Brand innovation

Indie Beauty Profile Evelyne Nyairo Ellie Bianca

Indie Beauty Profile

Evelyne Nyairo, Ellie Bianca

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Evelyne Nyairo, founder of Ellie Bianca, outlines the principles and practices that make hers a socially conscious skin care business. And being something of a serial entrepreneur, she speaks from experience, advising other...

Indie Beauty Profile Michelle Matthewman Caim & Able

Indie Beauty Profile

Michelle Matthewman, Caim & Able

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Michelle Matthewman, managing director of Caim & Able (a personal care brand centered on the topical benefits of magnesium), has a realistic take on the time commitment required to run a personal care startup. And, she...

RevitaLash brand expands into hair care

RevitaLash brand expands into hair care

By Deanna Utroske

This month, the 12-year-old lash and brow conditioner brand announced a line extension into hair care, launching three volumizing products formulated for fine and thinning hair.

Hum Nutrition launches dissolving collagen tablets

Hum Nutrition launches dissolving collagen tablets

By Deanna Utroske

The beauty-from-within and supplements brand just debuted Collagen Pop, pressed tablets that dissolve in water like Airborne or 8Greens. Sold on the Hum Nutrition site and at all Sephora stores in the US, the new wellness / beauty ingestible is the latest...

Indie Beauty Profile Eric Fallon Rebels Refinery

Indie Beauty Profile

Eric Fallon, Rebels Refinery

By Deanna Utroske

In his Indie Beauty Profile, Eric Fallon, founder of the grooming and personal care brand Rebels Refinery, stresses the importance of knowledgeable mentors and revels in the joy of media and celebrity acclaim.

Indie Beauty Profile Maegan Scarlett and Liora Dudar oVertone Haircare

Indie Beauty Profile

Maegan Scarlett and Liora Dudar, oVertone Haircare

By Deanna Utroske

In their Indie Beauty Profile, Maegan Scarlett and Liora Dudar, founders of oVertone Haircare, urge would-be personal care or cosmetics entrepreneurs to just get started and keep improving. And, they describe the workings of an independent beauty startup...

Beauty Pitch Angels event returns to CosmoProf NA for 2018

Beauty Pitch Angels event returns to CosmoProf NA for 2018

By Deanna Utroske

Registration is open through the end of June for both entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating in the event next month. The Beauty Pitch Angels program is essentially an interactive venue for emerging cosmetics and personal care brands...

Unilever reprises St. Ives skin care pop-up in New York City

Unilever reprises St. Ives skin care pop-up in New York City

By Deanna Utroske

On Friday the skin care brand opened a pop-up shop on 5th Avenue in Manhattan’s Flatiron neighborhood. It’s the second summer that Unilever is leveraging this limited-time, experiential, personalized retail strategy to engage beauty consumers.

Indie Beauty Profile Risa Barash Fairy Tales Hair Care

Indie Beauty Profile

Risa Barash, Fairy Tales Hair Care

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Risa Barash, founder of Fairy Tales Hair Care, outlines how a single-product grew into a leading problem / solution brand in the children’s hair care space, competing with the likes of Suave Kids at major retail stores.

Indie Beauty Profile Michelle Tu CURA Skincare

Indie Beauty Profile

Michelle Tu, CURA Skincare

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Michelle Tu, founder of CURA Skincare, emphasizes the advantage that networking plays in the personal care business. And in simply sharing her (brand’s) profile here, she reveals how a product line built around a single hero...

Indie Beauty Profile Janet Schriever Crave Skincare

Indie Beauty Profile

Janet Schriever, Crave Skincare

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Janet Schriever, founder of Crave Skincare, emphasizes the value of a close relationship between an independent brand and the consumers who support it. And, she attests to the advantage that pitching (and otherwise publically...

L'Oreal digital strategy expert shares key tips

LATAM Supplement

L'Oreal digital strategy expert shares key tips

By Simon Pitman

We caught up with L'Oréal's digital strategy manager for hair care and styling at the recent FCE Cosmetique event in Brazil, where he shared some of his in depth knowledge for both the Brazil market and worldwide.

How Kao’s brand portfolio is shaping up

How Kao’s brand portfolio is shaping up

By Natasha Spencer

Kao first entered the beauty scene in 1887. For more than a century, the Japanese beauty heavyweight has launched a multitude of brands to attract its domestic and global consumers.

Using culture as a marketing method

Using culture as a marketing method

By Natasha Spencer

Storytelling is having a dramatic impact on how indie brands are crafting, communicating and connecting communities both online and offline. In this special focus on how Asia-Pacific brands of today are marketing themselves, we look at how culture is...

Indie Beauty Profile Ikram Elharti Sahara Rose

Indie Beauty Profile

Ikram Elharti, Sahara Rose

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Ikram Elharti, founder of Sahara Rose, describes how she’s building a skin care brand that’s intentionally encouraging consumers and entrepreneurs alike to pursue their ambitions.

Indie Beauty Profile Brianne West Ethique

Special Newsletter: Indie Beauty Profile

Brianne West, Ethique

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Brianne West, founder of Ethique (a brand that makes only solid-bar-form personal care and beauty products), shares a bit of what she’s done to create a successful brand that stands as an example of what a more socially, culturally,...

Indie and Fragrance: a business partnership with sillage

Special Newsletter: Indie Brands

Indie and Fragrance: a business partnership with sillage

By Deanna Utroske

Niche, startup, and independent brands are proliferating in beauty and fragrance alike. Here Cosmetics Design takes a look at several indie fragrance brands with proven or probable longevity in the market.

