The UK health and beauty retailer Superdrug said it saw stronger than usual sales in the December trading period for 2023 and that sales of its own brand products were up by 10% on last year.
It’s been a tech-filled year for the beauty and personal care industry. As 2023 draws to a close, we look back at some of our top beauty technology stories over the past year…
UK fragrance retailer The Perfume Shop has teamed up with beauty multinational L’Oréal to launch the first multi-brand fragrance refill station in The Perfume Shop store in Nottingham.
Every fortnight we talk to a game-changer startup business about why it exists and how it plans to transform the industry. This week we spoke to Anastasia Georgievskaya, CEO of Haut.AI, the company behind generative AI tool SkinGPT.
As we head towards a new year, we’ve sought out evidence-based insights from industry analysts to get a glimpse into the mind of beauty consumers. Read on to discover what they will want, need and expect from brands and products in the next year.
Global beauty business Avon is betting on bricks-and-mortar retail as it reveals plans to open new ‘mini beauty boutiques" in the UK to support its traditional sales model.
Online beauty shoppers care more about ingredients than price, according to a new e-commerce study by logistics and transportation company Ryder System, Inc.
As the Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) beauty market continues to carve out a bigger share of the retail landscape, using the right tools to fine tune digital retail platforms has become make or break.
Cross-Border Commerce Europe has just released its 'Top 250 Fashion & Beauty Retail Europe' report, which ranks the top online fashion and beauty retailers and marketplaces across the EU, UK, Switzerland and Norway.
A new PowerReviews survey focusing on beauty consumer trends underscores how the spending patterns of some consumers groups are still showing an upward trajectory, despite many household budgets continuing to be squeezed in the last couple of years.
Despite a slowdown in growth for LVMH Group, the Perfumes & Cosmetics division was still up 13% thanks to a "highly selective and high-quality distribution policy"
South East Asian beauty distributor and retailer Aura Prestige is aiming to further expand its footprint in markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, as demand for luxury niche fragrances intensifies in the region.
Health and beauty retailer Watsons is focusing digital marketing efforts on WeChat to stay connected and build communities with its consumer base, as part of its offline plus online (O+O) model.
Italian brand Toiletpaper Beauty’s booming first foray into Asia has given its expansion plans a confidence boost, as it makes headway in broadening its product line-up to include fragrances and potentially colour cosmetics.
Special Edition - Bright Beauty: Fun, Joy and Colour Across Cosmetics, Hair Care and Body Care
Testing products ahead of purchase remains an important part of the overall joy a beauty product brings to a consumer, says the head of the UK’s Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association.
Long-lasting products, mood-boosting offerings and engaging experiences are more important than ever as consumers navigate the ongoing cost-of-living crisis globally, says the head of beauty and personal care research at Mintel.
The firm behind the artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) features adopted by Japan’s Shiseido and a raft of Indian retailers says personalised experiences are key to give brands and physical stores the edge in an ultra-competitive marketplace.
International beauty major Coty has filed a patent on a method to refill empty fragrance containers in-store, using a station that blends fragrance concentrate, distilled water and ethanol on-demand.
The return of in-store shopping, growth for ‘taboo’ products and demand for at-home salon treatments are just some of the industry trends we can expect to see this year, says NielsenIQ.
Lynda Searby talks the democratization of science, the rise of intimate personal care and ‘tweakments’, and what beauty stores of the future need to look like, with Mintel’s Andrew McDougall.
Hiring activists is a sure-fire way to accelerate environmental and sustainable change in a beauty business, and it’s a strategy that has worked well in driving impact at Lush so far, says its earth care strategy lead.
UK beauty retailer Superdrug has unveiled its budget own-brand makeup range designed to provide better accessibility for all consumers – a move that aligns well with the cost of living crisis and consumer trends, says an expert.
Building communities and taking a ‘virtual first’ approach will be key to future success in the beauty metaverse, but brands will also need to play outside that space to engage other consumers looking to embrace tech, say industry experts.
Beauty retail major Sephora is set to absorb prestige beauty e-commerce player Feelunique’s domain this week, kickstarting the start of its wider UK market re-entry plans.
Getting your skin analysed from static selfies is set to become a thing of the past as beauty tech firms move to develop new technology to analyse skin and even hair with videos taken with your smartphone.
Beauty tech investments have largely focused on digital and e-commerce, but consumers are looking for technology in-store as well to improve the overall shopping experience, providing significant opportunity for brands and retailers, according to Mintel.
The UK’s second-biggest health and beauty retailer Superdrug is defying the cost-of-living crisis and upping its game in premium beauty brands as it broadens its offer beyond its lower price point core.
Retail major Walgreens Boots Alliance is expanding its partnership with app-based delivery firm Deliveroo in the UK following a successful pilot scheme last year.
Indie brand Solidu wants to deepen its retail presence across Europe and the US, but also innovate further into solid face care – a space its founder says still holds plenty of promise.
Colgate, Lifebuoy, Dove and Sunsilk have fiercely and consistently expanded reach over the years, edging into new categories and plugging new consumer needs to stay on top of the fast-moving consumer goods race – action other industry players can aspire...
