Watsons Kiosk In Shanghai Features YouCam Makeup App, Allows Customers To Virtually Try On Cosmetics

Retailer Watsons' flagship store in Shanghai features a kiosk that comes with augmented-reality-powered facial detection technology. Developed by Perfect Corporation, the YouCam makeup app allows customers to try on more than 30 products from leading makeup brands, such as MaxFactor, Maybelline, and Kate Cosmetics.

"YouCam Makeup App Becomes an Interactive Makeup Consultant in Watsons Shanghai", Business Wire, February 24, 2017

L'Oreal Paris Partners With The Glam App To Host The Academy Event

Beauty brand L'Oreal Paris is working with mobile on-demand beauty service provider The Glam App to help manage the Academy 2017 event involving 1,900 makeup, beauty, and hair stylists. To be hosted by The Glam App co-founder Joey Maalouf, the Academy event will feature famous beauty professionals, such as L'Oreal Paris celebrity makeup artist Sir John and leading hair stylist Jonathan Colombini. Also, the event will feature a VIP party, which will function as a networking event for stylists sharing tips and trends, and expanding client bases.

"The Glam App Announces Partnership with L’Oréal Paris", Business Wire, April 10, 2017

Shiseido's Clinical Trial Shows Retinol Products Improve Skin Wrinkles

Retinol active ingredients have “positive effect and efficacy” in improving skin wrinkles, according to Shiseido. Results of a clinical trial conducted by the beauty brand revealed that “retinol-formulated products” come with features that improve skin wrinkles. With Japanese women aged 37-54 who had shallow to deep wrinkles at their eye corners as study subjects, the clinic trial involved the women using the products for nine weeks. After the usage period, skin wrinkles showed improvement compared with those of women who used non-retinol products.

"Shiseido Reveals Wrinkle Improving Capabilities of Retinol Formulation", CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com, April 25, 2017

Estee Lauder's Sustainability Initiatives Involve Making Hard Choices Today For A Better Tomorrow

For The Estee Lauder Companies, sustainability means “making the smart (and sometimes difficult) choices today” in order to help create a better, more beautiful, and lasting world in the future, according to SVP of global corporate citizenship and sustainability, Nancy Mahon. Beauty brands need to integrate sustainability efforts into their business model to heed the call of consumers, employees, and investors for companies to behave responsibly and consciously with regards to the environment, Mahon said. Also, sustainability initiatives create the most value when they are “effectively and efficiently” implemented across the product's life cycle, she added.

"Estée Lauder Companies Shares Sustainability Best Practices, Part 1", CosmeticsDesign.com | USA, April 25, 2017

Shiseido Supports UN Women's Campaign For Gender Equality In Japan

Shiseido Company has agreed to collaborate with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women to lead the promotion of gender equality in Japan. According to the partners, they have reached an agreement because they “pursue the same cause.” Shiseido supports women's advancement, while the UN Women campaigns for gender equality worldwide. As part of its support for gender equality, Shiseido will launch gender education programs for the country's younger generation.

"Gender Equality in Japan Drives Shiseido’s Latest Agreement", CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com, April 26, 2017

Avon CEO McCoy Faces Ouster Calls From Activist Investor

Avon Products Inc. chief executive officer Sheri McCoy is facing calls for her dismissal from the cosmetics direct-selling company from activist investors Barington Capital Group LP and NuOrion Partners AG. Together, the investors own more than 3 percent of the company. Their calls for a faster turnaround and new CEO came after Avon reported an adjusted loss of 7 cents per share, which caused the stock to drop 22 percent to $3.62.
 

"Activist Investor Seeks Ouster of Avon CEO", Market Watch, May 04, 2017

Essie Announces Wild Nudes Collection Of Nail Polish

Nail care and styling brand essie launched its wild nudes collection of nail polish products. Highlighting the season's “trendiest look,” which is nude nail art, the nail polish products come with neutral colors described by the brand as “untamed, fierce and sexy.” Variants include the skinny dip, described by the company as “light peach pink with a slight hint of black”; bare with me, apricot tone with gray cast; and wild nude, light tan with a wash of white.

"Essie Introduces New Wild Nudes Collection", PR Newswire, May 05, 2017

Popular Beauty Brands Fail Ethics Test, Ethical Consumer Magazine Says

Popular and leading beauty brands have failed a corporate ethics analysis by the Ethical Consumer magazine. Focused on workers' rights, environmental policies, and animal testing, the test revealed that even brands perceived by consumers as ethical were actually guilty by association with their parent companies. Some brands sold by retailer Boots were rated poor because parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance does not require suppliers to ban animal testing. LVMH's beauty brand Benefit got a terrible score of 1.5 points out of 20 for its parent company's refusal to join the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

"How ethical is YOUR Makeup Bag? Report Delivers A Damning Verdict on Popular Brands Like Boots, Superdrug and Benefit Because of their Parent Firms' Policies Around Animal Testing and the Environment", Daily Mail, May 08, 2017

Schmidt's Naturals Expands Sensitive Skin Collection Of Deodorants

Schmidt's Naturals has added the Coconut Pineapple, Jasmine Tea, and Lavender Tips scents to its Sensitive Skin collection of deodorants for people with sensitive underarm skin. Designed to provide consumers with a “smooth, creamy formula” for sensitive skin, the products are made without toxic ingredients, such as aluminum and propylene glycol. First launch in 2010, the brand is famous for its efforts to listen to what customers want and need.

"Underarms Rejoice! Schmidt's Naturals Expands Its Sensitive Skin Deodorant Line With New Scent Innovations", PR Newswire, May 10, 2017

India's Deodorant Market Explodes, Euromonitor Reports

Sales of deodorants in India grew 177 percent from 2011 to 2016, according to Euromonitor International. Data from a report by the market research firm revealed deodorant sales reached Rs 1,130 crore in 2011, which grew threefold to Rs 3,130 crore in 2016. For years, Indian consumers have relied on fragrant talcum powders to help control body odor. At present, younger consumers with stronger purchasing power have increasingly relied on deodorants for protection from body odor.

"Deodorant sales are skyrocketing in India", Quartz India, May 12, 2017