Givaudan
Tariffs and K-beauty bruise French cosmetic exports to US

Tariffs and K-beauty bruise French cosmetic exports to US

Tariffs and K-beauty’s global popularity have led to a contraction in French cosmetic exports to the US for the first time since 2008, excluding the pandemic. Meanwhile, French imports of beauty products rose around 6%, mainly due to online purchases from China and South Korea. According to data from the French Ministry of Customs, the country’s perfumes and cosmetics exports to the US fell by 25% between Q4 2024 and Q4 2025. The decline accelerated after the US introduced new tariffs in August 2025.
Makeup moves: Clean ingredients, transparency & science shape trends
Makeup moves: Clean ingredients, transparency & science shape trends
The makeup market today is fast-paced, with ingredient suppliers looking far beyond “clean” ingredients and introducing additional dynamics that attract users seeking specific attributes. This active consumer trend is reshaping the industry. Personal Care Insights explores the makeup trends that are shaking up the sector.
Active Concepts reframes hair care around longevity with “hairspan” ingredient launch
Active Concepts reframes hair care around longevity with “hairspan” ingredient launch
Active Concepts has released a longevity ingredient targeting “hairspan,” a term that describes the biological foundation that supports hair’s vitality. The personal care ingredients company is reframing hair care as a wellness ritual. AC ExoRoot supports the time hair stays healthy and resilient. Active Concepts outlines that hair has become a visible biomarker of internal balance and long-term health rather than a surface-level concern. The new ingredient aims to offer more than growth claims and instead “finally gives brands something meaningful to say beyond them.” 
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.
Formulating texture in skincare: a data-driven approach to replacing synthetic thickeners
Formulating texture in skincare: a data-driven approach to replacing synthetic thickeners
Consumers are actively seeking natural ingredients in their skincare products, and the pressure is on formulators to deliver clean-label solutions without compromising product look and feel. In this webinar, Tate & Lyle and Innova Market Insights experts discuss how this trend is shaping innovation and how brands can tackle formulation challenges. We explore how nature-based, readily biodegradable ingredients combined with a proprietary methodology can replace synthetics, while maintaining the desired physical and sensorial properties. Through individual product variables mapped against our ingredient data repository, we can reduce reformulation complexity and minimize the need for panel testing. Our model simplifies multivariable measurements into easy-to-interpret results — accelerating development and enabling brands to meet consumer demand for naturally derived skincare products.  Join us to say goodbye to synthetics, fast!
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.

Latest headlines

View more
Color-centric brand Barry M bought out of administration by rival Warpaint
Color-centric brand Barry M bought out of administration by rival Warpaint
Iconic British beauty brand Barry M has been bought out of administration by its cosmetics competitor, Warpaint, for £1.4 million (US$1.91 million). Last year, the brand moved to appoint administrators after warning that “geopolitical issues” and rising prices weighed on its financials since they were absorbed into its cost base. However, according to its most recently released financials, Barry M generated a £17.4 million (US$23.78 million) turnover and a £172,000 (US$235,087) pre-tax profit for the year to the end of February 2024.
dsm-firmenich expands Middle East presence with fragrance hub and collection
dsm-firmenich expands Middle East presence with fragrance hub and collection
dsm-firmenich is continuing its expansion in the Middle East with the opening of a fragrance space in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the launch of a scent range. The space, developed in partnership with fragrance concept store Villa Po One, will serve as a hub for perfume production. The location aims to provide perfumers with ingredients, tools, and access to narratives to enable contemporary scent production.
Banning baby Botox: Scotland cracks down on underage cosmetic procedures
Banning baby Botox: Scotland cracks down on underage cosmetic procedures
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) have unanimously backed the general principles of a bill restricting non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including Botox and non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts, in the country. The bill was introduced in response to industry and consumer concerns about the safety of young Scots amid the rise in botched procedures.If enforced, the bill would impose fines of up to £10,000 (US$13,687) for administering treatments to minors or outside permitted premises.
Sidel provides PET peroxide-resistant bottle system to hair care brand
Sidel provides PET peroxide-resistant bottle system to hair care brand
Sidel has supplied Italian hair care company Farmavita with an EvoBlow stretch-blow-molding machine for on-site production of PET bottles. The system is designed to increase resistance to hydrogen peroxide-containing hair care products, which can become volatile during transport and degrade bottles. 
K-beauty effect: Diving into Sephora’s sales, buys & business strategy
K-beauty effect: Diving into Sephora’s sales, buys & business strategy
Sephora has expanded its Korean beauty offerings amid its shoppers’ preference for cost-effectiveness and growing competition from other major retailers. A report from Navigo Marketing shows that online consumers are favoring price-conscious choices, value for money, and quality over prestige. The review revealed that Sephora’s own product line is growing. The in-house brand positions itself as a bridge between drugstore and prestige. 
World Pulses Day 2026: How animal agriculture and meat consumption hinder...
World Pulses Day 2026: How animal agriculture and meat consumption hinder nutrition security

Nutrition Insight

On World Pulses Day 2026, we examine the nutritional, policy, and food-systems case for this plant-based protein source as animal-source food consumption continues to exceed healthy diet benchmarks. Francesca Gallelli, Food System policy officer at the World Federation for Animals, tells Nutrition Insight about protein diversification, gaps in dietary guidance, and the barriers holding pulses back from wider adoption.
Highlighted features
Image
New Product Development
Debut targets “Ozempic face” with AI-engineered...
Debut has launched an ingredient targeting cellular aging, to address the demand for procedure-like results at home and help fight the skin effects of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy. The active ingredient, DermCeutical Elastin Deep Lift (EDL), targets premature, sudden-onset skin laxity caused by GLP-1 drugs. Personal Care Insights speaks with Joshua Britton, PhD, founder and CEO of Debut, about the product’s functions, industry applications, and efficacy.
Image
Tech & Innovation
Turning sustainability into strategy: AI’s role in modern...
ANJAC Health & Beauty has become the first contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) to manage the environmental impact of its products through a partnership with Fairglow, an AI-powered life cycle assessment (LCA) cosmetics platform. The partnership utilizes AI to bolster ANJAC’s environmental commitments in the industry.Personal Care Insights speaks to Fairglow and ANJAC about the dynamics of sustainability in contemporary cosmetics.
Image
Personal Care Insights News
Principles trump products: How “dystoptimism” will shape...
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. 

Personal care focus

View more
Image

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...

Brought to you by:

Innova Market Insights

Product innovation

View more
Image

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.

Trend analysis

View more
Image

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.

Multimedia

View more
Image
Webinars40:12
Formulating texture in skincare: a data-driven approach to replacing synthetic thickeners

Consumers are actively seeking natural ingredients in their skincare products, and the pressure is on formulators to deliver clean-label solutions without compromising product look and feel. 

In this webinar, Tate & Lyle and Innova Market Insights experts discuss how this trend is...

Image
Video06:46
IFF and Chemist Confessions: Bringing osmolytes to the forefront
Image
Video13:01
Balchem: Sulphur enters beauty-from-within formulations
Image
Video23:30
Revieve: Leveraging AI for consumer trust and R&D agility
Subscribe to our newsletters
PlatformsFood Ingredients FirstNutrition InsightPackaging InsightsPersonal Care InsightsThe World of Food Ingredients
About usContact usAdvertisingPrivacy statementSitemapArchive
Follow us
linkedinrss_headergoogle_news
Image