Beyond The Headlines: Alicia Keys’ concealer-skin care hybrid, Prose’s AI-based personalized products that “evolve with you”

30 Jun 2023 --- This week, singer Alicia Keys’ skin care brand Keys Soulcare revealed a new tinted concealer that fuses coloring with functional skin care. Personalized hair care brand Prose entered the skin care space with more than 15 million formula combinations tailored for each consumer and generated using AI. Also, Givaudan introduced its new PetTech platform, offsetting environmental malodors caused by pets made with biodegradable solutions.

New product launches
Alicia Keys’ skin care brand Keys Soulcare and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Renée Snyder introduced It’s Like Skin 2-in-1 Concealer + Tint, a color-skincare hybrid infused with squalane and 2% niacinamide. It’s Like Skin is a “multi-tasking” skin tint that brightens and blurs for a naturally radiant skin-like finish. Available in 40 flexible shades for buildable, light-to-medium coverage, this 2-in-1 offering can be used as a spot concealer or all-over skin tint. The dermatologist-developed, non-comedogenic and clean formula was created to work with all skin types.

Collection of skin care products from the brand Toty by Sofia Vergara (Image credit: Toty).Hair care specialist Prose has expanded into skin care. The brand aims to offer an alternative to mass-produced skin care with their latest line “backed by science and powered by AI, that evolves with you over time.” Prose offers more than 15 million possible formula combinations targeting multiple skin concerns at once. The system is dermatologist-approved and clinically tested to show results in four weeks. Through a user-led online consultation, custom insights are pulled from more than 80 key factors such as skin type, diet, stress, pollution and climate and work to properly address all aggressors. Using only “carefully selected essential ingredients, known for their proven results and maximum efficacy,” Prose’s Paris-based, in-house R&D team works with a proprietary algorithm to identify the right blend of active ingredients to formulate a three-step skincare system.

Sofia Vergara introduced a new makeup brand, Toty, which combines sunscreen, skin care, makeup and wellness, to “protect your belleza.” Vergara announced the 360-sun care line on Instagram on Thursday (June 22). The ad in both Spanish and English exhibits the product range, while explaining the brand’s technology behind protecting the skin from photoaging. The collection is marketed as vegan and cruelty-free, including 15 shades ranging from medium to high coverage. Its flagship line includes Ilumina CC Cream SPF 50+, Ilumina CC Creamy Compact SPF 50+, Solaria Mineral SPF 50+ and Solaria infusion, a drinkable antioxidant “booster.”

Givaudan introduced its PetTech platform, designed to offset environmental malodors caused by pets. The scent technology is supported by insights from vets, groomers and consumers. It combines Givaudan’s proprietary technologies and fragrance creativity with the company’s Zap portfolio, which contains solutions designed to mitigate malodour for home, personal and fabric care. It also comprises 100% biodegradable fragrance delivery system technologies, Bloomtech and Stereocaps, to ensure an enduring freshness in a planet-friendly way.

Spot Detergent launched eco-friendly spot detergent sheets, offered as a convenient and eco-conscious solution for consumers seeking to embrace a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic-jug detergents. Crafted with a plant-based formula developed in Sweden, Spot Detergent sheets are entirely free from parabens and phosphates, ensuring a safe and effective cleaning experience. They are designed to work with all types of washing machines, dissolving in less than 60 seconds upon contact with water, leaving no waste behind.

Prose stepped into the personalized skin care arena with its AI-backed products that evolve with the consumer (Image credit: Prose).Business moves
Beiersdorf invested in Swiss start-up DePoly through its Oscar&Paul Venture Capital Unit. Founded in 2020, the company has developed a chemical recycling technology which, unlike mechanical processes, allows for the recycling of difficult recyclable consumer and industrial plastic waste streams, such as those containing mixed plastics, mixed colors, dirty plastic waste streams, as well as fabrics and fibers. The chemical recycling technology converts these waste streams into their main raw components. The parties have agreed not to disclose financial details of the investment.

Arcade Beauty made the strategic decision to consolidate its operations by closing its Chattanooga, Tennessee, US plant and consolidate production into its existing South Plainfield, New Jersey facilities. This move comes as part of Arcade Beauty’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations. The plant has been part of Arcade Beauty’s manufacturing operations over the last 50 years. Approximately 80 positions will be eliminated as a result of these actions.

Half Magic, a vegan and cruelty-free makeup brand by Donni Davy, head makeup artist from HBO’s Euphoria, closed its first investment round led by premier consumer investor Alliance Consumer Growth. The company highlights significant participation from A24, Imaginary Ventures and Access Entertainment. Funds will be allocated toward supporting notable growth year over year, including fueling expansion via the brand’s inaugural debut in brick-and-mortar retail set for later this year.

ELC launched its Responsible Store Design program, which provides a sustainable framework for its store outlets.Biotech ingredients company Amyris announced that John Melo has resigned from his role as president, CEO and member of the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. The board has appointed Han Kieftenbeld as interim CEO. Kieftenbeld will remain as the company's CFO. The company also announced a global reduction in force as an important step towards its cost reduction targets.

Brand initiatives
Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) launched its Responsible Store Design program, which offers a framework for the assessment of new and existing retail stores toward sustainability. It also takes into account the design of its visual merchandising, across various areas including waste reduction, water and energy conservation and responsible material sourcing. For new stores joining the program, each individual location is evaluated based on various sustainability efforts across retail design and operations. For existing stores and visual merchandising, a checklist of pre-requisites is used to ensure each location continues to meet the company’s core sustainability requirements. To date, six stores have successfully aligned with the framework as part of the fiscal year 2023 pilot program. Among these is the Origins store in Nanjing Deji Plaza, opened in July 2022, which met all prerequisites and achieved 26 points.

Research and development
Shiseido, in collaboration with St. Luke’s International Hospital, verified that online consultation on appearance care provides psychosocial support for people with cancer in improving their quality of life. Kazuyuki Ikeyama, Ph.D., who is also a certified care worker, presented the study results and won an award for excellence at the 8th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association of Supportive Care in Cancer held on June 24, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Since 2008, Shiseido has been engaging in addressing appearance changes that occur as a side effect of cancer treatment.

Ajinomoto’s research demonstrated the penetration-enhancing effects of sodium caproyl prolinate (CPRO; brand name: Prodew P-DS-12) on amino acids in emulsion formulations containing commonly used oils, emulsifiers and polyols. Prodew P-DS-12 is a humectant derived at 100% from natural origin, made of the amino acid L-Proline and a short chain fatty acid. In addition to its penetration-enhancing properties, Prodew P-DS-12 also works as a natural booster for antimicrobials, supporting clean and conscious beauty claims. The results confirmed that an appropriate amount of CPRO added to the emulsion formulation led to improved penetration of several amino acids. By contrast, formulations containing 5% lactic acid or diols were tested in the same manner and no significant penetration of amino acids was detected after 24 hours. Similarly, CPRO was also shown to enhance the penetration of Zinc PCA (Ajidew ZN-100), improving this active’s efficacy in skin wrinkles reduction. Other longer term tests on skin moisture retention or on the inhibition of melanin production by niacinamide and acetylcysteine have shown the potent skin penetration activity of CPRO.

By Benjamin Ferrer