DALLAS, Oct. 21, 2024-- Neiman Marcus announces Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), as the recipient of the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion. Throughout his illustrious career, Lauder transformed a family business started by his mother, Mrs. Estée Lauder, into a global leader in prestige beauty, an empire with a presence in over 150 countries. He reshaped the industry through his visionary leadership, creating the modern beauty business as the steward of one of the most iconic brands in history. This prestigious honor was previously given to his mother in 1962. A celebration of this longstanding relationship, this award marks the next chapter in the enduring collaboration between Neiman Marcus and ELC.

Neiman Marcus names Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of The Estée Lauder Companies, as the recipient of the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion.

Neiman Marcus names Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of The Estée Lauder Companies, as the recipient of the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion.

"Leonard Lauder is a singular force who forever changed the beauty industry. His stewardship led The Estée Lauder Companies to become home to some of the world's most beloved beauty brands," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer, Neiman Marcus Group. "He understands the power of relationships, and his values are imbued in everything the company stands for. Along every step of the way, he has been a remarkable partner in our journey to bring the world's most coveted brands to our customers."

Joining the family business in 1958, Leonard Lauder served as Chief Executive Officer from 1982 to 1999. During his tenure, Lauder ushered in a new era, focused on international expansion and building the company's brands and acquisition strategy. In 1995, The Estée Lauder Companies went public, solidifying the global powerhouse as a leader in the beauty industry. As a result of ELC's groundbreaking vision, the company launched brands such as Clinique and Origins and oversaw the acquisitions of M•A•C, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, and La Mer. Today, the company portfolio includes more than 20 brands worldwide.

"When my mother, Mrs. Estée Lauder, was recognized with this award in 1962, it meant a great deal to her, and it means a great deal to me today," says Lauder. "As I reflect upon the extraordinary partnership between The Estée Lauder Companies and Neiman Marcus, this award represents a celebration of collaboration and people working together with a great sense of purpose, bringing their best to the industry." 

In addition to his steadfast work with The Estée Lauder Companies, Lauder shares NMG's philosophy of Leading with Love, dedicating remarkable resources to philanthropic efforts. Lauder co-founded the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, which continues to drive groundbreaking research in treating the disease. Lauder is a devoted supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, co-founded by his late wife, Mrs. Evelyn Lauder. He is also an acclaimed art collector and benefactor to institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum of Art, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, and The Aspen Institute, amongst other notable institutions.

"Through Leonard's visionary leadership, The Estée Lauder Companies has been at the cutting edge of beauty with a best-in-class product offering and globally recognized set of brands," said Lana Todorovich, Chief Merchandising Officer, Neiman Marcus. "It is an honor to recognize his contributions to our industry. We look forward to bringing his vision to life through a unique expression of the company's portfolio of brands."

This November, he will be honored before industry leaders at an awards celebration in New York City. His year-long recognition will include dynamic, multi-faceted programming designed to engage customers through exclusive in-store and online experiences. As part of the retailer's 'Retail-tainment' strategy, the beauty giant will concept exciting brand expressions to come to life through immersive activations. These brand moments will be further amplified across Neiman Marcus' integrated retail model – in-store, online, and through remote selling.   

The Neiman Marcus Awards have honored excellence in the luxury industry since 1938. The program returned in 2023 as a modernized strategic platform built to celebrate brand partners who share an interest in the retailer's innovative retail approach to delight the U.S. luxury customer. Lauder joins the esteemed ranks of over 150 luminaries recognized for their contributions to the industry.

Our esteemed Beauty Industry Expert panel of judges has selected this year's picks from an incredible list of entries, creating a remarkable list of finalists for the 2024 EMERGE Beauty Awards.

