UK-based color cosmetics company Warpaint London reported net sales of £29.7 million ($37.94 million) in the first five months, seeing a growth of 45% compared to the same period of last year. Warpaint London, the UK-based color cosmetics company, announced that sales for the company during the first five months of the year were significantly higher than in the same period in the previous year, with a total of £29.7 million ($37.94 million) compared to £20.5 million ($26.20 million). This represents a 45% increase in sales. Additionally, the company's profit margins remained strong and exceeded those achieved in 2022. The recent update did not include any information about the company's online sales. However, it is worth noting that online sales had been rapidly increasing, with a growth rate of 159% compared to the previous year. Despite this significant increase, online sales still only accounted for 2.7% of the company's total sales. The company that owns W7 and Technic has experienced significant growth over the past two years, after facing challenges in 2020 due to work-from-home guidance and the lack of social events that discouraged consumers from purchasing beauty products. The W7 brand, which is a key brand for the company, has expanded its presence through a partnership with UK supermarket giant Tesco and is now available in over 1,400 Tesco stores. The company is also looking to expand its presence in Boots stores, building on its initial entry into 80 stores in February. The company also plans to expand its product offerings in the US, with W7 products now being sold in over 1,200 Five Below stores, as well as new accounts including CVS. The W7 brand has also launched digital stores in China, and its products are now available online in the country. Warpaint London's group revenue for 2022 showed a significant increase of 28.1%, rising from £50.0 million ($63.89 million) in 2021 to £64.1 million ($81.91 million) in 2022. Sales from the company's own branded products amounted to £57.7 million ($73.73 million) in 2022, compared to £44.4 million ($56.74 million) in 2021. Within this, the W7 brand had sales of £35.0 million ($44.73 million) in 2022. The Technic brand contributed sales of £22.7 million ($29.01 million) in 2022.

Recently, L'Oréal introduced a range of technological innovations in the field of beauty at the Viva Technology Paris event. Recently, L’Oréal introduced a range of technological innovations in the field of beauty at the Viva Technology Paris event. These innovations aim to make beauty accessible to everyone and cater to individual needs. L’Oréal emphasizes the positive impact of beauty on individuals and society. The innovations include smart and eco-friendly beauty products, digital services, and diagnostic devices that use data to provide personalized and inclusive virtual beauty experiences. At the VivaTech event, L’Oréal showcased its ability to utilize data, technology, and AI to provide consumers with personalized beauty products and services that cater to their specific needs. The company's booth demonstrated its expertise in this area and its commitment to using innovative solutions to help consumers make informed decisions about beauty. L’Oréal stated that the company’s Beauty Tech division has expanded significantly, with over 5,900 employees dedicated to this area. The company now offers more than 800 online services, with 40 million service sessions in 2022 alone. L'Oreal will be participating in VivaTech for the seventh year in a row, where the company will showcase its latest technological innovations and partnerships. These offerings include inclusive beauty tech solutions like HAPTA from Lancôme, which enables people with physical limitations to apply makeup. L'Oreal will also present diagnostic and coaching tools such as La Roche-Posay SPOTSCAN, META PROFILER™ by Giorgio Armani, and Kérastase K-SCAN. Additionally, the company will showcase personalized beauty tech solutions like 3D shu: brow by shu uemura, which allows for a professional eyebrow look at home. L’Oréal also provided information about two of its partnerships. The first is Impact+, which aims to measure the impact of L’Oréal’s digital media activities. This partnership will help the company better understand the effectiveness of its marketing campaigns and make data-driven decisions. The second partnership is a three-year agreement with Alibaba to reduce the environmental impact of L’Oréal’s e-commerce activities in China. This partnership will focus on reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. “This year at VivaTech, we have assembled an exceptional line-up of Beauty Tech innovations that deliver positive impact,” said Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO, of L’Oréal Groupe. “By putting our resources behind emerging technologies that democratize access to smarter and more sustainable beauty, we enable everyone to enjoy beauty more equitably and on their terms.” Source: L’Oréal