Au Naturale founder talks about expansion plans

Au Naturale founder talks about expansion plans

By Simon Pitman

This brand is one of the biggest recent successes in the Indie Beauty space and the CosmeticsDesign team was lucky enough to catch up with company founder Ashley Prange to discuss the growth of the business.

Glossier to open permanent store in Los Angeles

Glossier to open permanent store in Los Angeles

By Sian Gardiner

Fast-growing skincare and makeup brand Glossier is set to open its second permanent bricks and mortar presence in
backdrop, in a bid to continue its Instagram-worthy reputation.

Indie Beauty Profile Monica Watson Berlin Skin

Indie Beauty Profile

Monica Watson, Berlin Skin

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Monica Watson, founder of Berlin Skin, explains why, that with the right intention and formulation, a small number of skin care products can go a long way. And, she underscores the value that consumer spending can add to the...

Indie Beauty Profile Kellie Chen Fytt Beauty

Indie Beauty Profile

Kellie Chen, Fytt Beauty

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Kellie Chen, co-founder of Fytt Beauty, explains why hers is a preventative skin care brand with a focus on good health. And, she takes great care describing the Fytt Beauty customer, with specifics that make it quite clear...

Indie Beauty Profile Catkin Wemyss Bodmer BRYT Skincare

Indie Beauty Profile

Catkin Wemyss Bodmer, BRYT Skincare

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile Catkin Wemyss Bodmer, founder of BRYT Skincare, calls attention to how valuable the right retail partnerships can be and thoughtfully explains the connection she sees between skin care, health care, and beauty.

Indie Beauty Profile Terry Zickerman Love Sun Body

Indie Beauty Profile

Terry Zickerman, Love Sun Body

By Deanna Utroske

In his Indie Beauty Profile, Terry Zickerman, CEO of Love Sun Body, explains why he sees alternative ingredients and the challenge of developing more globally compliant personal care products as an opportunity for indie brands.

What happens when beauty influencers influence brands?

What happens when beauty influencers influence brands?

By Deanna Utroske

To gain a bit of perspective on the ins and outs of co-creation, Cosmetics Design connected with Mariya Nurislamova CEO of Deck of Scarlet, a digital-first direct brand that creates a new color cosmetics palette every other month in cooperation with a...

Indie Beauty Profile Nasime Yazdani Seaside Medical Technologies

Indie Beauty Profile

Nasime Yazdani, Seaside Medical Technologies

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Nasime Yazdani, founder of Seaside Medical Technologies, hints at all the useful insights she’s gained by listening to reviews and consumers. And, she outlines how her brand’s distribution strategy is shaping up in the modern...

Multifunctional color cosmetics go the next level

Special Newsletter: Colour Cosmetics

Multifunctional color cosmetics go the next level

By Simon Pitman

Since the advent of BB creams, multifunctional color cosmetic products have evolved to the point where almost every product in the category has various claims.

L’Oréal debuts new personalized skin care tech

L’Oréal debuts new personalized skin care tech

By Deanna Utroske

The beauty maker chose to announce its new SkinCeuticals product and counter-top formulating technology at the 2018 Fast Company Grill in Austin, Texas (an event for influencers and innovative thinkers that coincides with the SXSW conference and festivals)....

Evolution of app technologies in colour cosmetics

SPECIAL NEWSLETTER: COLOUR COSMETICS

Evolution of app technologies in colour cosmetics

By Lucy Whitehouse

From augmented reality and artificial intelligence, to shifting trends in digital retail, we take a look at how app technologies are shifting colour cosmetics trends and behaviours.

Indie Beauty Profile Julianne Robicheau Robi Luxury Skin Care

Indie Beauty Profile

Julianne Robicheau, Robi Luxury Skin Care

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Julianne Robicheau, founder of Robi Luxury Skin Care, explains why natural, luxury, and affordable are not mutually exclusive terms. And, she talks about the important role that confidence plays in building a cohesive beauty...

Indie Beauty Profile Michelle Houp Prep U

Indie Beauty Profile

Michelle Houp, Prep U

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Michelle Houp, founder of Prep U (personal care brand for “stinky boys”), describes how she has democratized the onus of hygiene and refinement that befalls adolescents; and, she shares a few smart, simple tips for founders....

Spa-style brand Bliss to relaunch with a vengeance on Thursday

Spa-style brand Bliss relaunching with a vengeance

By Deanna Utroske

The popular skin care brand has undertaken a complete refresh and will be launching online this month and in thousands of doors in the coming weeks. If all goes according to plan, the turnaround will stand as a case study in how to simultaneously respond...

Indie Beauty Profile Dara Levy DermaFlash

Indie Beauty Profile

Dara Levy, DermaFlash

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Dara Levy, the inventor and founder of DermaFlash, explains how she grew her signature spa treatment into a full-fledged beauty brand and why the best business experience is hard won.

Nestlé Skin Health expands acne care product line

Nestlé Skin Health expands acne care product line

By Deanna Utroske

Last year the skin care maker introduced its Differin brand of acne treatment gel to the OTC market, after receiving FDA approval to do so in early 2016. Now the brand is adding two new products to the Differin line.

Indie Beauty Profile Laura Burget Niu Body

Indie Beauty Profile

Laura Burget, Niu Body

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Laura Burget, co-founder of Niu Body, demonstrates the candor and strength of a self-possessed entrepreneur and describes what a millennial-made personal care brand looks like from the inside.

Indie Beauty Profile Bethany Hilt Vertere Skin Care

Indie Beauty Profile

Bethany Hilt, Vertere Skin Care

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Bethany Hilt, founder of Vertere Skin Care voices her certainty that a beauty brand can improve lives and encourages aspiring beauty brand founders to connect with two kinds of people.