AGP Executive Report

Retail Beauty Expansion: Magic Molecule’s FDA-cleared hypochlorous acid Daily Skin Spray is rolling into 4,500+ Walmart stores and Walmart.com, aiming to bring “science-backed” everyday skin support to millions. Tech Meets Beauty: L’Oréal says A.I. is now central to its innovation engine as it reports solid growth, with CEO Nicolas Hieronimus pointing to e-commerce and an OpenAI partnership. Clean Beauty, But Make It Plastic-Free: AORA México enters Sephora as the retailer’s first fully plastic-free beauty brand, leaning into bilingual packaging and bold, non-“beige” clean aesthetics. Beauty Retail Shake-Up: Target and Ulta Beauty are winding down their shop-in-shop partnership, with Target planning a new beauty studio rollout in hundreds of stores. Skincare Product Spotlight: Ole Henriksen debuts a solid-to-foam cleanser designed to support the skin barrier, while Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint continues to get love for shade-matching ease. Beauty Education Recognition: Milan Institute esthetics educator Lynnette Garrett is named N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year.

Beauty Deals & Viral Finds: Amazon shoppers are snapping up medicube’s Collagen No Cast Just Glow SPF50, while another viral pick—Cosmetic Consult Miracle Cryo Eye Masks—keeps selling out as cooling patches promise to depuff and brighten. Skincare Innovation: ALASTIN hosted an Innovation Brunch spotlighting regenerative skincare, and the brand also teased its next regenerative direction. Regulation & Consumer Protection: Singapore’s consumer watchdog secured refunds up to $1M for DNA Brands customers after alleged pressure tactics, including trapping shoppers with in-room mask applications. Safety & Compliance: A mobile court in Bangladesh fined Lady Zone Beauty Parlour Tk 10,000 for expired products and operating without a renewed trade licence. Hair & Beauty How-Tos: Experts warn slicked-back styles can trigger traction alopecia, and salicylic acid body sprays are being pushed as an easy fix for bacne and ingrowns. Industry Watch: L’Oréal reported sales momentum tied to haircare and skincare, while TikTok Shop continues to shape beauty buying habits.

Beauty Industry & Retail: L’Oréal posted better-than-expected quarterly sales, powered by a haircare boom and mascaras, with CEO citing the “lipstick effect.” Brand Moves: Too Faced is relocating its Irvine HQ to New York to join Estée Lauder’s offices. At-Home Beauty Upgrade: Shark Beauty refreshed its viral CryoGlow LED mask with wider coverage and a new CryoGlow Plus version. Beauty Deals & Staples: National Lipstick Day coverage spotlights editor-favorite shades and offers, while Erika Jayne calls Aquaphor Lip Repair a “forever staple.” Hair & Skincare Buzz: Give Me Cosmetics’ Recode Bonding overnight leave-in mask is getting attention for split-end reduction and “liquid gold” results. Beauty Tech/Wellness Market: A body contouring devices report projects strong growth through 2030, fueled by rising interest in aesthetic procedures. Consumer Safety: Lidl recalled Eridanous shortbread cookies in the U.S. due to undeclared allergens. Hospitality (Lifestyle): Cayo Levantado Resort appointed a new GM, Maria Lamarche, as the property leans into Dominican culture and guest experience.

Beauty Retail Shake-Up: MECCA has officially ended its 17-year partnership with Myer, signaling a major department-store beauty reset as Myer pushes ahead with a redeveloped Sydney Beauty Hall and new brand additions. Nail Health & Trends: Summer nail coverage turns practical, with experts warning that constant polish/gel/acrylic can damage nails and advising breaks plus healthier routines. K-Beauty Deals: Medicube’s PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm Stick is making waves on Amazon at under £12, promising plumping, hydration, and smoother-looking fine lines. Beauty Crime Watch: Two women face organized retail theft charges after allegedly stealing $75K in cosmetics from Ulta stores across the Valley. Tourism Meets Wellness: Seoul’s foreign visitor boom is lifting spending, with shopping and medical/wellness (including beauty) leading the lift. AI in Beauty Adjacent Sectors: OCBC plans to cut wealth onboarding to 15 business days using agentic AI—another sign of how automation is spreading across lifestyle industries. Colored Contacts Growth: Constar flags Southeast Asia as the fastest-growing market for colored contact lenses, driven by social media and e-commerce. Brand Expansion in China: Bluebell Group launches Bluespace, a multi-brand beauty and lifestyle concept store in Shenzhen.

