AGP Executive Report

New Fragrance: Dove is turning the familiar scent of its Original Beauty Bar into its first fine fragrance. The limited-edition perfume, developed with perfumer Ann Gottlieb, launches Oct. 27. Founder Ownership: Huda Kattan has bought back the investor stake in Huda Beauty, returning the cosmetics brand to full founder ownership after eight years. Beauty Sales: L’Oréal beat third-quarter forecasts, with growth across its divisions as the beauty market remained strong. Puig also reported record quarterly sales, led by makeup and fragrance. Brand Moves: Patrick Ta Beauty named Angela Simpson chief marketing officer and Carolyne Rapp vice president of creative as it builds out its leadership team. Market Trends: A Myntra report points to Gen Z’s growing interest in ingredient-led, preventive beauty, with SPF demand up 60% and K-beauty up 200%.

Gen Z Beauty: Myntra’s new report finds young Indian shoppers favor ingredients and prevention over hype: SPF purchases rose 60% year on year, K-beauty grew 200%, and half of Gen Z beauty buyers live in smaller cities. Big Beauty: L’Oréal reported third-quarter sales up 11.9%, with growth across divisions and regions, while P&G said beauty helped lift quarterly sales and raised its cost outlook. Retail Expansion: Korean skincare brand Beauty of Joseon now reaches 1,263 Boots stores in Britain, reflecting K-beauty’s growing foothold in physical retail. Company Moves: Honasa Consumer, parent of Mamaearth, promoted Vipul Maheshwari to chief product and technology officer to lead its AI push across seven beauty and personal-care brands. Shifting Demand: L’Oréal says weight-loss drugs are affecting beauty and skincare sales, as companies also pursue products aimed at concerns such as post-weight-loss skin sagging. New Launch: Welsh clinic founder Sara Cheeney has introduced Viderma, a skincare line shaped by her two decades in aesthetics.

Beauty Business: L’Oréal’s third-quarter sales rose 11.9% to €11.6 billion, with China helping drive growth. P&G’s beauty sales grew 5% to $4.4 billion, while Puig also reported record sales, led by makeup and fragrance. New Launches: Dove is turning its Beauty Bar scent into a limited-edition fine fragrance. Alix Earle’s five-product Reale Actives skincare line has launched in Canada, promising a simpler routine for breakout-prone and sensitive skin. K-Beauty: South Korean firms are pursuing export deals at the Osong Cosmetics and Beauty Expo, though a stronger won is pressuring K-beauty stocks. A controversial anti-aging injection made with cadaver skin is also drawing safety concerns. Growth Bets: Beauty companies are eyeing demand for treatments to address loose skin after weight loss, while Cosmax is working with Harvard researchers on new biotech-based personal-care products.

K-Beauty’s Global Push: Cheongju’s Osong beauty expo opened with more than 250 companies seeking export deals, as Korean cosmetics exports hit a record $11.1 billion in the first nine months of 2026. Beauty’s New Science: Cosmax is teaming with Harvard researchers on biotech products, while brands target the “Ozempic face” market with PDRN and other skin treatments. A controversial anti-ageing injection made from cadaver skin has also raised infection concerns. Retail & Results: Clicks passed R50 billion in turnover, but comparable-store sales grew just 0.3% after inflation. Puig reported sales of €3.745 billion through September, up 4.8%. Products & Trends: Vaseline debuted a shimmer body oil at Lakmé Fashion Week, and Korean beauty is making inroads into fragrance as shoppers build scent wardrobes rather than settle on one signature perfume. Brand Dispute: Patrick Ta Beauty is suing CVS over alleged unauthorized product sales.

Beauty’s GLP-1 Opportunity: Beauty companies are targeting sagging skin as weight-loss drugs reshape demand; reports also say GLP-1 use may alter fragrance preferences. Global Growth: K-beauty is becoming a fixture in the UK, with APR reporting a sharp sales surge, while Indian beauty brands face the challenge of funding expansion. Brand Moves: Puig’s third-quarter sales rose 7.2%; Estée Lauder will outline its China strategy at a November 4 investor event. Vaseline also debuted a shimmer body oil at Lakmé Fashion Week. Consumer Alert: An NPR investigation found skincare vendors at malls using high-pressure tactics to push shoppers into spending thousands on products they hadn’t planned to buy.

