Flashnews: Olivia Wilde just signed with True Botanical. Olivia used to be the face of Revlon and now is heading to a “niche” brand. “Everyone is a part of it for the right reasons,” “It’s a very different experience than working for Revlon, which is a massive global brand and has a legacy, [unlike] something new and trying to change the game like True Botanicals.” said Olivia Wilde in a recent interview for WWD.
Olivia Wilde will be the Chief Brand Activist of True Botanical, part of responsibilities will be to promote the brand on social media and contribute to projects.
Hillary Peterson and Christina Mace-Turner are the co-founder of True Botanical a California based company selling luxury anti-aging products certified MADE SAFE™. They created this brand with the strong desire to provide beauty consumer with super-concentrated, bio-active formulations that deliver clinically proven results without compromising their health. The duo caught the attention of Unilever which is now investing in their company.
According to the Financial Times, L’Oréal is thinking about selling The Body Shop for 1 billion Euros. Eleven years ago, L’Oréal acquired The Body Shop for 652.3 Millions Pounds. Back then The Body Shop’s ethical stand was seen as an opportunity for L’Oréal to make it big on the natural cosmetic market.
However The Body Shop has been struggling for quite some time. In the first half of last year, like-for-like sales at the Body Shop fell 0.6 per cent to 398.6 Millions Euros compared with the same period the previous year. Operating losses worsened to 22.2 Millions Euros from 7.2 Million Euros. L’Oréal is collaborating with bankers at Lazard to come up with a plan. – The Financial Times.
In the mean time, L’Oréal just bought CeraVe, AcneFree and Ambi from Canadian pharmaceutical company Valeant for 900 Millions Euros.
A lot has been done to protect the skin from the pollution and attacks from the environment. We have been paying attention to our pores, cells renewal rate and now it’s time to care about our Microbiota. It might gross you out but we are sharing our body space with a lovely ecological community (bacteria, fungi, and archaea). The bad news is some of them will affect your immune system and your skin’s health. The good news is a lot of them perform tasks that are known to be useful for us.
Bye bye bad bacteria
Once again Korea and Japan are one step ahead. As part of their beauty routine, Korean women incorporated double cleansing. The first one would remove the makeup and the second one would take care of the excess of oil, bacteria and other impurity that might be clogging your pores. According to Charlotte Cho, blogger at Soko Glam you coud also go for a triple cleanse, have a look at her 10-step Program.
If it wasn’t enough, Korea and Japan witnessed the rise of digital tools to analyse the skin. In combination with their beauty routine, some Korean women use tools to make sure their skin is at its best at any given moment.
WAY collects data from your skin and surroundings, provides skincare tips on your connected device (More info: clic here).
Hello good bacteria
Now that we got the bad news at of our way, let’s talk Probiotics. Recent studies showed some powerful skin health benefits from using Probiotics (Topical application or Ingesting them).
Strenghten natural skin defenses.
Lower stress level in the skin.
Balance the skin’s pH level.
The good bacteria will fight free radicals, allergens and other impurities.
Target wrinkles
Hydrate the skin.
Reduce damages caused by the sun.
Improve skin’s elasticity.
In 2017 you can expect to see flourishing brands using probiotics. Some are already on board.
Once combined with water, this nutrient-rich balm becomes a light milk that penetrates deeply and lifts away pore-blocking impurities to leave your skin feeling thoroughly clean, comfortable and soft.
This intelligent, aromatic, creamy infusion glides on to the skin and lifts off all impurities and make- up. It fuses probiotic and peptide technologies with BioOrganic plant and flower essences to hydrate and soothe dull and dehydrated skin promoting a luminous, dewy, radiant glow whilst helping to prevent skin ageing.
This lightweight cream. It doubles as a sleeping mask – formulated with probiotics that neutralize free radicals, visibly minimize pores, and reduce oil production overnight. So you wake up with the healthy, glowing complexion of your dreams.
Derek Maxfield and Melanie Huscroft (source: Younique.com)
In 2012, Derek Maxfield and Melanie Huscroft founded Younique, a privately owned makeup and cosmetics direct sales company. Younique market and sell almost exclusively through the use of social media. They believe in the strength and influence of women in the world today. Their mission is to empower, validate and uplift women all across teh world.They believe in the strength and influence of women in the world today.
Ready to join Coty
According to Reuters, Coty is already thinking about its next move. Right after its merger last year, Coty intends to buy 60% stake in Younique LLC for 600 millions dollars. According to Coty Younique 2016 sales revenue should be 400 millions dollars. This is a quite promising addition to Coty’s portfolio.
