L’Oréal extends Carat and Columbus partnership across Australia and New Zealand
L’Oréal has extended its partnership with Dentsu Aegis Network’s Carat, and Columbus, a digital performance Merkle agency, across Australia and New Zealand. Together the agencies will oversee the strategy, buying, planning, search and performance capabilities for the...
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Natura looks to boost Asia sales with new Singapore-based unit
Brazilian beauty brand Natura Cosmeticos has announced the launch of a new Singapore-based subsidiary to manage operations in the country, according to a report by Reuters. The company is said to be looking to boost its sales in the East Asian market, with Natura...
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Shiseido extends research partnership with US dermatology laboratory CBRC
Shiseido has marked its 30th anniversary of joint research with U.S. dermatology laboratory Cutaneous Biology Research Centre (CRBC) by announcing a deal to extend the partnership by a further six years. Having been working together over three decades, the new...
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Lush opens first language-free digital store in Shinjuku, Japan
Lush has unveiled a concept store in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district which is being described as the world’s first language free store. The ‘retail experience for the global digital age’, as the store is described by the ethical cosmetics firm, uses icons and video to help...
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Indonesia ushers in microbead ban
The Indonesian National Agency of Drug and Food Control has made a series of changes to its regulation on the Technical Requirements for Cosmetic Materials, according to a report published by Chemical Watch. The majority of the amendments conform to those adopted...
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Natura moves in to Malaysia
Natura &Co has leveraged The Body Shop’s global presence to help launch its Natura brand in Asia, according to a report published by The MDS. The Brazilian brand has chosen Malaysia as its launchpad for the wider region, and plans to sell its products online at...
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Shiseido partners with teamLab’s Borderless exhibition
Shiseido’s China division has partnered with teamLab’s teamLab Boderless Shanghai exhibition, which is due to open on November 5, 2019, according to a press release from the company. The art collective’s signature show will feature 50 artworks, including new pieces,...
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Dior and Japan’s CiRA to collaborate on skin metabolism research project
LVMH Recherce, on behalf of Dior, and the Center for induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University, have announced that they are to collaborate on a research project exploring how oxidative metabolism affects skin keratinocyte...
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Fenty Beauty launches in China via Tmall Global
Fenty Beauty has launched into the Chinese market via Alibaba’s e-commerce site Tmall Global. The beauty line, founded by pop star Rihanna, has launched a flagship store on the site as part of its Asian distribution expansion plans, with the entry into China marking...
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Shiseido teams up with the World Surf League for new ocean project
Shiseido has teamed up with the World Surf League for its new project, named Shiseido Blue – Respect for the Oceans, a movement that aims to protect the oceans through global beach clean-ups. The company will work with the WSL’s non-profit arm, WSL Pure, to ‘inspire,...
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I predict a riot: Sephora presses on with Hong Kong opening celebration
Not only is Sephora returning to Hong Kong after a 10-year hiatus, and bringing with it several cult brands hitherto unavailable in the city, including Drunk Elephant, Fenty and Tarte, but it’s also one of the few companies brave enough to host a party while the...
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Hong Kong latest: SaSa International shares slide 24 percent in August as protests persist
Shares in SaSa International dropped sharply in August as the social unrest in Hong Kong stepped up a gear. According to a report published by Bloomberg, the already ailing beauty chain has lost two-thirds of its market value in the space of 11 months, with its shares...
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Chanel takes a raincheck on runway show as Hong Kong riots continue
Chanel has decided not to go ahead with a fashion show due to take place on November 6 in Hong Kong, citing the ongoing protests as cause, according to a report published by WWD. The French fashion house did not reschedule the event designed to launch its cruise 2019...
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Japan’s LINE Pay integrates WeChat Pay in new partnership
Japan’s LINE Pay has announced a new partnership with WeChat Pay and has been integrating the service, allowing it to be used at participating retailers in the country, according to pymnts.com. Retailers and businesses that sign up to LINE Pay will be able to use the...
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Weibo launches new social media platform, Oasis
China’s Weibo has launched a new social media platform named Oasis, which is set to be a cross between Instagram and Xiaohongshu, according to a report by WWD.com. The social media platform is aimed at young people with a love of high quality and good taste, and...
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Bath & Body Works expands Indian reach with launch of e-store
Bath & Body Works has expanded its reach within the Indian market with the launch of its e-store, according to a report by the Economic Times. The U.S. beauty brand is already present in the country following the launch of seven retail stores in 2018 in...