K-Beauty Boom: Numerator says Korean beauty has topped $2B in U.S. sales, with 25% of households buying and repeat rates climbing—fuelled by younger, TikTok-active shoppers. Retail & Beauty Access: Sephora’s Accelerate program just named 12 emerging brands for mentorship and possible grant funding, signaling what’s next in skin, hair, makeup and fragrance. Beauty Spending Pressure: A Zenoti survey finds 46% of Americans would go into debt to maintain beauty routines, with many spacing visits, using memberships, or trading down. New Fragrance Launch: Ice Spice debuts her first fragrance, In Ha Mood Eau de Parfum, via Ulta’s TikTok Shop ahead of a wider August release. Makeup Deal Alert: Clinique’s cult Black Honey Almost Lipstick is spotted at a record-low $15, with the shade’s sheer, buildable finish driving renewed demand. Beauty x Everyday Life: e.l.f. teams up with RED Driving School for a “Grip, Set, Go” giveaway offering up to 5,000 learners a free one-hour lesson.

Medical Aesthetics Branding: Gambhir Cosmetic Medicine rebrands as Lunamé to scale multi-location care with a “Clinical Expertise. Natural Results.” promise. Skincare Buzz: Cosmetic Consult’s Miracle Skin Transformation body treatment is being touted for overnight resurfacing on bumps, breakouts, and rough texture. Beauty Retail & Commerce: Nykaa appoints Ankit Jain to lead NYKAA NOW quick commerce expansion, aiming to strengthen fulfilment with AI-led forecasting. Industry Watch: Unilever beats Q2 sales growth estimates as beauty and home care volumes rise. K-Beauty Focus: A dermatologist-backed roundup spotlights the best Korean eye creams for fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles. Fragrance Launch: Estée Lauder debuts Glimmer Eau de Parfum (gourmand amber-floral) on Aug. 6. Creator Economy: Align Ventures closes $125M Fund II targeting beauty and personal care, while ESW Beauty brings in creator equity partners Katie Fang and Aliya Rachinski.

Beauty Packaging & Product Tech: Dermalogica is rolling out Aptar Beauty’s NeoDropper Autoload for its FutureCode Booster serum, aiming for more consistent dosing and less waste with an auto-loading, twist-and-push dropper. Brand Moves: Bubble names Diana Rubin its first chief marketing officer, tapping her L’Oréal/Kiehl’s and YSL Beauty background to drive growth. Fragrance Spotlight: Alisha Boe becomes YSL Beauty’s global ambassador for Black Opium, leaning into the scent’s “cool It girl” energy. K-Beauty Expansion: South Korea’s top beauty CEOs join President Lee’s Brazil trip to push deeper Latin America growth as Brazil’s cosmetics market surges. Hair & Nails Trends: A soft wavy bob is the “less is more” haircut moment, while the milky moon manicure swaps classic French tips for a cuticle crescent. Industry Growth: MARS Cosmetics targets Rs 750 crore this fiscal and plans a second Delhi R&D lab plus more offline retail and quick-commerce push. Retail/Commerce: Watsons unveils “Watsons Evergreen” with Pantone for 185 years of care, while Indonesia’s new e-commerce tax rules shift income tax collection onto major platforms.

Duty-Free Watch: South Korea’s May duty-free results show foreigner sales still soft (-2.5% MoM), even as Korean shoppers ticked up slightly (+6.2% MoM), with retailers leaning harder on K-beauty and K-wellness promos. Beauty Retail Deals: Ulta’s National Lipstick Day (July 29) is driving big discounts—up to 40% off lip products from Clinique, MAC, Anastasia Beverly Hills and more. Skinimalism Shift: Consumers are paring routines down to a few “heavy-hitters,” pushing hybrid skincare-makeup and barrier-friendly essentials. Beauty Safety & Compliance: Angola’s sanitary inspector-general says clinics, aesthetic medicine centers and beauty salons are facing expanded inspections, with issues flagged like unlicensed staff and expired cosmetics. Beauty Meets Culture: Miss Universe Panama 2026 kicks off with 28 regional candidates and runway, gala and final dates—positioning the pageant as a platform for art, folklore and tourism. Product Buzz: A viral $9 Korean lip oil sale and a “naked” manicure trend keep the spotlight on affordable, long-wear lip and nail looks.

