February in review: K-beauty proliferates, Cosmetic tech battleground, Beauty’s untapped space

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. 

Chromara Beauty unpacked how six pigments may make foundation ranges obsolete. Lastly, Spate identified areas of the cosmetics industry that brands have yet to capitalize on, revealing where they should focus next. 

Kolmar’s AI answer to slow beauty R&D, cuts full product planning to seconds

Kolmar Holdings launched an AI-powered platform that cuts the time to plan cosmetics products from months to 30 seconds. The platform can create product concepts, colors, formulations, and packaging from simple keyword inputs. The launch came as AI’s use in cosmetic development grows. AI is increasingly proving itself to be a major growth lever for beauty brands.

K-beauty effect: Diving into Sephora’s sales, buys & business strategy

Sephora expanded its Korean beauty offerings amid its shoppers’ preference for cost-effectiveness and growing competition from other major retailers. A report from Navigo Marketing showed that online consumers favor price-conscious choices, value for money, and quality over prestige. We looked into the global retailer’s strategy as it leans into K-beauty and private label to meet demand for clinically effective yet affordable products, while emerging Asian retailers intensified price competition.Kristen Mauch, application development specialist for Home Care and Industrial Cleaning at Univar Solutions, discussed delivering cleaning products that are aligned with sustainability expectations.

Tariffs and K-beauty bruise French cosmetic exports to US

French cosmetic exports to the US fell 25% year over year in Q4 2025, the first decline since 2008 outside the pandemic. Meanwhile, French imports of beauty products rose around 6%, mainly due to online purchases from China and South Korea. Despite French beauty brands cutting US prices, demand has shifted toward Korean products. We analyzed how the slowdown can be attributed to US tariffs and the booming K-beauty demand. 

Beauty’s new battleground? AI and data drive skin care tech race

Beauty has entered a technology race, and cosmetic companies that do not control their own computing power and data risk becoming dependent on those who do. We spoke to Nvidia, Amorepacific, and Haut.AI about how graphics processing unit supply is emerging as a key asset for the beauty industry, with AI-driven personalization and AI factories relying on its computing power. 

Why consumers are leaving legacy brands for more transparent intimate care

Consumers are seeking transparency in the intimate care market, driving a shift away from legacy brands toward independent players that better align with their values. The shift has allowed brands like Honey Pot to flourish, meeting unmet desires in feminine care. We spoke to Jazmyn Williams, VP of Brand at Honey Pot, about how modern buyers are treating vaginal wellness. She told us that legacy products are not serving modern needs.

Modern man’s makeup: Male grooming evolves beyond the basics

Men’s grooming is shifting, with makeup now embraced as a practical tool for enhancing appearance. Jake Xu, co-founder of Shakeup Cosmetics, told us that more straight men than ever before are using makeup. The new wave of men wearing makeup is not about rebelling like past iterations — it’s purely functional. However, while the movement is growing, generational divides still affect full acceptance in mainstream grooming. 

Environmental groups accuse EU of insufficient REACH enforcement

A coalition of environmental NGOs urged EU lawmakers to strengthen enforcement of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), calling for a more ambitious implementation, modernization, and oversight of the bloc’s chemicals framework. The groups stressed that urgent action is needed to safeguard human health and the environment, warning that industry interests are increasingly taking precedence over public health protections. In an open letter, they cautioned that proposed deregulation under the Chemicals Omnibus could weaken existing safety standards, particularly for cosmetics and personal care products. International Flavors and Fragrances’ installation of its Colibri smart-dosing robot in Singapore reflects the wider industry shift toward modernized operations. 

Beauty market resilience: How Middle Eastern brands thrive amid volatility

The Middle Eastern beauty market thrives despite economic and geopolitical challenges, driving innovation focused on agility, consumer needs, and extreme climate conditions. Schwan Cosmetics told us that the region provides lessons for international brand resilience across the industry. Innovation, trust, and reliable product performance are vital to ensuring brand resilience in the Middle East. 

Future of foundation: Chromara Beauty offers on-demand match to end shade struggles

Foundation shade ranges may become obsolete with Chromara Beauty’s on-demand, custom solution. Chromara provides six base pigments and creates millions of custom formulations at the point of sale. The technology allows brands to carry less inventory, customers to get an exact shade match, and the industry to build a closed-loop operating system for refillable, on-demand foundation. We spoke to the company’s CEO about how it is ushering in a makeup landscape where the guessing game of foundation stock quantity is eliminated. We explored how this approach brings personalized beauty solutions within reach.

Beauty’s next whitespace: What brands can capture before market saturation

Spate’s 2026 Whitespace Opportunities report uncovered where consumer curiosity is high, but brand competition remains low. The data revealed opportunities for brands to innovate based on Google and TikTok search data. Discover what a Spate analyst revealed as the market gaps beauty brands and suppliers should act on. Some of the fast-growing highlights included users seeking information on applying “skin-logic” across the face–scalp boundary and increased interest in red light therapy hats.