On 15 June, the National Bureau of Statistics released the retail sales data of social consumer goods for May 2023. the total retail sales of cosmetics reached 33 billion yuan ($4.6 billion) in May, with an increase of 11.7%. On 15 June, the National Bureau of Statistics released the retail sales data of social consumer goods for May 2023. The total retail sales of social consumer goods in May amounted to CNY 3.78 trillion ($527.03 billion), an increase of 12.7% year-on-year. From January to May, the total retail sales of social consumer goods reached CNY 18.76 trillion ($2615.9 billion), up 9.3% year-on-year. As for cosmetics, the total retail sales of cosmetics reached 33 billion yuan ($4.6 billion) in May 2023, an increase of 11.7% year-on-year. From January to May, the total retail sales of cosmetics amounted to 161.9 billion yuan ($22.63 billion), up 9.7% year-on-year. Compared with the same period last year, the growth rate of cosmetics retail sales from December 2022 to May 2023 was not significant. However, the sales in May 2023 slightly increased compared to April, possibly due to the 618 shopping festival being moved up to the end of May by major e-commerce platforms. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics over the years, although the sales of cosmetics declined in May 2022 due to the impact of the pandemic and other factors, the sales in May 2023 not only increased by more than 10% year-on-year but also exceeded CNY 31.9 billion ($4.46 billion) in May 2021, reaching 33 billion yuan ($4.6 billion), the highest in nearly five years. In terms of customs data, China imported 30,096.5 tons of beauty and personal care products in May, with an import value of 10.93 billion yuan ($1.53 billion). From January to May, the national import volume of beauty and personal care products was 151,900 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 11%, with an import value of 56.95 billion yuan ($7.96 billion), a year-on-year decrease of 6%. The National Bureau of Statistics stated that the national economy continued to recover and transform in May. However, it is also important to recognize the complex and challenging international environment, the pressure of domestic structural adjustment, and that the foundation of economic recovery is not yet stable.

Taotall Technology, the digital marketing agency of Chinese celebrity Fan Bingbing’s Fan Beauty, is to seek an IPO five years after delisting from the NEEQ. On June 13, the Guangdong Securities Regulatory Bureau issued the "Counseling Record Report on the Initial Public Offering of Guangzhou Taotall Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Taotall Technology)". This is Taotall Technology's attempt to re-enter the capital market five years after delisting from the NEEQ. Founded in 2012, Taotall Technology is an e-commerce integrated service provider, partnering with beauty brands including ISDIN, Bioderma, and Fan Bingbing's makeup brand FAN BEAUTY. Taotall Technology has not disclosed its recent performance, but its growth seems promising from the available data. In 2019, Taotall Technology's revenue was approximately 1.32 billion yuan ($183.97 million), successfully joining the billion-dollar club. This performance level is lower than that of Lily & Beauty with 3.874 billion yuan ($539.93 million) in revenue during the same period, close to Onechance of 1.451 billion yuan ($202.23 million), and higher than RYC with 959 million yuan ($133.66 million). From the publicly disclosed annual GMV data, Taotall Technology is still in a period of rapid growth. In 2017, its GMV exceeded 1 billion yuan for the first time; by 2021, its GMV had broken through 2 billion yuan ($278.75 million); and in 2022, its GMV approached 3 billion yuan ($418.12 million). In 2013, Taotall Technology partnered with Procter & Gamble, U.S. beauty brand EOS, and others, starting a new journey. In 2015, it signed with ISDIN, and in 2018, it took over the operation of a new makeup brand, achieving sales of over 45 million yuan ($6.27 million) in less than four months. In 2022, it signed with AHAVA. Currently, its main beauty brand partners include 11, such as Procter & Gamble, ISDIN, Bioderma, AHAVA, and FAN BEAUTY, all of which are leading or popular brands. For instance, ISDIN ranks at the top in the sunscreen segment; Bioderma is the "king" of makeup remover products with operating revenue of 500 million yuan ($69.69 million) in the past year. AHAVA is a brand under the Fosun Group with a retail scale of 1.2 billion yuan ($167.25 million). FAN BEAUTY is Fan Bingbing's makeup brand, with its popularity and influence, and according to Magic Mirror Market Intelligence, its annual sales on the Taobao platform (from November 2021 to October 2022) exceeded 300 million yuan ($41.81 million). Since its establishment, Taotall Technology has received multiple rounds of investment. According to incomplete statistics, in July 2014, Taotall Technology received Series A investment from Hiway Capital and Billionhome Capital. In 2015, it received over 1 million yuan ($139.39 thousand) in strategic investment from Yuerong Capital. In 2016 and 2018, it raised a total of 80 million yuan ($11.15 million) through two private placements. In 2019, it received an equity investment from Guangzhou Tianhe District Guidance Fund. And in 2020, it received over 100 million yuan ($13.94 million) in additional investment from the Shanghai Fosun Group.