Beauty Retail Deals: Medik8 kicks off a summer sale with ~20% off sitewide (with a few exclusions) from July 26 to Aug 1, no code needed—ideal for stocking up on Hydr8, C-tetra and Crystal Retinal. Skincare How-To: MUAs share how to apply cream makeup formulas on dry skin, plus a reminder that you can’t “get rid” of pores—only make them look smaller by managing oil, congestion and collagen loss. Anti-Aging Focus: Experts point to retinoids as the “gold standard” for collagen support, with vitamin C and peptides as key add-ons. Hair Styling: A hairstylist breaks down Zendaya-style S-waves for that glossy “just got out of the sea” summer look. Brand Expansion: LG Household & Health Care’s The Face Shop is rolling Rice Water Bright products into 1,600+ Walmart stores across the US, expanding beyond Amazon and other retailers. Medical Aesthetics Caution: Dr Terry Dubrow warns injectables are still medical procedures—not impulse beauty. Beauty Community: A “Kid Market” in Idaho lets kids sell homemade beauty products and other crafts, building real-world confidence.

Fragrance & Ingredients: Robertet says fragrances are still the growth engine, but overall H1 2026 revenue slipped slightly as currency and consolidation shifts bite, while it keeps a cautious full-year outlook. Beauty Retail Buzz: Laneige’s viral Lip Sleeping Mask is now customizable on Amazon, letting shoppers blend two scents for a bespoke lip-care “flavor” experience. Celebrity Beauty Launches: Kylie Jenner is rolling out a new fragrance trio, “Mood Stones,” with three scent moods teased via her latest campaign visuals. Beauty Deals: MAC’s Retro Matte Lipsticks are marked down at Nordstrom for a limited “major beauty holiday” moment, with classic shades like Ruby Woo in the mix. Skincare Spotlight: Boots’ No7 Good Intent Skin Sip Bouncy Eye Cream is being pitched as a hydration-and-glow fix for tired under-eyes, with a spend-triggered free gift promotion. Industry Watch: London Packaging Week returns with a bigger 2026 “Discovery” program, spotlighting innovation, design, sustainability, and brand-facing packaging solutions. Salon News: A car crash caused major damage to a Massachusetts beauty salon storefront, with no injuries reported.

Beauty Tech & Haircare: Nigerian-American Harvard engineer Yinka Ogunbiyi secured $7M to commercialise HaloBraid, a braid-assist robot aimed at easing the physical load of protective styling and cutting appointment times, with a 7,000+ salon waiting list. Celebrity Beauty Trend: Zendaya’s “goddess” makeup from The Odyssey press tour is sparking a fresh-faced, sunkissed, super-blushed “no-makeup makeup” look. Retail Inclusion: Sephora is rolling out in-store “Quiet Hours” to reduce sensory triggers for neurodivergent shoppers, following a pilot in 32 stores. Nail Care Reset: A gel-manicure break highlights the rise of nail masks that promise repair and hydration after brittle, weakened nails. Consumer Safety: Eyemart Express confirmed a breach involving customers’ personal data, including SSNs and prescriptions, after unauthorized access in Feb. 2026. Beauty Shopping On the Go: India’s Mangaluru–Goa Vande Bharat will trial onboard sales with beauty products among items delivered to seats.

