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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Plant-based squalane scales amid mounting sustainability pressure

The beauty industry’s emphasis on ethics and sustainability is incentivizing the reimagination of animal-derived ingredients like squalane. The market is showing a preference for plant-based substitutes of the hydration hero ingredient, which is traditionally sourced from shark liver oil. Alongside animal suffering, shark hunting can pose a threat to marine ecosystems due to their important role in aquatic habitats.“Plant-derived squalene provides an opportunity to meet the same ingredient demand without relying on an animal source,” Bryan See, VP president of biotechnology and ingredient company, PhytoGaia, tells Personal Care Insights.
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Holistic beauty turns to whole-body care and clinical substantiation
The lines between skin care, nutrition, wellness, and preventive health are blurring in the personal care industry. Awareness of the connection between the skin, gut, sleep, stress, and lifestyle is growing, and consumers are looking for solutions that go beyond addressing visible concerns. Attention on holistic beauty is growing, encouraging people to pay more attention to how they feel, age, and live in the long term. 
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Beauty dupe debate: Compliance decides which brands survive, not price
Cosmetic dupes and their positioning in the personal care industry remain a topic of debate. The nuances of regulatory compliance, efficacy claims, and accusations of low-price-point products riding premium coattails persist.Recently, the debate around dupes found new kindling after Charlotte Tilbury told the BBC that “when you dupe, you dupe the consumer.”
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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.
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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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Middle East beauty heads for US$20B as GCC becomes global innovation hub
Woman wearing a hijab getting her makeup done
The Middle Eastern beauty market is on track to reach US$20.8 billion by 2030, up from US$14.3 billion in 2025, according to BeautyMatter’s recent report. The global cosmetics intelligence platform says that while the worldwide beauty market grew by about 6% in 2025, the Middle East and Africa grew by 16%, making it one of the fastest-growing beauty regions globally.
J-beauty pushes overseas as Curél and Ci Flavors scale globally
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Kao-owned Japanese skin care brand Curél will launch in the Nordics in September. The brand’s debut highlights Kao’s strategy to grow its cosmetics business in Europe. It will become available in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Kao says it aims to increase Curél’s global sales to 1.6 times its 2024 level by 2030 and wants half of those sales to come from overseas markets. 
Brenntag takes Sudarshan cosmetic pigments across Southeast Asia
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Brenntag has agreed to distribute Sudarshan Chemical Industries’ cosmetic pigments and colorants across Southeast Asia, and dyes and pigments for home care in Australia and New Zealand. The chemicals and ingredients distributor has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Sudarshan to supply its cosmetic-grade pigments and specialty colorants for the beauty and personal care industry across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. 
Regent to acquire Avon North America, reuniting it with international arm
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Regent will acquire the entirety of LG Household & Health Care’s (LG H&H) stake in Avon North America. Avon International and North America will be reunited under the global investment firm. Michael A. Reinstein, founder, chairman, and CEO of Regent, says: “Bringing Avon North America and Avon International back together gives Avon clearer ownership, a shared strategy, and a stronger foundation for growth… Our job now is to put the scale of the combined business behind better products, sharper execution, and a stronger earning opportunity for the people who sell them.” 
Ipsy talks marketing engine launch that drives beauty brand demand
people sat at table at IPSY business brunch
Ipsy has dispatched an end-to-end marketing and sales engine to address the growing pressure on brands to deliver marketing ROI (return on investment) and prove consumer interest. Ipsy Marketing Solutions aims to help brands drive demand, scale retail, and maximize marketing efficiency.The engine is designed to work alongside retail media strategies, informing brands about consumer preferences and driving engagement across the full marketing lifecycle. 
Women In Nutraceuticals: Trust and traceability key to stronger India–US...
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Nutrition Insight

The upcoming Bharat Nutraverse Expo 2026 (Sept 7–9) in India is calling for great East-West collaboration in nutraceuticals. Present at the event, the US-based Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) discusses the India–US economic potential and what is needed to strengthen it, alongside women’s essential role in the industry and the influence of AI on the sector. 
Highlighted features
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Policy & regulation news
South Korea passes landmark law to fuel K-beauty industry
South Korea has passed legislation to develop Korea’s beauty industry into a primary engine of national economic growth. This is the country’s first legal framework made specifically to cultivate the commercial development of the sector. The National Assembly approving the Act on the Fostering and Support of the Cosmetics Industry (Cosmetics Industry Promotion Act) provides a legal foundation to support the entire cosmetics ecosystem. It gives the Ministry of Health and Welfare formal authority to help cosmetics brands, manufacturers, R&D, raw materials, ingredients, packaging, and distribution. 
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Business News
Wipro and Amorepacific deals signal India’s rise as premium...
The Indian beauty market is commanding global attention, with major brands investing in the region’s fast-growing industry. The country has become unignorable as a growth lever for premium and digital, youth-targeted skin care. One of the latest moves exemplifying this momentum is Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting announcing the acquisition of the made-in-India brand, Dermatouch. The deal marks Wipro Consumer Care’s entry into India’s expanding premium skin care market. 
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Business News
Essity buys Kenvue Brazilian feminine care business in...
Essity has entered into an agreement to acquire Kenvue’s feminine care business in Brazil. The deal will include brands such as Carefree, Sempre Livre, and OB. The purchase price amounts to US$284 million on a cash and debt-free basis. Essity says the acquisition strengthens its position as a market leader in feminine care in Latin America. 

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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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Next-gen holistic beauty Aug 2026

According to Innova Market Insights data, 28% of consumers globally say that a more holistic or multi-dimensional approach allows them to adopt a more self-sufficient approach to their health. As this mindset extends into beauty, brands are taking a broader approach to personal care, combining appearance, wellness, and long-term health in increasingly multifunctional products.

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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...

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