AGP Executive Report

Consumer Safety: Americans are traveling to Tijuana for lower-cost Botox and laser treatments, but potential risks remain. Industry Moves: Galderma is set to acquire ZO Skin Health for $1.5 billion, expanding its medical skincare portfolio. Beauty Entrepreneurship: Estée Lauder, Nykaa and Startup India named the 2026 BEAUTY&YOU India winners, marking five years of backing emerging founders. Brand Performance: Victoria Beckham’s business has turned profitable, with beauty leading the way. Retail & IP: Shiseido is suing Shein in a €2.6 million distribution dispute. Hair Care: Head & Shoulders has launched a scalp-care collection, while K18’s CEO says its new FutureIQ serum reflects a growing focus on hair longevity.

Fall Beauty: Journalist Grace Gold’s seasonal picks span moisturizers, oral care and at-home hair-removal tech. K-Beauty Goes Global: Shinsegae has opened a Tokyo pop-up featuring Korean beauty brands including Milk Touch, while APR is taking Medicube skin boosters into Latin America, with a Chile launch planned for next month. Hair-Care Innovation: K18’s new Future IQ scalp serum reflects a shift from repairing damage to supporting hair longevity, says co-founder and CEO Suveen Sahib. Festive Sales: Beauty and personal-care orders in India rose more than 69% in the first week of festive shopping, led mainly by makeup, as overall e-commerce orders climbed 31% year over year. Industry Deals: Galderma is set to acquire ZO Skin Health for about $1.5 billion, while Henkel has completed its $1.4 billion OLAPLEX acquisition and named a new CEO. Retail Shifts: Lush plans to leave Westfield shopping centres across Australia, even as U.S. operator Silicon2 plans 11 more K-beauty stores.

Beauty Retail: Douglas named former Printemps chief Jean-Marc Bellaiche CEO, effective Nov. 1, as Sander van der Laan retires. Lush, meanwhile, confirmed it will permanently leave Westfield shopping centres across Australia. Industry Deals: Galderma agreed to acquire ZO Skin Health for about $1.5 billion, adding the skincare brand to its portfolio. K-Beauty: Korean beauty is leaning into 30-minute delivery apps, while South Korea plans to extend the sector beyond cosmetics into AI skin analysis and medical tourism. Product Safety: New reports spotlight thousands of emergency-room visits linked to beauty-product eye injuries, with children under five accounting for nearly a quarter of cases; unapproved Botox bought online has also been tied to adverse events.

Consumer Protection: A federal investigation is examining skincare sales tied to Mazal Group, after customers reported alleged unauthorized charges reaching tens of thousands of dollars. Industry Deals: Galderma agreed to buy dermatologist-founded ZO Skin Health for $1.5 billion, adding a 40-plus-product range sold through medical professionals in more than 40 countries. Fragrance Growth: Givaudan’s sales rose 5.2% in the first nine months of 2026, led by a 15.3% jump in fine fragrance. Retail Shift: Lush plans to leave Australian Westfield centres as leases expire, while Korean beauty brands gain a new route to shoppers through 30-minute delivery apps. Sustainability: French retailer Aroma-Zone earned B Corp certification, scoring 104.2 and formalizing environmental and social commitments. Skin Longevity: L’Occitane is recasting ageing care around skin resilience and nourishment, drawing on 25 years of Immortelle research. Beauty Business: South African founder Zama Gege has grown a natural skincare and haircare line with agency support for testing and business development. K-Beauty Sales: Medicube reported record Amazon promotion sales, with strong growth in the U.S. and its first European campaign.

Brand Partnerships: e.l.f. Brands renewed its Tottenham Hotspur Women sponsorship, linking beauty with efforts to grow women’s football and leadership. Lancôme and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America also launched a global women’s mental-health initiative focused on stigma and early support. K-Beauty Goes Global: DeepBlueDot’s Syncly teamed with TikTok Korea to help beauty and other Korean brands use social-media insights to reach overseas shoppers, while Olive Young is expanding its K-beauty presence with Sephora across 48 Asian stores. Industry Shift: L’Oréal is pushing refillable packaging toward the mainstream as beauty companies face pressure to reduce waste. Consumer Safety: Reports warn that everyday beauty products send thousands of people to emergency rooms with eye injuries, underscoring the need for careful use and clearer safety guidance.