Best in Body Care, Leave On Product

Oak Essentials
Moisture Rich Body Balm

WILD ELEMENTS
Restorative Overnight Body Crème

Soapy Faith
Dream Body Gloss Hydrating After Shower Oil

Best in Body Care, Rinse Off Product

Oak Essentials
Perfecting Body Scrub

Gntl
Skin Wash

Baude
Body Wash - Darkwave Utopia

Best in Color Cosmetics, Lip Product

GOOD WEIRD
BALMY WEATHER Moisturizing Color Stick - Guava

Typology
T42 Powder Pink Lip Oil

Queen Cosmetics
Mega Volume Lip Enhancer - Glazed Donut

Best in Hair Care, Leave On Product

Honey Beauty
Honey Glow- Leave In Conditioner

Niles + Chaz
TANGLES SHMANGLES

LushUs Hair
Island Himalayan Salt Texture Spray

Best in Hair Care, Leave On Product, Scalp

Florae Beauty
SANA Hair Oil Serum

UZIMA
UKUAJI Blooming Serum

Best in Hair Care, Rinse Off Product

Florae Beauty
SANA Superfruit Deep Treatment Mask

Bask And Bloom Essentials
2-in-1 Pre Poo/Deep Conditioner

Small Wonder
Signature Shampoo

Best in Sexual Wellness

Personal Fav
Whet

PLAYGROUND
Naked Love

Epiphany
Epiphany Clit Arousal Serum

Best in Skin Care, Leave On Product - Face Cream

goPure
Tighten & Lift Neck Cream

MARA
SeaDream Firming Algae Creme

Skincare Junkie
Megadose Super Antioxidant Face Moisturizer

Best in Skin Care, Leave On Product - Face Oil

Oak Essentials
Ritual Oil

Typology
L32 Radiance Serum

Skinny Confidential
Ice Queen Face Oil

Best in Skin Care, Leave On Product - Face Serum

Auvê Beauty
Porecelain™ Skin Refining Serum

Skin Sutra
ReVITalize C Age-Defying Serum

Typology
P63 Firming Botanical Blend

Best in Skin Care, Rinse Off Product

YSE
Take it Off Cleanser

Relevant
Complete Cleansing Serum

Skin Sutra
Rebalance pHacial Cleanser

Be sure to join BIW Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the 2024 Emerge Beauty Awards Gala to see the winners!

For more information about the Gala, click here.

Traackr's "State of Influence: Beauty" reveals the brands, creators, and trends powering the beauty industry this year, including insights from Pinterest.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2024 -- Social media may appear saturated with beauty content. Still, audiences are more engaged than ever, according to new research from Traackr, the leading performance-driven influencer marketing platform. Traackr today released the State of Influence: Beauty report, which includes insights from Pinterest and highlights the beauty brands, creators, and trends with the most influence on social media.

Analyzing content from a select panel of more than 155,000 beauty creators on its platform, Traackr found that engagement with creator content across makeup, skincare, hair care, and fragrance increased in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023. Skincare saw the most significant increase in engagement (+44%), video views (+49%), and Brand Vitality Score (VIT) (+46%), Traackr's proprietary metric for measuring influencer marketing performance. Beauty brands continue to lean into sponsored content and boosting, increasing engagements and VIT at a higher rate than organic mentions.

"Beauty marketers are getting savvier about extending the impact of their creator partnerships, putting paid media behind boosting posts to supercharge reach and engagements," said Pierre-Loïc Assayag, CEO and co-founder of Traackr. "Although the number of active influencers in beauty is leveling out, all tiers of creators - from nano-influencers to VIP celebrities - drive more impact and VIT for beauty brands. This improved performance of beauty content demonstrates that marketers are optimizing their influencer programs and treating creator partnerships as a strategic media buy."

The report also reveals the top 10 beauty brands across all four categories by VIT in the U.S., U.K., and France and the emerging beauty trends on Pinterest so far in 2024. Additional insights include:

Beauty powerhouses maintain top rankings: The top five overall beauty brands in the U.S. are no strangers to the top of the list, with Sephora, Rare Beauty, L'Oréal, Kylie Cosmetics, and Fenty Beauty maintaining high ranks in 2024. SKKN jumped up 30 spots to the No. 7 overall brand with a 213% increase in VIT after relaunching its makeup line in January 2024.

Instagram creator content drives the biggest impact: Compared to TikTok and YouTube, Instagram earned the biggest increase in engagements, video views, and VIT scores on beauty creator content. Despite having fewer active influencers in H1 2024, Instagram content earned 68% more video views and a 36% higher VIT, indicating that beauty content on the platform has been much more successful in engaging viewers.

"Ath-beauty," shades of aqua and summer glam dominate viral beauty trends: Driven by Gen Z, track hair, lacrosse hairstyles, and dance makeup searches on Pinterest, for example, have increased by 200%, 35%, and 40%, respectively. The reign of everything aqua borrows from its connection to the planet, with products utilizing marine technologies and biotechnology to create fun and energetic looks like bright blue nails (+35%) and blue aesthetic grunge (+40%). Consumers are hot for summer, with effortless looks, faux glow, and radiant makeup on the rise on Pinterest.

