Watsons invested USD 250 million in 6,000 new and upgraded stores in Asia. As part of their O+O (Offline plus Online) program, the flagship health and beauty brand of AS Watson Group invested about USD 250 million in opening and upgrading stores across 15 markets, mostly in Asia but also in the Middle East and Europe.
US pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay USD 700 million to settle allegations it misled customers about the safety of its talcum-based powder products. The New Jersey-based company announced a settlement in principle in January after facing thousands of lawsuits over talcum powder containing traces of asbestos blamed for causing ovarian cancer.
Taiki Europe, manufacturer of beauty application products, presented a host of innovations at the MakeUp in Paris trade show. Reusable eye patches, mini puffs, micro-needle patches… Reusable eye patches, mini puffs, micro-needle patches… Taiki’s new products are particularly aimed at young people, who are keen to share ever-newer beauty gestures on TikTok.
Japanese cosmetic company Kosé Corporation has announced the opening of its first stand-alone store in the US. Named Maison Kosé, the store has opened on June 7 at The Shops at Santa Anita in Los Angeles, CA, and integrates shopping with entertainment, education, technology, and local community interaction.
Japanese beer giant Kirin announced a tender offer to acquire full ownership of Fancl, a Japanese cosmetics and food supplements firm, for around USD 1.4 billion (EUR 1.3 billion), as part of an effort to reduce its reliance on its lukewarm core market. Kirin already acquired 33% of Fancl in 2019. The group now intends to buy the rest of the shares through a tender offer and share warrants. Kirin expects to spend about 220 billion yen in the operation.
Driven by new trends in liquid formulations, sales of beauty applicators are booming. In order to address this trend, Quadpak has introduced a brand new range of exclusive applicators to complement its dip-in packs. Their aim is to fulfil just about every need.
Albéa Cosmetics & Fragrance collaborated with luxury brand Christian Dior for the reinvention of Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet and Miss Dior Eau de Parfum. The new solid perfumes Miss Dior Mini Miss are now available in a vibrant pink translucent stick, an innovative alcohol-free formula. The texture is contained in a seven-piece packaging, all made 100% in PP.
UK influencers’ incomes vary according to skin colour, hair, age. In the UK, dark-skinned content creators earn almost 45% less than light-skinned ones, according to a study conducted in the UK by talent management agency SevenSix. Hair type and age also have an important influence.
Kering Beauté has acquired a minority stake in the French luxury perfume brand Matière Première, as part of a new fundraising round. Matière Première explains that the funds from the capital increase will be used to strengthen the company’s structures and accelerate its international retail and e-commerce development.
French luxury brand Chanel said that its sales jumped last year to a record just shy of $20 billion, although profits only edged higher. Half of the group’s turnover was achieved in the Asia-Pacific region, which has nevertheless posed many challenges for luxury brands in recent years.