Formulation research

SheaMoisture disrupts traditional merchandising segmentation

SheaMoisture disrupts traditional merchandising segmentation

By Deanna Utroske

This month the skin care and hair care brand launched the #BreakTheWalls campaign as a “call to action” and a “national awareness platform” to move the industry toward a genuinely diverse and inclusive consumer experience.

A New Niche: Green beauty for luxury consumers

A New Niche: Green beauty for luxury consumers

By Deanna Utroske

Today in New York City, an exclusive beauty show is helping to define a new segment in the cosmetics and skin care marketplace, one where ecofriendly and sophistication aren’t mutually exclusive.

Trend Spotting: in-cosmetics and the US marketplace

Trend Spotting: in-cosmetics and the US marketplace

By Deanna Utroske

As this week’s in-cosmetics personal care ingredient trade show in Paris comes to a close, Cosmetics Design shares our own key insights from the show floor as well as observations from market researchers on the scene. 

Talc supplier and J&J headed to court over cancer

Talc supplier and J&J headed to court over cancer

By Deanna Utroske

In a trial set to begin next week, more than 1,000 women are now suing the consumer goods company and the ingredients supplier Imerys Talc America for not disclosing known health risks.

Pigments & Organics: Innovation in nail color

Special Newsletter: Color Cosmetics

Pigments & Organics: Innovation in nail color

By Deanna Utroske

Mineral makeup remains popular in the color cosmetics category, while clean beauty alternatives and organic infusions are nudging in on the beauty market. Here, Suzanne Roberta of Adesse New York tells Cosmetics Design how nail care is keeping up.

Consumer demand sparks MyChelle sun care line extension

Consumer demand sparks MyChelle sun care line extension

By Deanna Utroske

Continuing to focus on products that mitigate consumer safety concerns and have minimal environmental impact, the Colorado-based company has added new SPF and after-sun items to its portfolio.

CEW announces the ECO Beauty Award finalists

CEW announces the ECO Beauty Award finalists

By Simon Pitman

The natural organic cosmetic and personal care category is defined by its eco credentials and that is the determining factor for entries to the CEW ECO Beauty Awards.

The Brown Crayon Project rallies support online

The Brown Crayon Project rallies support online

By Deanna Utroske

The safe-enough-for-kids indie naturals brand developed for people of color launched a campaign on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter yesterday and by midnight was very nearly halfway to its goal.

Is cactus from Mexico the next big personal care ingredient?

Is cactus from Mexico the next big personal care ingredient?

By Deanna Utroske

International beauty rituals inspire consumers to use products with novel and seemingly exotic ingredients. Cactus seed oil has been gaining in popularity for years, and now Mexico is looking to export prickly pear derivatives and perhaps some of the...

J&J loses in court, talcum powder linked to cancer

J&J loses in court, talcum powder linked to cancer

By Deanna Utroske

This week, a Missouri jury found the company liable for fraud, negligence, and conspiracy in a case brought by Jacqueline Fox and litigated by family members, following her death last October.

Center Ingredient Technology acquired by Takasago

Center Ingredient Technology acquired by Takasago

By Deanna Utroske

The biotech fragrance and flavor company uses fermentation to develop natural ingredients for cosmetics and other industries. Now that knowhow is part of Takasago’s Natural Mineral Portfolio.

College media chips away at big beauty

College media chips away at big beauty

By Deanna Utroske

Across the country, journalists at hyper-local campus news outlets report on issues of wellness, industry regulations, green washing, sustainability, and more –all the while pointing a finger at both the FDA and large cosmetics corporations.

H&M to launch Ecocert cosmetics and personal care collection

H&M to launch Ecocert cosmetics and personal care collection

By Deanna Utroske

By this time next month, the retailer’s Conscious product line will be available in select stores, aiming to meet consumer demand for portable products, unisex fragrances, certified natural beauty items, and more.

