Beyond The Headlines: CDMO Bioingenium scales bio-based cosmetic actives, Chaka Khan debuts fragrance

03 Nov 2023 --- This week, CDMO Bioingenium channeled €1.5 million (US$1.6 million) into a new Spanish production plant to develop its range of biological active solutions for cosmetics. Perfect Corp. launched its “most advanced” virtual try-on technology for hair, while recent Hall of Fame inductee singer Chaka Khan unveiled her new perfume.

Business activities and launches
CDMO Bioingenium, based in the Barcelona Science Park, is scaling its capacity to develop bioprocesses and manufacturing of recombinant proteins and other biological products with a new production plant in Cornellà de Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain). The new facilities will also allow the company to increase its line of active ingredients for the cosmetic market, an area where it plans to invest more than €750,000 (US$803,000). The new center, which will be fully operational in mid-2024, will have a surface area of 1,200 m2.

Taste Beauty collaborated with Caboodles on beauty organizers filled with Hershey, Sour Patch Kids and Fruity Pebbles merchandise (Image credit: Taste Beauty).Eigenmann & Veronelli, a distributor of specialty chemicals and food ingredients, inaugurated its first Beauty & Personal Care and Paint & Coatings laboratory to serve its customers and suppliers throughout the EMEA region. Located in Bresso, Milan, Italy, the new 230 m2 laboratory is part of the OpenZone scientific campus. The facility supports customers and suppliers by providing formulation, training, customer seminars and guidance alongside innovative materials and concepts.

Livestream shopping platform HSN debuted a fragrance by singer Chaka Khan, paying tribute to her career. Chaka by Chaka Khan contains a blend of violet, ylang ylang, bergamot, pink pepper, musk blossom, patchouli, vanilla, cinnamon and sandalwood. The launch will take place on November 14 on the HSN website, accompanied by live appearances by Chaka Khan on November 14 and 15, during which she will share stories from her life and career.

Perfect Corp. launched its virtual try-on technology powered by generative AI. The technology, now available in the YouCam Makeup app, is marketed as its most advanced and realistic VTO solution for hairstyling available on the market today. Perfect Corp. utilizes advanced generative AI and stable diffusion models to produce a wide variety of hyper-realistic hairstyles, colors and textures, enabling users to explore a range of hairstyles. The generative AI solution was designed to alleviate a major pain point in the hairstyling space, where consumers can often be unsure how a certain haircut or hairstyle will look with their unique features.

Taste Beauty entered a collaboration with Caboodles for the shopping season. The collaboration features iconic Caboodles beauty organizers filled with beauty products. There are three themed kits in the collaboration: Hershey, Sour Patch Kids and Fruity Pebbles. Each kit comes with a nail sticker sheet, lip balm, lip gloss, nail polish, a nail file, toe separators, a makeup palette, makeup brushes and a scrunchie. The product was launched exclusively at Walmart across the US this week.

The renovated Dior Spa located at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris (Image credit: Dior).Brand engagement
The Dior Spa located at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris has been reinvented and now offers a special suite dedicated to light therapy. Dior opened its first spa in 2008 at the Plaza Athénée. The 400 m2 space on Avenue Montaigne has been renovated several times over the years. Today it takes on a new look, with an “emphasis on a warm, serene atmosphere and high-tech treatments.” The pale and enveloping décor is inspired by the hotel archways, with reorganized spaces highlighting wood, stone and other natural materials. The new spa also reveals the Dior Light Suite, a treatment room inspired by light therapy with a ceiling able to reproduce the sun’s light to resynchronize the body’s rhythms and restore energy. New treatments have been specially developed as well, notably the Dior Privé Sur Demande customized treatments.

The British Beauty Council appointed Kate Moss, Cosmoss brand founder, as global ambassador to help promote the British beauty sector. Assuming the inaugural role of global ambassador, Kate Moss will work closely with the Council to highlight the industry and its work across policy, ESG, talent and growth. This role coincides with the first anniversary of Cosmoss.

Latin music artist Manuel Turizo collaborated with ELF Cosmetics on a new Spanish-language song titled “Ojos. Labios. Cara.”, which translates in English to “Eyes. Lips. Face.” The song tells the story of a Latin woman who captivates the song’s narrator not for her physical beauty but for her boldness, confidence and intellectual power. In line with this collaboration, e.l.f. will be donating to the Maestro Cares Foundation, an organization Turizo is affiliated with, which works with disadvantaged children and communities in Latin America and the US through assisting with housing, educational programming and essential resources.

By Benjamin Ferrer