ELC moves into luxury Ayurveda with Forest Essentials acquisition
The multinational says it is “committed to bringing luxury Ayurveda to the world.”
Market trends
Trend watch: IPSY doubles down on ‘mystery’ as Gen Z fuels experiential shopping shift
As US beauty retailers test blind assortments and limited-edition ‘mystery’ drops, subscription platform IPSY is reporting stronger year-over-year performance from a format it has operated for more than a decade.
Refillable beauty: a key growth strategy for makeup brands
How the rise of minimalist makeup packaging and sustainability is reshaping colour cosmetics NPD.
Q&A: How predictive modeling is reshaping complexion product inclusivity
High testing costs, scale-up risks and increasingly complex regulatory requirements are driving interest in digital tools that can model ingredient interactions and predict product performance before physical samples are produced.
Seven months in the making: Inside Lush’s Lunar New Year collection
For 2026, Lush is positioning its Lunar New Year collection as a case study in internal collaboration through its Co-Create program, a model that integrates staff input directly into product development.
Sunless tanning: Aussie brand Luna Bronze debuts in US via Ulta Beauty
Australian sunless tanning brand Luna Bronze is partnering with major cosmetics retailer Ulta Beauty for its US debut, highlighting a significant step in its global expansion.
Across the CD-Verse: February 2026
From high-profile legal battles in sun care to billion-euro acquisitions and tightening scrutiny of product claims, this month’s top stories reflect a beauty industry balancing growth, innovation and accountability.
Launch Pad: Ceramides, peptides and SPF drive February beauty innovation
From the cocokind x OLIPOP Ceramide Lip Blur Balms and Marini SkinSolutions’ PDRN Serum to Banana Boat Sheer Sensitive SPF 50 and Burt’s Bees Lip Oil, brands are advancing barrier care, regenerative skincare and lip innovation across mass and prestige...
Financial Focus: Saks Global bankruptcy reflects softening demand in luxury beauty
This month, CDU guest author Ragini Bhalla, Head of Brand, Creditsafe, takes an inside look at the company’s downfall, highlighting the peril of overextending in a retail sector already struggling with deep-rooted challenges.
K-beauty in the US: I’m Meme, Laka, Mediheal and TIRTIR make strategic moves
K-beauty continues to extend its influence in the US, with brands like I’m Meme, Laka, Mediheal and TIRTIR embarking on strategic moves in the market.
Debut’s biotech actives bring ‘tweakment-like’ results to topical cosmetics
Biotech firm Debut recently held a webinar for Cosmetics Design about how cutting-edge innovation is reshaping pro‑ageing treatments for beauty brands.
Expert insights on how AI will impact the future of beauty
We spoke to leaders from Perfect Corp., Haut.AI and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to hear their 2026 predictions on how AI will affect NPD, regulatory readiness and competitive strategy across the US cosmetics value chain.
Indie Insights: a startup brand’s approach to hormone-conscious skincare
In this month’s Indie Insights, Verli’s founder shares how the brand is addressing hormonal skin changes with biocompatible formulations designed for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause.
Sol de Janeiro launches solid scent with new Jelly Perfume Balms
As Gen Z drives demand for new scent formats, Sol de Janeiro launches jelly fragrance sticks.
Q&A: Behind RUSK’s Designer Collection overhaul
In a conversation with CosmeticsDesign, Beauty Quest Group’s CEO explains how performance validation, lighter textures and system-based development were key drivers of the brand’s professional line refresh.
L’Oréal outperformed global beauty market in 2025 with €44bn in sales
Premium haircare, fragrances and DTC sales all fuelled L’Oréal’s sales success for the last financial year.
Oil‑serum body washes rise as Dove unveils new premium range
Unilever’s Dove is redefining the premium body wash category with its new serum and oil innovation.
Lancôme launches topical longevity skincare with Timeline
L’Oréal’s Lancôme brand is set to bring Timeline’s biotech longevity actives into mainstream skincare.
Premium innovation drives Unilever’s gains in Beauty & Wellbeing
Unilever’s 2025 sales results show that its focus on science‑led, premium beauty is paying off.
VIVA GLAM: M·A·C aims for next $500m in global philanthropy
Over the years, the program expanded its mission to include sexual, racial, gender, and environmental equality, reaching more than 60 million lives across 92 countries and supporting more than 2,000 NGOs. Its latest impact report outlines next steps.
A smart move for beauty-from-within: Make Time Wellness expands to Ulta Beauty
Women’s brain health brand Make Time Wellness now offers its three-product lineup on Ulta Beauty’s website, reflecting broadening interest in supplements positioned at the intersection of wellness and beauty.
Top 10s: Gen Z’s luxury spending, Kolmar Korea and other most-read stories from Jan
We highlight the top 10 stories of January 2026, including Gen Z’s role in driving luxury beauty, Kolmar Korea’s CES wins, K-beauty’s “second coming”, latest scientific findings and more.
Sally Beauty Holdings Q1 results show steady demand as cost pressures remain in focus
Sally Beauty Holdings opened fiscal 2026 with modest sales growth, as online demand and margin improvement helped balance largely unchanged store trends.