"Beauty reflects broader societal trends and interests," said Rachel Goodman, head of beauty and luxury partnerships at Pinterest. "Pinterest is the go-to place for discovering key beauty trends, encouraging self-expression and new aesthetics. The most popular beauty searches on Pinterest mirror the cultural zeitgeist. From a rising interest in women's sports to a stronger focus on eco-consciousness, beauty trends are being shaped on our platform."

For the full report, visit http://www.traackr.com/resources/beauty-influencer-marketing-trends. To learn more about Traackr, visit http://www.traackr.com.

NEW YORK, July 31, 2024 -- Introducing Blake Brown: a new haircare brand created and inspired by Blake Lively's personal regimen of shampoos, masks, and styling products for healthy, nourished, and strong hair. Created in partnership with Give Back Beauty, Blake Brown is an innovative, every-wash approach to taking care of hair.

"Blake Brown has been more than a 7-year labor of love," said Blake Lively, Founder of Blake Brown. "I was determined to bottle up a premium, salon-quality haircare line that's cleaner, cruelty-free, easier, yummier, more sustainable, and more accessible than anything I saw out there. Performance was paramount. We were uncompromising, which is why it took an absurd amount of time, but the products show our level of dedication and strict quality control. I couldn't be more proud. We've partnered with the coolest accessible chain out there, Target, to bring this baby to you all. I can't wait for people to try it. In stores August 4th!"

With eight haircare products available at launch, Blake Brown takes a unique approach to the category. The product philosophy is built on a system that alternates between strengthening and nourishing formulas to deliver what healthy hair needs most – the right balance of strength and moisture. While there are 8 products, inclusive of shampoos, masks, a styler, and mousse, the brand quite notably does not oer a traditional conditioner in the lineup but rather sells its Nourishing and Strengthening masks that can easily be incorporated into any shower.

"It's been a privilege for me and my team to work with Blake Lively to bring her vision of Blake Brown to life – together, we've created something distinctive and incredible," says Give Back Beauty Founder Corrado Brondi. "I'm excited about the creation of a joint venture with Blake Lively that combines the best of Give BackmBeauty's expertise in the beauty industry with Blake's unwavering dedication and insightful approach. Blake's drive, purpose, and instincts in developing this brand were unmatched – From the meticulously crafted formulations

to their exquisite fragrances, Blake had her hands, or should we say hair, in everything and had a clear directive about how she wanted the brand to look, feel and smell. We have worked to ensure every aspect of Blake Brown reflects Blake's personal touch and commitment to excellence."

Lively placed utmost importance on the fragrance profile of the products. The scents are each inspired by Blake's personal favorites to complete a multi-sensorial journey into the brand. Developed by best-in-class master perfumers, all products and their fragrances can be layered or used separately to help hair leave a lasting impression.

All Blake Brown products are formulated with clean ingredients to nourish, strengthen, and style the hair, are vegan and cruelty-free, utilize recycled materials, and create as little waste as possible.

Blake Brown will be available at retail exclusively at Target and Target.com starting August 4th, 2024, at price points ranging from $18.99 to $24.99.

"At Target, we're committed to offering the kind of innovation and value that gives consumers exactly what they want, which is why I can't wait for shoppers to experience our latest exclusive partnership with Blake Lively," said Rick Gomez, Target's chief commercial officer. "Blake Brown will offer a range of amazing, premium products that will make it easier to get the hair you love at a price you also love, and we are thrilled that Target will be the brand's exclusive retail partner."

Blake Brown at TARGET or www.blakebrownbeauty.com

NEW YORK, July 30, 2024 -- Victoria Jackson, entrepreneur, cosmetics pioneer, medical research catalyst, author, and philanthropist, is putting her "less is best" philosophy at the forefront of the launch of her cosmetics brand, No Makeup Makeup®, which brings a true-to-your-skin approach to beauty, empowering the real you to feel confident in your own skin.

A beauty industry trailblazer, Victoria trademarked her original philosophy, "no makeup makeup," in the 80s – a concept she coined during her many years as a makeup artist running her iconic namesake brand, Victoria Jackson Cosmetics. She made history by becoming the first cosmetics line sold on television, achieving a remarkable $1 million in sales in the first week alone. Her innovative approach continued with 13 groundbreaking infomercials and a decade-long run on QVC, resulting in over $1 billion in sales.

