Q&A: New NSF standard fills gap in cosmetic safety
The certification standard aims to establish defined benchmarks for safety substantiation, finished product testing and MoCRA alignment.
Retail & the beauty consumer
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.
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.
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.
Class action against Kenvue challenges shea & cocoa butter oil labeling
A lawsuit in federal court is challenging the labeling of a baby oil product marketed as ‘shea & cocoa butter oil’, alleging that the product contains less than 1% of the named ingredients and that its front label misleads consumers about its composition.
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.
‘100% Mineral’ sunscreen class action spotlights risk around absolute ingredient claims
A recently filed false advertising class action lawsuit against Supergoop! is has drawn attention among stakeholders navigating ingredient-based marketing claims.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why Prop 65 matters for cosmetics and personal care stakeholders in 2026
A recent decision permanently blocked new Prop 65 cancer-warning lawsuits related to certain uses of titanium dioxide in cosmetics and personal care products, removing a long-standing source of litigation and labeling risk for the industry.
Suave Brands and Elida Beauty merge under Evermark name
The combined company said the portfolio, which includes Suave, Q-tips, Chapstick, Ponds, St. Ives, and Noxema, represents about $1.9 billion in annual retail sales.
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.
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.
Indie Insights: Why storytelling and quality can drive niche brand growth
For this month’s Indie Insights, CosmeticsDesign spoke with Ahmed Elbur, founder of Maliqe Fragrances, about building a modern indie fragrance brand rooted in Arabian perfumery.
From ‘shower reset to sanctuary’: Not Your Mother’s targets wellness-driven wash-and-care demand
Positioned at the intersection of hair health, fragrance and mood, the newly launched Aura Boost collection reflects shifting consumer expectations for products that address both physical and emotional needs during everyday routines.
Ritual CEO on what will define beauty-from-within in 2026
As brands enter a “prove-it” era shaped by clinical validation, ingredient transparency and evolving consumer expectations, Ritual’s founder outlines the standards she believes will separate leaders from laggards in 2026.
Top 10: Most read CDU articles of 2025
Throughout 2025, CosmeticsDesign US welcomed over 116,000 unique visitors who generated more than 207,000 page views of news content, covering beauty industry regulatory updates, scientific innovation, and other relevant topics.
Financial Focus: What cosmetics brands should expect in the year ahead
If 2025 was defined by unpredictability, 2026 is shaping up to be the year beauty brands confront the true cost of economic volatility, says CDU guest author Ragini Bhalla, Head of Brand, Creditsafe, in this month’s column.
Indie Insights: How adhering to EU regulations can boost US indie brands
Formulating to tougher standards is costlier, but Kiyomi Skin CEO Daniel Struve argues it pays off in brand integrity and long-term loyalty.
US beauty manufacturers eye Indonesia’s 2026 halal deadline as certification pressures widen
Navigating Indonesia’s 2026 halal certification mandate, US beauty brands must adapt facility operations and supply chains for global market access, says American Halal Foundation director Mohammad Hussaini.
Ulta raises FY25 outlook after strong Q3 performance
“We’re still in the planning process and we need to see where 2025 lands…[but] we’re confident that we can deliver our targets over time," said Kecia Steelman, Ulta Beauty President and CEO, during the company’s earnings call.
New sunscreen brand targets low SPF use among young men
Skinmetal, a new mineral sunscreen brand created by Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, targets young men with innovative, masculine skincare products to address low SPF use and promote long-term skin health.
PCPC and NCPC warn consumers of holiday surge in fake beauty products
The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) are urging cosmetics and personal care manufacturers to stay vigilant as counterfeit activity accelerates across online marketplaces, particularly heading into...
November Launch Pad: Stronger strands and smarter scents
This month’s product debuts highlight the rising demand for multi-benefit products and functional beauty claims across hair, nail, oral and skin care.
Across the CD-Verse: November 2025
November’s global news roundup includes exciting announcements from the financial sector, intriguing regional industry data analysis, and more.
Financial Focus: How financial intelligence can steady the 2025 holiday rush
Discover how beauty brands can leverage financial intelligence to navigate the complexities of the 2025 holiday season, ensuring resilience amidst tariff challenges, fraud risks, and supply chain disruptions.
Edgewell posts mixed FY2025 results as company prepares to exit feminine care category
The company highlighted a big win as the Sun Care category shone with an 11.5% increase despite higher costs.
Retinol alternative: Cetaphil’s new range targets pre-ageing care for sensitive skin
Cetaphil’s new product range is specifically formulated for pre-ageing sensitive skin, with a focus on supporting natural skin cell renewal.
Granado eyes deeper market penetration through Nordstrom retail launch
The 150-year-old Brazilian brand known for its exotic fragrances is angling to tap into the US beauty market by timing the expansion just before the holiday season.
Unregulated LED masks “flooding” the beauty market, says expert
As unverified LED devices surge, official bodies and experts are urging for compliance and clarity from manufacturers, brands and retailers in this space.
6 business moves shaping the future of beauty
Acquisitions, financial reporting, and pushes into digital beauty tech have dominated headlines in the past 30 days. In case you missed it, here is a roundup of CosmeticsDesign’s latest beauty business coverage.
Report: How science and self-expression are redefining prestige beauty
Higher regard for ingredient efficacy, innovations in biotechnology, and a stronger sense of individuality were each identified as key drivers in the evolving US prestige beauty market.
Indie Insights: What indie beauty brands need to survive
In this month’s Q&A, CosmeticsDesign spoke with beauty industry brand founder and entrepreneur David Chung for his perspective on helping new beauty and wellness startups scale.
October Launch Pad: Fresh-picked fall faves
From fantasy and celebrity-inspired fragrances to early holiday drops, this month’s launch pad has a wide audience appeal.
Shopify to power Estée Lauder’s next-gen beauty commerce
Estée Lauder Companies aims to drive faster DTC innovation and personalized omnichannel experiences with new Shopify partnership.