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Principles trump products: How “dystoptimism” will shape beauty branding
Principles trump products: How “dystoptimism” will shape beauty branding
VML’s The Future 100: 2026 report reveals that Gen Z beauty consumers’ refusal to surrender to apathy influences their purchasing behavior. VML’s insights show how beauty brands can gain an edge by offering consistent brand values and transparency. The report coined the term “dystoptimistic” to describe the modern consumer’s resilience in spite of difficult contemporary social circumstances. “Failing to align with consumer values could be more than just a marketing problem,” Marie Stafford, global director at VML Intelligence, tells Personal Care Insights. 
Tech, regulation and ingredient innovation close biodegradability–performance gap
Tech, regulation and ingredient innovation close biodegradability–performance gap
NeoEcology is a word that will be heard more and more throughout the beauty industry, particularly as it relates to biodegradable beauty ingredients. The megatrend merges sustainability with technology-driven solutions, focusing on decoupling economic growth from resource consumption and moving toward a circular economy.Personal Care Insights speaks to BASF, Seppic, and Univar Solutions about the convergence of biodegradable ingredient development and technology-enabled formulation, as well as the role of European regulations in driving innovation.
Kimberly-Clark steps in as diaper insecurity exposes health system gaps
Kimberly-Clark steps in as diaper insecurity exposes health system gaps
Kimberly-Clark’s Huggies is doubling down on its commitment to improve access to diapers across the US and Puerto Rico, in partnership with the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). According to the NDBN, diaper insecurity affects nearly one in two US families with young children. The Huggies and NDBN joint donation initiative arrives as mounting evidence shows that a lack of access to essential hygiene products, specifically diapers, carries a heavy emotional burden for parents. However, diaper insecurity is not only a social issue but a costly one.
A Patented Breakthrough in Scalp Health — Learn more from the clinical study results
A Patented Breakthrough in Scalp Health — Learn more from the clinical study results
Purakan™ is a patented breakthrough in natural scalp care, proven to outperform market leaders on pruritus, dandruff, itching, and flaking. It replaces synthetic options like ZPT and piroctone olamine. Clinical studies show 89.7% of participants experienced reduced dandruff and itching within just seven days.This technical paper is brought to you by Mane Kancor.
IFF and Chemist Confessions: Bringing osmolytes to the forefront
IFF and Chemist Confessions: Bringing osmolytes to the forefront

Osmolytes have well-documented skin benefits, yet only a small fraction of new skin care launches feature them. IFF and Chemist Confessions explore why these powerful ingredients remain under the radar, despite their proven effectiveness. Find out why the companies took an educational approach in their recent influencer campaign, in contrast to typical product promotion.

Personal care industry 2025: Most read stories
Personal care industry 2025: Most read stories
This year, digital transformation and shifting consumer values reshaped the personal care industry. K-beauty surged onto the global stage, and brands responded to new generations redefining how beauty is created, marketed, and trusted. Suppliers and regulators accelerated innovation amid intensified scrutiny around safety and sustainability. These stories reveal the forces driving change across personal care in 2025. 

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Coty turns to OpenAI as beauty companies formalize AI adoption
Coty turns to OpenAI as beauty companies formalize AI adoption
Cosmetic conglomerate Coty and OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, are collaborating to expand the beauty company’s use of AI across selected parts of its global business. The deal grants Coty access to ChatGPT Enterprise, enabling employees to use OpenAI’s “most capable” models with advanced security and privacy protections. According to Coty, the AI will support employees in their daily work and collaboration to improve efficiency and operability.
Estée Lauder pleads guilty to Canada PFAS violation amid US tech lawsuit
Estée Lauder pleads guilty to Canada PFAS violation amid US tech lawsuit
Estée Lauder is currently facing legal pressure on two fronts — a violation of PFAS regulations in Canada and a separate civil lawsuit in the US. In Canada, an Ontario court has fined Estée Lauder Cosmetics (ELC) CA$750,000 (US$548,850) after the company pleaded guilty to violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The company was found to use perfluorononyl dimethicone, a silicone polymer classified as a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), in some of its eyeliner products.
Research highlights safety trade-offs in PCR materials for personal care
Research highlights safety trade-offs in PCR materials for personal care
Norner, a Norway-based polymer and plastics research company, has partnered with Orkla Home and Personal Care to assess the safety of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic in personal care packaging. The project reports that bottles made from recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) exhibit higher chemical migration than those made from virgin HDPE. However, the research concludes that, with proper quality controls, PCR can be used safely in personal care packaging. 
Kolmar’s AI answer to slow beauty R&D, cuts full product planning to seconds
Kolmar’s AI answer to slow beauty R&D, cuts full product planning to seconds
K-beauty conglomerate Kolmar Holdings is launching an AI-powered platform that reduces the cosmetics R&D process from one to three months to about 30 seconds. The company says the platform generates full product plans, including the product concept, its color range, formulation, and container type, based on a few simple keyword inputs.
Marubeni acquires J-beauty brand to build beauty and health platform in Japan
Marubeni acquires J-beauty brand to build beauty and health platform in Japan
Japanese trading and investment conglomerate Marubeni Corporation has acquired J-beauty brand Etvos to build a Beauty and Health business platform in Japan. The company made the acquisition as part of its consumer investment strategy GC2027, which focuses on high-growth, value, and scalable businesses. The deal is positioned as a “cornerstone” in the company’s strategy to expand into the domestic beauty, health, and wellness industries.
January in review: GLP-1, protein, and fiber drive 2026 nutrition trends and...
January in review: GLP-1, protein, and fiber drive 2026 nutrition trends and reformulation

