Linked BIONAP banner for in-cosmetics Global 2026 in Paris, April 14–16, promoting bioactive natural products at Booth 3G59.
Stressed man holding face in hands

Unilever maps new research pathways for stress-driven skin and hair care

New research from Unilever suggests that chronic psychological stress alters skin and hair biology at a molecular level, rather than only affecting visible appearance. The researchers refer to the connection as the “stress-skin axis,” and note that it could open new avenues for cosmetic companies to formulate products that target stress-driven skin concerns. The study, published in The Innovation of Life, explores how stress activates measurable biological pathways in the skin, hair, and scalp. The findings come as consumers increasingly pay attention to the links between the mind and skin in personal care innovations.
A woman sprays perfume on her neck in a darkened room.
Future of fragrance: How industry innovates for next-generation consumers
The fragrance industry is bridging the gap between ethical sourcing and the demands of a new generation of consumers. At the same time, industry experts highlight that, rather than hurdles, these pressures represent opportunities for innovation and collaboration that will help companies adapt to current and emerging olfactory trends.Personal Care Insights looks at some of the latest fragrance innovations and sits down with experts from IFF Scent and Axe & Dove Men+Care to better understand the future of fragrance.
Woman unboxing surprise box.
Surprise box resurgence: Gen Z seeks shareable and intentional beauty experiences
Gen Z consumers are driving a revival for mystery beauty boxes as they continually gravitate toward joy-driven, surprise-led beauty experiences. The beauty subscription brand Ipsy tells us that the momentum for its surprise boxes continues to rise.
Mane Kancor Technical Paper
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.
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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 Colibri Thumbnail
IFF: Tapping robotics for faster fragrance development
Beauty companies are under growing pressure to shorten cosmetics development cycles. To keep pace, fragrance houses are investing in automation that can cut sampling and formulation timelines while also improving precision. International Flavors and Fragrances’ (IFF) installation of its Colibri smart-dosing robot in Singapore reflects the wider industry shift toward modernized operations. The company tells us how its high-tech intervention can accelerate time-to-market in Asia’s fast-moving beauty landscape.

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Givaudan donates to communities impacted by extreme weather in Asia
birds eye image of a flooded neighborhood
Givaudan is donating CHF 150,000 (US$192,500) to communities impacted by extreme weather events in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The food and fragrance ingredients company flags that millions of people in the region have been severely affected by cyclones and continuous monsoon rains. Extreme weather has also triggered flooding and landslides with “catastrophic” consequences since November 2025.The donation is intended to support local relief efforts in the affected countries by providing emergency shelter, health care, sanitation, access to water, and livelihood recovery.
Expert warns of cosmetic safety regulation gaps as popularity soars
Woman getting an injection
A report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) underlines safety concerns across surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. The report, written in collaboration with the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC), focuses on “high-harm” treatments like liquid Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL), regulatory gaps in non-surgical procedures, and the risks and lack of oversight posed by cosmetic tourism.The report also highlights concerns about practitioner qualifications, aftercare, and procedural awareness and literacy.
Fragrance fuels Croda and Symrise 2025 financials
banknotes and a perfume bottle
As 2025 full-year financial reports roll in, Croda International and Symrise have reported strong financial performances, showcasing resilience and strategic growth in the competitive personal care industry. Croda International’s 2025 full-year financial results show consistent growth across its business segments. Group sales at constant currency were up 6.6%, with consumer care and life sciences as the main drivers, both up 8%. Adjusted operating profit was up by 7.9% at constant currency, and adjusted operating margin was 17.4%, up .2% from 2024.
Why L’Oréal Paris, Nyx and MAC are dominating TikTok beauty
Gen Z woman with bold style pulling a silly face
A recent report ranking the top 100 beauty brands on TikTok in the UK and Europe shows that success on the platform not only hinges on posting more content, but on how strongly audiences respond to it. Makeup and skin care content are ranking higher than fragrance, but outlier brands suggest the category has growth potential. The Kolsquare report analyzes the performance of TikTok posts in Q4 of 2025, using data from the company’s own platform to track influencer posts mentioning beauty brands. In total, 247,173 TikTok posts were analyzed from October to December last year.
Derma and health drive Beiersdorf’s 2025 growth amid market volatility
Nivea blue hand cream tub
Beiersdorf’s 2025 full-year financial results showed that the company maintained growth despite the stagnating market. It outperformed key competitors, remaining the fastest-growing skin care company in the market.Group sales reached €9.9 billion (US$11.49 billion) with 2.4% organic growth. While the growth is modest in absolute terms, it remains above the global skin care market’s growth rate. Profitability remained consistent, with EBIT excluding special factors increasing to €1.4 billion (US$1.62 billion), up 14% from 13.9% in 2024.
Gnosis by Lesaffre champions women’s health supplements at Expo West 2026
Gnosis by Lesaffre Expo West 2026

