Top 5 most-read stories January 2023: Regulatory change, smart beauty, microbiome science, botanicals and unsexy trends

A round-up of CosmeticsDesign-Europe’s most-read news from January 2023 shows interest in expert insight on upcoming regulatory change, beauty tech launches, skin microbiome and botanicals science, and future consumer trends.

Regulations and tech innovation​

The director-general of pan-European trade association Cosmetics Europe discussed upcoming regulatory change set to shape and influence players in the EU this year, and beyond. John Chave said the level of regulations coming through this year was ‘unprecedented’, suggesting it would be crucial business owners and corporations remained connected and informed.

At the beginning of this year, at the renowned CES 2023 tech tradeshow, L’Oréal and Johnson & Johnson unveiled smart beauty innovations. L’Oréal launched two prototypes in lipstick and brow care and J&J launched a skin supplements product under its Neutrogena brand.

Science of skin microbiome and botanicals​

A team from L’Oréal-owned derma brand La Roche-Posay published a review that identified a link between the skin microbiome and wound healing. The researchers said the unexpected relationship opened up important opportunities for new therapeutic therapies.

A research team from China investigated use of natural products and plant extracts in sun care, highlighting promise due to the multitude of active and functional properties many botanicals offered in such formulations.

A future for ‘unsexy’ beauty?​

Global beauty trend forecaster WGSN released its Top Beauty Trends for 2023 and Beyond report, part of which highlighted a fresh appetite for hyperrealist standards amongst consumers and desire to tackle taboo topics head-on. What this meant for industry, it said, was a future that could be considered ‘unsexy’ – the rise of consumers embracing and revelling in the ‘ick factor’.

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