Weekly Roundup: L’Oréal and Clue partner on menstrual cycle and skin health link, SweetSpot Labs unveils microbiome body cleanser

20 Aug 2021 --- In personal care news this week, L’Oréal partnered with Clue to deepen knowledge on the relationship between skin health and the menstrual cycle. Meanwhile, Brandefy launched a beauty purchasing app where users can compare formulas, ingredients and prices to identify the best options for their needs and budgets. In the same week, SweetSpot Labs released Microbiome Balancing Creamy Full Body Cleanser to help women tackle vulvar skin imbalances.

In brief: Beauty tech
L’Oréal announced a new partnership with Clue, the period tracking app with 12 million users in 190 countries, to deepen knowledge on the relationship between skin health and the menstrual cycle. This collaboration bridges L’Oréal’s historic skincare expertise and beauty-tech ambitions with Clue’s knowledge in reproductive health and data-driven technology. In addition, Clue will work with L’Oréal’s Active Cosmetic Division and its clinical experts to develop scientifically informed new content about the menstrual cycle and skin health for Clue’s reproductive health encyclopedia. “Through this partnership, our goal is to develop personalized skincare routines for consumers of all ages regarding skin health, beauty and wellness aspirations, taking into account their menstrual cycles from puberty to menopause,” says Barbara Lavernos, deputy CEO, in charge of Research, Innovation and Technology at L’Oréal.

Brandefy is changing the way people discover products by connecting beauty enthusiasts with the products and routines most suitable for them. With US$1.7 million in funding, the company says it is well-positioned to disrupt the traditional beauty shopping experience. The investors comprise of both Venture Capital Funds & Angels from all over the US. Investing funds included The Community Fund, Concept to Co and Red Bike Capital. The centerpiece of Brandefy is its iOS app, which has nearly half a million downloads. There, users can compare formulas, ingredients, and prices to identify the best options for their needs or budgets. “People are overwhelmed by the sheer number of products, and many don’t understand why one skin cream costs US$10 and another costs US$100,” says Brandefy founder and CEO Meg Pryde. “Brandefy helps them understand when to pay more for a high-quality product, and when they should switch to a more affordable option that’s just as good.”

SweetSpot Labs launched Microbiome Balancing Creamy Full Body Cleanser. Personalized AI-based cosmetics solution Openface raised US$380,000 as Digital Disrupt VC club looks to pioneer data-driven beauty tech in Europe. Belgian fund Pitchdrive participated in the pre-seed round. The private VC club Digital Disrupt focuses on early-stage startups with MVP and sales, raising funds to help them scale up globally. According to Andrey Lebedev, investment director and partner at Digital Disrupt, solutions like Openface could reshape the beauty industry. “As soon as the technology improves, the market for personalized cosmetics will take off,” says Lebedev. “The world’s largest beauty companies already tap into cutting-edge AI and AR technologies to give their customers a more personalized experience. Solutions like Openface could pioneer the field of AI-based skincare and advance the beauty industry as a whole.”

In brief: Personal Care Launches
Vulvar skincare company SweetSpot Labs launched Microbiome Balancing Creamy Full Body Cleanser to help women who struggle with common, but often unaddressed, vulvar skin imbalances. This chin-to-toe cleanser is specifically formulated for skin prone to bacterial or yeast imbalances such as folliculitis. Unlike most personal care products, Microbiome Balancing Cleanser is free from known malassezia yeast triggers to help prevent the flare cycle of pityrosporum (fungal) folliculitis.

PCA SKIN, a professional peel treatments and transformative daily skincare company, introduced its most advanced corrective, ExLinea Pro Peptide Serum. This clinically proven formula features the brand’s Peptide-Pro Complex providing immediate and long-term reduction of facial expression lines. With an ingredient blend with proven efficacious levels of neuropeptides, proteins, amino acids and marine extracts, the proprietary Peptide-Pro Complex works across both the epidermis and dermis to visibly reduce expression lines caused by repeated muscle movement. “At PCA SKIN, it’s our constant endeavor to develop the clinically advanced correctives which will truly transform people’s skin health. We introduce this new peptide packed serum to professionals and consumers as a superior option to combat expression lines,” notes PCA SKIN CEO Joanna Zucker. “The clinical study we conducted has produced impressive results across a range of patients providing even more reasons to believe in this truly transformative product.”

Bespoke Beauty Brands launched its newest prestige beauty line specifically for men. The full collection, titled Mai Johnson & Company (MJC), includes a full suite of products designed for addressing dryness, cleanliness, and skincare. It is set to launch nationwide, on August 20, 2021. This venture marks the first men’s beauty brand and the third overall brand to roll out under the BBB umbrella. “Mai Johnson & Company is the next generation of men’s beauty,” says Toni Ko, the entrepreneur behind Bespoke Beauty Brand. “MJC is here to deliver confidence to men with every use.”

Lab Clean introduced a sustainable liquid Eco-Refill box for its plant-derived foaming hand soap.In brief: Cosmetic Packaging
Soap manufacturer Lab Clean introduced a sustainable liquid Eco-Refill box for its popular, plant-derived foaming hand soap. The Eco-Refill box features a convenient spout near its base that enables the user to dispense product without having to lift and pour from a heavy, cumbersome plastic bottle. This design innovation helps avoid spills. Lab Clean observed in the industry that the inconvenience of conventional bottle approaches has lowered enthusiasm for refill options. The Eco-Refill box solves this problem, the company supports. Lab Clean introduced its sustainable liquid Eco-Refill box program under the Bayes brand. The Bayes Eco-Refill is made from recyclable and biodegradable corrugated material, reducing plastic use during production by 70 percent. The internal plastic bag that holds the soap refill comprises only 25 percent of the packaging.

Clean beauty brand Innersense Organic Beauty amplified its sustainability offerings. The brand, which recently announced its Climate Neutral and Plastic Neutral certifications, expanded its line to include 32 oz pouches for Hairbaths and Conditioners. Each pouch uses 70 percent less plastic than the current 32 oz lnnersense Organic Beauty bottle and 75 percent less plastic than three 10 oz bottles. Innersense Organic Beauty is constantly striving to deliver salon quality, clean hair care products with minimal environmental impact. All of their iconic white bottles are made with 100 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. The new refill pouches can be used to refill any existing Hairbath or Conditioner bottle, and one pouch can fill three 10 oz bottles or one full 32 oz bottle. Plastic pouches require less material than rigid containers, which translates to less waste and water used during manufacturing and significantly lower emissions. They’re also lightweight, protect hair care products without the need for excess packing materials, and are damage resistant.

By Kristiana Lalou

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