Weekly Roundup: Unilever offloads Suave brand, Kaltech unveils photocatalytic technology beauty humidifier in US

12 May 2023 --- This week in personal care news, US-based private equity firm Yellow Wood Partners completed the acquisition of the brand Suave from Unilever. Japanese technology company Kaltech introduced the “world’s first beauty humidifier” using photocatalytic technology in the US. Also, Givaudan Active Beauty introduced a new standard in the skin microbiome field with the launch of B-Biome Score.

Business activities
Yellow Wood Partners, a Boston, US-based private equity firm focused on investing in consumer brands and companies, completed the acquisition of the beauty and personal care brand, Suave, in North America from Unilever. With the completion of the transaction, Yellow Wood Partners is creating the Suave Brands Company. The newly formed stand-alone business will support the Suave brand under the leadership of recently appointed CEO Daniel Alter, a 20-year Unilever veteran with global strategy and operations expertise. The company will be headquartered in New Jersey.

Japanese technology company Kaltech announced that its most recent invention, the “world’s first beauty humidifier,” is available for sale in the US (Image credit: Kaltech).Chemical manufacturer Sabic linked up with Stella McCartney Beauty and three French plastic converters – Texen, Leygatech and STTP Emballage – to create a set of new skin and eye care refill containers produced with certified renewable polymers from Sabic’s Trucircle portfolio. The containers are commercialized in the North American and UK markets. They feature three Sabic polyolefin resins with a combined mass-balanced certified renewable feedstock content of up to 90%, meeting the vegan branding of the cosmetics manufacturer. Once the containers have reached the end of their usable lifetime, the material value of their polypropylene and polyethylene polymers can be recovered through established polyolefin recycling.

L’Oréal Paris announced its new artistry-focused collective, the L’Oréal Paris League of Experts. The collective will comprise industry influencers who will contribute to the brand’s artistic vision through their various areas of expertise. The L’Oréal Paris League of Experts is being unveiled with three initial members – Allan Avendaño, Claudia Betancur and Erica Taylor – each with a unique makeup artistry perspective. Allan Avendaño is known for his editorial and red-carpet expertise, having worked with talent in Hollywood. Claudia Betancur is a celebrity makeup artist in the Latin market, with over 30 years of industry experience. Rounding out the League of Experts is Erica Taylor, a veteran makeup artist with more than 1 million engaged followers.

Lignopure revealed partnerships to scale the distribution of its LignoBase line. The company tells PersonalCareInsights that Belgian company Kreglinger will oversee Germany, Austria, BENELUX and the UK, Massó for Spain, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and Croatia, Hanacare for South Korea and Eckart for the rest of Europe, Americas, APAC, Middle East and Africa. The company’s LignoBase line comprises three ingredients: LignoBase Cool BE25, LignoBase Neutral PS25 and LignoBase Warm WS25. The multifunctional ingredients are bio-based and derived from upcycling non-food competitive lignin, which boasts antioxidant, SPF boosting, mattifying and natural color benefits.

FIFA announced Unilever personal care brands – including Rexona (also known as Sure and Degree), Dove, Lifebuoy and Lux – as official sponsors of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. The partnership will run through to 2027 and include the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the FIFAe finals. It marks the first time that FIFA has teamed up with personal care brands across women’s, men’s and FIFA esports. As part of the agreement, FIFA and Unilever will collaborate with FIFA’s Women’s Development Programme to provide funding, human resources and support for tailored development programs to tap into the upsurge in interest surrounding the women’s game. Unilever will supply a total of 80,000 gift packs containing personal care products directly to fans at various FIFA events over the coming years.

Beauty-tech advancements and launches
Japanese technology company Kaltech – which specializes in using photocatalytic technology to purify food, water and air – announced that its most recent invention, the “world’s first beauty humidifier,” is available for sale in the US. The Yuragi Junsui Premier is designed and equipped with photocatalytic technology to remove impurities. Yuragi – which refers to the flickering blue light inside the humidifier lending a peaceful, zen-like “flickering candle” quality – is Kaltech’s first venture into the beauty realm. The humidifier consists of dual filter technology that uses a unique cartridge to eliminate chlorine and minerals typically found in tap water. Once the chlorine and other harsh minerals are eliminated, the built-in photocatalytic plates keep the water accumulated in the tray clean and free of bacteria and other contaminants. This not only eliminates the need for daily water changes, but also ensures that only the purest water is used to moisturize and nourish the skin.

Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water by Cosrx (Image credit: Cosrx).Beauty brand Cosrx released its new Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water, a moisturizing and gentle cleanser designed for those with sensitive and acne-prone skin. The Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water contains key ingredients such as niacinamide, allantoin and hyaluronic acid that soothe and hydrate the skin while removing makeup, unclogging pores and regulating excess sebum and oil secretion. The new release is formulated with a composition similar to the pH of skin to help maintain a healthy skin balance and strengthen the skin barrier. It gently yet effectively removes makeup whilst providing a deep cleanse all without disturbing the skin’s balance or causing irritation.

Givaudan Active Beauty introduced a new standard in the skin microbiome field with the launch of B-Biome Score. The label is microbiome-friendly and scientifically demonstrated, backed by a scientific publication and endorsed by a dermatological expert. For greater accessibility and understanding, the results of the B-Biome Score are indicated by letters ranging from A to E. A recent study conducted by Givaudan Active Beauty demonstrated that 84% of consumers found the B-Biome Score certificate innovative, while 79% of those surveyed would be willing to buy a beauty product that carries it.

Social outreach
Natracare, creator of compostable disposable period products, has announced Project #BeKind. According to the Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses 12 products and puts 168 chemicals on her body daily. Additionally, in the US alone, approximately 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are discarded each year. While many of these products end up in a landfill producing climate damaging methane, others clog sewers and contribute to the staggering amount of plastics in our oceans. The “habit-improving” Project #BeKind pledge campaign focuses on educating and inspiring consumers to choose 100% organic, chemical-free, plastic-free and biodegradable products.

Fragrance and beauty house Givaudan enlisted as a partner of the LEAD Network (Leading Executives Advancing Diversity) to increase gender representation at leadership level and support its ongoing commitment to growing diversity and inclusion. Givaudan joins over 200 manufacturers and 100 retailers in LEAD Network who share leading practices on how they advance women and transform their business.

In honor of National Nurses Month, therapeutic skincare brand CeraVe announced a new multi-year partnership with The DAISY Foundation (Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem), an international organization supporting meaningful recognition of nurses. The partnership aims to highlight the compassion and dedication represented within the nurse community. This National Nurses Week, CeraVe and The DAISY Foundation have debuted a digital documentary shortthat shares the true story of a family whose lives were forever impacted by two New York nurses.

By Benjamin Ferrer