Aesthetic Treatments: Galderma, Natura and L’Oréal are pursuing the “Ozempic face” market as rapid weight loss drives demand for treatments targeting facial volume loss and sagging skin. The clinical market could grow from about $700 million to $2 billion in five years. Consumer Safety: Greater Manchester plans tighter rules for high-street cosmetic procedures, with officials warning unqualified providers they face a crackdown. Beauty Business: India’s beauty boom is bringing a growth challenge: skincare brand Deconstruct’s revenue rose to ₹165 crore, but advertising costs climbed faster and it moved from profit to loss. Global Growth: A UK safety assessor says K-beauty has become a fixture in the British market, while Cosmax is expanding microbiome research with Mass General Brigham. Industry Deals: Motion Equity Partners has acquired a majority stake in Capsum, the beauty product developer and manufacturer; Chanel remains a minority shareholder. Sustainability: Coty says it cut water use and packaging as it sharpened its climate goals in its FY26 report.

Regulatory Scrutiny: The FDA flagged Evolus’ Jeuveau Instagram promotion for misleading claims and downplaying safety information; a law firm is now investigating on behalf of investors. Beauty Business: A co-owner of Fenty Beauty is exploring a sale of its 50% stake, while Victoria Beckham’s brand has turned profitable with beauty leading growth. K-Beauty’s Global Push: Korea’s beauty expo secured a record $105 million in export deals, as reports point to rising Gen Z demand in India and K-beauty’s growing influence on Western brands. Consumer Safety: Authorities in Ahmedabad seized more than 1,200 suspected counterfeit L’Oréal and Matrix products, while a separate skin-lightener recall was upgraded to the highest risk level over toxic-metal concerns. Runway Beauty: Victoria’s Secret’s 2026 show put beauty looks in the spotlight, with angel-inspired makeup, manicures and Indian-rooted models among the event’s talking points.

Product Collaborations: Glow Recipe and Korean noodle brand Buldak have turned the spicy-food partnership trend into a limited-edition lip balm duo, with shades inspired by the noodles’ original and carbonara flavours. Global Expansion: Chinese skincare company Kans is targeting markets including Southeast Asia, Russia and Mongolia, backed by a planned $42 million Indonesian factory. Philippine retailer Deoproce, meanwhile, marked its 10th anniversary with vitamin C skincare and a tone-up sunscreen. K-Beauty Influence: Industry voices say Korean beauty has become a lasting fixture in Western retail and a benchmark for product development, as Korean skincare brands broaden their international reach. Fenty’s Future: LVMH is exploring a sale of its 50% stake in Fenty Beauty, the cosmetics business Rihanna launched in 2017 with a 40-shade foundation range that helped push inclusivity into the spotlight. Beauty Industry Honors: Atlanta’s Bronner Bros. Beauty Icon Awards celebrated Black beauty leaders and artists, including makeup artist Derrick Rutledge, whose career was recognized by Oprah Winfrey and other entertainers.

Fragrance: Beautyworld Middle East drew 62,130 visitors despite a year-on-year attendance drop, with regional brands such as Rasasi and Lattafa using the Dubai show to pursue global growth. Runway Glam: Victoria’s Secret returned with a high-profile show, where Kylie Jenner made her runway debut in the $50 million Fantasy Bra and backstage beauty looks drew attention. K-Beauty’s U.S. Push: Medicube products have reached 400 Costco stores, while Korea’s beauty expo reported a record $105 million in export deals. Skincare Ingredients: PDRN is gaining social-media buzz, but early topical research is limited; meanwhile, major makeup brands are moving away from talc. Changing Scents: Perfumers are exploring how GLP-1 drugs may shift users’ fragrance preferences, including their appetite for food-inspired notes. Retail Expansion: Sephora is set to open a new Toronto store at Stock Yards Village on Oct. 23.

K-Beauty Devices: South Korea’s CLASSYS launched its SHURINK HOME beauty device line in the U.S., with its ZAP PORE SHOT available on Amazon and TikTok Shop. The company says the at-home range draws on nearly two decades of medical-aesthetics experience. Retail Expansion: K-beauty brand Medicube has entered about 400 U.S. Costco stores, with plans to expand across the chain and bring products to Canada and Europe. Its Costco launch features a special pack of its Zero Pore Pad. Fragrance Trends: Perfume makers are exploring whether GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could shift consumers’ tastes for food-inspired scents, from cherry to spicy notes. Companies and researchers say more study is needed. Beauty Looks: The understated anti-blush trend is gaining interest, with a neutral, low-saturation wash replacing brighter cheek colour for a natural-looking flush.