Runben Bio, the infant and toddler care products manufacturer, updated its prospectus again, announcing its latest financial data. The company’s revenue reached a new high in 2022, hitting 856 million yuan ($119.25 million). Runben Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Runben Bio") has new developments in its IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. On June 13, Runben Bio updated its prospectus again, announcing its latest financial data. According to the prospectus, Runben Bio's revenue reached a new high in 2022, hitting 856 million yuan ($119.25 million). Among these, the infant and toddler care segment revenue reached 390 million yuan ($54.33 million), accounting for more than 45% of the main business revenue. Not only that but in 2022, the proportion of infant and toddler care products in the company's revenue exceeded that of mosquito repellent products for the first time, becoming the largest business segment under Runben Bio. Public information shows that Runben Bio was established in December 2013 with a registered capital of 344 million yuan ($47.92 million). It mainly engages in the research, development, production, and sales of mosquito repellent and personal care products, and has formed three core product lines: mosquito repellent products, infant and toddler care products, and essential oil products. According to the latest prospectus, from 2020 to 2022, Runben Bio's revenues were 443 million yuan ($61.72 million), 582 million yuan ($81.08 million), and 856 million yuan ($119.25 million), respectively, with net profits of 95 million yuan ($13.23 million), 121 million yuan ($16.86 million), and 160 million yuan ($22.29 million). By product type, Runben Bio's main business income comes from three major series: mosquito repellent products, infant and toddler care products, and essential oil products. From 2020 to 2022, the company's infant and toddler care product revenues were 144 million yuan ($20.06 million), 217 million yuan ($30.23 million), and 390 million yuan ($54.33 million), accounting for 32.47%, 37.24%, and 45.59% of the main business revenue, respectively. It is worth mentioning that in 2022, Runben Bio's infant and toddler care product revenue exceeded that of mosquito repellent products for the first time, officially becoming the largest business segment under Runben Bio. It is understood that the company's infant and toddler care products include 14 products such as baby lip balm, comfrey soothing ointment, and baby moisturizing anti-chapping cream, while its mosquito repellent products only have five products such as classic electric mosquito repellent liquid and prallethrin repellent liquid. This suggests that Runben Bio may focus on the infant and toddler care business in the future. In terms of sales channels, Runben Bio mainly relies on online channels. From 2020 to 2022, the direct contribution of online channels to sales revenue was 78.73%, 77.72%, and 78.04%, respectively. In online channels, Runben Bio mainly focuses on direct sales, with its online direct sales revenue in 2022 reaching 516 million yuan ($71.89 million), accounting for 60.32%. According to the prospectus, in the first quarter of this year, Runben Bio's reviewed revenue was 152 million yuan ($21.18 million), a year-on-year increase of 49.81%; net profit was 21 million yuan ($2.93 million), a year-on-year increase of over 60%. In addition, Runben Bio also stated that its revenue for the first half of this year is expected to range from 610 million yuan ($84.98 million) to 630 million yuan ($87.77 million), with a corresponding change compared to the same period last year of 38.96% to 43.51%. Net profit is expected to be between 110 million yuan ($15.32 million) and 120 million yuan ($16.72 million), with a corresponding change compared to the same period last year of 40.04% to 52.77%.

