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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Estée Lauder research decodes skin tone perception to improve shade matching

The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) and the University of Leeds, UK, are researching how people perceive their skin tone to improve shade matching of complexion products, and how they are developed. The duo says that, despite significant advances in beauty innovation, one of the most common consumer frustrations is matching makeup to their skin tone.
A woman rubbing cream on her skin.
Reishi, chaga and tremella elevate mushroom-derived personal care
Demand for sustainable, functional, and natural ingredients is rising across the personal care industry. Customers and consumers want multifunctional ingredients, are renewably sourced, and survive consumer scrutiny of the label. For ingredient producers, mushroom-derived ingredients may check all three boxes.
Yoni product photos
Yoni CEO: Organic cotton and transparency advance menstrual care market
In an expanding menstrual care industry driven by consumers gaining awareness about product provenance and ingredient safety, brands that differentiate through eco-conscious and well-being-focused principles are gaining traction.The intimate care segment has been experiencing growth as from consumers increasingly scrutinizing products for potentially harmful inclusions. In parallel, the personal care industry is balancing sustainability, efficacy, and affordability in a climate of volatile economies and fluctuating raw material availability.
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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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CJ Olive Young targets US K-beauty growth with ₩12 trillion sales goal
Olive Young company logo on the outside of a store
CJ Olive Young is reinforcing its North American investments, with its targets set to ₩12 trillion (US$8.5 billion) by 2028. The plan focuses on the beauty business, positioning it as a new growth pillar as K-beauty sustains its booming global momentum. The South Korean beauty retail chain, owned by CJ Group, opened its first brick-and-mortar store in the US in Pasadena, California, this May. Three months after the store’s inauguration, the group has announced its North American investment plan at Olive Young Fest, Los Angeles, California, US (August 14–16).
Gattefossé launches preservative-free eye contour active
closeup of eye looking at a screen
Gattefossé has released a preservative-free (PF) version of Gatuline Link n Lift, its flagship lifting bioactive designed for the eye contour area. The ingredient is touted to supply visible lifting and smoothing benefits after two weeks of use. The launch taps growing demand for clean label personal care products that provide competitive efficacy. Procured from organically farmed horse chestnut flowers and hand-harvested in France, the active utilizes the cosmetic chemical manufacturer’s Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents extraction technology.
Fall beauty launches lean on gourmand fragrance and comfort-led formulation
Winter body care.
Pumpkin spice is moving beyond the coffee cup and into the bathroom cabinet. Dove, Old Spice, and Native are transforming daily personal care routines, targeting US beauty consumers with limited-edition scents designed to evoke autumnal comfort, nostalgia, and seasonal joy. Inspired by iconic autumn scents and festivities, the brands are launching personal care ranges in the US market for the forthcoming fall season.
Nanomox launches low-energy zinc oxide for mineral sunscreen white cast
Three male scientists standing together.
Nanomox has developed a new cosmetic-grade zinc oxide designed to improve the performance and transparency of mineral sunscreen formulations. The advanced materials company has also developed a manufacturing process that uses up to 97% less energy than conventional furnace-based production. 
Amplifica grabs US$26M to advance hair growth injectables
Person with hair shedding.
Amplifica has closed an oversubscribed US$26 million Series B Preferred Stock financing round. With this financing, the company is said to enter its next growth phase, focusing attention on clinical development activities within its injectable hair product pipeline.
AI “tissue clocks” find organs age at different rates, opening the door to...
Doctor shows the clock on the background of internal organs

Nutrition Insight

Prolonging health span has been one of the top trends in the nutraceuticals industry this year, and insights into biological aging continue to deepen what longevity means in the nutrition space. In medical research, a new study has found that organs within the body age at different speeds. It suggests that tissue architectures can help inform the monitoring of diseases through noninvasive blood tests that reveal organ ages. 
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Research & Science news
L’Oréal and NUS partner to test skin’s role in whole-body...
L’Oréal and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Medicine have launched a multi-year strategic research partnership to investigate the skin’s role in overall longevity. The collaboration aims to close a gap in skin aging science by exploring its role in how the rest of the body ages over time, potentially leading to more preventive approaches.In the personal care industry, longevity science has moved beyond addressing visible signs of aging toward understanding the biological mechanisms that drive aging at a cellular level.  The partnership takes the ethos behind longevity thinking further by asking whether the skin can act as a reliable indicator of systemic biological aging.
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Policy & regulation news
South Korea targets fake K-beauty surge as China spreads...
South Korea is launching a defense against counterfeit Korean beauty products as reports surface that Chinese-made fakes are reaching European markets. The move comes as Korea’s Customs Service found that 97.7% of counterfeit Korean-brand goods seized last year came from China, with cosmetics making up the largest category.According to Korean customs, South Korean cosmetics exports reached US$7 billion in the first half of this year, with the US becoming the largest export market and European sales climbing sharply. 
Ashland logo on a computer screen
Business News
Ashland explores sale as private equity giants circle
Specialty cosmetic ingredient manufacturer Ashland is exploring a possible sale as other beauty companies and private equity firms are prospecting its specialty cosmetic ingredients portfolio. Following the news, the company’s stock jumped 6%. The move comes after months of pressure from activist investors, who have been pushing the chemical maker to put itself up for sale.

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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
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...

 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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