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.

NEW YORK, June 17, 2024  -- Niles + Chaz is launching a vegan, organic, cruelty-free, nut-free, and veggie- and fruit- packed haircare line for children of mixed heritage. Featuring four SKUs filled with over 90% naturally derived ingredients: Tangles Shmangles (Curl Detangler & Enhancer), What The Frizz! (Styling Gel Cream), Curl Raiser (Revival Spray), and Scalp Enchanter (Pre- Shampoo Treatment). Founded by parents, actor Mike Colter and his wife Iva, a former major Hollywood studio senior executive, for their multiracial and multicultural children. Named after their daughters, who are also Co-Founders and active participants in the brand, Niles + Chaz offers hair care products that celebrate the beauty of mixed-textured hair and multi-ethnic heritage, promote children's self-confidence and inclusivity, and strive for endless recyclability and sustainability.

Inspired by the founders' journey as parents seeking clean and eeffective hair care solutions for their children's mixed-texture hair, Niles + Chaz was created to empower young girls and boys to embrace their unique curls and be proud of their diverse cultural heritage. The slogan, "Hair I Am!" emphasizes the importance of instilling confidence, independence, and empowerment in children at a young age. Niles + Chaz developed a range of hair styling products for kids and with kids that promote self-love and encourage diversity in the beauty industry. Formulated with excitement and child-like playfulness, Niles + Chaz's core collection embodies inclusivity and clean beauty, supporting parents in managing their kids' hair, which may differ from their own. This four-product toolkit helps parents teach their children how to care for and love their beautiful waves, curls, and coils, embrace their authentic selves, and own the world.

Tangles Shmagnles^TM is a curl detangler made with flaxseed oil, marshmallow extract, watermelon, banana, and okra. This vitamin-infused formula keeps hair hydrated, smooth, and shiny and banishes frizz.

Curl Raiser^TM is the perfect solution for achieving frizz-free and beautiful curls made with natural plant extracts, vitamins, enriching butter oils, and strengthening proteins to revive curls with moisture and curl-popping powers. Made with marshmallow, prickly pear, and acai to keep curls perfectly styled and strong.

What the Frizz!^TM is a styling gel cream created to define curls, add shine, and lock in moisture to protect curls and minimize frizz. It is fueled with jojoba extract, shea butter, and marshmallow to hydrate, strengthen, and promote growth.

Scalp Enhancer^TM is a pre-shampoo treatment that is also great for post-braids, twists, or locs scalp cleanup. It is crafted with organic plant powers and vitamins like murumuru, pumpkin, mango, and charcoal. It nurtures hair for strength and vitality and prevents scalp damage.

Niles + Chaz is available now at nilesandchaz.com. 

For more information, please contact: nilesandchaz@michelemariepr.com

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Guy Langer, a cherished and long-time member of the BIW community.

Guy founded Qumulus Group in 2008 and dedicated his career to the Personal Care and Nutritional Products industries. As President of Qumulus, he represented several prestigious manufacturers of natural, plant-based ingredients, including Inducherm (Switzerland), GreenTech (France), Indena (Italy), Custom Ingredients (U.S.), American Natural Products (U.S.), and Barnet (U.S.).

Before founding Qumulus Group, Guy spent 20 years with DDChemco, a leading distributor of personal care ingredients in the Western United States, where he played a key role in building the company. He also worked with Integrated Health, marketing unique amino acid formulas for the medical industry.

Guy was a pillar in the beauty industry community. As a founding member of Beauty Industry West (BIW) in 1991, he held numerous positions, including President in 2014 and Vice President in 2013. He served as Education Chair and Sponsorship Chair for many years. Within the Society of Cosmetic Chemists-California Chapter (SCC), Guy's leadership was exemplary. He served as Chairman, Scientific Seminar Chair, Awards Chair, Dinner Dance Co-Chair, and Education Chair for 22 years. His exceptional contributions were recognized with the SCC Chapter Merit Award, which he received twice—an unprecedented honor.

Guy's immense contributions to our industry and to BIW and SCC are immeasurable. His boundless energy, passion, and financial support have left an indelible mark on our history. Beyond his professional achievements, Guy was a devoted supporter of Para Los Ninos, an organization that provides education and resources to children in the LA Barrio. Under his influence, Para Los Ninos became BIW's annual charity partner for several years.

Guy is survived by his beloved wife, Kendra.

To share your reflections and memories of Guy, please click the “Add comment” link below.

The beauty industry mourns the loss of industry icon Judy Zegarelli, known for her pioneering contributions that have transformed the world of cosmetics. With a career spanning over four decades, she has left an indelible mark through her innovative products, vibrant spirit, and incredible vision. Her legacy continues to ins pire and shape the future of cosmetics. She passed away on May 17, 2024, from pancreatic cancer.

In 1982 Judy launched Chameleon, a revolutionary trend-setting lipstick that changes color according to the pH balance in one’s skin tone. Which became the industry innovation that set the stage for her award winning product O Glow launch by SmashBox in 2002, and many other color changing products. The success of Chameleon led to the establishment of her cosmetic manufacturing company, Cosmetic Group USA.

Judy’s unwavering passion for beauty and exceptional talent for product innovation fueled the growth and expansion of her manufacturing business. Her collaboration with makeup artist and brand founder Victoria Jackson, led to the production of highly successful infomercials, and is a testament to her pioneering spirit and ability to forge impactful relationships.