So long skin bleaching ! Hello beautiful black skin
According to the World Health Organization, 77% of Nigerian women use skin lightening products on a regular basis, as do 59% in Togo, 35% in South Africa, 27% in Senegal and 25% in Mali. The popular trend of whitening is moving toward brightening and lightening (new shape of light, emphasizing the contrasts created by the beautiful face’s forms).
African women become more and more aware of their skin needs. FC Beauty College educates the Ghanaian youth about skin care product and promote products which emphasize the beauty of the black skin, at a time when many companies are selling dangerous skin-bleaching formulas.
Creating products which emphasize the beauty of the black skin.
Finding the right products addressing your skin needs is quite challenging for African women with black skin. They want tailored-made products. They understand how the sun is damaging their skin and they need products targeting specific needs, no more multi-purpose products. People with black and very dark skin tend to believe that they are fully protected against the damage of the sun which is not the case. Their skin needs to be protected, nourished and they need products to address their hyper-pigmentation issue.
Beauty made in Africa
African women are celebrating their roots and fully embracing their heritage. We see more and more women flaunting their beautiful afro. The Africa’s young and talented entrepreneurs are animated by a strong will to create luxury ventures through reinvesting in ancient rituals and precious African ingredients.
The size of golf-balls, ripe marula fruit consists of a pungent, apple-like odor, and a soft-leathery butter-yellow colored exterior, which encases an exotic tasting juicy white pulp. Enclosed within the pulp is tightly-held brown-colored stone, which consists of 2-3 cavities. Each cavity consists of a small, fragile, yet prized marula seed.
Eating right will considerably improve your health and impact strongly your body and your mind. Japanese people are amongst the most self-aware people regarding their weight. The following comparisons are not Best vs Worst. Japan’s obesity rate is the lowest in the world, the 2014’s OECD report shows Japan and Korea ranked 1st with a mere 3.8%, roughly ten times lower than the US (41%).
Alongside this low rate it is worth mentioning that Japanese people eat 25% less calories and less fat than American (2710 kCal vs 3639 kCal and 87.3 g of fat vs 161.6 g of fat according to the 2011’s OECD report). We could fairly assume that eating with chopsticks takes longer than using forks or spoons, this extra time is long enough for Japanese people to realize when their stomach is full. Japanese tend to drink less sweet beverages (Fruit Juice: 27% vs 51% global; Soft drinks: 29% vs 42% Global) and more coffee (75% vs 56% Global) and tea (81% vs 61% Global).
Boost your health and beauty one bite at a time
Japanese women diet turns around the following ingredients. Most of them can easily be incorporated in your diet and the good news they are cheap.
Mushrooms
Shitake Mushrooms
They are rich in protein, fiber, Vitamin D, calcium and will help you to lower your blood cholesterol. Among the various types of mushrooms, Enoki, Shitake, Maitake and Reishi varieties are the most common in Japanese cuisine.
Seaweed
Nori rolls
Nori, Kombu, Wakame and Arame varieties are great sources of Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Iodine, Vitamin C and B, fibers and beta-carotene.
Fish
Rich in omega-3, low fat protein, vitamin, riboflavin and minerals (Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, zinc, phosphorus, iodine).
Rice
Although you might already eat regularly rice. A quick reminder of its benefits will definitely put a smile on your face. Rice will help you to stabilize your blood sugar, it is rich in vitamins, fibers, calcium, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and some more minerals.
Japanese women also use rice water as part of their beauty routine. “Rice water contains vitamins, minerals and amino acids which are essential for beautiful skin, including ferulic acid, which is a great antioxidant, and allantoin, known for its anti-inflammatory properties” says Jillee. Have a look at her blog “One good thing by Jillee” for some awesome applications of rice water.
Brassica vegetables (Cabbage, Broccoli, cauliflower, radish and bok choy)
Cabbage salad
These vegetables are the go-to for Japanese people. You can find them in salads, soups or alongside rice. Cabbage is known for its awesome health benefits such as boosting the immune system, purifying the blood, and killing viruses and bacteria. It’s also great source of fibers, antioxidant, vitamins and your new best friend to fat off your lovely hips.
Green tea
No surprise here. Everybody knows about green tea benefits on your diet (boost your metabolism). As opposed to any other type of tea, green tea does not go through fermentation process. Hence it keeps its high level of antioxidant (Catechin). As a matter of fact, green tea contains more antioxidants than most the fruits and vegetables. Green tea reduces risk of heart disease and cholesterol levels, lowers blood pressure.
Japanese people founds millions ways to enjoy, if you have been to Japan you definitely noticed Matcha tea (specially grown and processed green tea) was everywhere and incorporated in everything.
