Top 5 most-read stories January 2021: Blue light protection, China animal testing and COVID-19 recovery

A round-up of CosmeticsDesign-Europe’s most-read news from January 2021 shows interest in blue light protection ingredients, a move from France to bypass China animal testing and market challenges around growth in the wake of COVID-19.

Promise in blue light protection​

A scientific review of blue light protection cosmetic ingredients and products generated plenty of interest amongst readers in January, with findings suggesting more ingredient launches would be inevitable as industry continued to learn more about the mechanism of damage occurring in then skin and as testing methods to verify product claims evolved.

The review cited a range of ingredients in the field, including botanicals, algae-derived, vitamins and UV filters.

China relaxed animal testing laws​

Amidst plenty of ongoing noise about animal testing in the EU cosmetics space – with concerns raised over animal data sometimes required by the European Chemicals Agency ECHA – news that France had qualified for exemptions on China animal testing on exports proved important news.

Part of China’s updated Cosmetic Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR) had relaxed the need for compulsory animal testing on cosmetic products imported into China, though exemptions were only possible if a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate was obtained from a government regulatory department. France had made this possible for its cosmetics manufacturers by opening up a dedicated platform under its National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM).

The next question would be, what other EU countries followed?

Big brand beauty innovation​

News that international beauty major L’Oréal had finally launched its AI at-home cosmetics device Perso also generated a buzz. The company unveiled a lipstick variant under its prestige brand Yves Saint Laurent at this year’s digital Consumer Technology Association (CEW) after unveiling the initial idea at the 2020 show.

COVID-19 resilience and recovery needs​

As England entered yet another nationwide lockdown at the beginning of January, industry association heads made it clear that business survival across the cosmetics and personal care category would rely on specific financial support from government.

Meanwhile, research from the NPD Group suggested that the luxury and prestige beauty markets in the UK, France and Germany had shown signs of recovery thanks to growth in e-commerce.

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