Health and beauty retailer Watsons Singapore is aiming to expand its portfolio of clean beauty brands as more consumers, especially millennials, become more conscious of their environmental impact.
In this 2020 round-up, we’re featuring the biggest cosmetic science stories of the year including research on the skin microbiome, natural discoveries and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
A New Zealand-based brand is eyeing opportunities to expand its business internationally by tapping into the growing interest in the country’s untapped wealth of native botanicals.
International beauty major L’Oréal, Asia-Pacific personal care giant Kao Corporation and four industry suppliers have been awarded a triple ‘A’ status for sustainable efforts across climate change, forests and water security this year, securing six of...
Beiersdorf says it is hopeful of Asia-wide success for its new skin care brand, which was developed specifically to address ‘high beauty standards’ of South Korean consumers, with China a particular target.
India-based Greyon Cosmetics is aiming to extend its domestic business into local brick-and-mortar stores, while simultaneously working to develop the business abroad through online channels, within the next six months.
Digital marketing and communications agency The Beauty Makers has launched a brand incubator to help build out future innovation-led companies in an increasingly competitive but exciting space, its founding partner says.
Amorepacific has illustrated how wearing a protective face mask can adversely affect the skin – in what is believed to be a first-of-a-kind study on non-healthcare workers.
International paper specialist Arjowiggins has developed a translucent barrier paper suitable for the packaging of cosmetics, providing industry with a sustainable, effective and creative alternative to plastic, it says.
Smaller beauty brands aiming to make a difference with sustainable packaging will encounter hurdles such as astronomical costs and a lack of reliably sustainable solutions, but two brand owners urge that overcoming the challenges are vital for the eco-movement.
Hong Kong beauty packaging firm Meiyume has identified aluminium as a key material as it focuses its efforts on the development of recyclable packaging solutions.
Malaysian cosmeceutical brand B&B Labs has introduced a microbiome-friendly hygiene range to tap into the trend of hand care premiumisation that has arisen in the aftermath of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
![Watsons Singapore is aiming to expand its portfolio of clean beauty brands. [Watsons SG / Ethique]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/market-trends/digital-savvy-millennials-pushing-retailer-watsons-sg-to-expand-clean-beauty-offerings/12002058-1-eng-GB/Digital-savvy-millennials-pushing-retailer-Watsons-SG-to-expand-clean-beauty-offerings_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Beiersdorf says it is hopeful of Asia-wide success for its new skin care brand. [Beiersdorf]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/chaul-by-beiersdorf-targets-regional-expansion-for-new-k-beauty-brand/11994628-1-eng-GB/CHAUL-by-Beiersdorf-targets-regional-expansion-for-new-K-beauty-brand_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Greyon Cosmetics is aiming to extend its domestic business into local brick-and-mortar stores. [GettyImages]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/india-s-greyon-targets-brick-and-mortar-expansion-nationwide-within-six-months/11963307-1-eng-GB/India-s-Greyon-targets-brick-and-mortar-expansion-nationwide-within-six-months_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Amorepacific has illustrated how wearing a protective face mask can adversely affect the skin [Amorepacific]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/formulation-science/amorepacific-research-demonstrates-how-skin-is-affected-by-long-term-use-of-protective-face-masks/11993111-1-eng-GB/Amorepacific-research-demonstrates-how-skin-is-affected-by-long-term-use-of-protective-face-masks_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Emma Lewisham and Organic Riot owners urge small brands to overcome the challenges as it is vital for the eco-movement. [GettyImages]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/article/2020/12/03/overcoming-sustainable-packaging-hurdles-crucial-for-smaller-brands-to-aid-circular-beauty/11998857-1-eng-GB/Overcoming-sustainable-packaging-hurdles-crucial-for-smaller-brands-to-aid-circular-beauty_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Meiyume has identified aluminium as a key material for sustainability [Meiyume]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/packaging-design/meiyume-identifies-aluminium-as-key-material-for-sustainable-packaging-solutions/11992958-1-eng-GB/Meiyume-identifies-aluminium-as-key-material-for-sustainable-packaging-solutions_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Kao has piloted a beauty counselling service in Japan based on RNA monitoring technology it developed last year. [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/kao-pilots-skin-analysis-service-based-on-its-non-invasive-rna-monitoring-tech/11980910-1-eng-GB/Kao-pilots-skin-analysis-service-based-on-its-non-invasive-RNA-monitoring-tech_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![B&B Labs has introduced a microbiome-friendly hygiene range to tap into the trend of hand care premiumisation. [B&B Labs]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/care-and-protect-b-b-labs-launches-microbiome-friendly-hand-care-range-to-keep-up-with-increasingly-discerning-consumer-needs/11988447-1-eng-GB/Care-and-protect-B-B-Labs-launches-microbiome-friendly-hand-care-range-to-keep-up-with-increasingly-discerning-consumer-needs_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Biologi takes ‘pro-ageing’ approach with latest serum launch. [Biologi]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/biologi-takes-pro-ageing-approach-with-latest-serum-launch/12089304-1-eng-GB/Biologi-takes-pro-ageing-approach-with-latest-serum-launch_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![KCA and KPRC have announced a new 'reverse recycling program' for cosmetic companies. [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/packaging-design/korea-actions-new-scheme-to-aid-goal-of-recycling-10-of-cosmetic-packaging-by-2025/12069265-1-eng-GB/Korea-actions-new-scheme-to-aid-goal-of-recycling-10-of-cosmetic-packaging-by-2025_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![Basic Theory is looking to launch a raft of new products and expand into new Asian markets. [Basic Theory]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/basic-theory-looks-towards-business-expansion-after-covid-19-drives-sales-up-by-over-30-in-2020/12069316-1-eng-GB/Basic-Theory-looks-towards-business-expansion-after-COVID-19-drives-sales-up-by-over-30-in-2020_wrbm_tiny.png)
![Brand aiming to expand internationally by tapping into the pandemic-driven interest in deep cleansing products. [Yasai Skincare]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/article/2021/01/13/deep-clean-singapore-start-up-targets-sea-australia-and-us-expansion-on-the-back-of-interest-in-deep-cleansing/12058264-1-eng-GB/Deep-clean-Singapore-start-up-targets-SEA-Australia-and-US-expansion-on-the-back-of-interest-in-deep-cleansing_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![Shiseido Company aims to tap into opportunities offered by the diversity of the APAC region. [Shiseido Company]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/market-trends/shiseido-apac-ceo-on-why-diverse-region-holds-huge-cosmetics-opportunities/12061267-1-eng-GB/Shiseido-APAC-CEO-on-why-diverse-region-holds-huge-cosmetics-opportunities_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
