Ectoin natural skincare ingredient banner by bitop, made in Germany, promoting the active with a “More information” link.
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Henkel seals deal on Not Your Mother’s, enhancing US hair care strategy

Henkel has completed the acquisition of Not Your Mother’s (NYM), a hair care and styling brand in North America, boosting its US hair portfolio. The multinational conglomerate says it will leverage the combined organization to cultivate a collection of on-trend consumer brands. “Together, we will continue reimagining hair care to meet consumers’ evolving needs,” says Phil Schaffer, corporate SVP at Henkel Consumer Brands, North America. 
Black woman looking happy.
Formulating “feel-good beauty”: Unlocking the skin–brain axis for neurocosmetics
Consumer demand is moving toward beauty-from-within, holistic balance, and emotional optimization, pushing neurocosmetic innovation — where therapeutic results, sensory pleasure, and mental well-being are intertwined. Personal Care Insights speaks to Givaudan Active Beauty and Ingredients + Specialties from Univar Solutions to take a closer look at this space, addressing clinical studies and the effectiveness of neurocosmetic ingredients as the category matures.
Hands braiding a young girls hair with blonde extensions.
Inside Consumer Reports’ braiding hair investigation: Researchers urge industry action on toxic exposure
For the second year in a row, Consumer Reports (CR) has detected heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in popular braiding hair products. Braiding hair is widely used by Black women and girls, and may be worn for months at a time. CR says that since the hair is worn continuously and sometimes styled with heat, exposure can be cumulative. 
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Harness the power of flowers for beauty
Using proprietary technologies like Zeta Fraction™, PSR™ technology and phytofermentology™, Ashland extracts potent actives from flower sources through eco-friendly processes, ensuring both efficacy and environmental responsibility. Driven by sustainability and technological advancement commitments, this allows development of biofunctionals that harness the power of advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, and plant-based innovation.

This Technical Paper is brought to you by Ashland.
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In-cosmetics Global 2026: Symrise presents upcycled exosome longevity ingredient
Symrise’s global product manger, Héloïse Bouchez, unpacked the company’s latest innovation in longevity skin care, highlighting Cellexora MD, a plant-based “true” exosome ingredient upcycled from organic apple side streams. She talked about how extracellular vesicles enable advanced cell communication and multi-layer protection, while addressing consistency, sustainability, and clinically proven benefits to help formulators differentiate premium, eco-conscious products.
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In-cosmetics Global 2026 review: Data-driven beauty and biotech reshape ingredient innovation
At In-cosmetics Global 2026 in Paris, France, the personal care industry leaned into biotech, multifunctionality, and data-driven development. Across the show floor, brands emphasized clinically backed actives, circular ingredients, and AI-powered formulation tools, alongside a growing focus on scalp health, emotional benefits, and long-term resilience. Major industry players highlighted solutions built around resilience, functionality, and real-world efficacy. We round up the event’s key innovators and what they showcased.

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dsm-firmenich offloads Action Pin as strategic focus narrows to health and...
Several botanical and natural ingredients on a table with perfumes.
dsm-firmenich has sold its Action Pin business to AP Marensin, a consortium of investors created by FeBe Vermögensverwaltung, and backed by Econa and Ouest Croissance, a French private equity fund. Based in Castets, France, Action Pin reported approximately €50 million (US$58.5 million) in sales in 2025. It sits within the Agro Ingredients segment of dsm-firmenich’s Perfumery & Beauty business.
Brenntag and Shinehigh ink distribution deal for AI R&D tech
cosmetics ingredients
Brenntag Specialties has signed an exclusive international distribution deal with Shinehigh for its Supramolecular technology targeting beauty and personal care applications.The Chinese technology company’s AI R&D Center platform, Supramolecular, is touted to develop active ingredients, engineered on the molecular level via enhanced scientific fine-tuning. The technology is said to provide improved skin care benefits by enabling the development of precise active ingredients.
Maesa launches pheromone fragrance brand for connection and attraction
closeup of persons neck and collarbone
Beauty incubator Maesa has launched its pheromone-mimicking fragrance brand, String Theory, for heightened connection, attraction, and sensuality. The company is leveraging the growing desire for “authentic” interpersonal connections by playing off the invisible string theory, which posits that an invisible force draws people to those they are destined to meet.According to Maesa, digital-first interactions, superficial connections, and dynamics of online dating, such as “endless swiping” and “romantic ghosting,” are causing burnout and disillusionment. 
Aptar Beauty creates aerosol lock system for consumer inclusivity
aerosol bottles
Aptar Beauty has launched the aerosol Double Click dispensing system for enhanced user inclusivity and e-commerce reliability in personal care applications. It is compatible with the patented Twist-to-Lock collection, a range of hoodless aerosol actuators. The aerosol dispensing system audibly confirms to consumers that the actuator is securely locked. It also features tactile cues like textured finger pads or ribbed collars to ensure confidence and ease of use for consumers with different levels of mobility. 
Ipsy names beauty trends defining 2026
Applying blusher.
Ipsy has released its annual Beauty Discovery Report, calling lip care, blush, and scent experimentation as the top trends to watch this year, driven mostly by Gen Z consumers.Unveiled at The Ipsies: 2026 Beauty Awards, the report explores how discovery is reshaping beauty shopping behavior, from sampling and surprise-driven experiences to product trial and conversion. This year’s report also highlights several shifts shaping beauty purchases in 2026, from the rise of curated shopping to growing demand for performance-led products and routines. 
dsm-firmenich unveils science-backed longevity innovations at Vitafoods Europe...
Healthy seniors around a table