Natural Fragrance: scents and trends

Part 4 of 4

Natural Fragrance: scents and trends

By Deanna Utroske

Market trends and popular scent notes influence what natural fragrance makers are formulating, where these personal care products and perfumes are being sold, and how the supply chain is evolving.

Natural Fragrance: maintaining quality and gaining scale

Part 3 of 4

Natural Fragrance: maintaining quality and gaining scale

By Deanna Utroske

Natural fragrance ingredients are in limited supply. As demand for naturally scented personal care products and perfumes increases, brands are formulating with a combination of oils and isolates to keep pace.

Natural Fragrance: trading on exclusivity and purity

Part 2 of 4

Natural Fragrance: trading on exclusivity and purity

By Deanna Utroske

Ingredients used to formulate natural perfumes and scented personal care products differ from conventional ingredients, and this presents a challenge for brands. At the same time it’s an opportunity to develop and sell uniquely valuable product.

Indie beauty gets backing from community banks

Indie beauty gets backing from community banks

By Deanna Utroske

Privately owned cosmetics and personal care brands garner a lot of attention when it comes to M&A activity, but local financial institutions are backing local brands and helping independent beauty grow too.

New business model emerging at H20 Plus

New business model emerging at H20 Plus

By Deanna Utroske

The personal care company is prepping for a brand relaunch this spring; in the meantime H20 Plus has shuttered another store and is halting operation at its Chicago area manufacturing facility. 

Top-hitting trend articles in 2015 and looking ahead to 2016

Trends in 2015 and looking ahead to 2016

Top-hitting trend articles in 2015 and looking ahead to 2016

By Simon Pitman

In our final post of 2015 the Cosmetics Design team is bringing you a selection of the biggest trends that we have covered over the course of the year, as well as trend projections for 2016.

US Senate passes microbead ban

US Senate passes microbead ban

By Deanna Utroske

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the bill—which would definitively ban the use of microbeads in beauty products and personal care formulations—that was unanimously passed last Friday and now is in the hands of President Obama.

Natural cosmetics have never been so hot in Asia, says trend expert

Asia in Focus

Natural cosmetics have never been so hot in Asia, says trend expert

By Michelle Yeomans

Rising concerns around 'chemical pollution' coupled with an ancestral interest in traditional medicine has seen demand for holistic based or natural cosmetics - a segment that continues to go from strength to strength this year in Asia.

‘Free-from claims are based on fears and should stop’

‘Free-from claims are based on fears and should stop’

By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Cosmetics and personal care products should avoid using ‘free-from’ claims on their packs when referring to certain chemicals, as they just trade off fear, according to an industry panel who were speaking about reformulation at the in-cosmetics summit...

A milestone moment for natural personal care

A milestone moment for natural personal care

By Deanna Utroske

The independent California Baby brand celebrates its 20th anniversary this month and is doubling down to be an even more influential leader in the natural space with products for consumers of all ages.

State-of-the-art silk protein patent granted

State-of-the-art silk protein patent granted

By Deanna Utroske

Specialty biotechnology company Silk Therapeutics announced late last month that the US Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent for its non-GMO, stable liquid silk protein. Cosmetics Design connected with that company’s CEO, Greg Altman, to get the...

Creating personal care products with the help of plants

Creating personal care products with the help of plants

By Deanna Utroske

Rebecca Blahosky of Botanic Innovations spoke with Cosmetics Design reporter Deanna Utroske at the SCC Suppliers Day event in Long Beach, California, this month about sourcing and formulating with ingredients derived from fruit, vegetable, and herb seeds.

A closer look at the 10 ways naturals are changing beauty

A closer look at the 10 ways naturals are changing beauty

By Deanna Utroske

Yesterday, Cosmetics Design ran coverage of a new report from JWT Intelligence on the impact consumer naturalism is having on the cosmetics and personal care industry. Here we zoom in a bit on 10 natural and organic micro trends that matter.