In this round-up of financial results, M&As and funding drives in the cosmetics industry, we highlight news of Kao’s travel retail expansion, Liht Organic’s royal partnership, MyGlamm’s Series C funding and more.
Interest in topical and ingestible beauty products that support and even boost immunity is gaining traction, but what science can back up product developments and how much growth potential is there really in this space?
In this round-up of the top five stories on the digital developments in beauty, we highlight Shiseido’s human approach to beauty tech, SENSAI’s e-commerce evolution and Watsons’ new O+O developments.
Reusable and refillable concepts are an area the L’Oréal Group has pinpointed for development as it works towards its ambitious sustainability goals, according to a leading regional exec.
The deadline to enter APAC's premier nutrition awards and be celebrated among the region's pioneering ingredients, finished products, start-ups and researchers has been extended to June 18.
The founder of a pioneering nail wrap brand in Singapore says the market for these convenient nail stickers is poised for ‘exciting’ growth on the back of increased awareness.
Japanese beauty giant Shiseido Group has reported an operating profit increase of 67.6% year-on-year to surpass US$100m after pivoting towards a focus on skin care following the COVID-19 outbreak.
India-based feminine hygiene company Sirona has expanded its skin care line with its first face serums targeted at sensitive skin, which the firm believes to be an underserved demographic in its domestic market.
Unilever and its prestige brand Hourglass have developed a vegan carmine alternative after years of supplier collaboration – a patent-pending innovation it plans to open-source in the coming year, says the global vice president of R&D for prestige.
The unwavering appetite for niche perfumes and brand mastery of digital communication are some of the reasons why we can expect more niche fine fragrance brands from Asia vying for the international spotlight.
![Kao has announced plans to become carbon negative by 2050. [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/kao-outlines-plans-to-be-carbon-negative-by-2050-and-affirms-commitment-to-use-100-renewable-electricity/12504018-1-eng-GB/Kao-outlines-plans-to-be-carbon-negative-by-2050-and-affirms-commitment-to-use-100-renewable-electricity_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![We highlight news of Kao’s travel retail expansion, Liht Organic’s royal partnership, MyGlamm’s Series C funding and more. [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/5-most-read-stories-on-business-and-financial-news-in-the-beauty-industry/12481797-1-eng-GB/5-Most-read-stories-on-business-and-financial-news-in-the-beauty-industry_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Top five stories on the digital developments in beauty. [GettyImages]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/market-trends/5-top-stories-on-digital-developments-making-waves-in-the-beauty-industry/12481746-1-eng-GB/5-Top-stories-on-digital-developments-making-waves-in-the-beauty-industry_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Reusable and refillable concepts are an area the L’Oréal Group has pinpointed for development. [L’Oréal Group]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/article/2021/05/18/l-oreal-sustainability-reuse-and-refillable-concepts-on-the-sustainability-agenda-for/12459728-1-eng-GB/L-Oreal-sustainability-Reuse-and-refillable-concepts-on-the-sustainability-agenda-for_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Nail wraps poised for ‘exciting’ growth on the back of increased awareness. [Nodspark]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/market-trends/nail-wrap-market-primed-up-for-exciting-growth-as-awareness-soars/12428664-1-eng-GB/Nail-wrap-market-primed-up-for-exciting-growth-as-awareness-soars_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Shiseido Group has reported an operating profit increase in the first quarter of FY2021. [Shiseido Group]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/shiseido-s-focus-on-skin-beauty-pays-off-as-q1-2021-operating-profits-increase/12461553-1-eng-GB/Shiseido-s-focus-on-skin-beauty-pays-off-as-Q1-2021-operating-profits-increase_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Sirona has expanded its skin care line with its first face serums targeted