BASF announced that the company is planning to increase its production capacity of alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) globally by expanding its factory in Cincinnati, Ohio. Recently, BASF has announced a plan to increase the production capacity of its alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) worldwide by expanding its facility in Cincinnati, Ohio to meet the rising local demand for bio-based and biodegradable surfactants. BASF said this investment will enhance the company's presence in the US and enable it to provide local supply points, reducing the volume of cross-regional flows, which will benefit its APG customers in North America. The additional production capacity is scheduled to become operational by 2025. BASF states that the company’s alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) are secondary surfactants that are mild, bio-based, and easily biodegradable. They are derived from 100% natural and renewable feedstocks, making them sustainable. In addition to their superior performance, the non-ionic nature of APGs makes them versatile for formulating with other surfactants. APGs are used extensively in various applications, including cosmetics and beauty products, home care and household products, industrial formulations, and agriculture. BASF currently manufactures APGs at its facilities in Duesseldorf, Germany, Cincinnati, USA, and Jinshan, China. The decision to increase production capacity in North America is a response to the rising global demand for APGs and will supplement the company's existing facilities. The Cincinnati, Ohio factory produces a wide range of APGs for various applications, including personal care, detergents, and agriculture. “The Cincinnati site is a strategic manufacturing site for BASF Care Chemicals, that continues to support our customers and is dedicated to providing the highest quality ingredients that meet their needs,” said Tasso Rigopoulos, Site Director for BASF in Cincinnati. “This expansion and investment demonstrate our commitment to our employees, our community and our presence in Ohio.” In the first quarter of 2023, BASF reported sales of €19,991 million, reflecting a decline of €3,092 million compared to the same period in the previous year.

Procter & Gamble has responded to the suspicion of nuclear contamination at the SK-II production site. They stated that all SK-II products are manufactured with strict adherence to both internal and external standards and comply with regulatory requirements in the market. On June 13, there were reports that a large amount of radioactive cesium-containing wood chips was found on the banks of the confluence of the Kamo River and Lake Biwa in Japan. These wood chips are part of the irradiated trees from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. It is reported that Lake Biwa is the only production site for SK-II's star product, Facial Treatment Essence. According to the SK-II official WeChat account, the factory and production lines of Facial Treatment Essence are located on the banks of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, which is also the only source of water for the brand's products. There are no other production channels worldwide. According to Beijing Business Today on June 14, in response to the issue of the SK-II production site being suspected of nuclear contamination, Procter & Gamble responded to reporters saying that all SK-II products are produced in strict accordance with internal and external standards and meet market regulatory requirements. Procter & Gamble stated that the company has confirmed that SK-II products produced in Japan or shipped abroad are safe to use. To ensure the safety of SK-II products, those imported to China have voluntarily undergone targeted radiation-related testing. At the same time, all SK-II products launched in China have undergone strict product safety testing in laboratories designated by the Chinese government to ensure compliance with Chinese regulations and are registered/filed according to Chinese laws. The alleged nuclear radiation incident originated from illegal dumping on the banks of the confluence of the Kamo River and Lake Biwa in 2014. According to Procter & Gamble, in response to the illegal dumping, the local government immediately completed the cleanup and conducted tests on radioactive concentrations and other factors. In March 2015, a statement was issued stating that the area was not affected by nuclear radiation. SK-II is a high-end cosmetics and skincare brand originating from Japan. In 1991, the SK-II brand, and trademark were acquired by Procter & Gamble, which authorized the Japanese Procter & Gamble to be responsible for the overall production of the brand. On April 21, Procter & Gamble reported net sales of $20.1 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year. However, due to a decline in sales of its core brand SK-II in travel retail channels, Procter & Gamble's skin and personal care organic sales grew at a low single-digit rate. “We’re not yet seeing any return of Chinese consumers to travel retail. That is a significant negative for us in the SK-II business specifically,” Procter & Gamble CFO Andre Schulten said in a conference call.