One of my favorite place to go for their awesome Matcha desserts is Tsujiri
Many of the world beauty giants have already staged store openings, such as Chanel, Urban Decay (temporary), Giorgio Armani (temporary), L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline and NYX Cosmetics. As part of Dior’s strategy to attract millennials, Dior opened a new store located in the Westfield World Trade Center.
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Many of the world beauty giants have already staged store openings, such as Chanel, Urban Decay (temporary), Giorgio Armani (temporary), L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline and NYX Cosmetics. As part of Dior’s strategy to attract millennials, Dior opened a new store located in the Westfield World Trade Center.
Mixing modernity and audacity, this new store creates an immersive experience for customers. Just a few steps in and they will feel like being part of fashion show. Neon lights, mirrored ceilings reflecting Dior’s muses, this new space transports the customers in the world of Peter Philips Creative and Image Director for Dior makeup.
The store features a Mix & Match video table enabling customers to try nail polish or lipstick on virtual model; a lip studio where they can play with different shades, textures or colors; Six professional makeup stations heighten the experience, offering professional services like face consultations or lash and brow styling.
According to a Mintel report, by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries of regions with absolute water scarcity. By 2030, the world will only have 60% of the water that it needs if current water usage doesn’t change. Some brands are already looking into alternatives in order to limit their dependence on water.
According to a Mintel report, by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries of regions with absolute water scarcity. By 2030, the world will only have 60% of the water that it needs if current water usage doesn’t change. Some brands are already looking into alternatives in order to limit their dependence on water.
But before we go any further, just a quick reminder on how our skin works. In order to protect itself the skin secretes Sebum, an oily /waxy matter which purpose is to make the skin waterproof and to protect it from drying out. As we are getting older we produce less and less sebum and our skin becomes more sensitive to the cold, sun or pollution. Most of the cosmetics available on the market are water based formulation. Water fosters the penetration of the actives in the skin and is a cheap solvent for cosmetics formulations. However water does not fix dehydration issues for the deeper layer of the skin.
What are the benefits of waterless cosmetics?
No more preservatives
One of the big problem with water based formulation is the high content of water which makes the products highly sensitive to bacteria. For these products preservatives are necessary. In some cases, preservatives can cause some irritation or allergic reactions. As you take the water out you do not need preservatives anymore and you can keep them longer.
More concentrated formula
The water can be replaced by glycerin, hyaluronic acid or some botanical extracts allowing higher dosages of active ingredients. In some case it can even reach 100%. These water less formulas offer long term skin protection and better solubility for Vitamin C or Retinol.
Better for the environment
Less is more. As the formulas are more concentrated, consumers don’t need to use a lot. Therefore brands can sell their products in smaller packaging and reduce their impact on the environment.
Better suitability to all kind of skin type
Waterless products are more efficient at protecting the skin than water based products. Without preservatives and water, the risk of irritations or allergic reactions is significantly reduced.
These waterless cosmetics created the buzz in Korea and later on in the US.
Korean brand Whamisa offers a range of ‘water’-free skincare products using botanical extracts instead of traditional purified water. It uses a natural fermentation process to distill and preserve the potency of select natural ingredients.
New in Italy from Zuccari under the [aloevera]2 brand is Extremely Delicate Aloe Shower Gel, said to be the “first shower gel in the world formulated without added water” – which is replaced with pure double-concentrate, non-pasteurized and non-carbon filtered aloe vera juice extracted using the “reversosmose” process. It contains prebiotics and probiotics, claimed to balance the bacterial flora; and the patented AJDA (hyaluronic acid from aloe), is said to maintain hydration.
Skin Savior removes dirt and makeup without stripping the skin, moisturizes, illuminates and even turns mineral powder into a glowing foundation treatment. With an antioxidant-rich blend of organic coconut oil, mango butter, jojoba and chia, this citrus and vanilla treat is the perfect solution for just about any of your skin’s needs.
Formulated with 90% natural tea tree extract, you can feel its power of revitalization as Tea Tree 90 Essence alleviates uneven skin tone, minimizes redness, refreshes the skin, and improves overall complexion. With over 800x more Vitamin C than an apple, your skin will thank you for the invigorating treatment that leaves it rejuvenated and radiant.
The digital has redefined the shopping experience for beauty products consumers. From mobile applications to virtual reality, brands and retailers leverage these digital tools in order to offer compelling experiences to their consumers whilst enabling them to customize their makeup products.
