I’ve noticed a shift in how we talk about beauty, both on the business side and on the consumer side. There is a bigger emphasis on getting to the root of the issue and determining the fundamentals of common beauty concerns. If we understand the cause, the solution can be tailored and much more effective.
Take hair shine as an example: in this month’s issue, Peter Bailey proposes reframing our thinking around hair shine in terms of optical physics. When light hits the hair, it refracts from each strand, causing it to look shiny or dull. By understanding the physics of how light interacts with hair, formulators have a better idea of what impacts hair shine and how to address this common consumer want.
In our Formulating Forum, Lionetti and her team at LabAnalysis Science discuss rheology modifiers in cosmetics and finding sustainable alternatives to traditional materials. By using these alternatives, sensory experience is enhanced while making products more sustainably.
Industry Insights features an exciting collaboration: Aveeno and Mayo Clinic will be working together on a research partnership for the next three years. I interviewed the senior R&D director at Aveeno’s parent company, Kenvue, about what the partnership will entail and how they are combining consumer insights about skin health with cutting-edge technology.
This month’s issue also features our 2026 C&T Alle Award winners. I think these innovators are right at the center of this shift and reframe. These winning products are not merely covering up issues, but rather addressing the root of the issue and the underlying mechanisms. From an anti-aging ingredient that reactivates cellular dialogue to supplements of green tea and persimmon leaves to a quat-free, repairing conditioner, we are witnessing the next phase of beauty innovation. Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Alle Awards. Registration is now open for the 2027 awards, if you’re feeling inspired by these innovations.
This shift gives me hope that, not only are consumers becoming more literate in the underlying science of cosmetics, but formulators are seeing the bigger picture of overall skin health and longevity. It’s not about changing the formulation process; it’s just a reframe in approach.