K-Beauty’s Global Push: South Korea’s beauty exports are surging, with officials visiting Kolmar’s Sejong plant as foreign tourists’ spending at Korean pharmacies reportedly triples. Brand Expansion: Beyoncé’s Cécred haircare line has launched in the UK, while Chinese professional haircare brand ISYUN named Victoria Song its global ambassador, with Southeast Asia a key focus. Product Safety: Indian authorities seized 1,221 suspected counterfeit L’Oréal and Matrix products. Separately, a recall of skin-lightening products containing toxic metal was upgraded to the highest risk level. Beauty Entrepreneurs: Guyanese artist Latoya Da Silva is preparing to relaunch her handmade cosmetics line, building on her Xclusiv Beauty studio and makeup education business. The Estée Lauder Companies also announced the latest BEAUTY&YOU India winners, marking five years of backing local beauty founders.

Beauty Awards: Greek skincare brand Korres won an Allure Best of Beauty award for its Smart Yogurt Probiotic Super Serum, recognized for sensitive skin. Industry Spotlight: ELLE’s Beauty Awards 2026 sundowner brought founders, creators and beauty professionals together ahead of the awards’ 20th edition, with brand showcases from Shiseido, Armani and Moschino. Haircare Expansion: Beyoncé’s Cécred has arrived in the UK through an exclusive Space NK launch, bringing its haircare range to a new market. K-Beauty Growth: South Korea’s SMEs exported $5.07 billion in cosmetics in the first half of 2026, up 30.7% year over year; the SMEs minister visited Kolmar Korea’s Sejong plant to discuss support for brands expanding overseas. Counterfeit Alert: Authorities in Ahmedabad seized suspected fake L’Oréal and Matrix products with a stated face value of ₹6.9 lakh.

Beauty Retail: Tira unveiled its 2026 beauty advent calendar, as retailers gear up for holiday shopping. Watsons Malaysia opened its 888th branch in Kuala Lumpur, a flagship spanning 18,000 square feet with more than 17,000 health, beauty and lifestyle products. Global Industry Links: France’s Cosmetic Valley and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce renewed their partnership to connect cosmetics businesses and support technology exchange. Counterfeit Alert: Ahmedabad police seized 1,221 suspected fake L’Oréal and Matrix products worth ₹6.9 lakh; samples are being tested. Quarterly Results: Shoppers Stop returned to profit in Q2 FY27, with beauty sales up 18% year over year. Store Expansion: Space NK will open a 2,425-square-foot store at Castlepoint, adding premium skincare and makeup brands to the centre. Consumer Safety: The FDA has labelled skin-whitening creams high risk, renewing concerns over the products.

Beauty Safety: The FDA has classified skin-whitening creams as high risk, as a recall over toxic metal contamination was upgraded to the highest level. Retail Momentum: Shoppers Stop returned to profit in Q2, with beauty sales up 18% and fragrance up 35%; Victoria Beckham’s business also turned profitable, led by beauty. Emerging Brands: Substance of Light won Sephora’s first prize for emerging European brands, while Estée Lauder announced the 2026 BEAUTY&YOU India winners, continuing its support for beauty entrepreneurs. K-Beauty & Wellness: Jelly serum mists are arriving in the U.S., blending a fine spray with gel-serum hydration, while enzyme baths are drawing attention in Korea’s wellness scene.

Product & Retail News: The FDA approved Alcon’s BRYTLY redness-relief eye drops, which the company says work in a minute and last up to 12 hours. Bath & Body Works is expanding its Ulta partnership to all stores for the holidays. Beauty Business: Henkel completed its $1.4 billion acquisition of Olaplex, while Galderma is set to buy ZO Skin Health for $1.5 billion. Victoria Beckham’s business has turned profitable, led by beauty. Safety Watch: A recall of skin-lightening products was upgraded to the highest risk level over toxic-metal concerns; authorities in India also seized counterfeit beauty products. Industry & Culture: Estée Lauder named winners of its BEAUTY&YOU India program, marking five years of backing local beauty entrepreneurs. Coty is building an in-person fragrance community, as brands look for new ways to connect consumers with scent and its creators.

Indian Beauty Entrepreneurship: The Estée Lauder Companies, Nykaa and Startup India announced the BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 winners, marking five years of backing local beauty founders. Haircare Campaigns: Naturali’s new anti-hairfall campaign with actor Medha Shankr challenges family expectations around women’s hair and encourages personal choice. K-Beauty in India: Mamonde named actor Nitanshi Goel its first Indian ambassador, following its Nykaa launch. Fragrance Investment: Mane is investing €45 million in a new design centre in France, planned to open in 2028 and host around 250 staff. Beauty Business Growth: Dolce & Gabbana’s beauty unit expects double-digit growth in 2026 after exceeding €1 billion in wholesale revenue last year, with plans to expand fragrance, makeup, skincare and stores. Consumer Safety: A skincare-product recall was upgraded to the highest risk level over a toxic-metal concern. Luxury Wellness: Sisley Paris has partnered with Explora Journeys to offer facial treatments and products aboard EXPLORA III.