Retail Beauty Events: Watsons Malaysia is bringing back Watsons Beautopia 2026 (July 23–26) at Pavilion Bukit Jalil for its 185th anniversary, with 185+ K-, J-, C- and international beauty brands, plus skin/scalp analysis, expert consults, workshops, and live demos. Beauty & Wellness Trends: Dialogue Skincare launches a zodiac-led line called The Celestial Three (Leo, Aquarius, Pisces) built around natural, clinically effective formulas and daily mindfulness affirmations. Nail Culture: The mix-and-match manicure trend keeps spreading—different designs and finishes on each nail, no rules, just maximum self-expression. Beauty Industry/Tech: Pepper rolls out a generative engine optimization platform to track how brands show up in AI search (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews) and compare visibility vs competitors. Consumer Deals: Aldi’s Lacura Bounce Back Hair Mask returns at £4.99, pitched as a dupe for higher-end “elasticizer” style treatments. Brand/Legal Watch: Estée Lauder faces a data breach investigation after Oracle HR system access was disclosed.

Skincare for mature skin: An esthetician argues mature skin doesn’t need a 15-step routine—overdoing actives can irritate and weaken the barrier, so focus on simple, barrier-supporting essentials. SPF reminder: A dermatologist-style guide warns people often miss sun protection for the scalp, which is skin too and can affect hair health. Hair trend: Scalp care is framed as the next big haircare conversation, with sun protection and targeted products moving into the spotlight. Makeup pick: Lisa Eldridge’s Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint gets a full spotlight for its sheer-but-buildable, second-skin finish. Fragrance trend: Perfume experts say “garden” notes like tomato, carrot and beetroot are fueling a new wave of botanical, slightly surreal scents. K-beauty expansion: Cosmax launches an overseas export support platform to help K-beauty brands scale abroad. Retail & beauty commerce: Quick commerce is nearing $1B in beauty sales in India, with premium products driving growth. Brand news: Katia Beauchamp returns with Buff Beauty, a natural nail care line built around strengthening and exfoliating routines. Wellness summit: The Global Wellness Summit announces a major lineup focused on longevity, women’s health and neuroaesthetics.

Perimenopause Awareness Push (Malaysia): Guardian Malaysia rolled out a nationwide campaign, “Embracing Mildlife Wellness,” to help women spot early perimenopause signs—highlighting how symptoms like hot flushes, acne, migraines, and mood shifts are often misread or dismissed. Beauty Tourism Boom (Portugal): New data shows British travelers are booking more beauty services in Portugal, with nail treatments leading and many appointments made last-minute after arrival—fueling demand for on-the-go facials, hair services, and removals. Inclusive Discovery on Pinterest: Pinterest reopened its Inclusion Fund for beauty, fashion, and lifestyle creators, backing channels that promote inclusive search features like skin-tone ranges and hair-pattern options. Aesthetic Tech Growth: New market reports point to fast expansion in aesthetic implants and AI skin analysis tools, as clinics lean harder into tech-driven diagnostics and enhancement. Medical Aesthetics Spotlight (UK/US): Celine Med Spa added XERF, a no-downtime radiofrequency tightening device, to its Seal Beach menu. Influencer Tragedy (Mexico): Beauty creator Adriana García died after cosmetic surgery complications in Sinaloa, with authorities investigating the cause. Beauty Industry Safety (UK): Edinburgh court heard a case involving the death of aesthetician Vikki Soloman, underscoring scrutiny on the sector.

Skincare Trend Watch: TikTok “face basting” has zinc oxide searches soaring, but dermatologists warn nappy-cream zinc isn’t a one-to-one swap for sunscreen or barrier products. Makeup Base Buzz: e.l.f.’s Power Grip Primer Jumbo is getting major love for smoother, more even application thanks to hydrating hyaluronic acid. Bodycare Launch: Boots expands No7 Good Intent into bodycare, with bergamot-scented formulas featuring Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid and CICA—and a free cleansing-pad gift for qualifying spend. Hair Styling for Travel: Big W says Fenici’s compact, dual-voltage styling tools are going viral for saving space and avoiding baggage-fee headaches. Beauty Industry Growth: Blo Blow Dry Bar reports double-digit franchise momentum with new signed agreements and multiple new locations across North America. Medical Aesthetics Expansion: River Stone Health and Wellness in Edmonton adds Alberta’s first NovoTHOR® bed alongside hair restoration and laser/aesthetic services. Global Skills & Beauty Jobs: UNESCO highlights a Korea-backed vocational program training Africans in agriculture, food processing and beauty services to help trainees start businesses.