As part of a broader brand refresh, Raw Sugar Living has introduced redesigned bottles made with 30% post-consumer recycled plastic alongside reformulated body washes certified as microbiome-friendly by Kind to Biome. The update also includes new fragrance launches and expanded haircare collections as the brand looks to strengthen its presence across major US retailers.
In this CosmeticsDesign Q&A, Raw Sugar Living CEO Mike Marquis discusses the packaging and formulation decisions behind the rebrand, how supplier partnerships supported the transition to PCR materials and the role retailer insights played in shaping product development and SKU strategy.
CDU: How did the brand balance design aesthetics, material performance, and sustainability requirements during the redesign, and what supply‑chain or manufacturing challenges did this shift create?
Mike Marquis: We approached the redesign holistically, aligning packaging aesthetics with product performance and sustainability goals while working in conjunction with our customer partners. The refreshed look introduces a simpler, more modern silhouette that elevates shelf presence while honoring beloved brand cues like the signature bamboo tops and white bottles, creating an elevated yet approachable feel.
The new bottles use 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic while maintaining the premium feel and usability consumers expect. The biggest challenge was ensuring consistent material quality at scale while meeting both our sustainability targets and retailer shelf standards, which required close collaboration across our manufacturing partners and iterative testing to maintain performance and visual consistency.
CDU: What drove the decision to pursue microbiome-friendly certification, and how did your R&D teams ensure the new body wash formulas met both clinical efficacy targets and retailer expectations for clean beauty compliance?
Mike Marquis: Microbiome-friendly certification reflects our deep commitment to skin health, product integrity, and advancing clean beauty standards. We pursued certification through Kind to Biome to ensure our formulas respect and maintain the skin’s natural microbiome and pH balance.
Our Product Development team developed the new body washes with hydrating Sugarcane Extract, moisturizing oils, and botanical extracts to gently cleanse while actively supporting skin barrier health.
We paired this with rigorous clinical and consumer testing - including results showing statistically significant hydration improvement within 15 minutes and 94% of participants saying they would recommend the product - while also adhering to strict EU and IFRA safety standards.
All formulas remain vegan, cruelty-free, and free from harsh chemicals, ensuring they meet both our internal performance benchmarks and retailer clean beauty compliance expectations.
CDU: With raw material markets evolving, how is Raw Sugar working with suppliers to maintain ingredient integrity, consistency, and cost accessibility while scaling new product lines?
Mike Marquis: We maintain close, collaborative relationships with suppliers to ensure consistent ingredient quality and reliable sourcing. Strategic planning and long-term partnerships allow us to scale new lines and expand while protecting the integrity of key raw materials.
This approach ensures that as we grow, we maintain both performance and accessibility for consumers.
CDU: How did retailer collaboration influence product development and differentiation, and what does this rebrand signal about Raw Sugar’s broader omnichannel growth strategy?
Mike Marquis: Retailer collaboration plays a critical role in shaping both product development and SKU differentiation, as their insights into shopper behavior, category gaps, and performance trends help us create tailored assortments and meaningful exclusives, from fragrance innovations to targeted haircare solutions, that resonate with distinct customer profiles.
That partnership also informed packaging updates designed to improve shelf visibility and align with growing demand for sustainable materials, reinforcing both productivity and brand values.
The rebrand ultimately signals Raw Sugar Living’s evolution into a more performance-driven, strategically scaled omnichannel brand - strengthening in-store impact across major retailers like Target, Walmart, and CVS while enhancing digital storytelling and ensuring a cohesive, elevated consumer experience at every touchpoint.
CDU: Which specific consumer insights, whether related to packaging, scent preferences, product format, or self‑care behaviors, most shaped the direction of the new brand identity and formulations?
Mike Marquis: Consumers wanted stronger performance, elevated sensorial experiences, and packaging that feels more modern while remaining approachable.
Millennials especially – who make up a large portion of beauty spending, and remain a key demographic for us – have expectations on quality and transparency. They want products that seamlessly fit into their daily self-care routines, which helped inform our updated approach.
All these insights were central to both the visual refresh and formula reformulation.
CDU: From a product development perspective, what areas of innovation or emerging ingredient technologies are most exciting to Raw Sugar right now, and how might they shape the next phase of the brand’s portfolio growth?
Mike Marquis: We’re particularly excited about microbiome-friendly formulations, plant-based actives for hair and skin, and ingredients that deliver clinically tested benefits while remaining clean and sustainable.
These innovations enhance efficacy and sensorial enjoyment while enabling us to expand into higher-performance haircare with collections like Oil Remedy and Color Renew, introduce new body care fragrances, and explore future self-care categories.
This next phase of Raw Sugar Living will continue to marry intentional innovation with elevated, approachable experiences that delight consumers and reinforce our omnichannel growth strategy.
