Last week in beauty, Galderma becomes one of Switzerland most valuable listed companies and a new retailer enters TikTok.
GALDERMA JOINS SWITZERLAND’S TOP 20 LISTED COMPANIES
Galderma has been added to the Swiss Market Index, joining Switzerland’s benchmark of its 20 largest and most liquid listed companies less than three years after its March 2024 IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The dermatology group’s net sales rose from $4.41 billion in 2024 to $5.21 billion in 2025, with first-half 2026 sales up 24.6% at constant currency prompting an upgraded full-year growth guidance of 19-21%, while L’Oréal holds a 20% stake with the remaining 80% in free float.
BOOTS DEBUTS ON TIKTOK SHOP WITH NO7 RANGE
Boots has joined TikTok Shop with a shopfront launching September 28, featuring a curated selection of No7 skincare and beauty products including the Pro Artist makeup line, Good Intent and Prime Forever longevity collection, supported by a live shopping event. The move, managed with THG Ingenuity, follows Sephora and Ulta Beauty onto the platform as TikTok reports a 55% increase in live shopping sales, giving Boots a route to reach new and younger customers.
SA SA EXPECTS FIRST-HALF PROFIT TO MORE THAN TRIPLE
Sa Sa International forecasts first-half attributable profit of more than HK$150 million (US$19.1 million) for the six months ending September 30, compared with HK$50.2 million a year earlier, driven by higher same-store sales, transaction volumes and average transaction values in Hong Kong and Macao alongside rapid B2C online growth. The forecast follows the retailer’s withdrawal from Mainland China physical retail as it concentrates resources on e-commerce and stronger regional markets.
NYKAA AND L’ORÉAL’S BOLD FUND TO INVEST IN INDIAN BEAUTY BRANDS
Nykaa and L’Oréal’s corporate venture fund BOLD will jointly take minority stakes in high-growth Indian beauty and personal care brands with strong consumer traction, leaving founders with full ownership and operational independence. Beyond capital, the partnership offers mentorship and access to L’Oréal’s global beauty expertise and Nykaa’s omnichannel retail network, aiming to help Indian entrepreneurs scale brands domestically and internationally.
UNILEVER VENTURES LEADS SERIES A IN GRAY-HAIR BRAND AREY
Unilever Ventures has led a Series A round of undisclosed size in Arey, the gray-hair care brand co-founded by CEO Allison Conrad and hairstylist Jay Small, with participation from existing investors Female Founders Fund and Greycroft. The funding will support R&D, clinical studies, hiring and distribution for Arey’s topical and supplement range, whose six-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 173 participants found 88% of the active group experienced less gray-hair growth and a 13% decrease in gray hair versus a 10% increase in the placebo group.
MACQUARIE BUYS KOREAN COSMETICS MANUFACTURERS FOR $217M
Macquarie Private Equity has agreed to acquire South Korean cosmetics manufacturers Hwasung Cosmetics and Nowcos for approximately KRW 300 billion (US$216.6 million), purchasing Affirma Capital’s 70% stake in Hwasung and its entire holding in Nowcos, with plans to buy the remaining 30% from Hwasung’s founder. The deal reflects growing international investor interest in the manufacturing and distribution infrastructure powering K-beauty’s global expansion, following similar moves by KKR and CVC Capital.
L’ORÉAL BOOSTS EGYPTIAN PLANT TO STRENGTHEN MENA HUB
L’Oréal is investing EGP 240 million (€4 million) to expand its 10th of Ramadan City plant in Egypt, its only MENA manufacturing facility, increasing capacity and efficiency for hair care, skincare and hair colour products to serve domestic demand and exports. The site has produced 442 million units over five years with 85% exported to 20 MENA countries, operating on 100% renewable energy and recycled or reused water since January 2025.
NOVO NORDISK EXPLORES HAIR LOSS AS NEXT GROWTH FRONTIER
Novo Nordisk is evaluating hair loss as a potential new therapeutic category alongside menopause and addiction, as the Ozempic maker looks to expand its direct-to-consumer prescription business beyond diabetes and obesity. Chief Scientific Officer Martin Lange noted that emerging hair-loss research rooted in endocrinology overlaps with the company’s expertise, though he stressed it is not an immediate development priority.