Victoria continued to smash records at the height of her beauty career, yet a mom first, she quickly pivoted her mission from mascara to medicine to save her child. She founded the Guthy-Jackson Foundation with her husband, Bill Guthy, funding millions for research and development that ultimately led to innovative new therapies for her daughter's rare autoimmune disease. While she temporarily stepped away from her beauty empire, she knew her journey in the cosmetics industry was far from over. Today, Victoria makes her debut back into the space with No Makeup Makeup® proving the power of female friendship, resilience, and the potential for reinvention at any stage of life. "I've always felt beauty isn't about layers of makeup but about the confidence that comes from within. No Makeup Makeup® is the next evolution of clean, natural-looking makeup and effortless beauty that's truly close to my heart," said Victoria.

Working together for over 20 years, Victoria partnered with award-winning beauty industry innovator Kim Wileman to launch the brand. "We've been waiting to launch until we were certain the formula was absolutely perfect, which took 24 months of research working with the industry's best chemists, and we're confident that it's ready. We've always been committed to delivering the best-in-class products to our customers," says Kim Wileman, Co-Founder & CEO of No Makeup Makeup®. Manufactured in Italy, No Makeup Makeup® will launch with two products: a cream-balm foundation specifically designed to deliver a featherweight formula that is shade-adaptive, color-correcting, and blurring pigments for the skin, plus The Perfect Brush, designed to deliver the perfect finish. The No Makeup Makeup® formula is dermatologist-tested, allergy-tested, safe for sensitive skin, 100% clean, vegan, non-hormone disrupting, and Leaping Bunny certified. Free from harmful chemicals and skin irritants, the product boasts a hydrating, velvety, and skin-like texture thanks to its proprietary blend of skin-nourishing emollients. The innovative shade-adaptive FlexShade technology ensures the foundation adapts to various skin tones and undertones, enhancing natural complexions seamlessly.

Enriched with jojoba oil, vitamin E, and a unique Magnesium compound, the cream-balm texture provides a lightweight, buildable, no-makeup feel, perfect for both everyday wear and full-coverage occasions. Available in 13 shades, the No Makeup Makeup® Foundation retails for $55, the Foundation Brush for $30, and the Set for $80 at nomakeupmakeup.com and the TikTok shop.

"Victoria's philosophy of the beauty of natural-looking skin has endured for decades. As she puts it 'Less is best, more is too much, and No Makeup Makeup is just right'."

NEW YORK, July 17, 2024 -- The global beauty and personal care products market size is estimated to grow by USD 50.9 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.37% during the forecast period. The growing popularity of anti-pollution skincare products is driving market growth, with a trend towards the emergence of beauty and personal care products with natural ingredients. However, adverse health effects of chemical/synthetic ingredients pose a challenge. Key market players include AMOREPACIFIC Group Inc., Avon Products, Beiersdorf AG, Chanel Ltd., Coty Inc., Edgewell Personal Care Co., Helios Lifestyle Pvt Ltd., Johnson and Johnson Services Inc., Kao Corp., LOreal SA, LVMH Group., Natura and Co Holding SA, Oriflame Cosmetics S.A., Revlon Inc., Shiseido Co. Ltd., The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., The Procter and Gamble Co., Unilever PLC, and VI JOHN GROUP.

The beauty and personal care market is experiencing a shift towards natural and organic products due to growing health consciousness and consumer awareness of the potential health risks associated with toxic chemicals. Vendors, including ESSE SKINCARE, are responding to this trend by producing a range of skincare and hair care products with natural and organic ingredients. These products cater to various skin concerns and are free from harmful chemicals such as parabens, toluene, formaldehyde, artificial fragrances, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), petroleum-based chemicals, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and sulfates. The affordability of these natural and organic offerings is crucial to attracting price-sensitive consumers. The market's growth is expected to continue as more manufacturers focus on developing natural and organic beauty and personal care products. ESSE SKINCARE offers a comprehensive range of product categories, including cleansers, toners, treatments, masks, exfoliators, and moisturizers, to cater to this demand. The potential health risks associated with harsh chemicals in traditional beauty and personal care products, such as skin allergies, irritation, and cancer, further highlight the market's growth potential.

The Beauty and Personal Care Products market is experiencing significant trends among consumers. Skin care and color cosmetics remain popular categories, with millennials and Gen Z seeking natural, nontoxic, and organic ingredients. Sales channels have expanded to include e-commerce and specialty stores, reaching male consumers and those preferring vegan cosmetics and eco-friendly products. Manufacturers respond with product innovation using natural formulations, such as mushroom-based skincare from Shroom Skincare and Mycelium Glow. Merger and acquisition activities continue, with companies like Shinehigh Innovation buying Pacifica and NARS Cosmetics merging with Shiseido. Consumers are also turning to homemade remedies and DIY beauty treatments as alternatives to conventional beauty products. However, concerns over side effects from chemical filters, parabens, silicones, nanoparticles, PEG, and other chemical ingredients persist. The European Commission regulates these ingredients, and some consumers prefer organic beauty products over their conventional counterparts. Overall, the Skincare and Haircare markets remain dynamic, driven by consumer preferences and industry innovation.

