Asia beauty brands identify new skincare discoveries that further understand the skin microbiome and dermatitis.
A new big partnership and an indie beauty rebrand further support the push for clarification of sustainability in Beauty and personal care.
Products that cater to menopause take centre stage in personal care formulations through a new industry partnership.
In our bi-weekly cosmetics round-up, we take a snapshot look at the latest beauty trends from the global Beauty and personal care space.
Cosmax identifies “second-generation” skin microbiome
Cosmetic research and development (R&D) and Original Equipment Manufacturer (ODM) company, Cosmax reveals it has established new technology to develop second-generation skin microbiome to further evolve cosmetics in Korea.
After discovering its first anti-ageing skin microbiome in 2019, Cosmax notes that the novel micro-organism is expected to resonate in cosmetic research. Beyond its place in academia, it’s also expected to impact beauty formulations.
Cosmax’s latest discovery sees the company engage and invest in R&D that has discovered a new microbiome group with similar characteristics to materials that produce the skin barrier. Using specific evaluation criteria, the company confirmed its assessment is a new skin microbiome family as the genetic differences identified are over 10% compared to existing microbiomes.
The new findings detail that compared to the first-generation skin microbiome, its efficacy is more balanced in all areas of the skin’s condition. The microbiome is particularly effective in lipid synthesis, skin firmness and skin barrier reinforcement.
Cosmax calls its second-generation skin microbiome Rappoilot, which it plans to trademark and commercialize. “Within the next five years, we will build a skin microbiome research roadmap to endeavor as a leader in the field,” said Lee Byung-man, President of Cosmax.
In May 2022, Cosmax also announced it has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm called SKIMInet. The AI-based microbiome platform is based on genetic information gathered from 1,000 test participants.
Japanese patent recognizes new tech for dermatitis treatment
Technology developer, ExoCoBio, has explored and led the development of exosome-based cosmetic products for dermatitis treatment, furthering the development of cosmetics in Asia and specifically, Asia skincare.
ExoCoBio now strives to prove the technological feasibility of the cosmetic product, tipped to mass-produce exosomes with high efficacy. Exosomes are a type of cell-derived extracellular vesicles, or blisters. At approximately 30-150 nanometers (nm) in diameter, exosomes are the smallest kind of extracellular vesicles.
Centering its technology in the stem cell exosome industry, ExoCoBio reveals it has received a patent from the Japanese Patent Office for its new skincare finding.The patent comes after ExoCoBio engaged in R&D efforts to develop therapeutic medicines with higher efficacy and safety than those currently identified and available in the cosmetics market. The company noted that current dermatitis items were typically associated with itching and inflammation.
ExoCoBio also found that the patent technology can solve the safety problem emerging from stem cells or stem cell conditioned media. The company notes it can do this by using ExoSCRT exosomes isolated from adipose stem cell conditioned media. By utilizing exosomes in this way, it comments it can prove the effectiveness of exosomes to avoid, improve, ease or treat dermatitis.
Menopause personal care brand unites with Ulta Beauty
The personal care product creator, Womaness, which specifically manufactures body care items that cater to menopause, teams up with Ulta Beauty to house its product range.
Startup independent personal care name, Womanness, emerged onto the scene in 2021. Inspired by the desire to reach the 50-plus million women approaching or in menopause, founders Sally Mueller and Michelle Jacobs launched the menopause-focused brand. The co-founders sought to support women experiencing common symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flushes, sleep issues, light leakage and fine lines.
Womaness will see seven products from its collection enter US beauty stores. The menopause-centric personal care brand’s range includes The Works Smoothing All-Over Body Cream, Let’s Neck Neck and Décolleté Serum, Coco Bliss Vaginal & All-Over Moisturizer and Fountain of Glow Vitamin C Facial Serum.
“Our mission from day one has been to change the conversation around menopause and the women experiencing it,” said Michelle Jacobs, co-founder and COO of Womaness.
NuSkin unites with EcoBeauty Score to drive sustainable action
Global beauty and wellness company, NuSkin, joins industry efforts to create an environmental impact assessment and scoring system for cosmetics products in the beauty sphere.
In a move that saw NuSkin join more than 40 other beauty brands, the company has committed to the EcoBeautyScore Consortium to pursue proactive sustainability efforts. The Consortium is a globally recognized group developing an industry-wide environmental impact assessment and scoring system for cosmetics products. Teaming up with Consortium sees NuSkin share its aim to measure products’ environmental impact uniformly with the goal of using the established prototype by the end of 2022.
“An increasing number of shoppers are basing their purchasing decisions on the environmental impact of products,” said Ruth Todd, senior vice president and chief reputation officer at Nu Skin. “It’s time to provide customers with even more clarity and transparency into the environmental impact of their beauty products.”
Luna Beauty relaunches natural haircare collection
To demonstrate its “commitment to redefining clean beauty”, the Canadian haircare name has relaunched its range of products with a focus on active ingredients in personal care products. Centering on using natural ingredients for personal care in its haircare formulations, Lunar Beauty seeks to set the standards for clean cosmetics.
Following its launch in 2017, Luna Beauty now wants to clear up any consumer and industry confusion around the common but unregulated industry words “sustainable”, “biodegradable” and “all-natural” that it recognizes are often used interchangeably. Lunar Beauty worked with BEST Studio to undertake its rebrand. The duo created and unveiled an updated visual identity, a waterless reformulation, new sustainable certifications and stronger positioning.
Aiming to carve out points of difference from its competitors, Lunar Beauty notes its collection features natural skin, lash/brow and haircare products that are 100% clean, vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and non-irritating.
Through its waterless formulations, the indie haircare name strives to contribute positively toward mitigating global water scarcity. The majority of their product formulations are waterless, with an average of 80% naturally-occurring actives and science-backed adaptogens. Lunar Beauty is now Plastic Neutral+ following its rebrand, certified by CleanHub, partnering to collect plastic waste. Its packing materials are also certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
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