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CBD comes to Thailand as regulators clear cannabis and hemp extracts
Thailand has taken cannabis and hemp extracts off its narcotics list, according to a report published by Reuters, paving the way for a thriving CBD beauty market in the Southeast Asian country. “The intention is to allow extracts to be used in medicine, cosmetics and...
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Shraddha Kapoor named brand ambassador for The Body Shop
Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor has been appointed Brand Ambassador for The Body Shop, India, according to a report published by The Prime Time. The actress, who is an ardent campaigner against deforestation, specifically the chopping down of 2,700 trees in the...
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Shiseido creates Business Transformation Department
Shiseido has announced the creation of a new office function, which has been named ‘Business Transformation Department’. As the name suggests, the team will be charged with implementing swifter management planning and will be established under the Group CFO to...
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Amazon challenges Amway, Modicare and Oriflame ruling in Supreme Court
Amazon has taken a battle against direct sales companies Oriflame, Modicare and Amway to India’s supreme court after the Delhi High Court ruled that the e-commerce giant couldn’t sell products from this category of companies without their consent, according to a...
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Singapore fast-tracks Alibaba AI patent application
Singapore’s Intellectual Property Office has approved an artificial intelligence-related patent application lodged by Alibaba in record time, according to a report published by the World Intellectual Property Review. The patent was approved in the space of three...
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BASF to sell pigments business to DIC for €1.15 billion
BASF has announced that it has agreed to sell its pigments business to fine chemicals company DIC. For €1.15 billion. The deal is expected to close in the final quarter of 2020. “We have achieved our goal to find an owner who considers pigments a core strategic...
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Israel and South Korea poised to sign free trade deal
South Korea and Israel have inked a free trade deal after talks between the two nations wrapped yesterday, according to a report published by Reuters. The agreement, which will lift duties on some 95 percent of Israeli imports to South Korea, including cosmetics, and...
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Yating Wu named as CEO of Richemont-Alibaba JV, Fengmao
Yating Wu has been named CEO of Alibaba Group and Richemont’s joint venture, Fengmao, according to a report published by WWD. Wu is said to have updated her LinkedIn profile with the new position back in July. Prior to Fengmao, Wu enjoyed a 15-year career at Unilever,...
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Gillette shifts campaign focus following US$8 billion write down
Just a month after P&G announced a US$8 billion write down for its ailing Gillette brand, the shaving line has announced a change of tack in terms of marketing, according to a report published by Daily Wire. The men's grooming marque, whose last spot on toxic...
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Mary Kay names new GM for China
Mary Kay has announced the appointment of Katherine Weng as General Manager for China. Based in Shanghai, Weng will report to Mary Kay’s Asia Pacific Region President, KK Chua. “Katherine’s tireless work ethic, strategic mindset, and ability to forge long-term...
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Alibaba puts listing on hold amid Hong Kong unrest
Alibaba has postponed its planned US$15 billion listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange as political tensions continue to cause uncertainty across the Chinese-controlled territory, according to a report published by Reuters. The deal, originally scheduled for late...
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Gucci to bring relaunched make-up line to Singapore
Gucci Beauty is set to launch its revamped make-up line onto the Singaporean market, according to a report published by Singapore Tatler. The 58-SKU strong lipstick collection will hit shelves in the Asian country in September, following its European roll-out in May....
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A.S. Watson eyes expansion with potential UAE entry
Hong Kong-based beauty retailer A.S. Watson is reportedly in talks to bring its chain of Watsons stores to the UAE, according to the Gulf News. Expanding its foothold in the global market, the retailer is said to be liaising with potential partners in the region....
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Weleda looks to protect orangutans with new Borneo Orangutan Survival partnership
Weleda has partnered with Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) to help support a project that aims to protect orangutans while cementing its commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. The 20-month Weleda and BOS project aims to create harmony between nature conservation...
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Mediheal brings cult ‘Love Me’ sheet mask to the U.S. after product sells out in three hours following Korean launch
Korean sheet mask brand Mediheal has announced the launch of its cult Love Me product into the U.S. market following the successful entry into the Korean market back in May, which saw the item sell out in just three hours. The mask is being sold in the States via...
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Cosmax expands presence in Russia with sale of private brand products in L’etoile stores
Cosmax is set to sell its private brand products in Russia via L’etoile stores, according to a report by The Investor. The South Korean cosmetics equipment manufacturer is thought to be looking to expand its presence in Russia and will put 42 products to market within...
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Alibaba acquires NetEase’s Kaola e-commerce platform
Alibaba is rumoured to have acquired NetEase’s Chinese cross border e-commerce platform Kaola in a $2 billion deal, according to a report by local news site Caixin. While both companies declined to comment, it is reported that Alibaba is looking to better cater to...
