This week in beauty, Coty sales continued to decline in the last quarter while dsm-firmenich saw strong demand for fine fragrance.
COTY Q3 FY26 LIKE-FOR-LIKE SALES DOWN 7% AT $1.28BN
Coty reported third-quarter net revenue of $1.28billion, a 7% like-for-like decrease. The Prestige division saw a 5% like-for-like decline while Consumer Beauty fell 10%, though Asia Pacific grew 5% like-for-like. Coty expects another mid-single-digit like-for-like decline in Q4.
DSM-FIRMENICH Q1 FY26 FRAGRANCE & BEAUTY SALES UP 8%
dsm‑firmenich reported first‑quarter sales up 8% for its fragrance and beauty division driven by strong demand for fine fragrance ingredients and advance orders from clients concerned about global supply chain disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. The company confirmed its full‑year targets, expecting a limited impact from Middle East tensions in the second half of 2026.
NU SKIN Q1 FY26 SALES FALL 12% TO $320.6M, WITHIN GUIDANCE
Nu Skin reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $320.6m with a target of $1.35bn to $1.5bn for the full year where it will launch its intelligent wellness platform Prysm iO and enter the Indian market in late 2026.
SEPHORA AUSTRALIA SALES GREW 9% IN 2025 BUT LOSSES WIDENED TO €13.8M
Sephora Australia reported a 9% increase in annual revenue to €227m (AUD368.9m), driven by its 33-store network and popular global brands. However, the retailer’s net loss widened by €8.2m (AUD13.4m) to €13.8m (AUD$22.5m), marking its seventh consecutive year of unprofitability in the Australian market.
COSMOGEN ACQUIRES ASQUAN TO FORM PREMIUM PACKAGING GROUP
French beauty packaging specialist Cosmogen has acquired Hong Kong-based Asquan Group, creating Cosmogen&Asquan Group with combined revenue of $50 million and 80 employees, supported by Weinberg Capital Partners. The new entity offers a comprehensive premium packaging range across skincare, haircare, makeup and fragrance, serving clients including LVMH, L’Oréal, Puig and Shiseido while maintaining a flexible manufacturing model.
CHINESE GROUP PROYA COSMETICS RE-FILES FOR HONG KONG IPO
Chinese beauty company Proya Cosmetics has re-submitted its application for a Hong Kong IPO to fund R&D, brand building, channel expansion and potential acquisitions, after ranking as China’s largest domestic cosmetics group for five consecutive years with 2025 revenue of RMB10.6 billion. The company’s core PROYA brand accounts for 72.6% of sales, with online channels driving 95.6% of total revenue.
HAIRCARE BRAND CROWN AFFAIR RAISES SERIES C LED BY STRIDE CONSUMER
Prestige haircare brand Crown Affair has closed a Series C funding round led by Stride Consumer Partners, following its all-door expansion into Sephora, with proceeds aimed at improving productivity on shelf and increasing brand awareness. The brand, which focuses on a holistic, ritualistic approach to hair care akin to skin care, has seen its hero products like the towel and leave-in conditioner drive sustained sales alongside newer launches such as the Overnight Repair Serum.
RHODE EXPANDS TO EUROPE WITH SEPHORA PARTNERSHIP
Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand rhode will launch across Sephora’s online and physical stores in Europe this September, following strong results in North America and the UK after its $1 billion acquisition by e.l.f. Beauty last year. The expansion will cover 19 European countries including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, building on the brand’s social-media-driven community engagement and Sephora’s global retail presence.
AMOREPACIFIC’S SKINCARE BRAND MAMONDE LAUNCHES ON AMAZON
Amorepacific has launched its flower-focused skincare brand Mamonde on Amazon targeting Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers through a digital-first strategy centered on influencers, creators and social media. The brand’s hero products include the Rose Liquid Mask, which sold over 2 million units last year.
NATURA EXITS US MARKET TO FOCUS ON LATIN AMERICA
Brazilian cosmetics group Natura is shutting down its US operations and discontinuing its subscription program by June 30, as part of a strategic restructuring following the divestment of The Body Shop, Aesop and its Avon Russia business. The company will now concentrate on its core Latin American markets.
HUDA BEAUTY LAUNCHES FIRST FRAGRANCE, EASY BAKE INTENSE
Huda Beauty has entered the fragrance category with Easy Bake Intense Eau de Parfum, a gourmand scent developed through over 100 iterations with master perfumer Hamid Merati-Kashani. The launch, inspired by viral consumer demand after an April Fool’s teaser, marks founder Huda Kattan’s expansion beyond makeup into the prestige fragrance market.
AMAZON LAUNCHES SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICE FOR ALL BUSINESSES
Amazon has launched Amazon Supply Chain Services, opening its freight, distribution, fulfillment and parcel delivery network to businesses beyond its own sellers, allowing companies from various industries to move products from factories to customers. Brands including Procter & Gamble, 3M and Lands’ End are already using the service, which offers multi-modal transportation, warehousing and two-to-five-day shipping.
ESTÉE LAUDER TO CUT AN ADDITIONAL 3,000 JOBS
Estée Lauder plans to cut up to 3,000 additional jobs globally, raising total planned reductions to between 9,000 and 10,000 roles (up to 17.5% of its workforce), as part of CEO Stéphane de La Faverie’s “Beauty Reimagined” strategy aimed at delivering up to $1.2 billion in annual cost savings. More than 70% of the additional cuts will come from department store roles, reflecting a strategic shift toward faster-growing channels such as Sephora, Ulta, Amazon and TikTok Shop.
L’ORÉAL SIGNS DIGITAL TECH DEAL WITH ADEIA
L’Oréal has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with technology company Adeia to access its media intellectual property portfolio, enhancing personalized, interactive and data-driven digital experiences across streaming, advertising and commerce platforms.
COTY PARTNERS WITH PENCIL FOR AI-POWERED CONTENT PRODUCTION
Coty has partnered with AI platform Pencil to integrate real-time, generative AI content creation across its Consumer Beauty division, including brands such as CoverGirl, Rimmel, Sally Hansen and Max Factor. The collaboration will enable faster, scalable content production while maintaining brand governance, with a dedicated Pencil team embedded within Coty starting July 1.
COTY FACES $41 MILLION LAWSUIT OVER DAVID BECKHAM FRAGRANCE LICENCE
DB Ventures, which manages David Beckham’s brand, is suing Coty for at least $41 million over alleged “flagrant material breaches” of their fragrance licensing agreement, including claims of mismanagement and inappropriate distribution such as selling products at gas stations. The lawsuit adds to mounting pressure on Coty’s fragrance division, which is already facing legal action from Nautica and increased competition from major players like L’Oréal.
JOHN LEWIS PARTNERS WITH SKIN CUPID TO EXPAND K-BEAUTY OFFERING
John Lewis has partnered exclusively with Korean beauty retailer Skin Cupid to introduce 20 Korean skincare and haircare brands including Beauty of Joseon and Medicube across its stores and online, with shop-in-shops launching in Cambridge, Kingston and Leeds. The move responds to surging consumer demand for science-led, ingredient-focused K-beauty, as shoppers increasingly prioritize efficacy and results.
