Iridescent promotional banner from Kao Chemicals Europe featuring “Pearled Perfection,” advertising Danox Pearl GS with soft pastel swirls and a “Learn more” button
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K-beauty’s China retreat boosts Amorepacific and LG H&H profits

K-beauty giants are pivoting away from China and toward other global markets. Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H) have posted double-digit profit gains for the second quarter of 2026, lifted by surging North American and European sales. Retail partnerships and regulatory openings are reinforcing the push — signaling that K-beauty’s global ambitions are still growing. The overseas growth reflected in Amorepacific and LG H&H’s latest earnings is not happening in a vacuum. In a coordinated wave of market debuts, multiple K-beauty brands and retailers are planting their flags deeper into the US through partnerships with Ulta Beauty and Sephora. K-beauty curator Olive Young, for example, is planning to roll out almost 20 new brands to Sephora shelves.
Several women having fun at the beach.
Multifunctionality and texture reshape simple summer beauty routines
Summer brings more opportunities for outdoor activities, but with the added outside time comes increased skin exposure to the elements. For summer beauty routines, industry experts point out that the season doesn’t test whether a skin care product works, rather if consumers keep using it once the heat sets in.
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Azitra explores recombinant filaggrin for post-weight-loss skin firmness
Azitra, a biopharmaceutical company, is developing a clinically backed anti-aging ingredient with potential applications for post GLP-1 skin laxity. The ingredient, ATR-COSF, utilizes a novel supernatant formulation that contains an active recombinant human domain of the protein filaggrin (rHDfilaggrin) for cosmetic and skin care applications.Recent ex vivo studies on ATR-COSF demonstrate “promising” applications in treating laxity in defatted skin, indicating potential alignment for use following sudden weight loss. The findings outline areas of formulation for the Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) derived ingredient in precision dermatology, and cosmetic proteins and peptides.
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Mushroom-derived ingredients
Innova Market Insights data shows growth in the use of mushroom ingredients in personal care launches, with a 14% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. Skin and hair care products featured the highest use of mushroom ingredients, while body care experienced the fastest growth in innovation. These ingredients are most commonly found in hydrating products, where they provide softening and smoothing benefits.
Foaming antibacterial hand wash with aloe beside a blank pump bottle on a counter, with CAMA PHHC logo.
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.
Consumer Reports video thumbnail: Stylist braiding purple extensions into a client’s long black hair, with a circular professional headshot inset
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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Henkel strengthens hair care portfolio as H1 growth holds firm
Henkel logo
Henkel has released its 2026 H1 financials, showing strong organic sales and adjusted earnings performance, with its Hair business driving growth within the Consumer Brands unit. Hair was the company’s strongest performing category in its Consumer Brands unit with 4.2% organic sales growth, outpacing the unit’s overall 1.7% growth.The German multinational consumer goods company’s report shows Hair Colorants and Hair Styling categories as the primary contributors to its sales growth across consumer and professional hair businesses in H1.
Kanebo selects Eastman recyclable PET resin for premium skin care cap
A bottle
Eastman has equipped Kao cosmetics company Kanebo with its Eastman Cristal One IM812 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin for the overcap of its Generating Essentials Treatment Lotion.Kanebo says that it selected this resin because it is recyclable in PET recycling streams. Tara Cary, Eastman’s marketing manager for cosmetics and personal care packaging, highlights the performance of Cristal One IM812.
Oral care blends aesthetics, sensoriality and tech in premiumization wave
woman smiles at camera
Oral care is receiving a makeover as the industry premiumizes and personalizes the segment through Gen Z-tailored launches and dental care that doubles as aesthetic procedures. The segment is garnering attention from personal care industry players for its whitespace in innovation, consumer appeal, and anti-aging applications as brands move to premiumize.Colgate-Palmolive is appealing to Gen-Z sensoriality trends in oral care through the launch of its subsidiary hello’s Whipped Toothpaste line. The line aims to appeal to the generation’s self-expression and identity-driven consumption choices while delivering efficacy.
Galderma taps lipid science to extend Cetaphil into skinified body care
Woman smiling
Galderma is extending Cetaphil’s Nourishing line into body care with two moisturizers for sensitive skin in the US. Two new products, Nourishing & Hydrating Lotion and Nourishing & Hydrating Cream, bring lipid replenishment and skin barrier claims to the category. The move follows Galderma’s recent facial launch. The company says the performance of Cetaphil Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser is what pointed the line toward body care.
Dionis taps goat milk for sensitive skin in debut baby collection
Baby getting face cream in his face
Dionis is entering the baby care category with a debut infant collection — Dionis Baby. The pediatrician-approved line heroes goat milk as its main ingredient, targeting babies, toddlers, and people with sensitive skin. According to Dionis, goat milk contains many vitamins, minerals, proteins, and prebiotics that help soothe and protect delicate skin, such as an infant’s. The company also says it has a pH level very similar to human skin, helping retain the skin’s moisture while fending off irritation.
RL Labs urges pet food companies to overhaul labels with new AAFCO guidelines
Man shopping pet food