Under Judy’s leadership and alongside her partner, Al Booth, Cosmetic Group USA grew and still exists today as an industry leader in skincare and color cosmetics. Her groundbreaking work includes the development of many of today’s most beloved beauty products and brands, integral to the daily routines of millions worldwide.

Beyond her product innovations, Judy Zegarelli was a staunch advocate for empowerment through beauty. She tirelessly worked to break down barriers and serve as a guiding force for those around her. Her mentorship has impacted the careers of makeup artists and beauty professionals alike. Judy was a supportive founding member of Beauty Industry West, the west coast based beauty trade organization.

Judy Zegarelli approached life with passion and impeccable style, and those who knew her loved her. She is survived by her daughter, Dayna, who carries forward her mother’s legacy. Judy Zegarelli's influence on the world of beauty will live on. While we mourn her passing, we also celebrate the incredible life she led and the lasting impact she made. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations. In the product innovation words of Judy Zegarelli “why hasn’t anyone ever……….?”

LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2024 -- IPSY, the world's largest beauty membership, has made a significant stride today with the appointment of Francine Li as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In her new role, reporting to CEO Scott Gilbertson, Li will spearhead marketing and communications, ensuring a seamless member experience to further IPSY's mission of inspiring everyone to express their unique beauty. Her leadership will be instrumental in reinvigorating the IPSY brand to engage the current community and reach the next generation of beauty fans. Francine's deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will also drive IPSY's impact efforts.

"Francine is a visionary talent. Her impressive success building resonant brands with next-generation customers will be invaluable to IPSY's growth trajectory and market leadership," said Chief Executive Officer Scott Gilbertson. As a brand and customer-led company, this is a critical role. We are confident that Francine's leadership will elevate and extend IPSY's indelible commitment to serving the needs of our members."

Li most recently served as Global Head of Marketing at Riot Games, where she oversaw culture-shaping games, including League of Legends and VALORANT. The company was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Brands during her tenure. Similarly, she led the Global Brand Strategy at Netflix during a period of hypergrowth. Previously, at preeminent creative agencies, she led creative campaigns for iconic brands, including Procter & Gamble, ESPN, and Budweiser. Li has been recognized as a 2023 Forbes Entrepreneurial CMO and has won over 50 global awards, including Cannes Lions, Clios, One Show Pencils, Effies, and an Emmy. Additionally, she has held the esteemed role of Jury President for both the Cannes Lions and the One Show.

"I am thrilled to be joining the IPSY team! It is a pivotal and exciting moment for the company as we embark on our next stage of growth. I look forward to applying my passions for creativity and innovation to a brand that epitomizes empowerment and self-expression. As someone who grew up not seeing myself represented in the beauty industry, IPSY's mission of redefining beauty in a way that celebrates diversity and authenticity deeply resonates with me." shared Francine Li.

PARIS, May 21, 2024 -- Clarins, the family-owned global cosmetics Group established in Paris in 1954, has continuously championed entrepreneurial spirit and innovation throughout its 70-year history. Dedicated to pioneering responsible beauty, Clarins is committed to providing exceptional customer service, attentively addressing and prioritizing its customers' needs with innovative solutions.

To offer the best service to online customers, Clarins jointly leverages human expertise and technology through a comprehensive range of services, including live consultations, beauty classrooms, live streaming, and best-in-class customer care. It also provides a conversational bot as an alternative contact option. The bot enables customers to receive immediate responses to their urgent inquiries when the customer-care department is closed (e.g., late evening or nighttime). It also helps optimize the availability of customer care agents during the daytime, allowing them to respond swiftly to more complex inquiries that a conversational bot cannot handle. 

A milestone in top-tier customer care service 

Clarins offers a cutting-edge customer-care bot, CLARA, powered by Microsoft secure and Enterprise-grade Azure OpenAI Service, a true milestone in the prestige beauty industry. Unlike more traditional bots, this bot integrates natural language interactions, ensuring a much better understanding and resolution of customer requests. 

The bot is now live on the Clarins USA website, clarinsusa.com. It leverages Clarins' proprietary data, including content from the Clarins website, Clarins customer care pre-defined questions & answers, and Clarin's beauty coaches product training content. 

Clarins is currently conducting tests on several variants of the bot to assess and optimize the overall customer experience before implementing CLARA globally. 

Jessica Hawk, Corporate Vice President, Data, AI, and Digital Apps at Microsoft: "Clarins is a leader in the beauty industry, and we're excited they are using Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to help reimagine what's possible with their customer care bot. This approach reflects Clarins' deep commitment to offering its customers an innovative, high-quality experience."

Corine de Bilbao, President of Microsoft France: "I'm proud of this excellent collaboration between Clarins, a long-standing French customer, and our teams. This French success story is a perfect illustration of Clarins' determination to remain at the forefront of innovation in the prestige beauty sector by relying on our cutting-edge technological solutions." 

Clarins CEO Jonathan Zrihen said, "We are proud to introduce CLARA, a pioneering customer care bot powered by the cutting-edge generative AI capabilities of Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. This is a significant milestone for Clarins as we continue to set the standard in delivering exceptional service in the prestige beauty industry. CLARA is designed not just to meet but exceed the sophisticated expectations of our customers by providing tailored, instantaneous responses at any time. This innovation highlights our commitment to blending human expertise with state-of-the-art technology to enhance the beauty experience for every Clarins customer we serve."

Clarins Chief Digital & IT Officer Laurent Malaveillesaid said, "Having outstanding customer satisfaction has always been a priority for Clarins. While we highly value human interactions with customers, we have naturally seized the opportunity offered by generative AI to go one step further and improve the quality of service of our customer care".