Ingredient-led. Editorially driven.
When “multitasking” turns into “moisture theft.” Monochromatic makeup sticks—the idea of wearing one shade across eyes, cheeks, and lips—is undeniably chic and is very flattering. A single stick that unifies your look feels modern, effortless, and travel-friendly. But as anyone who’s swiped one over their lips knows, not all multitasking sticks are made equal. (Yes, …
How Japanese skincare turned the science of ageing scent into an art of refinement. Time leaves traces beyond fine lines and silver strands. It can also bring a subtle change in the skin’s natural scent. In Japan, where ageing is often associated with wisdom and respect, researchers at Shiseido’s Product Development Center studied this shift …
Grasse’s Enduring Influence in a New Era of Clean Beauty There’s been a noticeable shift in how we talk about fragrance, particularly in an era defined by health and longevity advancements. As explored in a recent feature, The Aroma Axis: Fragrance, Luxury, and the Rise of Asia, Asia’s growing role in the premium fragrance space …
And why everyone’s talking about this French-K-beauty Crossover. In French, the word ampoule means a small glass vial, the kind an apothecary may have used to store a potent tincture. In medicine, it was once the purest and most sterile way to preserve a formula’s strength. In skincare, it’s been reborn as a precise, potent, …
As global fragrance giants like Coty, L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, Symrise, and Givaudan ramp up efforts to capture the Chinese market, transparency about fragrance ingredients is becoming increasingly important. While proprietary formulas are a core part of the industry, the use of certain fragrance chemicals, including some phthalates, has raised questions about ingredient disclosure and potential …
F amily-owned French company Gattefossé is in the news after opening its first full-scale production and manufacturing plant in North America, located in Lufkin, Texas. Gattefossé is considered one of the foundational names in the cosmetic industry. The company’s founder, René-Maurice Gattefossé, was a French chemist who coined the term aromatherapy in the early 20th …
Fragrance is one of the most powerful segments in the cosmetics industry. With Coty Inc. making headlines for doubling down on its fragrance business—particularly in China, where the market is reportedly experiencing significant growth—the company’s strategy offers a glimpse into the industry’s next chapter. Coty CEO Sue Nabi has noted that the China International Import …
As mentioned previously, Coty, Inc. recently made headlines with reports it may sell off its consumer beauty division, including brands such as CoverGirl and Rimmel. But what is equally newsworthy, Coty’s CEO Sue Nabi, who joined Coty in 2020, brought her own high-end vegan skincare brand Orveda into the portfolio in 2021. Orveda is positioned …
Bloomage Biotech is one of China’s biotech titans and a global leader in industrialized hyaluronic-acid (HA) production. Bloomage has pushed HA into luxury formulas and helped make China an indispensable supplier of high-performing HA to brands worldwide. At the same time, Western firms investing in local Chinese ingredient innovators (for example L’Oréal’s backing of the …
When Coty’s CEO, Sue Y. Nabi, laid out the company’s vision three years ago, she sketched a bold transformation: mass-market brands like CoverGirl, Rimmel, and Max Factor would evolve toward “clean” and “skinified” makeup. Prestige fragrance would surge, and skincare brands designed for China’s pollution-sensitive consumers would become central. Today, many of those ambitions are …
Not long ago, Rimmel Kind & Free Clean Mascara set a new standard for clean drugstore beauty. Affordable, plant-powered, and free from microplastics, it earned a dedicated following—until it was discontinued. Its disappearance hints at the pressures facing mass-market brands in a market increasingly focused on clean formulations, transparency, and social-media-driven visibility. Now, CoverGirl itself—Coty’s …
The Moon Goddess and the Jade Rabbit As tonight’s full moon marks the Mid-Autumn Festival (October 6, 2025), celebrated across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Korea, families gather to honor the moon and share mooncakes beneath its luminous glow. One of the festival’s best-known legends centers on Chang’e, the moon goddess, who …