RoundTable Healthcare Partners invests in Colorescience as US sunscreen market shifts
With new UV filters on the horizon and consumer expectations rising, RoundTable’s investment signals confidence in Colorescience’s clinically oriented model.
11 beauty tech devices every formulator should watch
From next-gen skin monitoring wearables, to smart devices for a personalised shower, here are some of the latest innovations we’ve spotted.
Estée Lauder Companies boosts 2026 outlook after stronger Q2
Beauty multinational Estée Lauder Companies raised its full-year outlook, as progress on cost controls helped offset continued tariff pressure.
US tariffs pushed French cosmetics exports into rare 2025 decline
French beauty exports stall as global competition intensifies...
Coty taps OpenAI in AI strategy push
The partnership, focused initially on targeted teams with potential for scaling, emphasizes responsible AI deployment and aligns with broader industry trends of using AI for consumer engagement and product development.
Recent shifts in LATAM beauty: Givaudan advances while Unilever retreats
Two major beauty players have confirmed a dichotomy of business moves in the Central and South American markets in the last week.
From bathrooms to backpacks: Prereq Care on designing skincare for teens on the go
We spoke to the founders of Prereq Care to learn how feedback from teens and pre-teens informed everything from ingredient selection to leak-proof packaging and refillable formats behind the brand’s debut.
Olay unveils peptide‑powered Regenerist line inspired by aesthetic treatments
Are pro‑procedure skincare formulas the next big anti‑ageing shift? Olay’s new Regenerist Treatments target demand for clinic‑style results...
Stripes Beauty broadens retail reach with Ulta Beauty debut amid Gen X spending momentum
The expansion places the midlife-focused brand in select Wellness by Ulta Beauty boutiques and on the retailer’s e-commerce platform.
Nutrafol debuts formula tailored for men aged 50+
Haircare supplement brand Nutrafol has launched its first life-stage-specific formula for men, marking nearly a decade since the company innovated in the men’s supplement category.
Hallyu wave: Latest news on K-beauty exports, Olive Young, Mediheal and ANUA
This round-up highlights recent developments in the K-beauty market, spanning cosmetics export figures to highly anticipated strategic collaborations.
Inside Dossier’s creator collaboration model for fragrance innovation
In this CosmeticsDesign Q&A, Dossier’s COO and CMO discuss product development, ingredient strategy and manufacturing considerations behind creator collaborations, including the brand’s latest launch, Dulce Flor.
January Launch Pad: Smart starts in beauty
Featuring launches from Venus, ELEMIS and Madison Reed, this month’s roundup tracks new skincare, suncare and hair care products debuting in early 2026.
Across the CD-Verse: January 2026
This month’s global beauty news headlines encompass exciting innovations, regulatory pressures, and acquisitions with significant industry impacts.
Revlon inks deal with Champion for brand-first fragrance release
Revlon has secured a global fragrance licensing agreement for Champion, extending the sportswear brand into scent for the first time as part of Revlon’s broader push to rebuild scale in fragrance.
Mintel report: Functional ingredients to watch in 2026
Recovery, cognitive performance and skin health are increasingly shaping how U.S. consumers think about wellness and how they expect functional ingredients to show up in everyday products.
Raspberry and cherry: The rising power notes reshaping fine fragrance
Red berries like raspberry are leading a new wave of juicy notes in luxury perfumery.
H&M and e.l.f. launch accessible fine fragrance collection
The new H&M x e.l.f. perfumes were designed to bring ‘premium for all’ to the perfume category.
Q&A: How Braille Nails is tackling a blind spot in beauty inclusivity
CNIB CEO Angela Bonfanti explains why a national salon partnership is reshaping how beauty brands, manufacturers, and suppliers can think about inclusion, literacy, and social impact.
Molly Sims’ YSE Beauty eyes US retail growth
YSE Beauty has raised $15 million in a Series A growth equity round as the skin care brand looks to expand its presence in US retail and scale its direct-to-consumer business.
Marketing moves: How beauty brands kicked off 2026
As beauty brands look to hit the ground running early in the new year, January has become a key window of opportunity for launching or renewing marketing initiatives tied to seasonal needs, cultural phenomena, and long-term brand platform rollouts.
Mini cosmetics market grows as brands target Gen Z and travel retail
Demand for compact beauty products rises, driven by travel retail, pricing and Gen Z consumer experimentation.
L’ange teams up with Florida Panthers in sports marketing push
Under the agreement, L’ange becomes the National Hockey League team’s official hair care partner and presenting partner of the Panthers Dance Team, with activations planned across game days, community programming and themed events, including Women’s...
Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty expands into Ulta nationwide
The launch is Rare Beauty’s first retail expansion since the brand debuted in 2020.
US beauty-tech firm LUUM introduces next-generation AI lash robot
LUUM has unveiled a next-generation version of its AI-powered lash extension robot as the company prepares to expand its retail footprint with Ulta Beauty and Nordstrom in multiple US markets.
Fragrance trends 2026: Wellness, gourmand notes and personalisation
From wellness to personalisation and foodie scents, experts reveal the top fragrance trends for 2026…
People on the Move: Q4 2025
From trade associations to beauty brands, companies across the US personal care industry announced new executive appointments shaping leadership teams heading into 2026.