The customized cosmetics market worldwide is expected to reach $70 billion in 2028 billion yuan. Recently, Korean beauty group Amore Pacific announced that Hera has launched its Silky Stay Custom Match, which is a custom foundation service. The customized service is said to be offered by Hera's flagship product, Silky Stay Foundation, which comes in 125 shades, allowing customers to choose the product that best suits their own skin tone. It is reported that customers can book the service on the Amore website and offline. After that, a professional make-up artist will first measure their skin tone on a one-to-one basis in its offline store and provide them with the right shade, which will then be formulated by a formulator. In addition, customers are free to choose a 'customized kit', which includes a selection of Hera products to match their skin tone and type. Customers without appointments can also purchase personalized Silky Stay foundations at Amore offline shops using self-testing devices and specially designed swatch cards. Overseas customers outside of Korea can experience the service at Amore shopping centres worldwide. Now, the Silky Stay Foundation service has been launched on Amore's website, where users can select the shade of foundation they have used before and then select their skin tone before the system matches the Hera Silky Stay Foundation that suits their skin tone. (Credit: Amore Pacific website) Amore Pacific launched new customized services CHAILEEDO has noticed that in the past two years, Korean beauty giant Amore Pacific Group has frequently launched customized cosmetic services. As previously reported, back in 2021, the Amore Pacific Group launched its personalized bathing agent service "Mind-linked Bathbot", which won a CES 2022 Innovation Award. It is said to use brain waves to analyze a person's feelings. When the user wears a headset equipped with eight sensors, the program measures the person's brainwaves in real-time and creates a bath bomb based on the robot's on-the-spot analysis, finding the right scent and color for each user. (Credit: Amore Pacific Mind-linked Bathbot) In February 2022, Amore Pacific launched its new 1:1 lifestyle beauty customization brand, CUSTOM.ME, which provides customized beauty services through a mobile skin analysis service, skin balancing customized products and a dedicated 1:1 manager service. In April 2022, Amore Pacific's Laneige launched Bespoke Neo, a bespoke air cushion service and foundation manufacturing service in its Korean shops. Bespoke Neo measures the consumer's skin tone and creates an optimized air cushion foundation through a one-on-one color consultation, with an intensive color system. The amount of detail is adjusted and the range of shade options has been extended to 5 types (C2, C1, N1, W1, W2). On 16 May 2023, Amore Pacific announced the launch of another customized brand, "TONEWORK", focusing on the make-up sector. With artificial intelligence technology, TONEWORK is said to be able to accurately measure facial skin tone and create products by robots based on the results and order requirements, with 150 shades included in the system. In addition, the technology allows for the addition of hydrating and semi-matte formulas based on individual preferences, as well as the option of two different product types, foundation or air cushion, for a total of 600 options to meet consumer needs. CHAILEEDO found that South Korea, where Amore Pacific is based, is also a country at the forefront of international policy guidance on customized cosmetics. In 2020, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in Korea introduced the world's first regulatory requirement for customized cosmetics, Customised Cosmetics in Korea. The introduction of this regulation has provided more stringent quality assurance for the Korean customized cosmetics market and a model for the international market to follow. In addition to Amore Pacific, LG Household & Healthcare and upstream company COSMAX have invested in the development and commercialization of customized cosmetics. LG Household & Healthcare is reported to have launched LG CHI Color Master, a smart custom hair coloring system, in the US this year. It was a joint project with US hair care company Farooke Systems. COSMAX also announced the launch of its customized cosmetics platform "3WAAU" in March this year, claiming to recommend the precise choice of 12.6 million formula combinations to suit the needs of customizers. In the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, it was stated that "after COVID-19, the premium product consumption market is expected to grow in the future and become the core of the beauty industry due to the popularity of cosmetic customization services in Korea." With favorable