Market Challenges

The beauty and personal care industry faces a significant challenge due to increasing consumer awareness regarding the harmful effects of synthetic ingredients in their products. Ammonia, a common ingredient in hair coloring agents, is one such chemical causing concerns. Found in shaving foams and hair dyes, ammonia can lead to skin irritation, respiratory issues, and hair damage. Other chemicals like peroxides, p-phenylenediamine, diaminobenzene, toluene-2,5-diamine, and resorcinol, found in various beauty products, can lead to skin irritation, allergies, hair dryness, and even cancer. As consumers become more health-conscious, they are turning towards natural and homemade remedies for skincare and haircare. This shift in consumer behavior is expected to limit the growth of the global beauty and personal care products market during the forecast period.

The Beauty and Personal Care market faces several challenges, including consumer preferences for nanoparticle-free and PEG-free products, the rise of chemical filters and natural formulations, and the side effects of chemical ingredients. Hair problems continue to be a concern, particularly for Gen Z consumers. European regulatory bodies, such as the European Commission, are increasing scrutiny on cosmetic ingredients. Product innovation is key, with a focus on ESW (ethical, sustainable, and waste-reducing) initiatives. Merger and acquisition activities among brands like Shinehigh Innovation, Pacifica, NARS Cosmetics, Neon Hippie, and new entrants like Mushroom-based skin care, Shroom Skincare, and Mycelium Glow are shaping the market. Consumers are also turning to homemade remedies and DIY beauty treatments, while international trade and e-commerce platforms expand access to conventional and organic beauty products. Vitamin C and mushroom extracts are popular ingredients, driving growth in the skincare and haircare markets. Specialty stores and online platforms cater to diverse consumer needs.

Research Analysis

The Beauty and Personal Care Products market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand from consumers for Skin care, Color cosmetics, and Hair care products. Millennials and Gen Z are leading this trend, with a preference for Cosmetics that contain Natural ingredients, Nontoxic ingredients, and Organic ingredients. Sales channels have expanded beyond traditional retail stores to include E-commerce and Specialty stores. Male consumers are also embracing the market, with a growing interest in Vegan cosmetics and Ecofriendly products. Product innovation continues to be a key driver, with an emphasis on Natural formulations and ESW (Ethical, Sustainable, and Waste-free) initiatives. Merger and acquisition activities have been frequent in the market, with the European Commission closely monitoring for compliance with regulations. Home-made remedies and DIY beauty treatments are gaining popularity, but they face competition from Conventional beauty products and Organic beauty products in the Skincare market.

Market Research Overview

The Beauty and Personal Care Products market is a dynamic and evolving industry, catering to the diverse needs of consumers worldwide. Skin care, color cosmetics, and hair care are the major segments, with a growing focus on natural, nontoxic, and organic ingredients. Millennials and Gen Z are driving demand for cosmetics with clean labels and eco-friendly packaging. Sales channels include specialty stores, e-commerce, and international trade. Male consumers and vegan cosmetics are emerging trends. Product innovation is key, with companies exploring natural formulations, merger and acquisition activities, and the use of ingredients like mushroom extracts and Vitamin C. However, concerns over parabens, silicones, nanoparticles, PEG, chemical filters, and other chemical ingredients continue to surface, leading to a shift towards more natural alternatives. Home-made remedies and DIY beauty treatments are also gaining popularity among some consumers. The European Commission is closely monitoring the industry for regulatory compliance. Overall, the market is expected to continue growing, driven by consumer preferences and advancements in technology.

SAN DIEGO, July 2, 2024-- Debut, the biotech beauty leader and vertically integrated biotechnology company, announced today that it has signed an agreement with L'Oréal to develop more than a dozen vital, bio-identical ingredients that will replace conventionally sourced ingredients currently used in L'Oréal global beauty and personal care brands across skin, hair, color cosmetics, and fragrance.

As part of the agreement, Debut will create new bio-based ingredients using proprietary advanced biomanufacturing processes that combine fermentation and cell-free technology to replace conventional methods.

Green sciences such as Debut's breakthrough biotechnology processes unlock a new generation of cosmetic bioactive ingredients and products that marry the best of nature with supply chain transparency, safety, purity, consistency, quality, and science-backed data.