at sensitive skin. [Sirona]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/sirona-launches-first-face-serums-for-sensitive-skin/12459628-1-eng-GB/Sirona-launches-first-face-serums-for-sensitive-skin_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Estée Lauder on how the rapid recovery of colour cosmetics in China has informed its global make-up strategy. [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/market-trends/how-estee-lauder-expects-colour-to-trend-based-on-china-s-covid-19-recovery/12459535-1-eng-GB/How-Estee-Lauder-expects-colour-to-trend-based-on-China-s-COVID-19-recovery_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Why we can expect more niche fine fragrance brands from Asia vying for the international spotlight. [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/article/2021/05/06/asian-niche-perfumes-why-the-next-wave-of-niche-fine-fragrance-brands-will-come-from-asia/12334984-1-eng-GB/Asian-niche-perfumes-Why-the-next-wave-of-niche-fine-fragrance-brands-will-come-from-Asia_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![China now L’Occitane’s largest market in FY2021. [L'Occitane Intl]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/l-occitane-q4-results-china-now-firm-s-largest-market-after-sales-surge-by-60/12419211-1-eng-GB/L-Occitane-Q4-results-China-now-firm-s-largest-market-after-sales-surge-by-60_news_teaser_medium.jpg)
![Top five stories on the digital developments and beauty tech in the cosmetics industry. [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/market-trends/digital-dive-top-stories-on-digital-developments-making-waves-in-the-apac-beauty-industry/12576576-1-eng-GB/Digital-Dive-Top-stories-on-digital-developments-making-waves-in-the-APAC-beauty-industry_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![THREE re-releases exclusive inner beauty supplement. [THREE Cosmetics]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/j-beauty-brand-three-re-releases-exclusive-inner-beauty-supplement-to-alleviate-common-summer-ailments/12572449-1-eng-GB/J-beauty-brand-THREE-re-releases-exclusive-inner-beauty-supplement-to-alleviate-common-summer-ailments_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![Singapore start-up Bhuman says early interest from big-name retailers won’t deter its focus on promoting sustainable consumption. [Bhuman]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/article/2021/06/16/bhuman-promoting-sustainable-consumption-top-of-mind-for-waterless-beauty-brand-founded-by-ex-amazon-vp/12559836-1-eng-GB/Bhuman-Promoting-sustainable-consumption-top-of-mind-for-waterless-beauty-brand-founded-by-ex-Amazon-VP_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![Koru Pharmaceuticals has launched a new skin care brand made with hemp seed oil derived from a hybrid Korean hemp variant. [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/brand-innovation/hemp-skin-care-koru-pharmaceuticals-develops-k-beauty-skin-care-made-with-hybrid-korean-variant/12546733-1-eng-GB/Hemp-skin-care-Koru-Pharmaceuticals-develops-K-beauty-skin-care-made-with-hybrid-Korean-variant_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![Our updates on financial results, M&As and funding drives in the cosmetics industry. [L'Occitane]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/shiseido-kao-l-occitane-and-more-feature-in-our-latest-beauty-business-and-finance-update/12569556-1-eng-GB/Shiseido-Kao-L-Occitane-and-more-feature-in-our-latest-beauty-business-and-finance-update_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![US-headquartered Paula's Choice has a large range of skin care products, including face cleansers, exfoliants, serums and retinol treatments, available across its global D2C network and select prestige retail outlets [Image: Unilever/Paula's Choice]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2021/06/15/unilever-to-acquire-paula-s-choice-from-ta-associates-under-prestige-beauty-division/12566251-1-eng-GB/Unilever-to-acquire-Paula-s-Choice-from-TA-Associates-under-prestige-beauty-division_wrbm_tiny.jpg)
![Sheet masks are ‘storming the market’ in India, says Skinella [Getty Images]](https://cdn-a.william-reed.com/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/market-trends/skinella-says-sheet-mask-sales-in-india-are-storming-the-market-in-india/12560457-1-eng-GB/Skinella-says-sheet-mask-sales-in-India-are-storming-the-market-in-India_wrbm_tiny.jpg)