Affordable Skincare: Soap & Glory has launched a 10-piece skincare range at Boots, priced from £9.99 to £12.99, featuring ingredients including niacinamide, vitamin C and ceramides. Makeup Launch: Celebrity makeup artist Nina Park, known for her work with Zoë Kravitz and Sadie Sink, is preparing to launch a cosmetics brand. Beauty Science: China’s CHANDO Group presented 20 research papers at the IFSCC congress, placing it among the five companies with the most accepted papers. Market Growth: South Korean cosmetics exports are reaching new markets: shipments to the U.S. and Europe have surged over the past decade, while China’s share has fallen. Consumer Safety: A study found nearly 42,500 U.S. emergency-room visits for eye injuries linked to beauty and personal-care products from 2005 to 2024.

Beauty Retail: The Weston family’s $8.9 billion Boots acquisition is expected to close in early 2027. Retail experts point to opportunities to share insights across markets, including around Boots labels No7 and Soap & Glory. K-Beauty Goes Global: Olive Young is expanding its K-beauty partnership with Sephora to 48 Asian stores, as South Korea’s K-Beauty Expo reaches a record 679 participating firms. Beauty Tech: South Korean firm VUSSENS has opened U.S. operations with an AI platform that tracks beauty trends and consumer responses across social media and e-commerce. New Products and Routines: Erborian’s Triple Care BB Milk combines serum, moisturiser and makeup base in one product, while facial mists are gaining traction in the UAE as shoppers seek quick refreshment between outdoor heat and air conditioning. Consumer Buzz: Amazon’s $109 beauty advent calendar, featuring products from brands including Olaplex, Amika and Tower 28, has sold out amid strong shopper interest.

Beauty Investment: French nail brand Manucurist has sold a minority stake to Inflexion, which will back its international growth, retail expansion and product development. Indian Beauty Growth: Ayurveda-based Nat Habit raised Rs 142 crore to expand its range, retail and quick-commerce reach, and presence in smaller cities. K-Beauty Expansion: Olive Young’s curated K-Beauty Edit is now in 48 Sephora stores across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong. Festive Shopping: Beauty helped drive India’s online sales surge: Amazon said one in four products bought in its sale’s first 12 hours was a beauty item, while Meesho reported first-day orders up 75% year on year. Beauty Careers: Beyoncé’s Cécred and BeyGOOD are extending their cosmetology and barbering scholarship programme to the UK, committing $250,000 across 10 schools. Ingredient Access: Brenntag and Givaudan have expanded their beauty-ingredient partnership to Australia and New Zealand.

Pageant Spotlight: Thailand’s Saffron Maya Snook was crowned Miss Global 2026, moving from her national title to the international crown. Beauty Retail: AS Watson named Katinka Ruikes managing director of Kruidvat Belgium from January, while retaining her Netherlands role. Skin Safety: Researchers warned that TikTok “glass skin” videos often omit basic safety advice; nearly 95% of the videos studied made at least one misleading claim. K-Beauty’s Reach: Korean cosmetics have moved from niche online discovery to prominent US retail shelves, built on creator recommendations and product appeal. Inclusive Innovation: Entrepreneur Dawn Myers is developing tools to make wash day easier for people with textured hair, addressing a long-overlooked gap in beauty hardware. Industry Moves: The Weston family agreed to buy Boots in an $8.9 billion deal, bringing the UK health and beauty retailer under new ownership. Sustainability: A report from Chile says 80% of cosmetics are sold in plastic packaging, much of which ends up in landfills.

Beauty Trends: Cashmere makeup is emerging as a major autumn 2026 look, with soft-focus beige and brown tones; editors also tested face sunscreens and spotlighted alternatives to collagen eye creams. Brand Growth: Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has reached a ₹300 crore annualised revenue run rate and is eyeing global expansion, while Rhea Chakraborty launched a blush line with Staze Beauty inspired by her viral look. Retail & Deals: The Weston family has agreed to buy Boots for £6.7 billion, as the chain adds haircare brand Olaplex to its growing portfolio. Global Industry: K-beauty exports hit a record $1.2 billion, and L’Oréal entered a first-of-its-kind soccer partnership with Paris Saint-Germain. Safety: Reports spotlighted health risks tied to skin-lightening practices in Nigeria and a police seizure of counterfeit beauty products.