"Creating bio-identical ingredients at scale helps preserve global biodiversity and secure responsible ingredient supply chains while continuing to prioritize quality and product performance," said Debut Founder and CEO Joshua Britton, Ph.D. "Debut is committed to creating bio-based formulations for all its beauty products and has unmatched capabilities in biotechnology, formulation, and scaling to catalyze this transformative shift in beauty."

"Through this exciting partnership and adoption of breakthrough technology, we are well-positioned to drive the creation of more sustainable and effective products that meet the demands of our consumers and fulfill our duty of care for the planet," said Guive Balooch, Global Managing Director of Augmented Beauty and Open Innovation at L'Oréal Groupe. "This long-term agreement with Debut is another example of our commitment to the Open Innovation ecosystem and building the future of beauty by collaborating with best-in-class partners."

The global beauty and personal care market is currently valued at $646 billion and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3.33%, according to Statista. In the face of climate change, worsening pollution, and the unabating demand for natural resources, there is an urgent need for sustainable ingredient sourcing. Synthetic biology, which Boston Consulting Group described as "the manufacturing paradigm of the future", can deliver the innovation needed to create bio-identical, alternative ingredients for sustainable beauty. By maintaining its laser-sharp focus on creating bio-based ingredients at the volume and quality needed, Debut is highly complementary to L'Oréal's global R&D efforts and a key partner towards meeting its L'Oréal for the Future sustainability commitments.

Britton continued: "Our mission is to pioneer the shift to biotechnology. We capture value across the entire supply chain, ensuring that Debut's bio-identical and novel ingredients and products satisfy the huge global market demand for next-generation sustainable beauty. The beauty industry will be transformed to the lasting benefit of people and the planet."

NEW YORK, NY, --Students from the Fashion Institute of Technology's (FIT) master's program in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management (CFMM)—hailed as the "Beauty Industry's Think Tank"—unveiled results from "The Future of Accessible Beauty," a comprehensive research study from its 2024 capstone initiative that focuses on consumers who are traditionally overlooked due to physical, emotional, social, or economic limitations. The research was presented at the college, with an awards ceremony for graduates and a reception for industry professionals sponsored by Shiseido Americas.

"Following the launch this month of The Beauty Center at FIT—a collaborative industry/academic hub for consumer and business research with the beauty industry—we are proud to debut our first global research study that can utilize this new center for industry salons and roundtables that integrate the academic research into industry strategy," said Professor Stephan Kanlian, founder and chair of FIT's Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management program.

The class of 2024's study aims to elevate industry inclusivity across three pivotal realms: Emotional Impact, Economic Consequences, and Social Implications. It integrates six months of original quantitative and qualitative global consumer research to explore strategies to help organizations navigate the evolving landscape of beauty and accessibility.

Part One: Emotional Impact

This refers to the emotional impact of inclusivity for people with disabilities on consumer perceptions and organizational culture.

Inclusivity is a powerful movement reshaping the beauty industry, impacting everything from boardrooms to product labs to marketing campaigns. While there have been increasing efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion in areas such as skin tone, body type, gender, and age, a significant demographic remains overlooked: the 20% of the global population that identifies as having a disability1. This group advocates for a holistic approach, integrating accessibility into every facet of the beauty experience to truly meet the needs of all consumers. As a group that commands spending power of over $13 trillion, their inclusion is a moral imperative and a lucrative business opportunity for growth and shifting expectations.

Opportunity: Embracing Diversity and Inclusion

To fully embrace diversity and inclusion, the beauty industry must include people with disabilities—neurological, physical, or sensory—in product design, omnichannel sales, and marketing strategies. This will tap into an underserved consumer base and foster brand loyalty. Additionally, meeting the needs of people with disabilities requires a multifaceted approach across all brand functions to be authentic and effective. Developing inclusive workplace policies and educating associates across all functions will create a supportive environment for all people with disabilities, enriching organizational culture and spurring innovation.

Part Two: Economic Consequences of Deserts

The economic consequences of "deserts" and expanding access to fundamental beauty products and services.

Unlocking lasting and equitable economic access lies in addressing an often overlooked challenge: deserts—geographic areas where services or products are unavailable. Today, deserts are a pressing macroeconomic phenomenon affecting consumers across critical sectors. In the United States alone, 121 million consumers live in healthcare deserts3; 54 million live in food deserts4. What deserts exist within beauty? With an industry-first concept of beauty deserts, our mission is to identify the unmet needs of consumers in deserts, create widespread access to fundamental beauty products and services, and reignite our responsibility to serve consumers of all socioeconomic strata.

