Could non-surgical cosmetic work become prescription-only?
MPs have warned that the ‘complete absence’ of regulations for non-surgical cosmetic treatment is dangerous and must end, with a call for new rules to be introduced. In February, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority ruled that social media influencers were, by law, to disclose when using beauty filters to promote...
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Researchers discover ‘forever chemicals’ in beauty products
Researchers have found signs of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that can cause lasting damage to health and the environment in more than half of 231 product samples. When shopping for cosmetics, it’s pretty standard to see a lengthy list of ingredients on almost every item, but a recent...
The fight to end hair discrimination
What’s being done to address the racist policies and unfair judgements targeting Black people for wearing their natural hair? With issues such as criminal justice reform currently dominating political discourse, confronting hair discrimination may seem inconsequential to some. What it represents, however, is another hurdle to overcome in our quest...
Beauty brands support LGTBQ+ communities for Pride Month
Pride is different this year, with celebrations cancelled or postponed. Even so, there are plenty of ways to show support by donating to charities or shopping with brands who give back. Time is up for performance activism. As young consumers, we are far more aware of the philosophical values of the...
Are celebrity skincare brands a detriment to the industry?
The beauty industry has ramped up its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint in recent years. However, celebrities have begun capitalising on Gen-Z’s increased interest in skincare, posing threat to the progress made by longstanding brands. If you’ve been paying any attention to the beauty industry lately, you’ve probably...
L’Oréal unveils sustainability programme ahead of Earth Day
The world’s largest cosmetics company has ambitiously pledged to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% before 2030, setting a prime example for other beauty brands to follow. With Earth Day around the corner (and an estimated one billion people mobilised to take part in this year’s events), it seems fitting...
Is beauty at fault of whitewashing traditional Chinese medicine?
Members of the AAPI community are concerned that the increasing trendiness of TCM in Western wellness routines is detracting from its cultural significance. In our wellness-obsessed world, people are constantly clamouring for the next trendy product to feature in their skincare routines. The latest craze is a traditional Chinese medicine practice (TCM) that’s proving to be exceptionally popular around the globe. Gua sha (pronounced gwā sā) is commonly used to...
We need to get serious about beauty waste
We must address beauty’s seemingly never-ending avalanche of plastic packaging that puts the industry front and centre in our fight to be more sustainable. Global Recycling Day – honoured every March 18 – aims to raise awareness about the importance of recycling for preserving and securing a healthy future for our planet. The mission is to inform world leaders of the importance of recycling and consider our finite resources when...
Unilever leads charge in improved beauty inclusivity
‘Beauty for all’ is one of this year’s top five industry trends. In a bid to become more inclusive, Unilever is dropping the term ‘normal’ from its products and advertising. Beauty that caters to all, irrespective of body, hair, and skin type, has quickly become of urgent importance to brands in 2021. Championing this new era of inclusivity, these brands have changed their advertising, upgraded product formulations, and shifted their...
The beauty industry to bounce back faster than fashion post-pandemic
On course to surpass 2019’s sales levels this year, the global beauty industry is one step ahead of fashion, which isn’t expected to recover until 2022. Here’s how. According to McKinsey, the global beauty market is set to surpass 2019’s sales this year, despite pandemic-induced setbacks, while fashion is not expected to recover until 2022. One of the industries hit hardest by Covid-19, namely its product engagement which relies heavily...
