From market exits and major financial shifts to groundbreaking innovations in sun care, anti-aging, and sustainability, this month’s roundup highlights the most impactful news shaping the cosmetics and personal care industry. In Asia-Pacific, beauty giants Maybelline and Wella rethink their presence in South Korea, while Amorepacific’s US sales surge past China for the first time.
Meanwhile, in EMEA, industry leaders are exploring new frontiers in skin care technology, sun protection, and longevity-focused beauty. Across the Americas, regulatory challenges, adaptive beauty, and sustainability efforts are taking center stage.
Read on for a closer look at the latest trends and transformations shaping the global beauty landscape.
CosmeticsDesign APAC
Why beauty majors Maybelline and Wella are exiting South Korea
Global beauty leaders Maybelline New York and Wella have announced their departure from the South Korean market, signalling a shift in strategies amid increasing competition and evolving consumer demands.
Priority alpha: KINSIDE calls on industry to create safe beauty space for tweens and teens
The founder of Australia’s KINSIDE says industry is not doing enough to offers safe, effective, and clearly marketed solutions for the rapidly expanding Gen Alpha demographic.
Amorepacific’s American business surpasses China for the first time in 2024
Amorepacific’s 2024 financial results revealed that its American business has outpaced China after sales rose a staggering 83%.
‘On a deadline’: MeNow on unlocking the cosmetic potential of traditional ingredients amid ‘disappearing’ ancestral knowledge
Start-up MeNow is using artificial intelligence to better understand and preserve ancient medicinal knowledge, while bringing greater efficacy and better science to their use in cosmetics.
CosmeticsDesign EMEA
Unilever R&D chief on future skin care innovation
From the use of AI for R&D to beauty-from-within and the ‘face-ification’ of the body skin, we find out what’s next for the skin care category.
What’s new in sun care innovation?
From ingestible sunscreen to microbiome-based innovations and formulations for melanin-rich skin tones, we’re investigating the latest trends in the sun care sector.
Cosmetics Europe on new ISO standard for testing sun care
The methods used to test SPF in suncare products have long faced criticisms. In December, ISO introduced two new standard methods. We spoke to Cosmetics Europe about one of these, the Double Plate Method.
Focus on: Anti-pollution beauty
In this long read, we examine what’s new in topical and ingestible beauty products designed to counteract the effects of pollution.
‘White space’ for NAD+ and longevity-focused skin care, says Mintel
We spoke to beauty industry innovation expert Rosalia di Gesu, associate director for beauty and personal care at market intelligence firm Mintel about longevity, anti-aging science, and the increased focus on beauty-from-within.
CosmeticsDesign Americas
Dr. Bronner’s drops B Corp certification after calling for reform
The highest-scoring B Corp is leaving the certification, citing concerns about ethical standards and transparency.
Beyond animal testing: How GARDskin DR enhances skin sensitization assessments
In this CosmeticsDesign Q&A, discover how the GARDskin Dose-Response (DR) assay is transforming skin sensitization testing by providing a human-relevant, quantitative approach that could shape the future of fragrance ingredient safety assessments.
Tariff uncertainty looms over US cosmetics and personal care industries
The US beauty industry braces for disruption as a 10% tariff on Chinese goods takes effect, with potential new tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports on the horizon.
Adaptive Beauty: Meet the new standard of inclusivity in personal care
From AI-powered makeup assistants to smart lipsticks and more, brands are embracing Adaptive Beauty to cater to a diverse and evolving consumer base.
Aora MÉXICO partners with rePurpose Global to tackle beauty industry’s plastic waste problem
Aora México is rewriting the rules of luxury beauty with its plastic-free commitment, certified as Plastic Negative by rePurpose Global.
