Beyond The Headlines: Perfect Corp pilots virtual try-on self tanning, Bhumi Pednekar creates lipstick with MAC Cosmetics

14 Jul 2023 --- This week, Perfect Corp and Bondi Sands partnered to unveil a shade color virtual try-on solution for their self tan online shopping experience. Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar linked up with MAC Cosmetics for the 29th year of its Viva Glam charitable initiative, benefitting the LGBTQIA+ community. Also, Givaudan announced the passing of master perfumer Olivier Pescheux.

Business activities
AI and AR beauty and fashion tech solutions provider Perfect Corp partnered with self tanning brand Bondi Sands to launch a shade color virtual try-on solution for their self tan online shopping experience in the US, UK, Europe and Australia. The immersive shopping experience is powered by Perfect Corp.’s AI and AR technology, allowing customers to experiment with a variety of self tan products virtually to find their perfect shade. Bondi Sands is the first company in the self tan category to leverage Perfect Corp.’s virtual try-on technology, which assists in matching customers with their ideal shade.

AGC, a Tokyo, Japan-based manufacturer of glass, chemicals and high-tech materials, announced that its subsidiary AGC Si-Tech will increase its production capacity of Resifa Sunsphere, a silica product that is an eco-friendly cosmetic material made from natural sources. At the company’s Wakamatsu Plant in the ward, facility expansion will be implemented to increase production capacity approximately 50% from the current level. Operations are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2025.

Scentmate by DSM-Firmenich was one of the winners of the Digital Beauty Awards at a gala in Barcelona, Spain (Image credit: DSM-Firmenich).Registrar Corp, a compliance services, training and software firm, entered a new partnership with the Independent Beauty Association (IBA), a nonprofit trade organization that represents independent beauty brands and companies. Together, Registrar Corp and IBA will provide educational resources to help companies navigate the complex world of cosmetics compliance, specifically in preparation for the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022. The strategic partnership brings together Registrar Corp’s expertise in regulatory compliance with IBA’s support of independent beauty entrepreneurs.

Brand initiatives and launches
Sephora announced the return of its beauty event, SEPHORiA: House of Beauty. Previously held as an in-person event in 2018-2019, then shifting to a global virtual event in 2021-2022, SEPHORiA will take place in a hybrid format for the first time on September 29-30. It will comprise a live ticketed event in New York City and free global virtual experience in select markets. The event will include new and innovative programming aimed at celebrating Sephora’s  diverse beauty community and showcasing its curated product assortment. The event in New York City will take place at brand-new venue Skylight at Essex Crossing in Lower Manhattan, and the virtual experience will include an immersive, customizable 3D gaming-like platform, which will open on September 29.

Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar linked up with MAC Cosmetics for the 29th year of its Viva Glam charitable initiative, which “supports healthy futures and equal rights for all.” With this launch, Bhumi joins the ranks of past Viva Glam ambassadors including icons over the years, including Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Rosalia and Ricky Martin. Pednekar unveiled the Viva Glam Bhumi Pednekar lipstick, which is a limited-edition lipstick she co-created with MAC Cosmetics. All proceeds from its sale will go to local organizations that support women and girls, HIV/AIDS relief efforts and the LGBTQIA+ community. Viva Glam Bhumi Pednekar is a weightless moisture-matte lipstick that delivers a blur of soft-focus pink color. The pink bullet comes housed in a golden glitter case and is complemented by Pednekar’s signature on the art deco packaging.

Viva Glam Bhumi Pednekar Lipstick (Image credit: MAC Cosmetics).Vichy Laboratoires entered a partnership with Embr Labs, a health-tech company addressing hot flashes and sleep to help women thrive in peri- and post-menopause. Leveraging skin care research and thermal haptics, the partnership aims to enhance the quality of life for menopausal women by providing the tools needed to establish a holistic, personalized approach to their care. Vichy’s Neovadiol line is specifically formulated for peri- and post-menopausal skin. Similarly, the Embr Wave from Embr Labs, offers a tech wearable to allow women to access immediate relief from hot flashes. The companies will cross-promote each other’s offerings on orders made on each of their direct-to-consumer platforms.

Chanel transitioned the packaging of its Le Blanc foundation to PET, in collaboration with its packaging supplier Texen. The product was previously crafted from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Chanel is anticipating changes in European legislation on cosmetic materials, aligning with eco-design.

Research and development
A new article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reveals that men with melanoma – and particularly men with skin of color – are more likely to die than women with melanoma. The “largest study” – consisting of 200,000 participants – on racial differences in men with melanoma shows that men with skin color have the lowest survival rates. It compared melanoma diagnosis data from the National Cancer Database from 2004 until 2018 in White, Black, Asian, American Indian/Alaskan Native and Hispanic men. Overall survival rates in men with melanoma were highest for White men (75%), followed by American Indian/Alaskan Native (69%), Asian (68%), Hispanic (66%) and Black men (52%). White and American Indian/Alaskan Native men were more likely to develop melanoma on the trunks of their bodies, while Black, Asian and Hispanic men were more likely to develop it in their lower extremities, specifically areas that are not exposed to the sun. The study also showed that Black, Hispanic and Asian men are more likely to have melanoma diagnosed at an advanced stage when it is more difficult to treat.

Givaudan announced the passing of Olivier Pescheux, master perfumer behind One Million by Paco Rabanne (Image credit: Givaudan).Announcements and recognitions
Givaudan announced the passing of Olivier Pescheux, on July 10 in Paris, France, at the age of 57, after fighting against a long disease. Born in Paris in 1966 and graduated from ISIPCA, Pescheux started his career in 1990 by joining Payan Bertrand in Bangkok. On his return to Paris in 1992, he worked for the perfume house Annick Goutal, before transitioning to Kao Corporation in 1993. He joined Givaudan in 1998, returning in 2006 after a brief period at Quest International. Well-known for his “elegant and luminous” olfactive writing, as Givaudan illustrates, the master perfumer was behind the fragrances One Million by Paco Rabanne, Higher by Dior, L.12.12 Blanc by Lacoste, Eau des Sens, Fleur de Peau and Orphéon by Diptyque.

Scentmate by DSM-Firmenich was one of the winners of the Digital Beauty Awards at a gala event held at the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) in Barcelona, Spain. The Digital Beauty Awards recognizes companies, professionals and initiatives active in digitalization and e-commerce in Spain. Scentmate was awarded in the categories of “Best digitalization provider in the beauty sector,” “Best digital innovation in beauty” and “Best digital executive in the sector”. A jury of experts in digitalisation, e-commerce, marketing and communication in the beauty sector decided from more than 300 entries. L’Oréal was  recognized by Standard & Poor’s Global for its sustainability performance, with an ESG rating of 85 points out of 100. This rating reflects the group’s environmental and social performance. The beauty giant scored an ESG profile score of 77 out of 100, combined with a high Preparedness Score of 8.

By Benjamin Ferrer