Indie Beauty

4 top takeaways from the Beauty Entrepreneurship Community Roundtable

Editor's Spotlight

4 top takeaways from the Beauty Entrepreneurship Community Roundtable

By Deanna Utroske

This past Wednesday, 10 cosmetics and personal care business insiders gathered via Zoom Video Conference to discuss the challenges and opportunities that Black brand owners and that Black-owned cosmetics and personal care businesses have in the marketplace...

Indie Beauty Profile Stan Ades, Pacific Shaving Company

Indie Beauty Profile

Stan Ades, Pacific Shaving Company

By Deanna Utroske

In his Indie Beauty Profile, Stan Ades, Co-Founder of the Pacific Shaving Company describes a business built on the courage of the Founders’ convictions that a personal care startup could actually improve the at-mass shave and grooming category.

What does IBE look like overseas?

What does IBE look like overseas?

By Deanna Utroske

One month from now, the Berlin, Germany, edition of the Indie Beauty Expo will open its doors, welcoming buyers from nearly 80 retailers as well as 100s of press and influencers, brand founders, and other industry professionals.

Indie Beauty Profile Tony Rechtman, INIKA Organic

Indie Beauty Profile

Tony Rechtman, INIKA Organic

By Deanna Utroske

In his Indie Beauty Profile, Tony Rechtman, CEO and Founder of Australia-based Total Beauty Network, the company behind the INIKA Organic brand talks about his work to make effective natural makeup and skin care a reality and about the sizable company...

Indie Beauty Profile Linda Dempah, Adeba Nature

Indie Beauty Profile

Linda Dempah, Adeba Nature

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Linda Dempah, CEO of Adeba Nature, describes the solid beginnings of the brand she’s built around a single, rare ingredient—Adjoba oil.

Sway: the startup personal care brand making armpits pretty

CD Buzz Video

Sway: the startup personal care brand making armpits pretty

By Deanna Utroske

Rebecca So founded Sway in 2017 with a collection of underarm care products. Since then, the brand has grown to include skin care, body care, and more. But still at the heart of Sway is a mission to make pits pretty.

Sandy Ovington joins It’s A 10 Haircare

Sandy Ovington joins It’s A 10 Haircare

By Deanna Utroske

The former ULTA Beauty executive has stepped into her new role as Senior Vice President of the professional hair brand’s specialty retail and chains business.

Cheekbone Beauty: socially conscious business in action

CD Buzz Video

Cheekbone Beauty: socially conscious business in action

By Deanna Utroske

“Cheekbone Beauty is all about empowering and enhancing the lives of Indigenous youth,” Founder Jenn Harper tells Cosmetics Design in this video interview, which goes on to explore the Canada-based color cosmetics brand’s vision, financing approach, and...

3 ways IBE exhibiting brands stood out from the crowd

Editor's Spotlight: Indie Beauty Analysis

3 ways IBE exhibiting brands stood out from the crowd

By Deanna Utroske

Last week’s Indie Beauty Expo event in Los Angeles, California, attracted hundreds of influencers, buyers, press, and investors. Here’s a quick look at how select cosmetics, personal care, and wellness brands exhibiting at the event managed to capture...

IBE announces 2019 Best in Show winners, 5 trends stand out

IBE announces 2019 Best in Show winners, 5 trends stand out

By Deanna Utroske

Just days before the 2020 Indie Beauty Expo event series gets underway, the 2019 Best in Show have been announced; and several of the winning cosmetics and personal care products exemplify global innovation trends.

Indie beauty brands are winning with QVC and HSN

Editor's Spotlight

Indie beauty brands are winning with QVC and HSN

By Deanna Utroske

Following a pitch competition in mid 2019, the video commerce channels owned and operated by Qurate Retail Group are putting winning brands on air and in front of millions of consumers.

Key suppliers to support indie beauty brands at Uplink Live

Key industry suppliers to support indie beauty brands at Uplink Live

By Deanna Utroske

The new tradeshow dedicated to bringing solution providers and indie brands together will open later this month in Los Angles, California. And top cosmetics and personal care industry suppliers, including Croda and Evonik will be among the exhibitors....

2019 Indie Beauty News Highlights

2019 Indie Beauty News Highlights

By Deanna Utroske

As we look ahead to 2020, let’s not forget the stellar year that 2019 has been for the independent beauty movement. Here Cosmetics Design reviews 10 top 2019 news items about all things indie.