policies, customized cosmetics in China is expected to explode According to the Customized Cosmetics Trend Insight Report released by CHAILEEDO, the global customized beauty market grew from $29.25 billion in 2021 to $37.72 billion in 2022, with a CAGR of 11.87%, and is expected to reach $70 billion in 2028 billion yuan. And, customized cosmetics are emerging as an opportunity sector in China. According to the Beauty Consumption Trends Report (Q1 2023) released by CHAILEEDO, 65% of consumers are willing to pay a premium when buying customized cosmetics, with nearly 40% of consumers willing to buy customized cosmetics when the price is 20% higher than similar products. In 2022, China's first national policy to unbundle customized cosmetics triggered a boom in customized cosmetics. On 1 August 2022, the Shanghai Pudong New Area Cosmetics Industry Innovation Development Regulations came into force, which clearly stated that "cosmetic companies should be encouraged to explore small batch, multi-variety, customized cosmetic products, and precisely develop cosmetics that suit consumers' individual needs". On November 10 of the same year, the National Medical Products Administration issued a notice on the piloting of personalized cosmetic services, deciding to carry out the piloting of personalized cosmetic services in some regions. With favorable policies, international brands are also looking at the Chinese market for customized cosmetics. It is reported that in April this year, the Shanghai Medical Products Administration issued the country's first "on-site personalized service" cosmetic production license for L'Oreal's SkinCeuticals shop in Shanghai's IFC. It is reported that once a company obtains the license, it will be able to engage in customized services involving direct contact with the contents of cosmetics in that business premises. (Credit: customized service in SkinCeuticals offline store) Shiseido's IPSA announced at the China International Import Expo in 2022 that its personalization project "Skin High Definition Station" is scheduled to land in Pudong, Shanghai in 2023. Based on the new IPSA ME ULTIMATE, it will be tailored to suit individual skin conditions. Lee Kyungsoo, Chairman of COSMAX Group, has also said in a public interview that the customized cosmetics market will be the next windfall. Representative director of COSMAX said that in 2023, COSMAX will deepen its product customization business, with the scope of customization expanding from shampoo to skincare and color cosmetics. It can be seen that with the gradual improvement of relevant regulations, the continued increase of major beauty brands will continue to invest in China and more customized cosmetics will be launched in the Chinese market. The customized cosmetics market may be expected to set off a wave.

Bawei has made an announcement suggesting that they are considering applying for public issuance of shares and listing on the Beijing Stock Exchange. Recently, Guangdong Bawei Biotechnology Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Bawei") released a suggestive announcement on the board of directors' deliberation on the public issuance of shares and listing on the Beijing Stock Exchange. The announcement states that the company intends to apply for public issuance of shares and a listing on the Beijing Stock Exchange. It is reported that Bawei plans to issue no more than 8 million shares (including the principal, without considering the over-allotment option of the company's issuance this time) to unspecified qualified investors. The company and the lead underwriter will choose the over-allotment option based on the specific issuance situation, and the number of shares issued using the over-allotment option shall not exceed 15% of the number of shares issued without considering the over-allotment option (i.e., no more than 1.2 million shares, including the principal). That is, when using the over-allotment option, the total number of shares issued by the company this time shall not exceed 9.2 million shares (including the principal). The final issuance quantity will be determined by the board of directors authorized by the shareholders' general meeting in consultation with the lead underwriter based on the registration results of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (hereinafter referred to as "CSRC"), market conditions, and other factors. As for the issue floor price that the public is concerned about, Bawei proposes no less than 10.50 yuan ($1.47) per share. After deducting the issuance costs, the funds raised from this issuance will be used entirely for the construction of the main business. Among them, 40 million yuan ($5.58 million)is planned to be invested in the intelligent production workshop construction project from the funds