Retailer A.S. Watson has cautioned that consumer sentiment in China will take time to fully recover, despite an uptick in footfall following a turbulent few months due to COVID-19 restrictions.
International skin care major Beiersdorf has reported a net profit surge for the first half (H1) of 2022, with its flagship Nivea brand performing especially well worldwide and great successes reported in sun care and Latin America for the broader business.
British direct-to-consumer skin care brand Facetheory has launched into the new wellness section of French department store Galeries Lafayette, its first move into brick and mortar and part of a wider shift in expansion strategy, its founder says.
With the online beauty boom after COVID-19, it has become harder for skin care brands to stand out and engage with shoppers who still enjoy and rely on traditional tactile engagement ahead of purchase, says Mintel.
Hong Kong-based beauty retailer Sa Sa International is eyeing opportunities in Malaysia, Australia, Europe, and North America with a revamped international online store.
Active hair care and skin care startup Wild Science Lab is expanding its retail footprint into the Middle East, opting for a shop in shop model that enables consumer consultation on its preventative and targeted products.
![Sa Sa records 53.3% turnover increase in Hong Kong and Macau as more tourists return to its home market in Q1. [Sa Sa]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/sa-sa-q1-buoyed-by-return-of-tourists-to-hk-macau/16590354-1-eng-GB/Sa-Sa-Q1-buoyed-by-return-of-tourists-to-HK-Macau.png)
![Aura Prestige is aiming to further expand its footprint in SEA. [Aura Prestige]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/aura-prestige-eyes-big-time-growth-on-the-back-of-niche-fragrance-boom-in-sea/16502120-1-eng-GB/Aura-Prestige-eyes-big-time-growth-on-the-back-of-niche-fragrance-boom-in-SEA.jpg)
![Watsons is focusing digital marketing efforts on WeChat to stay connected and build communities with its consumer base. [Watsons]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/watsons-china-centres-digital-strategy-around-wechat-ecosystem-to-stay-connected-with-shoppers/16424957-1-eng-GB/Watsons-China-centres-digital-strategy-around-WeChat-ecosystem-to-stay-connected-with-shoppers.jpg)
![Many beauty consumers still want to try products before buying, with brands now offering an array of ways to do so both in-sore and online [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/04/14/beauty-try-ons-key-to-joy-of-category-post-covid-says-ctpa-chief-both-in-store-or-online/16335619-1-eng-GB/Beauty-try-ons-key-to-joy-of-category-post-COVID-says-CTPA-chief-both-in-store-or-online.jpg)
![The perceived value of a beauty product is now more important than ever for consumers, but it's not just about price [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/03/09/mintel-says-value-key-in-beauty-during-cost-of-living-crisis-with-premiumisation-shopping-experiences-and-mood-key-trends/16238065-1-eng-GB/Mintel-says-value-key-in-beauty-during-cost-of-living-crisis-with-premiumisation-shopping-experiences-and-mood-key-trends.jpg)
![The refill station has been designed for easy consumer use via a digital interface for blending and refilling in-store [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/packaging-design/coty-files-international-patent-on-fragrance-refill-station-for-simple-in-store-refilling/16071851-1-eng-GB/Coty-files-international-patent-on-fragrance-refill-station-for-simple-in-store-refilling.jpg)
![Beauty for 'taboo' topics like acne, menopause and sexual wellness will be one important trend to watch in 2023 [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign.com/article/2023/01/04/nielseniq-beauty-trends-2023-highlight-retail-shift-taboo-beauty-and-at-home-salon-treatments-as-key/16054634-1-eng-GB/NielsenIQ-beauty-trends-2023-highlight-retail-shift-taboo-beauty-and-at-home-salon-treatments-as-key.jpg)
![Intimate personal care and hormonal beauty are set to rise in importance next year as consumers look for products in previously taboo categories [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign.com/headlines/market-trends/mintel-talks-beauty-trends-for-2023-highlighting-expert-science-self-care-sexual-health-and-smart-retail/16024334-1-eng-GB/Mintel-talks-beauty-trends-for-2023-highlighting-expert-science-self-care-sexual-health-and-smart-retail.jpg)
![Lush has a sense of activism embedded into its culture, from its founders through to everyday employees, which has helped accelerate change [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/business-financial/lush-tackling-climate-justice-and-driving-sustainable-beauty-with-activists-says-exec/15928058-1-eng-GB/Lush-tackling-climate-justice-and-driving-sustainable-beauty-with-activists-says-exec.jpg)
![The Studio London range features 136 different products, including foundations, eyeshadows and lipglosses, designed with diversity in mind [Image: Superdrug]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/11/03/superdrug-launches-studio-london-own-brand-budget-cosmetics-range-for-affordable-diverse-strategy/15910400-6-eng-GB/Superdrug-launches-Studio-London-own-brand-budget-cosmetics-range-for-affordable-diverse-strategy.jpg)
