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US and UK retailers bet on K-beauty, dermacosmetics and premium care

Beauty retailers across the US and the UK are striking deals with K-beauty, hair care, and dermacosmetics brands with a series of launches, expansions, and campaigns. The big name retailers are putting premiumized differentiation, clinically-backed care, and consumer trust at the forefront of their messaging.Following its Beauty Studio launch late last month, Target is debuting and expanding offerings from more premium hair care and K-beauty brands this week. The moves are part of the US retail giant’s strategy of investing in differentiating its product portfolio through curated offerings.
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AI drives beauty innovation but experts flag bias and trust risks
Modern technological advancements are rapidly changing the beauty industry landscape throughout the entire production cycle. While technology is permeating beauty developments in science-driven innovation and personalization, the growing use of AI is also revealing weaknesses.Brands are increasingly integrating tech into every level of their operations, with AI standing at the center of these developments. However, alongside its practical uses, industry representatives warn against AI’s pitfalls and project that the industry’s appetite for the tech will plateau.
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Primient says intimate care safety hinges on formulation, not ingredients
Primient, a producer of plant-based and corn-derived ingredients, has identified that the safety of an intimate product is determined by the finished formulation rather than by any single ingredient. The company reports that women’s health and menopause care are on the rise, leading many brands to tap into the traditionally underserved market. But as the personal care industry embraces intimate health as a stand-out arena for innovation, dealing with such a sensitive area of the body raises formulation challenges that ingredient-level safety data alone cannot answer. 
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Sustainable beauty solutions
Innova Market Insights data indicates that new personal care launches with sustainable claims grew at a +31% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. While cruelty-free remains a key consumer marker of sustainable beauty, innovation is expanding into areas such as sustainable oils, 2-in-1 formats, recycled materials, and reef- and ocean-friendly solutions.
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Automating sleeved bottle packaging without compromising pack design
This article highlights the automation of sleeved bottle packaging, transforming a manual process into a high-speed solution while preserving brand identity and ensuring compatibility with both automated and manual operations.

This Technical Paper is brought to you by Cama Group.
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Consumer Reports: States urged to regulate braiding hair amid federal silence

Consumer Reports found heavy metals in nearly all braiding hair it tested, and volatile organic compounds in every sample. James Rogers, director and head of product safety testing at Consumer Reports, tells Personal Care Insights that no US federal agency clearly regulates the category, leaving labeling claims unchecked. He urges manufacturers to test ingredients and final products. Rogers also expects state rules and consumer spending to eventually drive change.

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Skin’s internal clock could open opportunities for time-targeted cosmetics
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Research has found that the skin operates on an internal 24-hour clock that controls its functions, from DNA repair to permeability and collagen production. The research opens opportunities for cosmetics formulators to develop more targeted morning and evening products that work with the skin’s natural rhythms. Dr. Diala Haykal, a specialist in aesthetic and anti-aging morphology medicine in France, led the research.
Rising global temperatures cause beauty cooling technologies to heat up
Person enjoying sun and applying sun cream.
Record-breaking heatwaves have been seen across the world this summer, causing a rise in consumer demand for cooling sunscreens. In response, Kolmar Korea is expanding its sun care range with proprietary technologies designed to overcome the limitations of conventional cooling cosmetics.
ÄIO and Tilk expand skin care range with fermentation-derived ingredients
Person applying face cream in mirror.
Estonian biotechnology company ÄIO and skin care brand Tilk have jointly unveiled a Skin Booster Face Cream containing two ÄIO fermentation-derived cosmetic ingredients, Fermira RedOil and ZymaLipid Complex.
Biosurfactant partnerships and facility investments push category toward scale
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The personal care industry is directing its attention to biosurfactant innovation as consumers demand gentler and more sustainable solutions. Industry players are investing in the category by launching production facilities to expand global reach and venturing into partnerships to bolster surfactant capabilities.British biosurfactant producer Holoferm has partnered with Organica UK to build an end-to-end biotech platform offering ingredient development, formulations, and manufacturing. The company’s partnership with the household-cleaning formulator will enhance production capabilities while consumer demand for fossil-free personal care products continues to grow.
Monteloeder nutricosmetic found to lift hair follicle cell growth 2.5-fold
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Elissara, a nutricosmetic by Monteloeder, was found to exhibit multifactorial activity associated with healthy hair and follicle function. According to a preclinical study examining scalp and hair growth, the four-botanical polyphenol-enriched ingredients featured in Elissara demonstrated support of hair follicle function and resilience.
Tetra Pak sees fiber, biotics & omega-3s rising as consumers look beyond protein
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Nutrition Insight

Consumer demand is moving beyond protein as individuals are seeking broader, targeted health benefits from functional ingredients, such as fiber, biotics, and omega-3 fatty acids. Nutrition Insight speaks with Anna Larsson, category leader at Tetra Pak, to unpack how evolving consumer priorities, regional differences, convenient delivery formats, and popular ingredients are shaping the next generation of functional nutrition. 
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Personal Care Insights News
Rising INCI scrutiny leaves consumers short on ingredient...
Consumers are scrutinizing beauty labels more closely, with many turning to ingredient-scanning apps for help. Although these tools provide rapid access to ingredient information, Eastman, a global specialty materials company, argues that these tools lack essential context: why those ingredients matter, how they contribute to a product’s performance, or their sustainability profile.
Older woman looking at herself in the mirror.
Personal Care Insights News
GLP-1 and menopause beauty boom outpaces clinical care,...
Women are navigating a much more complex personal care, health, and wellness marketplace than they were a few years ago. GLP-1s, menopause care, supplements, telehealth, and digital wellness tools have created more pathways for consumers to take. However, the influx of options has not produced better care, according to LucyRx chief commercial officer Susan Thomas. LucyRx is an independent pharmacy benefit manager that acts as an intermediary between health plan sponsors, pharmacies, and patients. 
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Business News
C-beauty growth splits domestic brand strategies home and...
China’s beauty market is forecast to grow 6% annually through 2028, according to a report by consulting firm McKinsey, but recent earnings from two of the country’s largest domestic players tell different stories about who is capturing that growth. Proya, touted as China’s biggest beauty company, is struggling at home with an H1 2026 7% sales decline for its namesake brand, which it is now pivoting to the US market through an Ulta Beauty launch. 

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Home fragrance trendsSep2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that more than half of global consumers are motivated by scent when purchasing household fresheners. The market is responding with new product launches, with air ...

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K-beauty’s global impact Sep 2026

K-beauty is moving beyond the glass-skin trend to shape beauty innovation across makeup, hair, and body care. From fermented ingredients and barrier-focused formulas to cooling pore sticks, peeling foot masks, and sensorial hair rituals, Korean beauty concepts are being reimagined for a global audience.

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Sustainable beauty solutionsSep 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that new personal care launches with sustainable claims grew at a +31% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. While cruelty-free remains a key consumer marker of sustainable beauty, innovation is expanding into areas such as sustainable oils, 2-in-1 formats, recycled materials, and reef- and ocean-friendly solutions.

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Consumer Reports video thumbnail: Stylist braiding purple extensions into a client’s long black hair, with a circular professional headshot inset
Video12:12
Consumer Reports: States urged to regulate braiding hair amid federal silence

Consumer Reports found heavy metals in nearly all braiding hair it tested, and volatile organic compounds in every sample. James Rogers, director and head of product safety testing at Consumer Reports, tells Personal Care Insights that no US federal agency clearly...

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