The Philosophy of Self-Care: Serums, Multi-Sensoriality and Tools
As serums gain ground, Nolte said the category has transitioned from the niche, premium area of skin care into being a mainstream, cross-category product type.
Journalist Editor Moderator
Kacey Culliney is a multimedia journalist, editor and moderator with 14+ years experience in global B2B publishing and events. She is passionate about the future of beauty business, cutting-edge science and the people behind today's trailblazing brands.
The Philosophy of Self-Care: Serums, Multi-Sensoriality and Tools
As serums gain ground, Nolte said the category has transitioned from the niche, premium area of skin care into being a mainstream, cross-category product type.
Lickable perfume startup Amorecco 'redefining' intimacy wellness
Launched in 2025, the Amorecco brand has two lickable perfumes – After Dark and Late Night Gelato – made from food-grade alcohol and flavorings to create dual-sensory products that can be smelled and tasted.
Hair Longevity: Spotlighting the Next Wave of Beauty Innovation
By 2029, hair care will be worth an estimated 124 billion USD in retail value terms, according to Euromonitor International. And growth is set to be defined by far more than simple shampoos and conditioners as hair lotions and serums take centre stage alongside a flurry of potent and active formulas.
Science spotlight: Jamu, a “sleeping giant” in global beauty
According to a review published in Current Traditional Medicine, Jamu – Indonesia’s longstanding traditional medicinal and health practice dating back thousands of years – had long been applied to personal care, beauty and wellbeing but could today be more widely accessed thanks to “modern Jamu” products in the form of liquids, tablets, capsules and powders.
Decoding Beauty Breakthroughs: L'Oréal Patent Taps Indigo + Actives to Target Cortisol for Hair Loss
Editor's note: C&T welcomes this contribution by freelancer and columnist Kacey Culliney, who delves into the patent literature for recent beauty breakthroughs and connects with industry experts to decipher the real-world implications.
France Bans “Forever Chemicals” in Cosmetics
France's ban on the production, import, export, and sale of cosmetics, wax, and textile products containing PFAS came into force on January 1, 2026, under French Law No. 2025-188, part of Article 1 Chapter IV of France's Environmental Code. The ban was adopted February 2025, with Decree 2025-1376 published in December 2025 clarifying concentration thresholds. The move makes France the first EU country to ban PFAS in cosmetics, though the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently...
EU Microplastics Regulation: The Global Beauty Impact
Two years on from the European Union's move to restrict intentionally added microplastics in cosmetics, global beauty brands, cosmetic chemists, formulators, and raw material suppliers are investing in compliance. And as reporting and phase-out deadlines approach, pressure is on to adhere to an array of restrictions. EU Microplastics Restriction DeadlinesIn September 2023, the European Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/2055, restricting intentionally added synthetic polymer mi...
'Innovative' and 'purpose-driven': ByErim and Make Waves win Breakout Beauty UK
Hair health start-up ByErim and refillable deodorant brand Make Waves won Breakout Beauty UK last December – the inaugural industry-led programme spearheaded by start-up accelerator Growth Studio and supported by Boots, TikTok Shop, HSBC Innovation Banking, distributor FDD International, law firm Bird & Bird, early-stage venture capital firm Venrex and trade organisation British Beauty Council.
‘Complex’ mechanisms behind collagen peptides for skin health
According to the scientists, from China’s Southeast University, supplementation with collagen peptides significantly increases skin elasticity and hydration while reducing skin roughness, “potentially improving skin ageing via multiple molecular targets and pathways”. Their review, published in the Journal of Future Foods, draws conclusions from a bioinformatics analysis and meta-analysis of existing trials in the field, spanning 1,235 participants.“Mechanistically, collagen peptides mitigate sk...
Future Beauty Growth: Smart Global Business Key Amidst Uncertainties and Competition
The global beauty market is becoming increasingly complex and competitive, driven largely by evolving consumer expectations. Today’s consumers demand higher performance, personalization, and sustainability, but it doesn’t stop there—they also have new needs and priorities, particularly around wellness and inclusivity.
Fragrance-only concept store shows big intention, say Boots execs
Boots opened in October its first fragrance-only boutique store in London, UK, following more than two years of development. The store features 400+ luxury and niche scents across almost 200 square metres of retail space, offering shoppers immersive experiences, premium concierge services, luxury gift-wrapping and expert consultations. Products include well-established fine fragrances like Tom Ford Private Blend, Balmain and Hermès as well as founder-led and independent niche brands like Galliva...
Jellyfish collagen as a marine biomaterial?
Writing in Applied Food Research, researchers from China and the UK investigated the potential of jellyfish-sourced collagen for food, cosmetic, and biomedical applications amid the steady rise in demand for collagen-based products.The review outlined how marine collagen had gained “significant attention” in recent years, largely due to mammalian collagen being associated with potential health risks and not always being suitable for religious reasons. And within this marine collagen category, th...