The digital has redefined the shopping experience for beauty products consumers. A recent study from Deloitte showcased that digital influenced 64% of all in-store sales in 2015.One step at the time new technologies are incorporated in the customer journey. From mobile applications to augmented reality, brands and retailers leverage these digital tools in order to offer a compelling experience to their consumers. Virtual Reality is becoming mainstream, the cost of the equipment is getting more and more affordable. Beauty brands and retailers already started using it in order to create an immersive experience for their consumers.
Virtual Guide
In 2014 L’Oréal introduced Makeup Genius and its virtual mirror enabling consumers to digitally try color cosmetic products. A lot of mobile applications with similar feature were released later on. In 2016, Sephora introduced its new app Virtual Artist , L’Oréal and Snapchat created the first beauty filter for digitally applying makeup
Although these applications contribute to guide consumers through their shopping, a raising proportion of consumers would like to customize their makeup.
Both combined 3D printers and these matching devices are the future of makeup. They represent a significant growth opportunity for beauty brands. It is just a matter of time before they become the ultimate tool for consumers to create their unique style.
If you ever dreamed about matching your nail polish colour with your dress, now it is possible. Capitalizing on the savoir-faire of the Swiss company Colorix, Provaine offers to its consumers the possibility to customize the colour of their nail polish.
If you ever dreamed about matching your nail polish colour with your dress, now it is possible. Capitalizing on the savoir-faire of the Swiss company Colorix, Provaine offers to its consumers the possibility to customize the colour of their nail polish.
Nail Revolution uses Colorcatch (colorimeter), this sensor scans the surface to copy and identify up to 5 major colour components.
In order to do so the sensor analyses around 50 000 pixels separately. Once done, the customer can pick what level of each major components she wants for her nail polish. The nail polish is prepared in 3 min. Nail Revolution is able to create up 1600 colours.
Nail Revolution should be released early 2017. One nail polish should cost around 20€.
One step at the time DIY is becoming more and more trendy. It would be interesting to see whether this Nail Revolution could find its alter ego in other colour cosmetics products.
Karim Bangoura
Digital marketing executive with 4 years of work experience within world leading fragrance houses.
Last estimation shows around 2 billion for smartphone users in the world and should reach 2.16 billion in 2016. Fragrances and cosmetics retailers needs to take this into account when building their strategy . They need to think mobile first in order to provide the best shopping experience to their hyper connected consumers. With an average of 50% of their consumers using their smartphone whilst shopping, point of sales need to be redesigned and integrate digital tools enabling retailers to assist their customers at every stage of their customer journey.
Last estimation shows around 2 billion for smartphone users in the world and should reach 2.16 billion in 2016. Fragrances and cosmetics retailers needs to take this into account when building their strategy . They need to think mobile first in order to provide the best shopping experience to their hyper connected consumers. With an average of 50% of their consumers using their smartphone whilst shopping, point of sales need to be redesigned and integrate digital tools enabling retailers to assist their customers at every stage of their customer journey.
Among the digital tools available on the market, iBeacons offer a broad range of services that would be mutually beneficial to both retailers and customers. iBeacon’s operation distance is around 50m. For now only new smartphones can support iBeacon. Once connected to smarphones via bluetooth, retailers will be able to:
Guide visitors : Using push notifications, visitors located within 50m from the store are invited to come in the store. Depending on how far they are from the store, an itinerary can be provided to them. Once inside the store, another itinerary will help them to find where their product of interest is.
Identify zones of interest or evaluate the effect of a campaign: All smartphones connected to iBeacons can be tracked. Thanks to the iBeacons the retailers can identify what part of the store attract more people and for every smartphone a map of interest can be done.
Welcoming visitors: Sending a personalized message or offer to a visitor as he/she is coming in the store. This can be used to address the needs of a loyal customer. Depending on the quality of the information we have on the customer, the message will enable to convert this visitors into a shopper. This type a message to customers gives a feeling of being treated like someone special and not any customers.
Targeted discount: If we notice that a customer spends quite a long time in front of shelf, offering him/her an immediate/ limited discount could be the extra push the customer needed to purchase the product.
Geo-localized discount: Informing any visitors in the vicinity about a discount.
Marketing Campaign : Creating a game using the unlimited possibilities iBeacons can offer (Treasure Hunt).
Karim Bangoura
Digital marketing executive with 4 years of work experience within world leading fragrance houses.
In 2014 L’Oréal introduced Makeup Genius and its virtual mirror enabling consumers to digitally try color cosmetic products. A lot of mobile applications with similar feature were released later on. In 2016, Sephora introduced its new app 
Numerous brands have developed devices able to scan/copy colors and create customized makeup (
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