On imperfection and transparency: Former De Beers research exec on parallels between beauty and diamond industries
The founder of a beauty brand and former research consultant in the diamond industry says both sectors shared striking similarities and could mutually benefit by exchanging insights in areas such as consumer transparency.
After years in the beauty industry, Sanjana Balani founded Potion Inc, a skin care brand. However, before she did, she ended up working in the diamond industry with one of the oldest and most notable names in the history of the business, De Beers.
Speaking on the Beauty 4.0 Podcast, the founder and CEO said her first-hand experience learning about one of the most sought-after gems in the world was instrumental to the development of her brand.
“If it wasn’t for the diamond industry, Potion’s emphasis on confidence and inner beauty would never have existed. I would have probably launched something that was all about quick results… The diamond industry made me accepting of flaws better.”
Adjunctive solutions: How medical aesthetics are inspiring ‘breakthroughs’ in skin care – Kenvue R&D lead
Skin care companies are turning to medical aesthetic treatments as a source of inspiration to develop novel solutions to skin care concerns, said Kenvue.
The skin care category has evolved in Asia Pacific significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the big shifts the industry is seeing is that medical aesthetic treatments like laser therapy, microneedling, or thread lifting, have become part of the beauty regime.
“This has been a huge shift. We’re now seeing skin care products being used in these medical aesthetic areas as adjunctive care – pre-treatment, during treatment and post-treatment. Skin care is becoming much bigger,” said Keshan Gunasinghe, Head of R&D APAC, Kenvue.
Expanding horizons: Beauty brands embracing crossover marketing as boundaries between wellness, lifestyle blur
Blurred boundaries between beauty, wellness, and lifestyle are creating opportunities for brands to venture beyond traditional partnerships to more innovative and meaningful projects.
Crossover marketing is a strategy that involves partnerships between companies that may not traditionally work together but can benefit from each other’s customer bases. These collaborations can result in unique and appealing products or campaigns.
Speaking on the Beauty 4.0 Podcast, veteran marketer Dave McCaughan, highlighted the opening of a bookstore by Chinese fragrance label as an example of effective crossover marketing.
“I was fascinated last year when Documents opened a bookstore. The way they combined perfume and books by embedding the stories in the books to bring that alive. That’s the sort of unusual partnership that China has really started to innovate with,” said the founder of marketing consultancy, Bibliosexual.
Smart beauty packaging: Gen Z mobile usage, demand for transparency a ‘match made in heaven’ – Meiyume
Smart packaging can help beauty brands align with a more environmental and socially conscious Generation Z consumer to create products that are more than just thumb-stoppingly attractive.
Speaking on the Beauty 4.0 Podcast, Stephane Bulle of Meiyume highlighted that the digital native Gen Z consumer will expect more in terms of information and transparency on the product itself.
“How we connect the real world and the web is a key point. And if that that connection is used to actually serve what they’re looking for, I think this is definitely a winning combination,” said the vice president of packaging innovation.
To meet the demands of Gen Z, the company believes there’s a huge opportunity for smart packaging solutions, which can be found often in the realm of wines and spirits.
Self-care revolution: H&B retailers have opportunity to focus on wellness to meet the needs of ‘overstimulated’ consumer
Health and beauty (H&B) chains are increasingly driven to meet wellness demands of today’s consumer that is more invested in their overall well-being.
H&B chains are more than just another retail space; they are essential hubs that meet the needs of all demographics.
For many beauty consumers, H&B retailers like Watsons or Guardian are their first and most common touchpoints. From teens with specific skin care needs to adults seeking wellness products, these chains have become indispensable.
However, with competition heating up offline and online, these retailers have been challenged to give today’s consumers a memorable shopping experience.
‘Testing would give absolute certainty’: Tremendous potential in neurocosmetics hindered by lack of robust testing methods
The neurocosmetics sector shows tremendous potential as the line of beauty and wellness blurs, but progress in this space is hindered by a lack of testing methods.
Justhuman was established in 2021 by CEO Roshini Sanah Jaiswal and is headquartered in the US and India. The brand rose to prominence as a pioneer in the neurocosmetics space.
Most recently, the brand introduced its first skin care product, Microshots Age Defying Peptide⁶ Treatment Cream. The anti-ageing product claims to offer an alternative that rivals treatments like Botox, microneedling and fillers.
Today, the field of neurocosmetics remains relatively underexplored, with limited understanding of its full potential and applications.
Beauty 4.0 Podcast: Exploring the landscape of beauty dupes with Rohan Widdeson
This episode explored the ethical considerations of beauty dupes, such as formulation considerations, the legal implications of beauty dupes, and more.
As beauty dupes become a mainstay for budget-conscious consumers, they raise questions for brands and manufacturers alike. Dupes can offer quality products at lower prices, but do they cross ethical lines when copying existing formulations?
The conversation also delves into the ways dupe culture can drive product innovation by pushing companies to reimagine existing formulas in creative, cost-effective ways.
This episode also highlights practical challenges in producing dupes, such as ensuring regulatory compliance and maintaining product safety standards. As regulations tighten, manufacturers face increasing pressure to ensure that dupes meet the same rigorous testing as original products.
Beauty 4.0: The state of the menopausal beauty market
CosmeticsDesign explored the booming menopausal beauty market discussing how ingredient innovation and sustainable formulation are tackling specific skin care, hair care, and fragrance needs for women navigating menopause.
Menopausal beauty—a category addressing the unique skin care, hair care, and fragrance needs of women experiencing menopause—has seen a significant rise in attention and investment in the US beauty market. According to the National Institute on Aging, more than 1 million women in the United States experience menopause each year, representing a significant consumer market share.
Christine Staples, CEO of Cohere Beauty, a prominent Custom Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in beauty and personal care, shared her expertise on the transformative trends and innovations in menopausal beauty, providing valuable perspectives on product development, ingredient selection, and the future of fragrance in this burgeoning market.
in-cosmetics Asia report: Climate-focused beauty in the spotlight
Beauty ingredient players DSM-Firmenich, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant, Sensient, and IMCD highlighted climate-focused innovations, reflecting a growing demand for products that protect against harsher weather and climate change.
At this year’s edition of in-cosmetics Asia, the Beauty 4.0 Podcast explored how the cosmetics industry can tackle challenges of climate change with products designed to protect our skin, hair, and overall wellness from environmental stressors.
The ingredients trade show, held from November 5 to 7 in Bangkok, featured companies working to help consumers handle the stresses of environmental exposure with innovative solutions.