Nutrition Insight

As demand for healthy aging solutions continues to grow, dsm-firmenich will showcase new longevity solutions and science at next week’s Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade show in Barcelona, Spain. The company says it will present “landmark science” supporting healthy longevity, health expectancy solutions in premix and market-ready formats. Nutrition Insight meets with Anneleen Spooren, SVP Innovation, R&D & Regulatory, Health, Nutrition & Care, at dsm-firmenich, to explore the company’s longevity focus at Vitafoods Europe 2026. 
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Tech & Innovation
AI beauty boom sparks trust, privacy and false advertising...
Beauty brands are racing to roll out AI-powered advisors and marketing tools to personalize the consumer journey, but experts warn the same technology could blur the line between aspirational beauty and deception. As AI use becomes more entrenched in consumer-facing materials, brands are presented with fresh questions about privacy, trust, and false advertising. According to Ceren Canal Aruoba, managing director of consulting firm BRG, the beauty industry is already under scrutiny for exaggerated product claims and promoting unrealistic beauty standards.
photograph from in-cosmetics skin GPT
Personal Care Insights News
In-cosmetics Global 2026: Well-being demands fuel...
In a society increasingly defined by technology and fast-paced lifestyles, consumers are searching for moments to unwind and connect, and the beauty industry is offering a solution. At In-cosmetics Global 2026 last week, exhibitors tapped into neurocosmetics, which is shaping up to be the next buzzword in beauty. Luciana Mangerona, global marketing manager, Personal Care at Eurofragance, told Personal Care Insights on the show floor that cosmetics that promote mental well-being are taking off due to the ever-evolving digital world. 
Gelita Stand at in-socmetics
Personal Care Insights News
In-cosmetics Global 2026: Beauty-from-within taps wellness...
For the first time, the In-cosmetics Global trade show debuted an Inner Beauty Zone, revealing that beauty-from-within is gaining momentum as a segment in the personal care industry. Increasing consumer desire for improvements in overall health, alongside demand for visible results, is driving the growth of nutricosmetic concepts and diversity in their applications. Last week at In-cosmetics Global 2026 in Paris, France, provided a touch point for an industry overview of the beauty-from-within trend through various showcases. The show provided a variety of product innovations for supplements such as gummies, soluble sachets, or food applications for solutions that engage beauty results via overall health.

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Skin barrier breakthroughsApr2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that consumers increasingly look for barrier-repair benefits when choosing moisturizers. From 2021 to 2025, personal care launches with microbiome-related claims grew...

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Next-gen neurocosmetics Apr 2026

Innova Market Insights’ survey data indicates that 39% of global consumers are interested in clinical beauty. As demand for stress-relief and mood-enhancing beauty rises, neurocosmetics are emerging, blending wellness positioning with measurable skin performance.

Trend analysis

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Botanical flower powerApr 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that in the past three years, there has been a 15% increase in growth for personal care launches with botanical/herbal claims. This aligns with consumers’ interest in products with botanical ingredients. Asia led these launches, while gotu kola extract launches show potential for innovation.

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Video03:49
In-cosmetics Global 2026: Symrise presents upcycled exosome longevity ingredient

Symrise’s global product manger, Héloïse Bouchez, unpacked the company’s latest innovation in longevity skin care, highlighting Cellexora MD, a plant-based “true” exosome ingredient upcycled from organic apple side streams. She talked about how extracellular vesicles enable advanced cell...

Louis Snyders, Sasol, Sasol International Chemicals, In-Cosmetics Global 2026, Parafol 10 RSPO-MB, Silicone-Free, Biobased Ingredients, Biodegradable Ingredients, Personal Care Ingredients, Care Chemi
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In-cosmetics Global 2026: Sasol on replacing silicones with biobased innovation
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In-cosmetics Global 2026: Innosya releases fermentation-powered bioactives for “pro-aging”
In-cosmetics Global 2026 dsm-firmenich video thumbnail: Trade show booth with dsm-firmenich branding, reception desk staff assisting visitors, and circular inset portrait of a smiling woman
Video03:26
In-cosmetics Global 2026: dsm-firmenich discusses its advances in well-being
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