic supply chains
The creators of this new technology, Mibelle Group, LanzaTech, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interface and Bioprocess Engineering (IGB) said they aimed to reduce deforestation and create a more sustainable supply chain.
Longevity and skin health: what’s coming next?
How will the longevity skincare movement evolve? This November, a brand-new summit in London will bring together some of the industry’s biggest players—including Estée Lauder Companies and L’Oréal—to explore what’s next for this hot topic.
Coffee & cosmetics: Fenty Beauty’s experiential UK tour
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty combines the winning combination of coffee and cosmetics for its new roadshow-style popup, as experts highlight the demand for beauty roadshows.
Why Lush shut its stores to stand in solidarity with Gaza
The UK cosmetics manufacturer and retailer Lush closed all retail operations for a whole day in protest to the situation Gaza.
7 inspiring summer beauty popups across Europe
From Sol de Janeiro to Valentino Beauty, check out the beauty popups that have made a splash this summer…
Skin microbiome linked to visible ageing, says Unilever study
Can bacteria make you look younger? Scientists at Unilever have uncovered new evidence that our skin microbiome is associated with how old we look.
P.Louise hits £2m+ sales in record-breaking TikTok Shop Live
The UK’s number one TikTok Shop P.Louise smashed records with the pre-launch of its Christmas collection, which featured its highly sought-after new advent calendars.
What does Gen Z’s obsession with 90s nostalgia mean for beauty brands?
As glam-grunge makeup and pixie haircuts step back into fashion, younger beauty shoppers are looking back to the 1990s for inspiration. How will this affect future cosmetics product development?
Autumn & winter beauty trends: what TikTok is telling cosmetics product developers
TikTok beauty trends are set to shape a host of new autumn/winter 2025 launches. Here’s what you need to know and why ignoring TikTok could cost you your next beauty campaign...
Korean wave: Amorepacific’s profit rise, AESTURA enters Oceania, K-beauty in the West
This round-up highlights the latest news and developments from the South Korean beauty market, featuring Amorepacific’s financial results, AESTURA’s entry into Oceania, K-beauty’s moves in Western markets, and more.
Inside the rise of fandom-fuelled beauty brand partnerships
Beauty brand collaborations are booming – and licensing is at the heart of it. From Harry Potter bath bombs to Minecraft makeup, discover why fandom, nostalgia and strategic partnerships are driving innovation and growth in the cosmetics industry. And...
Across the CD-Verse: August 2025
This monthly snapshot of the latest CosmeticsDesign coverage from around the world includes regional retail launches, trend research and analysis, and regulatory insights.
Sanex shower gel ad sparks ASA ruling on skin tone bias
An advert created by Colgate-Palmolive’s heritage shower gel brand made an error of judgement that has resulted in a ban from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK.
Byredo & more join Covent Garden’s luxury scent revolution
Fragrance is the category that just keeps on winning and Covent Garden plans to welcome four new luxury scent brands as it continues to carve out a name as Europe’s ultimate beauty hub.
Trend alert: immersive beauty stores reshape cosmetics retail
Brick-and-mortar beauty has never been so exciting. What do cosmetics brands need to know about creating these in-real-life experiences for their customers?
Autumn–winter beauty trends: grunge glam & cosy scents set to take over
As more industry experts highlight the importance of social media as a trends lab, Pinterest has revealed what global users have been searching for in the beauty space.
What makes a brand successful in the beauty-from-within space?
Consumers are sharpening their standards, and as they learn scientific jargon, brands must step up their game, says a beauty data analyst.
Beauty market snapshot: Coty and ELC financial results highlight industry crosscurrents
‘Treatonomics’, strategic appeals to mass and prestige markets, and ongoing restructuring programs each exerted pressure on these beauty industry giants in fiscal year 2025.
Dr.G takes centre stage as L’Oréal streamlines K-Beauty portfolio
French multinational L’Oréal is reportedly focusing its efforts on Dr.G and discontinuing Heals and after acquiring Gowoonsesang Cosmetics earlier this year.
Creative adaptation: the key to survival for heritage cosmetics brands in 2025
As financial reports from Beiersdorf, ELC and Coty reveal that some of their most iconic beauty brands are struggling, we ask can heritage beauty brands outwit an economic downturn? One creative director says yes, if they make some key changes.
Global consumers redefine personal care as “preventive health,” says Kenvue
The multinational has worked with Kantar to quiz over 10,000 global shoppers to find out more about their needs and habits and how this is shaping the future of personal care.
Behind the scenes at the world’s first industrial-scale microalgae biorefinery
In July, French biotech firm Microphyt officially inaugurated its new microalgae biorefinery, which it said opens “a new era for the European bioeconomy.”
Louis Vuitton takes heirloom packaging strategy for Pat McGrath’s La Beauté brand
As more beauty shoppers search for novelty while also demanding sustainability, Louis Vuitton’s new launch has cleverly jumped on the upcoming keepsake cosmetics trend…
“Time-honoured plant wisdom” meets modern scalp science for new hair range
Spanish hair care brand Tara Formula blends Mediterranean food-sourced ingredients with scalp science to target hair problems. We spoke to its formulator to find out more...
Can supplements protect against UV-induced skin damage?
Within the booming anti-aging supplement market, beauty-from-within represents a fast-growing segment as consumers turn to ingestible collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamins and antioxidants to fend off internal and external insults that degrade youthful...