Bridging beauty: What L'Oréal and Estée Lauder look for in startup tie-ups
In Europe alone, there are more than 9,600 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the region’s EUR 104 billion cosmetics and personal care market, according to trade association Cosmetics Europe. And the number of startups is growing, with more than 2,000 beauty startups based in France alone and over 1,000 in the UK.
So, just how important are these startups in the wider, larger beauty market? And how interested are big beauty companies in the ideas and innovations coming out of...
So, just how important are these startups in the wider, larger beauty market? And how interested are big beauty companies in the ideas and innovations coming out of...
A 'China moment'? Why TikTok Shop is beauty's next rare growth opportunity
China is the second largest beauty market in the world behind the United States in revenue terms, according to Statistica. And it’s a market with plenty going on, fuelled by increasingly engaged consumers and shaped by a significant boom in e-commerce, said Ying Sang, executive chairman of B2B trade fair China Beauty Expo.
AI and Smart Science Redefine Beauty Innovation
Formulators and manufacturers are leaning hard into artificial intelligence (AI), next-gen analytics, and alternative delivery systems to advance research and development efforts in beauty. The goal? To shift brands and consumers towards a hyperpersonalized, data-led, super sustainable, and ultraconvenient future.
Beauty Retail 2026: Wellness, Technology and Experience Redefine the Global Market
Global beauty retail remains dynamic, with significant growth opportunities in the wellness space and experience-led strategies designed to engage consumers across every shopper touchpoint.
Beauty must advance skincare science in the longevity field, says L'Oréal
Longevity – the idea of extending lifespan whilst maintaining health and appearance – is arguably one of the most important movements of 2025; influencing a whole host of industries, from healthcare to food and beverage into fitness, beauty and wellness.
Mass Beauty 2026 Growth, Innovation and Trends
Mass remains beauty's largest category globally and will continue to grow as consumers seek efficacy and elevated value in products, with fragrances and "masstige" blur holding strong promise ahead.
Carbon Capture: Is Beauty There Yet?
Over the last five years, there has been a swathe of carbon capture beauty deals, prototypes, and pilot runs, incorporating carbon into packaging, fragrances, and ingredients.
Value, purpose and "thoughtful consumerism" to shape premium and prestige beauty
Consumer price sensitivity is rising as global economic uncertainties continue, carving out a future of more thoughtful consumerism in beauty and a clear need for brand differentiation, say experts.Key Takeaways:Last year, premium and prestige represented close to half of the entire global beauty industry with a shared retail value of 335.91 billion USD–just behind mass at 343.03 billion USD, according to data analytics firm Euromonitor International. In 2024, premium beauty and personal care pr...
Beautiful Bacteria: Are We on the Cusp of Microbiome Mainstreaming?
Over the past few years, a flurry of independent beauty brands have brought the microbiome to the forefront of formulations, marketing, and packaging claims. French brand Gallinée, UK brands Byoma and Cultured Biomecare, and South African brand Esse Skincare have all built out reputations around the skin microbiome on a global scale, leading with microbiome claims and bacteria messaging.
Industry-led accelerator Breakout Beauty UK looking for the next 'monster' brand
Launched this month and open for applications, the accelerator programme would select a cohort of founders running businesses with £150,000+ turnovers to take through its mentorship curriculum covering brand, retail, finance and business insights from an array of industry experts, including Trinny Woodall, founder of Trinny London, and Mitchell Halliday, founder of Made by Mitchell.
Spearheaded by start-up accelerator Growth Studio, early-stage venture capital firm Venrex and trade organisation...
Spearheaded by start-up accelerator Growth Studio, early-stage venture capital firm Venrex and trade organisation...
Nutrition and beauty AI tool hoped to democratise personalised wellness
Revieve, which provides advanced AI-powered solutions to help beauty brands deliver hyper-personalised customer experiences, has partnered with the renowned LA-based cosmetic dermatologist to develop the tool, which provides skincare and wellness recommendations based on smart analysis from a selfie and questionnaire.
The tool – already available via Dr Simon Ourian's website across parts of Europe and due to launch later this year in the US – suggests ingestible and topical products for each use...
The tool – already available via Dr Simon Ourian's website across parts of Europe and due to launch later this year in the US – suggests ingestible and topical products for each use...
'Strong case' for oral vitamins and skin health
Writing in The Microbe, an international team of researchers outlined the regulatory effects of vitamins on skin health, immunity, and disease – specifically, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B12, C, D, and E – and concluded that they showed promise in enhancing overall skin health as well as treating already apparent skin problems.
Speaking to Vitafoods Insights about the research, Dr Barbara Brockway, cosmetics and personal care scientific adviser and owner of Barbara Brockway Consulting, said the autho...
Speaking to Vitafoods Insights about the research, Dr Barbara Brockway, cosmetics and personal care scientific adviser and owner of Barbara Brockway Consulting, said the autho...
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Albert Einstein