INTERPARFUMS AND PUMA SIGN FRAGRANCE LICENSING DEAL FOR 2027
Interparfums has signed a 10-year global fragrance license agreement with Puma, running through 2037, with the first products set to launch in 2027 as the company looks to translate Puma’s athletic and cultural relevance into a new scent line. The deal follows Interparfums’ recent 20-year extension of its Roberto Cavalli fragrance license through 2046, with Puma’s previous beauty license having been held by L’Oréal since 2015.
KIM KARDASHIAN CONFIRMS SKIMS BEAUTY WILL LAUNCH IN 2027
Kim Kardashian has confirmed that Skims Beauty will launch in 2027, responding to a fan question on X with “Next year!!!! I can’t wait for you guys to see!” The brand has been building toward the launch with the appointment of Ami Colé founder Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye as Executive VP Beauty in late 2025 and beauty-themed prints in its Aurel Schmidt clothing collaboration, following Skims’ acquisition of Coty’s stake and Kardashian’s own shares and the shutdown of SKKN by Kim.
ANNICK GOUTAL RETURNS TO THE US IN EXCLUSIVITY AT BLOOMINGDALE’S
French fragrance brand Annick Goutal is relaunching in the U.S. exclusively at eight Bloomingdale’s stores and online in October, following Interparfums SA’s 2025 acquisition of the Maison Goutal intellectual property rights from Amorepacific Europe. The comeback features 10 scents in revamped bottles, seven historic fragrances joined by three new launches, each priced at $240 for a 3.4-fl.-oz. eau de parfum.
BRITISH FASHION LABEL BELLA FREUD MAKES BEAUTY DEBUT AT BOOTS
British fashion designer Bella Freud has launched her first beauty and lifestyle collection, Glamorama, exclusively through Boots, featuring lip oil, hand wash, lotion and beauty accessories in keepsake packaging. The launch extends the Bella Freud brand beyond fashion into beauty and personal care through Boots’ national retail network, available in stores across the UK and online.
CHANEL TAPS LUCIA PIERONI TO LEAD MAKEUP CREATION
Chanel has appointed makeup artist Lucia Pieroni as creative makeup director effective September 2026, reporting directly to fragrance and beauty president Simona Cattaneo. Pieroni has collaborated with creative director Matthieu Blazy since his arrival in October 2025, and the appointment forms part of the French house’s broader creative reorganisation across fashion, jewellery and beauty.
HENKEL NAMES CHRISTOPH KAUL TO LEAD OLAPLEX
Henkel has appointed Christoph Kaul, a 13-year company veteran who most recently served as Regional Head of Strategy and Transformation for its US professional salon business, as CEO of Olaplex following its $1.4 billion acquisition of the prestige hair care brand. Kaul succeeds Amanda Baldwin, who led Olaplex since 2023 and steered it through the acquisition, as Henkel begins integrating the brand while maintaining its focus on the professional salon channel and product innovation.
NUXE NAMES CHRISTINE DELFAUT-SARA AS NEW CEO
French skincare brand Nuxe has appointed Christine Delfaut-Sara as CEO, succeeding Muriel Koch after eight years, with Delfaut-Sara having been part of the management team since 2019 and bringing more than 30 years of cosmetics experience including 17 years at Beiersdorf. Nuxe employs over 800 people with estimated annual revenue of approximately €300 million, distributing through more than 30,000 retail locations across 60 countries.
SEPHORA EUROPE ENLISTS JOHN LEGEND FOR ORIGINAL HOLIDAY SONG
Sephora Europe has tapped EGOT winner John Legend to compose an original song called “Here It Is” celebrating the holiday gifting season, as the retailer builds on culturally driven marketing moves including partnerships with Dancing with the Stars and the U.S. Open. The collaboration comes ahead of Legend’s new album “Muse,” produced by Pharrell Williams and releasing October 23, during a period when nearly a quarter of annual beauty sales occur in November and December.
ANUSHKA SEN BECOMES NYKAA’S K-BEAUTY AMBASSADOR
Nykaa has appointed Indian actor Anushka Sen as the face of its K-Beauty category, representing its growing portfolio of Korean beauty brands as the retailer strengthens its positioning around Korean cosmetics in India. The appointment coincides with Sen’s move into Korean cinema and is designed to connect Nykaa’s K-Beauty proposition with Gen Z consumers already engaged with Korean entertainment and culture.
