Boots Acquired by Canada’s Weston Family for $8.9 Billion
The Westons agreed on Wednesday to buy the UK's Boots from Sycamore Partners and the Pessina family, pledging to invest in the retailer's stores and online and expand healthcare services.
Beauty
Analysis and advice on the fast-evolving beauty business.
What’s Next for Custom Beauty Brands
The market for customised skin care is increasingly crowded, with brands using patented tech to gain an advantage. However, scaling takes creativity.
Beauty Can’t Gloss Over Politics
How is an industry rooted in physical appearance supposed to weigh in on reproductive rights?
We Don’t Need Beauty in the Metaverse — Yet
Beauty brands have a natural edge on TikTok and YouTube, but are lagging the fashion industry in making a splash in the virtual world. Without the logos and distinctive characteristics of apparel and accessories, it’s unclear how skin care, makeup and fragrance will establish a presence and a purpose in web3.
What’s Next for Beauty YouTubers?
Vloggers shot the beauty industry to new heights. But years of non-stop content creation has left many of YouTube’s biggest names burnt out and looking to new avenues.
What Went Wrong at Revlon
It was a slow decline for the 90-year-old company, which was found itself crippled by massive debt, a pandemic, supply chain issues and growing competition from start-up brands changing beauty ideals and culture.
Why Do We Root Against Celebrity Beauty Brands?
Two of the most talked about celebrity skin care brands make their debut this month – Hailey Bieber’s Rhode and Kim Kardashian’s SKKN by Kim. But are consumers getting tired of celebrity beauty lines?
YouTube Digs Deeper Into Beauty
Amid rising competition for online eyeballs, the Alphabet-owned video app will host its second Beauty Festival this week to reassert itself as a hub for beauty creators.
Will Sephora’s Diversity Initiatives Make It to the C-Suite?
The next leader of the world’s most important beauty retailer will send a powerful signal to an industry that primarily sells to women but mostly appoints white men to the most important jobs.
Why Would a Beauty Brand Drop Its Prices in 2022?
Lime Crime’s decision to move out of prestige amid the highest inflation levels in decades bucks industry trends, but the company sees it has a necessary step in its rebranding.
Does a $1 Billion Brand Still Have Indie Cred?
Byredo is a leader in the booming niche fragrance space. Can it maintain that status now that it’s been acquired by Puig?
How Lipstick Became Luxury’s Hottest Accessory
Brands like Dries Van Noten and Hermès have turned a traditionally disposable makeup item into an ultra-luxe collectable product — with a price tag to match.
Puig to Acquire Byredo
The Spanish fragrance giant is taking a majority stake in the Swedish brand known for its crisp, minimalist branding and gender-free perfumes.
THE NEWS IN BRIEF
Report: L’Oréal Explores Unloading Chemical-Related Liabilities
The French company has engaged restructuring advisers to explore options for rising US legal liabilities linked to its use of talc and other chemical ingredients in some of its cosmetic products, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
Sycamore Said to Near Deal to Sell Boots
The private equity firm is nearing a deal, valued at $9 billion, to sell the UK health and beauty retail business to the Canadian branch of the billionaire Weston family, a source told Bloomberg.
Dyson’s $499 AI Toothbrush Sees Rocky Debut
The UK firm blamed a production error resulting in ‘water seepage’ for the disappearance of its newly launched camera-equipped toothbrush from stores.
Sephora to Launch at Marks & Spencer
‘Sephora at M&S’ will roll out in M&S stores and online starting next spring, with plans to expand to 100 locations by the end of 2028.
Novo Buys Rights to Early Obesity Pill For $2.6 Billion
The Wegovy maker has signed a deal to license an experimental obesity pill from China’s Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals as it seeks to regain share of the global GLP-1 market.
Oura Delays US IPO
The smart ring maker said on Tuesday it has delayed its US initial public offering, citing market uncertainty.
Scarlett Johansson’s Skincare Brand The Outset Closes
As of Monday, the premium brand’s website has been updated with a message announcing its closure.