Opportunity: Expanding Access and Affordability

To address the macroeconomic challenge of deserts, the beauty industry must actively navigate the three factors that define its existence: excessive distance and time spent traveling for beauty products and services, high costs in acquiring these products, and sparse assortment and availability of products that meet vital consumer needs. Brands must re-envision their traditional distribution, pricing, and investment strategies to create lasting change, reach overlooked consumers, and solve this estimated $10 billion opportunity.

Part Three: Social Implications

The social implications at the crossroads of beauty, wellness, and societal norms.

While the beauty industry has long championed women's empowerment, hormonal health is a vital yet overlooked area. Despite the wellness market's moves to integrate into beauty, there needs to be more support in supporting women's comprehensive hormonal health needs throughout critical stages of their lives. From puberty to menopause and beyond, women face a journey fraught with hormonal fluctuations leading to many wellness concerns, yet find scant support. Our mission is to bridge the gap between beauty and wellness by advocating for accessible education, products, and research tailored to women's holistic well-being.

Opportunity: Integrating Wellness and Beauty

Integrating wellness and beauty offers the industry a profound opportunity to develop educational initiatives and resources that raise awareness about the impact of hormonal health on beauty and well-being, empowering individuals to make informed choices and prioritize self-care. By considering hormonal health in product development, research, and education, the industry can cater to the unique needs of women across different life stages. Supporting women's holistic well-being through hormonal changes enables the industry to integrate seamlessly into their lifelong journey, fostering authentic and lasting relationships.

"The capstone research of the FIT Beauty Think Tank provokes discussion and provides a roadmap for future-proofing brands on critical issues of importance to brands and brand leaders, time and time again," said Corey Moran, head of industry–Luxury and Fashion at Google, CFMM adjunct faculty member, and program alumnus. "The research is informed by extensive fieldwork in global markets, interviews with experts from across industry sectors, and original quantitative research with consumers."

"The CFMM field study in India and Singapore offered an unparalleled opportunity to delve into emerging and established markets," said CFMM 2024 Department Medal Award recipient Maclean Liotta. "This experience broadened our global perspective and provided critical insights that helped shape our capstone research on the future of accessible beauty."

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a draft guidance, "Diversity Action Plans to Improve Enrollment of Participants from Underrepresented Populations in Clinical Studies," to assist medical product sponsors in submitting Diversity Action Plans to support certain clinical studies. Diversity Action Plans are intended to increase clinical study enrollment of participants of historically underrepresented populations to help improve the data the agency receives about the patients who may potentially use the medical product.

Enhancing diversity within clinical studies not only facilitates broader applicability of results across a broad spectrum of patient populations, but also enhances understanding of the disease or medical product under study, thus providing valuable insights to inform the safe and eective use of the medical product among patients.

"Participants in clinical trials should be representative of the patients who will use the medical products," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Cali, M.D. "The agency's draft guidance is an important step—and one of many ongoing eorts—to address the participation of underrepresented populations in clinical trials to help improve the data we have about patients who will use the medical products if approved."

Click Here to Download the Draft Guidance Document

This draft guidance describes the format and content of Diversity Action Plans, the medical products and clinical studies for which a Diversity Action Plan is required, as well as the timing and process for submitting Diversity Action Plans to the FDA. The draft guidance also outlines the criteria and process the agency will use to evaluate a sponsor's request not to submit a required Diversity Action Plan, also known as a waiver.

Diversity Action Plans must specify the sponsor's rationale and goals for clinical study enrollment (separated by the age group, ethnicity, sex and race of clinically relevant study populations) and describe how the sponsor intends to meet those goals. The guidance also urges sponsors and investigators to consider the many dimensions of clinical trial diversity, even those that extend beyond age, ethnicity, sex, and race to enroll populations that represent the patients who will be treated if the product is approved.

The requirement for sponsors to submit Diversity Action Plans comes from new provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act added by the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act (FDORA). These plans apply to phase 3 clinical studies or, as appropriate, other pivotal clinical studies of a drug or biological product, as well as for certain clinical studies of devices, including those intended to serve as the primary basis for the FDA's evaluation of the safety and eectiveness and benefit-risk determination of the device. The requirement to submit a Diversity Action Plan applies to clinical studies for which enrollment begins 180 days after publication of the final guidance.

