This roundup brings together six noteworthy LATAM beauty industry stories shaping global product development, retail strategy, and ingredient pipelines, from The Estée Lauder Companies’ first-ever Latin American brand investment to Univar’s latest move strengthening its Brazil-based sun care portfolio.
ELC announces its first-ever LATAM brand investment
The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has announced its minority investment in XINÚ, a Mexican luxury fragrance brand founded in 2017. The move is the company’s first investment in a Latin American beauty brand and reflects its continued use of early-stage partnerships to expand its global fragrance portfolio.
XINÚ is known for designs and retail environments built around regional materials and a sustainability-focused aesthetic. The brand operates in Mexico and the United States and centers its product development on craftsmanship and heritage-inspired storytelling.
“Fragrance excellence and craftsmanship are at the heart of The Estée Lauder Companies, and they drive our passion for discovering new voices in beauty,” said Stéphane de La Faverie, President and Chief Executive Officer at ELC, in a press statement.
Brazilian study finds plant-based extract boosts SPF in sunscreens
A new study in Cosmetics reports promising early lab results on a nanoemulsion containing Achillea millefolium, or yarrow root extract, alongside two organic UV filters.
The research, led by a team at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and funded by multiple institutions, including the Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), explores whether a plant-based ingredient can support antioxidant, brightening, and SPF-boosting effects in a single formulation.
The authors describe this study as the first time a nanoemulsion has been formulated specifically with A. millefolium root extract.
Granado eyes deeper market penetration through Nordstrom retail launch
Brazilian heritage brand Granado is expanding its US retail footprint through an exclusive launch at Nordstrom’s 57th Street flagship in New York and on Nordstrom’s online store. The move marks a strategic step in the company’s long-term global retail plans as it builds awareness with American consumers and aligns its operations with US regulatory standards.
Granado chose Nordstrom as its retail partner for the launch based on shared values in craftsmanship and storytelling.
“It is the perfect place to introduce Granado to American customers in an environment that celebrates beauty, authenticity, and discovery,” Sissi Freeman, CMO of Granado told CosmeticsDesign, adding that the company’s goal for the first year is to “build awareness, strengthen the brand’s visibility in the US, and ensure strong sell-through by offering a curated assortment that encourages repeat purchases and long-term loyalty.”
K-Beauty World expands to Latin America via Ulta Mexico
The move taps into a fast-growing audience in Latin America, where consumer interest in global beauty trends, especially skin-focused routines, is on the rise.
“Mexico stands out as a particularly exciting opportunity,” Sarah Chung Park, founder and CEO of Landing International, the company behind K-Beauty World, told CosmeticsDesign. “Latin American consumers are among the most engaged and fastest-growing audiences for K-Beauty globally.”
Upcycled passionfruit waste holds promise for beauty product innovation, say Columbian researchers
As interest in natural, traceable, and upcycled ingredients grows, the authors propose granadilla pectin as a multifunctional biopolymer.
“These findings highlight P. ligularis pectins as sustainable biopolymers with potential as natural gelling and moisturizing agents in cosmetic products,” the researchers wrote.
Future work, according to the study, should focus on longer-term stability studies, extraction scale-up, and clinical testing to understand performance on skin under real-use conditions.
Univar’s Brazil deal fortifies sun care innovation pipeline
“Brazil serves as a strategic hub for Latin America,” James Peterson, global vice president of CARE, Ingredients + Specialties at Univar Solutions, told CosmeticsDesign. “This partnership enhances Ingredients + Specialties from Univar Solutions’ market offering for advanced UV protection solutions.”
The exclusive agreement grants Univar Solutions the rights to distribute Best Value Chem’s UV filters, including BVSUN, a broad-spectrum defense designed for facial and body care applications.
