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.
Tech innovation
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.
US researchers determine ozonized glycerin shows improved skin repair and barrier support
The findings indicate potential applications in skin care, although further in vivo studies are needed to understand absorption and mechanisms.
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.
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.
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.
Osmo raises $70m to scale AI fragrance tech
Digital scent design platform Osmo has raised $70 million in Series B funding as it moves to scale AI-powered fragrance development across cosmetics and personal care manufacturing.
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.
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...
Crosslinked HA shown to enhance delivery of key skincare actives
Crosslinked hyaluronic acid has been shown to enhance the penetration of hydrophilic skincare actives, offering formulators new opportunities for efficacy and simplified systems.
Across the CD-Verse: January 2026
This month’s global beauty news headlines encompass exciting innovations, regulatory pressures, and acquisitions with significant industry impacts.
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.
KDC/ONE partners with Potion AI for R&D revamp
“Together, we are creating a single source of digital truth and equipping teams with intelligent tools to fundamentally transform the R&D process,” said Yahya Syed, Co-Founder and CEO of Potion AI.
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…
Kolmar Korea becomes first cosmetics company to win top honours at CES
Kolmar Korea’s AI-powered Scar Beauty Device has won the Best of Innovation in Beauty Tech award at CES 2026, making it the first cosmetics company to do so.
US beauty-tech firm Oddity expands into OTC dermatology with METHODIQ telehealth platform
The launch highlights how AI-driven development is reshaping OTC skincare formulation and driving ingredient formulation forward.
Zinc oxide nanocrystals offer energy-efficient path to PFAS remediation: Japan study
Scientists in Japan have found a new way to clean up “forever chemicals” that is safer and more energy-efficient than older methods by using tiny particles called zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystals (NCs).
AI, LED and smart styling: Key beauty tech trends at CES 2026
What’s next for beauty technology? If you couldn’t make it to CES this year, here are some of the most exciting new innovations.
Biomarkers redefine skin aging at London summit
Last month’s Nutra Healthspan Summit brought growing interest in longevity-positioned skin care into sharper focus.
AI and beauty tech: 5 innovations disrupting skincare
From skin analysis to smart devices, we outline some of the new beauty tech breakthroughs that could reshape the category.
L’Oréal boosts stake in Galderma to 20%, eyes aesthetics growth
CEO of L’Oréal says it’s keen to further explore aesthetics as a “key adjacency” to its core beauty business.
Givaudan acquires Belle Aire Creations to boost US fragrance reach
Swiss fragrance company Givaudan has made a strategic move in the ever-growing US fragrance market.
Jo Malone London unveils AI scent advisor for digital discovery
Estée Lauder Companies’ Jo Malone London brand has launched an AI beauty tech innovation to help customers find personalised perfume online.
‘New era of skin longevity’: Amorepacific unveils next-gen personalised beauty tech
South Korean beauty giant Amorepacific has jointly developed a beauty tech system with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which it says goes beyond observation to prediction and management of skin changes.
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.
K-beauty for kids: why Shay Mitchell’s Rini brand divides opinion
Is children’s skincare the next beauty frontier or an unpleasant side-effect of the cosmetics industry? Inside Rini’s launch…
Coty narrows US fragrance gap amid FY26 growth push
In its 1Q FY26 earnings call, the company reported momentum in prestige, while streamlining operations and reshaping the consumer beauty market.
6 oral care trends driving beauty and wellness innovation
From clean ingredients to AI, oral care is becoming beauty’s most disruptive category.
Puig sees fragrance sales slow down in Q3
While the Spanish luxury beauty company has seen impressive sales across the board for the first nine months of the year, perfume sales have slowed in the third quarter of the year.
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.
Fragrance, France & digital shopping: what’s behind Estée Lauder Companies’ revival?
As beauty multinational Estée Lauder Companies reports a return to positive sales and profit growth in its latest financial results, its CEO revealed more about its future focus during the analyst call.
How Helena Rubinstein is redefining anti-ageing with avant-garde science
We spoke to the mediluxe brand about its innovation in ozone, senescence & skin repair.
What Mintel’s 2026 BPC Forecast means for US beauty product pipelines
Mintel analysts outlined three key trend areas: Metabolic Beauty, Sensorial Synergy, and Beyond the Algorithm, each with implications for how brands approach innovation, communication, and consumer engagement.
AI-driven skin tool visualizes lifestyle effects on health
SaaS technology company Haut.AI has released a new generative AI-powered SkinGPT Aging Model in collaboration with digital health platform Noom.
Could skin-on-chip methods be the future of cosmetics testing?
New research shows how new skin-on-chip methods could potentially disrupt animal testing in the beauty and personal care industry.
5 recent breakthroughs in cosmetic science
As researchers explore new biological pathways, ingredient mechanisms, and delivery systems, the gap between cosmetic science and clinical performance continues to narrow.
Luxury beauty meets longevity: inside L’Oréal’s Kering move
L’Oréal Group has acquired Creed and numerous fashion house beauty licences, but also plans joint wellness and longevity innovation in the €4bn Kering deal.
LVMH’s Sephora sees record growth despite Amazon Beauty’s rise
As Sephora’s parent company LVMH sees sales rebound, the firm’s CFO has shed more light on whether Amazon Beauty could be a serious competitor for Sephora’s crown.
Report: 76% of beauty consumers open to AI shopping
With 83% of active users relying on generative AI for product insights, beauty industry stakeholders face a new era of digital engagement.
Q&A: How smart modeling is making fragrance ingredients safer—without animal testing
RIFM’s pilot study demonstrates how PB/PK modeling can help meet regulatory expectations for genotoxicity data while avoiding additional animal testing.
L’Oréal Group reinventing its travel retail with experiential beauty zones
Is travel retail the new beauty playground? L’Oréal thinks so...
Aveda & Keracol’s new molecular method redefines hair colour longevity
The new research, which monitors how hair dye fades at a molecular level, offers deeper insight into hair colour retention.
La Mer partners Salk Institute to advance research in cellular energy, inform future NPD
La Mer is supporting Salk Institute to advance research in cellular energy and age-related function, in the hope of redefining healthy ageing and fuelling breakthroughs in product innovation.
Biotech targets men’s skin with exosome-based skin delivery system
Developed in-house by US-based men’s skin care brand Caldera + Lab, the system is designed for deeper penetration for targeted efficacy.
FDA launches dashboard for real-time cosmetic safety data
The new FDA tool has registered a sharp increase in adverse event reports following the implementation of MoCRA.
Neutrogena taps Haut.AI to boost digital skin care personalization push
In a sign of how far AI skin diagnostics have come, and how fast expectations are rising, Neutrogena has relaunched its Skin360 platform with a behind-the-scenes upgrade: clinical-grade skin analysis delivered entirely through a smartphone camera.