Nutrition Insight

Women’s health is taking center stage at the ongoing Natural Products Expo West 2026 trade show. Gnosis by Lesaffre is showcasing women’s wellness ingredients that support prenatal health, digestion, and bone density, as well as heart, vaginal, and brain health. On the showroom floor in Anaheim, California, US, Nutrition Insight catches up with Alina Slotnik, the company’s marketing director for the Americas, to discuss opportunities to address women’s health needs and consumer demands. 
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Feb 2026 written with two images of women underneath.
Personal Care Insights News
February in review: K-beauty proliferates, Cosmetic tech...
Last month, K-beauty continued to snowball across the personal care industry, driven by advancements in R&D, retail, and exports. Meanwhile, we examined the Middle Eastern beauty market and what lessons global brands can learn from cosmetic companies that thrive in the volatile environment. AI and electronic-driven products emerged as a new battleground for beauty, and experts discussed that brands’ technology infrastructure and data now determine whether they can compete in the technology race. 
Blue liner on Asian girl.
Personal Care Insights News
Beauty’s next whitespace: What brands can capture before...
Spate has uncovered the early signals and prospects emerging across Google Search and TikTok that beauty brands can capitalize on. The 2026 Whitespace Opportunities report reveals that consumers are using these online platforms to discover, validate, and decide which strategies, products, and ingredients will help them feel — and look — their best.
Red light therapy.
Tech & Innovation
Light therapy’s biggest myth? Joylux unpacks LED count
Red light therapy is gaining traction among mainstream beauty shoppers, but experts believe consumers and brand marketing are focusing on the wrong metric.Most light mask devices are marketed by LED count, but efficacy actually depends on power density and dose. These measurements are rarely disclosed to consumers but critical to whether light penetrates tissue and produces a biological response, Joylux, a company specializing in wellness devices, tells Personal Care Insights. 

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The Future of FragranceMar2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that global fragrance launches are increasing, with an average annual growth rate of +51 % from 2021 to 2025. Consumers globally prefer light fragrances, and thei...

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Upcycled ingredient trends Mar 2026

According to Innova Market Insights, the upcycled ingredient trend is going strong in personal care launches, with an average annual growth rate of 110% in NPD from 2021 to 2025. Consumers also pay attention to upcycled ingredients, with 16% saying they especially search for upcycled claims when choosing their beauty products. In new product launches, upcycled ingredient use has moved from organic, natural brands to more mainstream and trendy brands.

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Sustainable personal care packaging solutionsMar 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that the use of sustainable packaging in personal care product launches grew 20% year-over-year from 2024 to 2025, reflecting a strong demand for more eco-friendly products, inside and out.

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IFF Colibri Thumbnail
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IFF: Tapping robotics for faster fragrance development

Beauty companies are under growing pressure to shorten cosmetics development cycles. To keep pace, fragrance houses are investing in automation that can cut sampling and formulation timelines while also improving precision. International Flavors and Fragrances’ (IFF) installation of its Colibri...

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Ingredients + Specialties from Univar Solutions: Clean home care and personal care converge
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Formulating texture in skincare: a data-driven approach to replacing synthetic thickeners
IFF & Chemist Confessions
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IFF and Chemist Confessions: Bringing osmolytes to the forefront
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