October’s top news stories

L’Oreal to enter the male-grooming market in China

L’Oreal China partnered with Alibaba’s online retail platform Tmall to access the male-grooming market in China.

As part of the collaboration, the Tmall Innovation Center (TMIC) helped L’Oreal China identify a number of target customers for personal care, haircare and basic essentials product categories.

The TMIC will also help L’Oreal China accelerate its consumer-to-business (C2B) approach through data insights and trends generated from Alibaba’s platforms, as well as establish new value chains to connect consumers, products and channels.

---

Symrise and IBM partner to create perfumes using AI

Germany-based fragrances and flavourings manufacturer Symrise partnered with IBM Research to create perfumes using artificial intelligence (AI).

The project will use IBM Research’s AI to analyse historical data and information about scent combinations to create fragrance formulas.

Symrise’s scent and care president Achim Daub said: “The art and science of designing a winning perfume has been something we at Symrise have been doing for more than 200 years.”

---

Burberry unveiled Her Eau de Parfum fragrance for women

British luxury brand Burberry unveiled a new fragrance for women.

Available on Burberry.com and at select Burberry boutiques, Her Eau de Parfum was created by master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. It features fruity and floral fragrances, as well as jasmine, violet, dry amber, musk and red berry scents such as blackcurrant, blueberry and raspberry.

Kurkdjian said: “Her Eau de Parfum by Burberry is unique because it is a memorable signature. To achieve that, you need a strong accord, an olfactive story that translates your vision.”

---

Ardian agrees to sell cosmetics company ADA International

Ardian signed an agreement with Moonlake Capital to sell European hotel cosmetics company ADA Cosmetics Holding.

Based in Kehl, Germany, ADA Cosmetics Holding produces personal care products such as shampoo, shower gel, soap, body lotion and accessories for the hotel industry.

ADA Cosmetics Holding was founded in 1979 and acquired by Ardian Expansion Fund III in 2014. The company has 700 employees and meets the requirements of a customer base of around 15,000 to 25,000 hotels, cruise ships and airlines.

---

Frontier IP bought 25% stake in Des Solutio

Frontier IP acquired a 25% stake in Des Solutio in exchange for commercialisation services, including contract negotiation, identifying potential industry partners, scaling up technology, and helping with validation.

Frontier IP commercialises university intellectual property (IP), while Des Solutio develops environmentally friendly alternatives to chemicals used in cosmetics products.

Des Solutio was founded to commercialise research conducted by NOVA University Lisbon’s NOVA School of Science and Technology professors Ana Rita Duarte and Dr Alexandre Paiva. Their research has gained interest from major industrial groups, including cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies.

---

Axia Medical Solutions launched skincare line containing cannabidol

Axia Medical Solutions released a medical-grade skincare line containing cannabidiol (CBD).

Founded in 2003, Axia Medical Solutions provides over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and cosmetic skincare products under the brand name Dermesse. The new products were created by infusing Axia’s Dermesse products with a high-quality water-soluble CBD.

This CBD is free from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in hemp.

---

Johnson & Johnson agreed to buy remainder of Japan’s skincare firm Ci:z

US-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J) agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Japanese skincare firm Ci:z Holdings that it does not already own for JPY230bn ($2.05bn) in cash.

The purchase will consist of the Japanese firm’s range of brands, including Dr.Ci:Labo, Labo Labo and Genomer line of skincare products.

This portfolio is expected to support J&J’s presence in the Japanese market and enable it to more broadly improve its offering in science-based, dermocosmetic brands.

---

Monat launched new Restructuring Hair Care Collection

Monat Global introduced a new range of haircare products for dry, brittle or overprocessed hair.

Called Restructuring Hair Care Collection, the new range is developed to reverse the signs of hair damage caused by harsh chemical treatments and restore hair to a healthy state to prevent breakage.

The collection features Restructuring Pre-Wash Conditioner, Restructuring Shampoo, Hair Transformation Masque and Inner Force Restructuring Serum.