Last week in beauty Coty agreed to transfer the Gucci licence to L’Oréal one year early while retailers Nykaa and Sasa experienced continued double digit growth last quarter.
COTY REACHES EARLY GUCCI LICENSE TRANSFER DEAL WITH L’ORÉAL
Coty has agreed to transfer the Gucci fragrance and beauty license to L’Oréal ahead of its 2028 expiry, receiving $400 million for the early termination, with L’Oréal securing a 50-year license. The deal follows L’Oréal’s 2025 acquisition of Kering Beauty, and provides Coty with capital for debt reduction while enabling L’Oréal earlier access to the brand.
NYKAA SAW ITS GMV GROW OVER 30% IN Q1 FY27
Nykaa experienced strong first-quarter GMV and NSV over 30% driven by an excellent performance in the Fashion vertical (NSV growth in mid-fifties) and steady momentum in the Beauty vertical (NSV growth in late twenties). The omnichannel beauty business strengthened further with 324 stores as of June 30, while the House of Nykaa portfolio continued rapid growth anchored by Kay Beauty, Nykaa Cosmetics and Dot & Key.
SASA REPORTS 22.9% QUARTERLY SALES GROWTH IN Q1 FY27
SaSa International reported total turnover of HK$1,179.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, up 22.9% year-on-year, driven by a 31.0% increase in comparable offline sales in Hong Kong and Macau. Total online sales fell 2.9% as the company deliberately redirected lower-margin bulk orders toward higher-margin offline and B2C channels.
NATURA STRUGGLES IN BRAZIL AND EXPECTS Q2 SALES DECLINE OF 9-10%
Natura expects second-quarter consolidated net revenue to fall between 9% and 10% year-on-year to BRL5.1–5.2 billion, citing weaker consumer demand and operational challenges in its Brazilian market. Despite the decline, the company anticipates improved EBITDA margin compared with Q1, supported by lower severance costs and efficiencies from its new operating model, while implementing measures to restore growth in Brazil.
SUPERDRUG REPORTS FIFTH YEAR OF GROWTH WITH 5.2% SALES INCREASE
Superdrug reported a 5.2% increase in sales and a 5.3% rise in profit before tax to £144.1 million, marking its fifth consecutive year of financial growth. The retailer continued to invest in its UK estate, opened 22 new stores, introduced brands including MCoBeauty and PURESEOUL, and expanded its healthcare offering through pharmacy services and Online Doctor.
ESTÉE LAUDER RAISES RESTRUCTURING COSTS TO $1.75BN
Estée Lauder has increased its expected restructuring costs to up to $1.75 billion, up from a previous forecast of approximately $1.55 billion, as part of its ongoing program to streamline operations. The costs include workforce reductions of up to 10,000 jobs, asset impairments and contract terminations, while the company shifts focus toward faster-growing channels and lower-priced products to attract younger consumers.
LVMH BOOSTS STAKE IN MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN TO 80.6%
LVMH has increased its ownership in Maison Francis Kurkdjian from 70.9% to 80.6% and appointed Véronique Courtois as president, succeeding co-founder Marc Chaya who left the role in April. The move comes as the fragrance house reported its first revenue dip since the 2017 acquisition, with 2025 sales falling slightly below €200 million and net profit dropping 27% due to US market challenges including tariffs and Saks Global’s bankruptcy.
MARIONNAUD SALE TALKS UNDERWAY WITH GROUPE BOGART SHAREHOLDER
CK Hutchison has entered into exclusive discussions with David Konckier, the principal shareholder of Groupe Bogart, regarding the potential sale of perfumery chain Marionnaud, which generated approximately €536 million in revenue across 377 stores in France in 2024. Marionnaud will continue normal operations during the consultation period.
GIVAUDAN INVESTS IN MICROCAPS FOR ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGY
Givaudan has announced an equity investment and strategic collaboration with Swiss company Microcaps AG to strengthen its encapsulation capabilities, combining Givaudan’s fragrance formulation expertise with Microcaps’ precision microencapsulation technology. The partnership aims to enhance fragrance performance, particularly in non-alcoholic fine fragrance applications, and open new opportunities for high-performing beauty products.
BELLE BRANDS ACQUIRES CLEAN SKINCARE AND MAKEUP BRAND VERSED
Belle Brands, a platform company formed by consumer investment firm Windsong Global, has acquired clean skincare and makeup brand Versed, adding it to a portfolio that includes JVN Hair, Pipette and KVD Beauty. Founded by Katherine Power in 2019, Versed features over 35 award-winning skincare and makeup offerings, with the acquisition aiming to drive continued growth and maximize its potential in the mass retail space.
STYLE CAPITAL MAKES FIRST BEAUTY INVESTMENT IN ESSENTIAL PARFUMS
Italian private equity fund Style Capital has taken a minority stake in Parisian niche fragrance house Essential Parfums, marking its first investment in the beauty sector as it looks to expand beyond fashion and luxury. The founders retain majority ownership and will continue to lead the brand, with the funding aimed at accelerating international expansion and strengthening its retail and distribution platform.
PIERRE FABRE INCREASES STAKE IN SUPPLEMENTS BRAND MIYÉ
Pierre Fabre has increased its stake in MiYé, a French brand specializing in feminine hormonal health through dermo-cosmetics and micronutrition, to 38% via its investment fund. The funding aims to accelerate MiYé’s expansion in pharmacies and among healthcare professionals, targeting a fourfold increase in its pharmacy network by 2027.
LOUIS VUITTON LAUNCHES FIRST LIP LINER WITH LV CRAYON
Louis Vuitton has expanded its La Beauté makeup collection with the LV Crayon, its first lip liner developed by Creative Director Dame Pat McGrath, featuring a creamy peptide-enriched formula in 10 shades. The launch extends the brand’s luxury beauty portfolio, complementing its existing LV Rouge lipsticks and LV Baume lip balms.
L’ORÉAL PARIS UPDATES BESTSELLING SERUM WITH PDRN
L’Oréal Paris has reformulated its top-selling Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid serum with biotech PDRN to enhance plumping and anti-wrinkle efficacy, aiming to reclaim momentum in the skincare category where growth has softened. The new serum launches with a campaign featuring Kendall Jenner and will roll out globally from Europe this week to Asia and the Middle East by early 2027.
BASF AND BOTA LAUNCH AI-DESIGNED COLLAGEN III
BASF and Bota Biosciences have launched SkinNexus Collag3n, a vegan recombinant Type III collagen fragment that is 100% identical to human collagen, developed through AI-assisted screening of over 2,000 collagen fragments. Clinical studies showed visible reduction in skin sagging and wrinkles after four weeks, outperforming a reference collagen at a ten times lower concentration.
SINGER MEGAN MORONEY LAUNCHES DEBUT FRAGRANCE CALLIOPE
Country singer Megan Moroney has launched her debut fragrance, Calliope, a floral musk scent blending peach blossom, jasmine and warm mineral musk, available for pre-order at $55 for 3.4 oz. The fragrance, inspired by the Greek muse and featuring a kintsugi-inspired heart-shaped bottle, will ship by July 31 in the US and August 15 in the UK and EU.
RAPPER MEGAN THEE STALLION LAUNCHES FRAGRANCE WITH COTY
Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion has launched her debut fragrance, Hot Girl Summer Eau de Parfum, in partnership with Coty, debuting exclusively at Ulta Beauty with prices ranging from $29 for a travel size to $84 for 90ml. The limited-edition scent, housed in a flame-shaped bottle inspired by her Hot Girl Summer universe, blends notes of coconut milk, orchid and vetiver.
