Weekly Roundup: Beiersdorf unveils sun protection, Buxom Cosmetics launches virtual gamified experience

20 Jan 2023 --- This week in personal care news, Beiersdorf launched a cosmetic sun protection product specially made for a girl with a rare light disease, allowing her and others with the condition to enjoy a better quality of life. Meanwhile, Buxom Cosmetics teamed up with Publicis Sapient to launch Buxom PlumpVerse, where users can plug into a gamified experience of try-on and music.

Business news
AS Beauty acquired Bliss, a cruelty-free, planet-friendly skincare brand, to diversify its growing portfolio. The business move signals a pivot from AS Beauty’s color cosmetic expertise to skincare. The company’s portfolio comprises Laura Geller Beauty, Julep Beauty, Mally Beauty and Cover FX brands.

L’Oréal Australia selected Productsup’s P2C software platform to enhance its commerce operations. The platform especially delivers rich, relevant and accurate product information to consumers. As its feed management partner, Productsup says it will help accelerate L’Oréal’s go-to-market strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling the company to reach more consumers across more channels.WYOS’ five-piece collection.

Eagle Genomics, a “TechBio” platform business, scaled-up funding from a Japan-based corporate venture capital firm, Omron Ventures. These funds will support the ongoing development of Eagle Genomics’ e[datascientist] online platform that will increase client impact and global expansion. Eagle Genomics continues to mature and apply network science to biological discovery and innovation across the board and nutrition, AgBio, beauty and personal care and biopharma industries.

Launches and releases
Beiersdorf launched a cosmetic sun protection product specially made to help a girl named Charlotte with a rare light disease called erythropoietic protoporphyria. Research showed that special light-scattering pigments need to be added to the cosmetic sunscreen for Charlotte. This prevents the light from penetrating the skin and causing pain – allowing Charlotte and others with the disease to be exposed to the sunlight for a short period and enjoy a better quality of life.

NYX Professional Makeup and Gorjs released the FKWME Pass, a limited collection of non-fungible token (NFT) access passes that will unlock perks for the decentralized autonomous organization’s (DAO) first 1,000 members. Gorjs is described as the world’s first beauty DAO that aids the development of the 3D artist community. Developed on the Ethereum blockchain, Gorjs is a decentralized incubator for the next generation of digital creators.

Buxom Cosmetics, known for their plumping Lip Gloss, teamed up with Publicis Sapient, a digital business transformation company, to launch Buxom PlumpVerse in the virtual world of Decentraland. Buxom offers a gamified user experience that spans six months – branded “go big, be bold, feel sexy.” The virtual world will have three floors, the first being a lounge with a plumping lip bar inspired by the brand’s new Plump Shot Sheer Tints, accompanied by a dance area DJ on the second floor that is tied to the brand’s entertainment and music roots. The third floor consists of a virtual try-on store where users can interact, try shades and participate in gamified experiences.Bliss’ skincare collection.

Geltor introduced NuColl, a vegan alternative to the traditional animal-derived collagen for global hair care applications. The product is said to provide benefits such as hair smoothness, curl definition, split end mending, frizz and volume control. It is also suitable for all hair types and has shown the best performance for hair texture. NuColl is odorless and colorless and is said to be easy to formulate in a range of hair applications and formats.

Write Your Own Story (WYOS) launched five take-anywhere sticks – a gentle face cleanser, purifying face mask, daily shampoo, shaving suds and an overall moisturizer. The company adheres to less waste and mess with more convenience – without leaky jars, shampoo on the shower floor or goop at the bottom of the bottle.

Hims & Hers Health unveiled a line of volumizing shampoos and conditioners formulated with Biovolume 128, which has been shown to increase hair volume. The line is cruelty-free and vegan, while being free from paraben, phthalates, sulfate and dyes. The shampoo formulas have been developed specifically to boost the volume of those who have fine, flat or limp hair.

“Shadow Jumper” Charlotte’s cream.Timeline launched the range Timeline Skin Health, formulated using Mitopure, a highly pure form of urolithin that supports cellular renewal from the inside out – an anti-aging compound. This follows the introduction of its food and supplement products, which offer clinically validated benefits for cellular energy, muscle strength and endurance. The company is now expanding the benefits of Mitopure to the skin.

Awards and recognition
Aveda became a Certified B Corporation, receiving recognition for its commitment to social and environmental responsibility. The vegan and Leaping Bunny Approved hair care brand, underwent a rigorous and extensive review of its environmental and social practices and policies and was assessed across five pillars – governance, workers, community, environment and customers, and achieved an overall impact score of 89.6, exceeding the 50.9 average score of companies undergoing the assessment.

Essity became one of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies recognized by Corporate Knights. The list was announced during the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Global 100 list represents the top 1% of companies in the world in terms of sustainability performance. Corporate Knights analyzes and compares 6,720 companies with a minimum gross revenue of US$1 billion against industry peers. The ranking is based on 25 indicators, including sustainable income and investment, taxes paid, carbon productivity and racial and gender diversity. 

Social outreach
Shiseido renewed its global sustainability partnership with World Surf League (WSL) and became the title sponsor for Shiseido Tahiti Pro. The company entered into an agreement with WSL in 2019, after which Shideido worked with local communities and NGOs to implement activities, including beach clean-ups, beach planting, and coral reef protection. WSL suncare partner SHISEIDO will co-sponsor the Tahiti Pro held in Tahiti, French Polynesia as its title sponsor while continuing its environmental conservation activities.

 By Venya Patel