Nutrition Insight

US-based RL Labs urges pet food brands to generate new labels in compliance with Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines. Its publication of the Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) initiative in January 2024 kicked off a transition period up to 2030 to overhaul pet food packaging, but RL Labs cautions that most brands have not started the process. The company offers testing services, performed using internationally recognized methods. It also has a complete PFLM compliance testing package in place. 
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The Canada and US flag next to each other.
Policy & regulation news
Canadian cosmetics face 50% US duty as USMCA protection...
US President Donald Trump has announced a 50% tariff on Canadian chemicals, cosmetics, and toiletries. The duties mark the first time trade agreement compliance has failed to shield Canadian personal care goods from US tariffs. What had protected the North American beauty sector from Trump’s slew of tariffs was the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), known as CUSMA in Canada. However, the recent decision ignores it, impacting cross-border personal care product pricing and supply chains. 
An image saying Monthly Review for July 2026.
Personal Care Insights News
July in review: L’Oréal lands Gucci Beauty, US FDA peptide...
Last month, in personal care industry news, L’Oréal announced plans to take over the 50-year exclusive global license agreement for Gucci Beauty, a year ahead of schedule. Asia’s beauty market advanced. Companies across the region ramped up AI investments, and on the finance side, a US investment firm filed for the first dedicated K-beauty ETF (exchange-traded fund). 
A girl shopping for beauty products.
Policy & regulation news
EU fragrance allergen rules take effect and more than...
The three-year transition period of EU Commission Regulation 2023/1545 closes today, and “natural beauty” positioned brands may face the sharpest consequences. Now, cosmetic products containing any of the 56 fragrance allergens added to Annex III of the regulation cannot be placed on the EU market unless each substance appears individually in the ingredient list when its concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products or 0.01% in rinse-off. 

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Eco-conscious cosmeticsAug2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that environmental aspects are important to consumers when purchasing beauty & personal care products. New product launches show 15% CAGR for products with et...

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Summer beauty essentials Aug 2026

New product launches show that summer beauty launches focus on sensorial, vacation-inspired scents with fruity, citrus, and gourmand notes. Skin care trends highlight glow-boosting, hydrating formulas designed for heat, humidity, and sun exposure. Hair and body care are moving toward lightweight, multi-use, protective products.

Trend analysis

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Mushroom-derived ingredients Aug 2026

Innova Market Insights data shows growth in the use of mushroom ingredients in personal care launches, with a 14% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. Skin and hair care products featured the highest use of mushroom ingredients, while body care experienced the fastest growth in innovation. These ingredients are most commonly found in hydrating products, where they provide softening and smoothing benefits.

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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
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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...

 Paulo Teixeira, Melt&Marble
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Melt&Marble: Accelerating commercial readiness for personal care products with INCI milestone
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NYSCC Suppliers’ Day 2026: Givaudan highlights PrimalHyal 300 for skin repair
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NYSCC Suppliers’ Day 2026: Nouryon explores AI and biobased chemistry
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