Indie Beauty Up Close: Amy Carra launches Delight Beauty for UBP

CD Buzz Video

Indie Beauty Up Close: Amy Carra launches Delight Beauty for UBP

By Deanna Utroske

Universal Beauty Products is a privately owned portfolio of brands mostly in hair and men’s categories. Amy Carra joined UBP a little over 2 years ago; and the company’s new Delight Beauty skin care brand is the result of her work.

Kids’ blend-it-yourself bath brand Dabble & Dollop debuts on QVC

Editor's Spotlight

Kids’ blend-it-yourself bath brand Dabble & Dollop debuts on QVC

By Deanna Utroske

The past Saturday evening, the video commerce channel introduced the first Big Find pitch winner to its viewership. Cosmetics Design checked in with founder Stephanie Leshney about her experience pitching and presenting alongside show host Shawn Killinger.

How To: a collection of advice for indie beauty brand leaders

How To: a collection of advice for indie beauty brand leaders

By Deanna Utroske

Over the years, Cosmetics Design has covered numerous events on the independent beauty movement. Here is a selection of guidance for startups from insiders and experts who have spoken at those events as well as a few notes from the Cosmetics Design editorial...

Indie Beauty Profile Lili Fan, Dr Lili Fan Probiotic Skin Care

Indie Beauty Profile

Lili Fan, Dr Lili Fan Probiotic Skin Care

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile biochemist, microbiologist, practicing ophthalmologist, and long-time beauty innovator Lili Fan, Founder and President of Dr Lili Fan Probiotic Skin Care, shares insight into the growing microbiome beauty movement and succinct...

Caswell-Massey opens NYC pop-up boutique

Caswell-Massey opens NYC pop-up boutique

By Deanna Utroske

The centuries-old American fragrance brand has been updating nearly every aspect of its business over the past 3 years and is now welcoming long-time consumers, new brand fans, and curious shoppers to experience the old and the new of Caswell-Massey at...

cosmetics & personal care ingredient makers are going indie

Editor's Spotlight

Ingredient makers are going indie

By Deanna Utroske

It’s no longer unusual for multinational raw material suppliers to work with indie beauty brands; but it’s still not the norm. Here Cosmetics Design looks at an array of legacy specialty chemical companies doing business directly with cosmetics, personal...

2019 Good Housekeeping Sustainable Packaging Award winners announced

Editor's Spotlight

2019 Good Housekeeping Sustainable Packaging Award winners announced

By Deanna Utroske

At last week’s Raise the Green Bar sustainability summit in New York City, Birnur Aral and Carolyn Forté of the Good Housekeeping Institute announced the winners from indie, niche, and legacy brands in 9 categories across bath and body, makeup and skin...

Indie Beauty Profile of Stephanie Leshney, Dabble & Dollop

Indie Beauty Profile

Stephanie Leshney, Dabble & Dollop

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Stephanie Leshney, founder of the blend-it-yourself kids personal care brand Dabble & Dollop, talks about how her experience in the cosmetics and personal care ingredient business informed the brand she is building now...

Cosmetica Laboratories opens innovation hub in California

CD Buzz Video

Cosmetica Laboratories opens innovation hub in California

By Deanna Utroske

In late September, the Canadian beauty maker cut the ribbon on a new product development facility meant to bring the company closer to indie beauty brands innovating for the future of cosmetics and skin care. Cosmetics Design editor Deanna Utroske recently...

10 top tips: Building a Beauty Startup

Editor's Spotlight

10 top tips: Building a Beauty Startup

By Deanna Utroske

This past Thursday in New York City, the recommendation platform and entrepreneurship community Stacklist hosted a panel discussion among beauty business founders at the Amazon Web Services loft space. Cosmetics Design was there, along with some 250 aspiring...

Indie Beauty Profile Stephanie Kim, Moonlit Skincare

Indie Beauty Profile

Stephanie Kim, Moonlit Skincare

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Stephanie Kim, Co-Founder of Moonlit Skincare, describes how she and Kriszta Matyi have created a cross-sector beauty brand dedicated to skin care, sleep, and wellness.

CIBS October luncheon to focus on Indie Beauty

CIBS October luncheon to focus on Indie Beauty

By Deanna Utroske

At next week’s meeting—open for both members and non-members to attend—the Cosmetic Industry Buyers and Suppliers will welcome new members and feature a presentation from Jillian Wright, co-founder of the Indie Beauty Media Group.