Beauty & Confidence: Katrina Kaif spoke out against postpartum body-shaming while celebrating Kay Beauty’s first anniversary in the UK, urging people not to let online criticism dictate their choices. Pageant Milestone: Tanzania’s Jihan Dimack won Miss Grand International 2026, becoming the first African woman to take the title. Retail Shake-up: The Weston family’s Wittington Investments agreed to buy Boots for £6.7 billion, including its No7 beauty business, bringing a major change of ownership to the UK retailer. Brand Growth: Kay Beauty reached a ₹300 crore annualised revenue run rate, tripling sales in three years as it sets its sights on global expansion. Big Brand Partnership: L’Oréal has entered football sponsorship with a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain.

Beauty Business: Kay Beauty has reached a ₹300 crore annualised revenue run rate, with nearly 3 million customers and profitability since its first year. The brand, co-founded by Katrina Kaif and Nykaa, is eyeing global growth. Retail Shake-up: Canada’s Weston family has agreed to buy Boots for $8.9 billion, including No7 Beauty, and plans to invest in its stores, online services and healthcare. New Beauty Ventures: Rhea Chakraborty is turning her viral blush look into a makeup line, starting with a buildable blush designed for Indian skin tones. Consumer Safety: A public health nurse in Ghana warned caregivers against using skin-lightening creams, harsh soaps or pills on children, citing risks to their delicate skin. Beauty Trends: Brown mascara is gaining fans as a softer alternative to black, while velvet nails and warm, new-season perfumes are among the looks and launches drawing attention this autumn.

Beauty Trade: Expo Centre Sharjah opened its perfume, oud and cosmetics shows with more than 200 exhibitors, and 40% more space than last year. Retail & Leadership: Bluemercury named Stacie Borteck Dattner, a longtime Bloomingdale’s beauty executive, to lead merchandising from Oct. 12. L’Oréal Travel Retail and Avolta also joined forces to advance circularity in travel retail. Market Moves: The Weston family agreed to buy Boots for $8.9 billion, a major shift for the UK beauty and pharmacy retailer. Brand Growth: India’s Kay Beauty reached a ₹300 crore annualised revenue run rate and is eyeing global expansion. Beauty Innovation: 10Beauty is bringing robotic manicures to New Jersey, while Expo Sharjah’s expanded cosmetics showcase points to rising interest in beauty and personal care.

Beauty Business: Dongkook Pharmaceutical is on track to top 1 trillion won in annual revenue, with cosmetics helping drive a 28.7% rise in healthcare sales in the first half. Global Expansion: South Korean retailers are turning stores and pop-ups into launchpads for K-brands abroad, while Lotte Department Store has opened a K-beauty pop-up in Los Angeles. Retail Shake-up: Canada’s Weston family agreed to buy Boots for £6.7 billion, a major change for the UK beauty and pharmacy market. Brand Pipeline: More than 250 consumer brands, including cosmetics and personal care companies, are set to meet retailers and investors at Texas’s inaugural Rooted Expo, Oct. 20–22. Skin Care Watch: Experts are warning that chasing “glass skin” with viral products can irritate skin and damage its protective barrier.

Beauty Retail: Canada’s Weston family agreed to buy Boots for £6.7 billion, a major change of ownership for the UK pharmacy chain. Leadership: Estée Lauder named former L’Oréal executive Gaétane Baudry to lead Bobbi Brown. Product Innovation: Bormioli Luigi and Aptar Beauty unveiled a dual-chamber glass bottle that keeps sensitive skincare ingredients separate until use. K-Beauty: South Korean cosmetics exports hit a record $1.2 billion, while experts warned that pursuing “glass skin” can carry risks. Market Watch: Jay-Z’s investment firm is reportedly nearing a deal for a 50% stake in Fenty Beauty.

Beautyworld Dubai: The show opened its 30th edition at Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing global beauty, fragrance and personal-care businesses together to showcase launches and industry trends. Retail Shake-up: Canada’s Weston family agreed to buy Boots for $8.9 billion, including its UK and Ireland stores, Boots Opticians and No7 Beauty Company. K-Beauty Collaboration: G-Dragon’s PEACEMINUSONE will partner with Goodai Global on a new cosmetics brand, planned for launch in the first half of 2027. Fragrance Shift: Perfumers say consumers are moving beyond sweet, dessert-like scents toward more layered fragrances that mix contrasting notes. New Launch: Chopard Parfums is bringing Gardenia Tahia, a gardenia fragrance with coconut and vanilla, to South Korea this month.