![The next five years will see plenty of change in beauty tech - a fast-evolving space with significant opportunities gaining momentum worldwide [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/10/24/beauty-tech-future-trends-2022-2027-include-metaverse-evolution-community-virtual-influencers-and-transparency/15877724-1-eng-GB/Beauty-tech-future-trends-2022-2027-include-metaverse-evolution-community-virtual-influencers-and-transparency.jpg)
![Sephora announced the acquisition of Feelunique last year but is this week set to absorb the UK domain and website [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/10/17/sephora-absorbs-feelunique-domain-sealing-uk-acquisition-and-kickstarting-re-entry-plans/15854417-1-eng-GB/Sephora-absorbs-Feelunique-domain-sealing-UK-acquisition-and-kickstarting-re-entry-plans.jpg)
![Sephora says it is incorporating digital technology with the human touch via its first Asia ‘next-gen’ store. [Sephora]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/sephora-s-next-gen-site-mixes-high-tech-tools-with-the-human-touch/15802089-1-eng-GB/Sephora-s-next-gen-site-mixes-high-tech-tools-with-the-human-touch.jpg)
![A large number of UK adults who buy beauty and grooming products say in-store technology would help the overall shopping experience [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/09/08/beauty-tech-in-store-holds-great-promise-for-consumer-experience-and-shopping-journey-says-mintel/15752187-1-eng-GB/Beauty-tech-in-store-holds-great-promise-for-consumer-experience-and-shopping-journey-says-Mintel.jpg)
![UK health and beauty retailer Superdrug has acquired seven new premium fragrance and beauty brands [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/08/25/superdrug-adds-premium-fragrance-beauty-brands-to-retail-offering/15713331-1-eng-GB/Superdrug-adds-premium-fragrance-beauty-brands-to-retail-offering.jpg)
![The Boots-Deliveroo partnership will now run across 125 stores in the UK, giving consumers access to home deliveries on more than 750 health and beauty products [Image: Walgreens Boots Alliance]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/business-financial/boots-uk-expands-deliveroo-partnership-to-125-stores-and-750-health-and-beauty-products/15707886-1-eng-GB/Boots-UK-expands-Deliveroo-partnership-to-125-stores-and-750-health-and-beauty-products.jpg)
![Solidu offers a range of zero-waste waterless, solid bars across the hair, body and face care categories [Image: SOLIDU Facebook]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/08/19/solid-beauty-brand-solidu-eyes-europe-us-expansion-for-zero-waste-products-in-hair-care-body-care-and-face-care/15698631-1-eng-GB/Solid-beauty-brand-Solidu-eyes-Europe-US-expansion-for-zero-waste-products-in-hair-care-body-care-and-face-care.jpg)
![Leading beauty brands are expanding into new categories, new need sets and new consumer moments - all key to maintaining global success in the wider fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/brand-innovation/kantar-worldpanel-brand-footprint-2022-beauty-brand-success-based-on-expansion-strategies/15688815-1-eng-GB/Kantar-Worldpanel-Brand-Footprint-2022-beauty-brand-success-based-on-expansion-strategies.jpg)
![A.S. Watson has cautioned that consumer sentiment in China will take time to fully recover. [Watsons]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/a.s.-watson-believes-recovery-of-consumer-sentiment-in-china-will-take-some-time/15682233-1-eng-GB/A.S.-Watson-believes-recovery-of-consumer-sentiment-in-China-will-take-some-time.jpg)
![Sun care performed especially well in Latin America for Beiersdorf, particularly under its Nivea brand [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/business-financial/beiersdorf-h1-2022-net-profit-rises-25-with-nivea-sun-care-and-latin-america-especially-strong/15670245-1-eng-GB/Beiersdorf-H1-2022-net-profit-rises-25-with-Nivea-sun-care-and-Latin-America-especially-strong.jpg)
![Facetheory has launched into two Paris Galeries Lafayette stores to expand reach in Europe [Image: Facetheory]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/07/20/uk-indie-brand-facetheory-expands-into-galeries-lafayette-eyes-further-retail-expansion/15614667-1-eng-GB/UK-indie-brand-Facetheory-expands-into-Galeries-Lafayette-eyes-further-retail-expansion.jpg)
![Many skin care consumers still value in-store sampling and testing, so brands need to work hard to balance out online and brick and mortar retail strategies [Getty Images]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/market-trends/skin-care-retail-needs-balance-between-online-and-offline-says-mintel/15607541-1-eng-GB/Skin-care-retail-needs-balance-between-online-and-offline-says-Mintel.jpg)
![Sa Sa eyeing opportunities in Malaysia, Australia, Europe, and North America. [Sa Sa International]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/sa-sa-targeting-malaysia-australia-europe-n.-america-with-online-revamp/15583412-1-eng-GB/Sa-Sa-targeting-Malaysia-Australia-Europe-N.-America-with-online-revamp.jpg)
![Wild Science Lab is also firmly invested in travel sizes and sampling to help expansion efforts and new consumer uptake [Image: Travel-size Hair Care by Wild Science Lab Facebook]](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/07/08/active-beauty-startup-wild-science-lab-eyes-middle-east-expansion-and-ingredient-innovation/15584300-1-eng-GB/Active-beauty-startup-Wild-Science-Lab-eyes-Middle-East-expansion-and-ingredient-innovation.jpg)