Nutrition Insight

January’s highlights include growing momentum for protein and fiber as key nutrients for 2026 product innovations to meet the needs of a growing GLP-1 consumer base. Also, research has advanced in personalized nutrition, gut health, cognition, and healthy aging. In our January review, Nutrition Insight examines how these themes are reshaping the industry. The new US dietary guidelines sparked debate over protein, plant-based sources, and saturated fat, while in the UK, companies countered the country’s stricter limits on sugar and salt. 
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Personal Care Insights News
January in review: PFAS and talc safety, CES beauty tech...
This month in industry news, the US FDA’s long-awaited report on PFAS in cosmetics concluded that there was insufficient data for it to assess safety. Also, in government safety assessments, the UK issued a lung-toxicity warning for talc but stopped short of labeling it a carcinogen, a stance at odds with that of EU scientific advisors. Cosmetic companies experienced financial ups and downs as Estée Lauder reportedly considered selling Smashbox, Too Faced, and Dr. Jart+, and Saks Global filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 
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Regulatory News
What does the historic EU–India trade agreement mean for...
India and the EU have struck a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that is predicted to lower the price of cosmetics and boost the already accelerating Indian beauty market.  The two countries have agreed to wide-ranging tariff cuts and eliminations. According to the EU, the agreement will remove or reduce duties on over 90% of its goods. The current 22% tariff on cosmetics will be mostly removed after five or seven years. The EU says the agreement will boost exports to India and deepen economic ties amid ongoing global trade turbulence. 
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Business News
AS Beauty pulls the plug on Cover FX and Mally Beauty due...
AS Beauty is closing makeup brands CoverFX and Mally Beauty. The legacy makeup brands say rising industry costs and changes, such as tariffs and the transforming marketplace, contributed to the shutdowns. Both brands confirmed the closures on their respective Instagram accounts. Cover FX wrote that the beauty industry is facing “new challenges, from tariffs to a shifting global market,” leading to the company “winding down the business.” 

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Biodegradable beauty boostersFeb2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates a 14% compound annual growth in beauty product launches with biodegradable ingredients between October 2020 and September 2025. Mascara was the top category in th...

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Makeup ingredient moves Feb 2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that consumers put trust in new ingredients & technologies when choosing their personal care and makeup. The modern consumer invests in research, transparency, and verifiable results, and the trend is extending into makeup.

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Men’s personal care trendsFeb 2026

According to Innova Market Insights’ Personal Care Trends 2026, marine algae extracts are emerging as a standout botanical active in personal care innovation. The report highlights growing interest in ocean-derived ingredients, reflecting a broader shift toward sustainable, nature-inspired formulations in the industry.

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IFF and Chemist Confessions: Bringing osmolytes to the forefront

Osmolytes have well-documented skin benefits, yet only a small fraction of new skin care launches feature them. IFF and Chemist Confessions explore why these powerful ingredients remain under the radar, despite their proven effectiveness. Find out why the companies took an educational approach...

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Balchem: Sulphur enters beauty-from-within formulations
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Revieve: Leveraging AI for consumer trust and R&D agility
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ÄIO: Yeast fermentation as sustainable alternative to cosmetic oils 
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