raised; 24 million yuan ($3.35 million) in the R&D center construction project; and 20 million yuan ($2.79 million) in the supplementary working capital project, totaling 84 million yuan ($11.72 million). In 2022, Bawei achieved operating revenue of 459 million yuan ($64.06 million), a year-on-year increase of 10.54%; and a net profit attributable to the parent company of 38.04 million yuan ($5.31 million), a year-on-year increase of 79%. It is worth noting that the gross profit margin during the reporting period reached 30.47%. In terms of the business segments, the skincare products (excluding facial masks) achieved revenue of 369 million yuan ($51.50 million), a year-on-year increase of 19.15%, and a gross profit margin of 30.86%. Facial mask business revenue reached 53.02 million yuan ($7.40 million), a year-on-year decrease of 0.86% with a gross profit margin of 38.96%. The personal care business achieved revenue of 14.9853 million yuan ($2.09 million), a year-on-year decrease of 57.27% with a gross profit margin of 17.50%. Cosmetics and other business revenues were 15.59 million yuan ($2.18 million), with an increase of 74.60%, and a gross profit margin of 10.36%. The testing business achieved a revenue of 5.07 million yuan ($0.71 million), a year-on-year decrease of 21.92%, and a gross profit margin of 8.16%. Bawei pointed out that the gross profit margin of each product has improved, benefiting from the improvement of manufacturing efficiency at the Jianggao plant and the gradual investment in automation equipment. Relatively speaking, the gross profit margin of cosmetics is lower, mainly because the company's cosmetics production line has started in the past two years, and the order production scale efficiency is insufficient. In the future, as the sales volume of cosmetics grows, the gross profit margin will gradually optimize. In the testing segment, there was a decline in both revenue and gross profit margin. Bawei attributed this mainly to the increasingly fierce competition in the efficacy testing market, the decline in external efficacy testing revenue, the reduced fixed cost dilution rate, and the increase in internal R&D formula verification efficacy testing costs. It is worth mentioning that according to Bawei's first quarter review report, as of March 31, 2023, the company achieved an operating income of 97.14 million yuan ($13.56 million) in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of 44.89%, and a net profit of 7.1668 million yuan ($1 million).

Bath & Body Works, a company that produces personal care and home fragrance products, is bringing back the popular '90s fragrance, Cucumber Melon, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the popular 90s fragrance favored by customers, Bath & Body Works is reintroducing Cucumber Melon. First launched in 1998, the fragrance gained popularity over the following decade and has since become one of Bath & Body Works' most cherished fragrances. Cucumber Melon makes periodic comebacks during the brand's well-liked semi-annual sale events and has become an emblematic and nostalgic favorite of the 90s and Y2K eras. Although the fragrance itself, which combines fresh cucumber, juicy honeydew, sweet summer cantaloupe, sparkling grapefruit, and light woods, has remained unchanged for 25 years, the product line has evolved with new offerings and multiple packaging updates. To celebrate the fragrance's 25th anniversary, Bath & Body Works is introducing a special, limited-edition design for some of its top-selling products, such as Fine Fragrance Mist, Ultimate Hydration Body Cream, Daily Nourishing Body Lotion, Shower Gel, 3-Wick Candle, and Gentle Foaming Hand Soap. Besides the four flashback fragrances that are making a comeback, customers can look forward to many other exciting deals during the Semi-Annual Sale. This includes dozens of new and returning fragrances that are exclusively available for sale, all of which will be offered at a discounted price of 50 to 75%. According to Bath & Body Works’ 2022 annual report, for the fiscal year ending on January 28, 2023, net sales from continuing operations decreased by 4% and totaled $7.56 billion, compared to $7.882 billion for the previous fiscal year ending on January 29, 2022. The company operates a total of 1802 stores, with 1693 in the US and 109 in Canada. "Cucumber Melon is not only a favorite for customers who have grown up with Bath & Body Works and were first introduced to the brand in the 90s, but it appeals to new customers as well with a classic, freshness that has stood the test of time," said Betsy Schumacher, chief merchandising officer at Bath & Body Works. "We're excited to commemorate such an exciting milestone for an iconic fragrance while also celebrating our customers' love for nostalgia."

