Beyond The Headlines: CeraVe releases four innovations, Personalized shopping matches customers’ “aura” to perfume

11 Aug 2023 --- This week in beauty and personal care news, CeraVe unveiled four skin care innovations targeting hydration and acne care including its first “hybrid” sunscreen. Luxury travel retailer DFS Group launched a beauty-themed multi-city event, “Explore New Dimensions,” bringing together 15 global brands to curate a series of personalized shopping journeys leveraging AR and AI technology, including an experience that analyzes consumers’ “aura” to match them with a personalized scent.

Business developments
CeraVe introduced four new products – Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen, Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel, Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser and Acne Foaming Cream Wash – to its therapeutic skincare range. The launches join the rest of the brand’s lineup of products that are all formulated with three essential ceramides – 1, 3 and 6-II – to help restore and maintain a healthy skin barrier. The new Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen is notably the brand’s first hybrid sunscreen, which offers dual UV protection by combining gentle, organic UV filters with mineral UV filters to both absorb and reflect harmful UV rays without leaving a white cast.

Lush announced the return of fan favorite Snow Fairy body wash for Christmas (Image credit: Lush).Spain-headquartered Vytrus Biotech, which specializes in active ingredients derived from plant biotechnology for the cosmetic industry, entered a long-term commercial agreement with the K-Beauty manufacturer Cosmecca Korea to collaborate for future projects coming ahead. The partnership will research ingredients of cosmetic efficacy based on plant stem cell technology. The Memorandum of Understanding signed will enable both companies to combine the sustainable biotechnology of plant stem cell platforms of Vytrus Biotech with Cosmecca Korea’s expertise in skin care R&D and manufacturing, based on the latest K-Beauty trends.

TJC launched Allure Beauty Concepts, a beauty platform established from the integration of Allure Labs and Kleen Concepts. The move is deemed a “significant step” in the company’s strategic growth plan. Allure Beauty Concepts will expand the suite of services offered to customers by providing market insights, R&D and complex process and sourcing capabilities, and by allowing established, independent and emerging brands to bring performance products to market.

Lush announced its lineup of “candy-sweet suds” debuting for Christmas will include the comeback of a limited edition bestseller, Snow Fairy shower gel, scented with the essences of candy and pear drops. The festive range will feature new innovations alongside other returning classics, such as the earthy and spicy Lord of Misrule herbal blend perfume, that “mingles” patchouli oil from Sumatra with peppery notes. The ethical soap brand is also offering Lush Knot Wraps as an alternative to wrapping paper. The fabric gift wraps are reusable and sustainable, and ideal for wearing or re-wrapping year after year.

New product launches
Happy Head launched its newest topical hair growth solution, Happy Head’s Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil (Liposomal Formula), designed by dermatologists and hair restoration experts. The formula infuses prescription-grade hair growth medicine into a liposomal base, which gradually releases the medication into hair follicles and reduces systemic absorption and potential side effects. It’s the first product of its kind to use FDA-approved ingredients in a “lipid-based, mess-free formula.” The product is designed for daily use, with the brand claiming that three to six months of application will not only help regrow lost hair, but prevent further hair loss.

Austin Butler was named the face of YSL Beauty (Image credit: YSL Beauty).Nikko Chemicals introduced its latest skin care ingredient solution Nikkol Lecinol MFL, containing high levels of lysophosphatidic acid, a lysolecithin with a particularly wide range of efficacy on epidermal cells. Its primary activity is reinforcing the skin’s barrier function. It achieves this by demonstrating a keratinization promotion effect on epidermal cells, encouraging the production of ceramide, a major intercellular lipid constituent, as well as of filaggrin necessary for the building of natural moisturizing factor. It is also expected to be effective in protecting the skin against external stressors such as air pollutants. This multifunctional lysolecithin with skin barrier function reinforcement action is ideally suited for emulsions, creams, beauty serums and other skincare products.

Brand engagement activities
DFS Group launched a beauty-themed multi-city event, “Explore New Dimensions,” bringing together 15 global brands to curate a series of personalized shopping journeys leveraging AR and AI technology and limited-time offers. The event is hosted at DFS stores in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Bali, Guam, Saipan, Paris and Venice. Two anchor brands, Guerlain and Jo Malone London, will be joined by Burberry, Charlotte Tilbury, Clarins, Clinique, Estée Lauder, Ginza, Kiehl’s, La Mer, Lancôme, L'Occitane, Sol de Janeiro and Sulwhasoo to offer a variety of pop-ups and at-counter experiences. Among the highlights, Aura Perfumery provides scent-seekers with an interactive consultation and an exploration of one’s Aura, made up of colors representative of his or her energy field that are uniquely individual. Customers can bring home a complimentary, signature scent that is a perfect match of their aura based on a personality quiz. The experience uses AI to select the scent and generates artwork that symbolizes the customer’s auric DNA. In other activities, Guerlain is offering two workshops – “Honey Tasting Workshop” and “Melliferous Flower Workshop” – to showcase the benefits of the brand’s new Abeille Royale Honey Treatment Night Cream at selected DFS stores. Customers will be presented with a range of facial treatments conducted by expert beauty therapists using the latest techniques and technology harnessing the power of honey and royal jelly.

YSL Beauty announced Austin Butler as global ambassador for its new fragrance MYSLF, a “contemporary take on masculinity.” The actor has collaborated with acclaimed Hollywood directors Quentin Tarantino, Baz Luhrmann and Jim Jarmusch. Most recently, he has worked with Jeff Nichols and Denis Villeneuve for the upcoming Bikeriders films and Dune: Part Two, respectively. His performance in the film Elvis, nominated for the Oscars, showed his unique ability to portray a complex and fascinating character. His work has also earned him a Golden Globe and a BAFTA in the Best Actor category.

By Benjamin Ferrer