In this episode of the Beauty 4.0 Podcast, the CosmeticsDesign editorial team looked back on the highlights of 2024.
Kirsty Doolan, editor of CosmeticsDesign-Europe, said there were some surprises that she did not expect in 2024, including L’Oréal’s minority acquisition of Galderma.
“Earlier in the year, I would have considered them to be rival companies. I mean, the one company sent sells Cetaphil, the other sells CeraVe – pretty similar products… I would say is this has been a key theme of 2024 in cosmetics… unexpected collaborations, seeing rivals working together to achieve things that can’t be done alone.”
In Asia Pacific, beauty developments unfolded as expected, said CosmeticsDesign-Asia editor Amanda Lim, who anticipated the continued high demand for performance-based products and the growth of the masstige segment as consumers demanded efficacy and accessible luxury.
The growing desire for affordable options was also felt in the North American market, with brands like e.l.f. Cosmetics capitalising with beauty ‘dupes’.
“e.l.f. Cosmetics has successfully captured the market on duping products… As we know, economically, we’re looking at people feeling the squeeze on their wallets. And so, people want products that they can trust, that they know will work and will deliver results. And they want to emulate that luxury beauty look or feel or scent. And again, e.l.f. Cosmetics has done that extremely well,” said Cassandra Stern, editor of CosmeticsDesign-US.
Beauty 2025: Looking ahead
The editors explored how beauty trends will evolve in the coming year and identified key similarities and overlaps.
Significantly, they highlighted the increasing influence of medical advancements and aesthetic practices and discussed how it could shape product formulations and consumer expectations.
Amanda highlighted skin care brand Modern Molecules which as merged medical science with cosmetic innovation.
“The team at modern molecules is looking beyond actives like retinol – which to them is considered old technology – what they’re doing now is looking into the medical world and how doctors are treating wounds so they can bring it into the cosmetic space to address the demands for more superior and clinically proven results.”
For more insights into 2025, including beauty tech, sustainability, creative collaborations, wellness and more, check out the podcast above.
This podcast was recorded on December 12, 2024.