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Henkel Singapore enters into deal with Synagie to distribute products in South East Asia
Henkel Singapore has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with end-to-end commerce enablement solutions provider Synagie to distribute and sell its products across South East Asia, according to a report by Straits Times. Both parties will enter into a...
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MatsumotoKiyoshi Holdings in talks with rival Cocokara Fine to form Japan’s largest chain of discount pharmacies
MatsumotoKiyoshi Holdings has announced it is in merger talks with competitor Cocokara Fine in a move that would form Japan’s largest chain of discount pharmacies, according to a report by Reuters. Shares in Cocokara Fine jumped 9 percent following the news of the...
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Japanese brewer Kirin looks to expand past beer industry with purchase of stake in cosmetics firm Fancl
Japanese brewer Kirin has acquired a 30.3 percent stake in cosmetics company Fancl for $1.2 billion, a move which is said to help the company expand past the beer market as it shrinks worldwide. Fancl, which sells preservative-free cosmetics and supplements, is set to...
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Kolmar Korea Chairman resigns as Japan row escalates
Kolmar Korea’s Chairman Yoon Dong-han has stepped down from his role after he showed employees a video praising Japan’s prime minister and criticizing the South Korean government, according to various reports. The Kolmar executive issued a formal apology on Friday but...
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South Korea to align cosmetics regulation with EU standard
South Korea is revisiting its cosmetics safety regulation, according to a report published by Chemical Watch. The country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety intends to align many of its rules on cosmetics ingredients with the European Union’s legislation. Allowable...
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Shiseido 1H: Net profit up 10 percent; sales grow 6 percent
Shiseido has reported its results for the first half of the financial year (ended June 30, 2019). The Japanese cosmetics manufacturer saw sales grow 6 percent over the first six months to ¥546.6 billion, compared to the same period in 2018, while net profit was also...
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Hong Kong-based pharma company Sanai signs CBD supply deal with CannAcubed
Asian cannabis company CannAcubed has announced a new supply deal with Hong Kong-based pharma company Sanai, with an undisclosed volume of pure pharmaceutical grade 99.9 percent CBD isolate delivered to the Sanai head office last week. The two parties now plan to work...
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Amazon Seller Services appeals against Delhi high court interim order
Amazon Seller Services has appealed against a Delhi high court interim order that has restrained platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal from selling products from direct sales companies without their consent, according to a report by Live Mint. The court will...
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Drunk Elephant to land in China
Indie clean skin care brand Drunk Elephant has revealed that it is set to launch onto the Chinese market in September, according to a report published by WWD. The brand, which is currently on the hunt for a buyer, hired a General Manager for the country in January of...
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LG Household & Healthcare Q2: Double digit growth in sharp contrast to rival AmorePacific
LG Household & Healthcare has reported its results for the second quarter of the financial year and its double-digit rise in both sales and profit is in stark contrast to AmorePacific’s subdued performance, as reported on this platform yesterday. Indeed, according...
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AmorePacific’s profit plunges as it looks beyond China
AmorePacific saw its profit plunge 53.3 percent in the second quarter of the current financial year (compared to the previous quarter), according to a report published by Pulse News. The K-beauty giant attributed the drop to a sharp rise in marketing costs as it...
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Trump’s tariffs: 25 percent duty to be bought in for all Chinese imports
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has initiated the process to usher in a 25 percent duty on all imports from China that are not already subject to a separate tariff, according to a report published by Reuters. The tariffs would apply to a wide range of...
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More cosmetics companies rally behind UN 1.5C pledge
Royal DSM and Unilever have joined Natura &Co and 25 other major companies with a total market capitalisation of US$1.3 trillion, in pledging to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels and reaching net-zero emissions by no later than...
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ACCC appeals flushable wipes greenlight
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is appealing against a court decision after a judge ruled that Kimberly-Clark had not mislead customers with the claims it made for its ‘flushable’ Kleenex Cottonelle wipes, according to a report published by...
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Sephora Asia online customers hit with data breach
Sephora Asia has alerted its online consumers that it has been hit by a data breach over the past fortnight. In an email sent out to customers in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and...
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GEKA to open own production plant in Shanghai
German cosmetic brush, packaging and applicator manufacturer GEKA is set to expand its presence in the Asian market with the opening of its own production plant in Shanghai. The company will be working with its parent company Sulzer and incorporate production...
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One future: Natura &Co takes decisive action on climate change
Natura &Co has announced that it is stepping up its commitment on tackling climate change ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit in September. The commitment is the first major pledge to be made by the company since its formation following the union of The Body...
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