Rembrand, the generative AI product placement platform, has completed its seed funding round, raising $8 million led by Greycroft and UTA Ventures. The funding round also saw participation from BOLD, the VC fund of L'Oréal. Rembrand, a generative AI-powered product placement platform, has completed its seed funding round, raising $8 million led by Greycroft and UTA Ventures. The start-up has also received external investment from L'Oréal's venture capital fund, BOLD, and venture firm Good Friends, which was started by the founders of AllBirds, Warby Parker, and Harry's. The funding will aid in scaling out Rembrand's solution and help close its initial seed round with the participation of major brands. Rembrand is leading the way in developing a fundamental model for what it calls "Generative AI Fusion." This model allows for brands and other products to be seamlessly integrated into video content with hyper-realistic product placement, becoming a part of the story rather than an interruption. Rembrand's technology operates using a method it calls "physics-informed" generative AI, meaning that virtual elements obey the laws of physics. Unlike feeding a prompt into an image or text generator, Rembrand analyzes each frame of existing video to understand lighting, shadow, reflection, motion, occlusion, and camera angle. This enables Rembrand to digitally insert a photo-realistic product image or animation into a creator's video, such as a can of OLIPOP soda on a side table or bottles of Garnier shampoo dancing into the frame and settling onto a background shelf. Since its launch in February, Rembrand has already started working with numerous leading brands and content creators of all sizes, from individual YouTube creators to larger networks and studios who are looking to find ways to reach an increasingly challenging audience. It is noteworthy that the team behind Rembrand, who have been successful entrepreneurs in previous companies, have for the first time taken brands as investors. CEO Omar Tawakol was previously the CEO of the data exchange and platform BlueKai, which popularized the concept of data separation from media buying in online advertising, eventually becoming the Oracle Data Cloud. “Video is still growing dramatically as a primary channel for advertisers online, and brands want to make sure they have a solid way to command consumer attention,” said Tawakol, the founder and CEO of Rembrand. “We felt it would be important to align with some leading brands who want to help craft the way organic video can be used, and who already understand the value inherent in the creator economy.” Tawakol added.

Selena Gomez, a well-known American musician and celebrity, is set to introduce her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty in India on June 15 for the first time. According to Grazia India, American celebrity musician Selena Gomez has collaborated with multi-brand beauty retailer Sephora to launch her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty in India on June 15. Rare Beauty products will be available at all 26 Sephora stores in India and on its e-commerce store. Founded in 2020, Rare Beauty offers a diverse range of products such as foundations, blush, bronzer sticks, eyeshadows, lip glosses, and eyeliners, among others. The brand focuses on designing products that are easy to open and use, catering to differently-abled individuals. Rare Beauty's minimalist packaging is intended to convey a practical and functional approach to beauty. On May 3rd, Selena Gomez announced on social media the 2022 annual report for her personal cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty, stating that the brand had generated at least $500 million in sales last year. “Our mission is to help everyone celebrate their individuality. It's about breaking down unrealistic standards of beauty and focusing on enhancing our unique qualities. We want to promote self-acceptance and give people the tools they need to feel less alone in the world.” Selena Gomez told Grazia India. When asked about why she thinks now is a good time to enter the Indian market, Selena Gomez said: “We have had so many requests from our community to come to India, and I'm so excited we're finally here!” “When I created Rare Beauty, I knew I wanted it to be more than a beauty brand. Rare Impact was always at the centre of our mission, and I think the two fit seamlessly together. We donate 1% of all sales globally to the Rare Impact Fund to increase access to mental health services for young people.” Selena Gomez added.