"Generating data for a broader and more representative population early in the clinical development program is among the FDA's priorities to bring innovative medical products to the public. With FDORA, there is now a requirement for sponsors to submit diversity action plans. These plans may help ensure that sponsors are thinking critically and intentionally about the many characteristics of the patient population they aim to treat when designing their clinical study," said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence and acting director of the Oce of Oncologic Diseases in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research."

The draft guidance was developed by the Oncology Center of Excellence Project Equity in collaboration with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, the Oce of Women's Health, and the Oce of Minority Health and Health Equity.

Comments on the draft guidance should be submitted within 90 days after publication in the Federal Register to Regulations.gov. All written comments should be identified with the docket number and with the title of the guidance document.

Submit Comments by 09/26/2024

New female-founded & owned beauty brand debuts exclusively at Walmart & Pretty-SmartCosmetics.com, re-imagining luxury formulas without the makeup markup

RENO, Nev., June 10, 2024 -- Today, Pretty Smart, a new female-founded beauty brand, marks its official debut and launches exclusively at Walmart with a line of quality beauty products inspired by your favorite luxury brands without the makeup markup. Now available in 2,800 Walmart locations, Walmart.com, and Pretty-SmartCosmetics.com, Pretty Smart breaks through the noise and reasserts that makeup can be fun, functional, and affordable.

Pretty Smart breaks down the barriers of traditional luxury makeup to make quality products affordable to beauty customers. The brand is launching a full range of cosmetics, including an inclusive shade range of foundations and concealers at an accessible price point - with all products priced at $10 or less. The brand offers a range of 27 products with more than 145 shade variations for your eyes, lips, cheeks, and complexion inspired by luxury cosmetics, so you can try every trending, must-have makeup look at a fraction of the price. Pretty Smart's products are vegan, made with well-loved ingredients, like coconut alkanes, organic jojoba seed oil, and carnauba wax, and without certain ingredients, like talc, parabens, phthalates, PTFEs, SLS, and SLES. Pretty Smart also never tests its formulas on animals. All of Pretty Smart's products are in compliance with Walmart's Clean Beauty Program.

"I couldn't imagine a better retail partner than Walmart to bring my dream of a truly luxurious, yet affordable, product line to reality," said Marissa Shipman, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Pretty Smart. "As someone who's spent more than 20 years in the beauty industry, I know firsthand that a product's final price to the consumer is not only influenced by ingredients and their quality but also influenced by the touchpoints in its journey from concept to development to manufacturing before finally landing on store shelves. That didn't sit right with me. Pretty Smart was born from a desire to change that. We develop, manufacture, and distribute ourselves, which is what has made our affordable formulations possible. It's incredible to launch Pretty Smart finally and I am so excited for Walmart customers to be able to try the line themselves."

Tipsy Owl Illuminating Face Drops: Available in three complexion-boosting shades: Bronze, Rose, and gold. Tipsy Owl Drops contains organic jojoba seed oil with skin-softening properties. Its blendable and buildable formula adds the perfect glow to your complexion.

Diffusing Face Primer: This water-based primer gives you that blurred look effect and it contains glycerin with skin-conditioning properties. Say goodbye to the days of sticky primers; this lovingly crafted formula leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft and perfectly prepped for makeup that lasts.

I'm Dreaming Liquid Blush: Effortlessly light yet boldly pigmented, this dreamy blush contains coconut alkanes with skin-softening properties. The sleek doe-foot applicator can slide from an understated glow to a statement blush.

Pretty Smart Drama Black Mascara: Prepare for eye-catching lashes from each swipe of the soft-textured formula, courtesy of Pretty Smart's formula, which contains carnauba wax with long-wearing properties and the Xtra-Xtra Lush Brush that thickens each lash, making them the star of the show.

You've Got Brow Gel: Flaunt your arches with You've Got Brow Gel's easy application and perfect tint (or clear). It is formulated with Vitamin B5, which has anti-inflammatory properties.

"We are thrilled to welcome Pretty Smart to Walmart and expand our beauty assortment even further," said Creighton Kiper, Vice President of Merchandising, Beauty at Walmart U.S. "Helping our customers discover new brands that will both inspire and delight them is a priority for Walmart Beauty. Pretty Smart embodies a similar goal and is the perfect addition to our shelves and Walmart.com. While these accessibly priced yet still luxurious beauty products will appeal to all Walmart beauty shoppers, we're especially excited about the opportunity to reach Gen Z with this lineup."

Available on Walmart.com, in Walmart stores, and at Pretty-SmartCosmetics.com.

For more information, please visit pretty-smartcosmetics.com.