Clean & ethical beauty

Biotechnology is increasingly used to create ingredients for cosmetics formulations in response to sustainability issues (Image: Getty)

5 biotech cosmetics ingredients companies to watch…

By Kirsty Doolan

As biotechnology becomes more prominent in sourcing ingredients for cosmetics formulations, we reveal some of the pioneering businesses that are disrupting the cosmetics ingredients sector…

The new in vitro Double Plate Testing Method is likely to become an industry standard in 2025 (Image: Getty)

How sunscreen testing is about to be transformed…

By Kirsty Doolan

The methods used to test SPF in suncare products have long faced multiple criticisms, and for the past three decades experts have been working on an alternative. This is now in the final stages of ISO approval and is set to overhaul the way we test sun...

As packaging designers move towards using more easily recyclable materials, pack designs are taking a less-is-more approach to aesthetic design, focusing on clean, simple labelling and muted colours.  (Image: Getty)

Cosmetics packaging trends to watch

By Kirsty Doolan

Ahead of the upcoming London Packaging Week, we discover what’s happening now and what’s coming next in beauty and personal care packaging...

( Image: Getty)

What's coming next for femtech?

By Sarah Cohen

The market for female-focused, tech-driven health products, AKA ‘femtech’, is predicted to grow beyond its current focus on reproductive health, according to industry analysts. We explore what’s around the corner for this burgeoning sector of personal...

(Image: Getty)

Fragrance with feelings: The science behind emotion-inducing scents

By Sarah Cohen

Many scent marketers will claim that smells trigger 75% of our daily emotions, as the olfactory nerve is directly linked to the amygdala, the area of the brain that processes emotion. We spoke to experts to explore what’s happening in the realm of functional...

(Image: Getty)

6 beauty brands marketing responsibly to Gen Alpha

By Keysha Davis

Gen Alpha, AKA the ‘Sephora Kids’, has taken a keen interest in beauty, which has sparked much debate throughout 2024. We look at some of the brands that have since made it their mission to responsibly market their products to younger customers.

What does the Labour party win mean for the UK beauty industry?

What does the Labour party win mean for the UK beauty industry?

By Kirsty Doolan

In the UK, left-wing political party Labour has just gained power with a landslide majority in the general election. As politics continues to shift across the Europe region, what could this mean for the future of the beauty industry in Britain…

The EC's antitrust investigation into the fragrance industry is still ongoing (Image: Getty)

IFF fined €15.9m by the EC for “obstructing” antitrust raid

By Kirsty Doolan

The European Commission (EC) has issued a €15.9m fine to the ingredients company IFF for “obstructing” an inspection from regulators in 2023. The penalty had been lowered from the initial amount due to the company’s full cooperation on the matter.

La Roche-Posay noted that younger consumers appeared to be more misinformed than older ones (Image: Getty)

22% of UK consumers think sunscreen is “harmful” to their skin

By Kirsty Doolan

New research from La Roche-Posay shows many UK consumers are highly misinformed on how to protect their skin from the sun. This presents sun care brands with a huge opportunity to educate and assist in the prevention of sun-related skin damage and skin...

The report stated that no one needs forever packaging for a 'temporary' beauty or personal care product (Image: Getty)

How plastic-free beauty could ‘futureproof’ your bottom line

By Kirsty Doolan

With so many new environmental legislations in place in Europe and beyond, a new report boldly states that cosmetics companies need to transition away from using plastic in both formulations and packaging, or they will face long-term financial losses....

While consumers may have been cutting back on other areas, Euromonitor's data shows that they have still been spending on beauty (Image: Getty/Lorado)

A focus on the global cosmetics industry landscape: part I

By Kirsty Doolan

What’s happening in the beauty and personal care industry at a global level? Is the industry thriving? And what kinds of products are consumers currently favouring and why? A beauty expert from Euromonitor shares exclusive insights in part I of this big...

9 new beauty packaging innovations

9 new beauty packaging innovations

By Kirsty Doolan

What’s trending in beauty and personal care product packaging development? Here’s nine recent developments in luxury cosmetics packaging…

Bringing new beauty brand Joonbyrd to life

Bringing Joonbyrd to life

By Kirsty Doolan

As beauty product packaging becomes increasingly ‘TikTok-friendly’, we spoke to the UK-based luxury packaging supplier Hunter Luxury about its recent project with new doctor-based skin care brand, Joonbyrd.

What’s trending in beauty product packaging?

By Kirsty Doolan

We spoke to a branding expert who has worked with some of the world’s biggest beauty businesses about what’s happening now and what’s coming next in terms of beauty and personal care product packaging…

6 beauty brands innovating in niche categories

6 beauty brands innovating in niche categories

By Kirsty Doolan

Beyond the mainstream, a spectrum of specialised niches is flourishing. From taboo beauty to ‘ugly’ beauty, we've rounded up 6 brands that have been innovating in niche beauty categories...

What are the new and unexplored categories in beauty?

What are the new and unexplored categories in beauty?

By Kirsty Doolan

Find out by signing up for our free ‘New frontiers: niche opportunities in beauty webinar’ and get exclusive insights from leading industry experts from the comfort of your desk or armchair.

11 packaging innovations seen at MakeUp in Paris

11 packaging innovations seen at MakeUp in Paris

By Kirsty Doolan

Every year the MakeUp in Paris trade show celebrates the cutting-edge industry developments seen among exhibitors through its Innovation & Trend (IT) Awards. This year, we've put a focus on the latest packaging innovations seen at the show......

The ingredient is now so in demand that the business has had to quickly ramp up production while also scaling the process to reach commercial volumes

Start the week with a startup: Cellugy

By Kirsty Doolan

Every fortnight we talk to a beauty and personal care industry startup about why it exists and how it plans to change the industry.

IsaDora's marketing director said she hoped the new look would help the brand

Behind IsaDora’s winning rebrand

By Kirsty Doolan

Swedish heritage colour cosmetics brand IsaDora overhauled its image and has since seen its ‘consumer perception of value’ jump up from 16% to 50%.

INC-4 Takeaways © samael334 Getty Images

Results from UN INC-4 negotiations on a global plastics treaty

By Cassandra Stern

The fourth session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee advanced the draft text for a global treaty on plastic pollution, emphasizing sustainable packaging and waste management, critical for cosmetics and personal care manufacturers.

In June, the brand will donate 10% of sales from its new Lottie London x Outer Banks Endless Summer Collection – created in collaboration with the Netflix show – to Toiletries Amnesty

Lottie London campaigns to fight ‘hygiene poverty’

By Kirsty Doolan

In a bid to build more awareness that a growing number of people don’t have access to personal care products, cosmetics brand Lottie London has partnered with Toiletries Amnesty – an organisation working to end hygiene poverty and divert beauty industry...

The LUSH Prize Winner Q&A 2024 © Andrii Koval Getty Images

Q&A: CDU interviews Lush Prize 2024 winner Emily R. Trunnell, Ph.D.

By Cassandra Stern

PETA's Dr. Emily Trunnell shares her thoughts on winning the prestigious Lush Prize, the impact of animal methods bias in scientific research, and the advancements and future potential of non-animal testing methods in cosmetics and other industries....