COSMOFACTORY

Cosmetic preservative systems are continually advancing. To help cosmetic scientists ensure the safety and integrity of the products they create, ingredient makers today are modulating polarity and identifying new modes of action to create cosmetic preservative systems that meet formulator needs, regulatory guidelines, and beauty consumer expectations.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we...

Sourcing and designing cosmetic ingredients with biotechnology presents a tremendous opportunity to realize next-level efficacy, traceability, originality, etc. We are only at the beginning of biotech, but thanks to pioneering suppliers, our industry already has a practical history of learnings to draw on as we innovate for the future.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we look at biotech i...

This episode is a popular selection from the archive, and a good conversation to revisit while the CosmoFactory team is on Winter Break. (original air date October 01, 2024)   We will be back with more informative and inspiring episodes at the start of 2026. In the meantime, enjoy this and other episodes from the archive—which you can find here: https://www.cosmoprof.com/en/events/special-projects...

This episode is a favorite from the archive, and a good conversation to revisit while the CosmoFactory team is on Winter Break. (original air date July 23, 2024)   We will be back with more informative and inspiring episodes at the start of 2026. In the meantime, enjoy this and other episodes from the archive—which you can find here: https://www.cosmoprof.com/en/events/special-projects/cosmofactor...

As companies around the world compete for consumer dollars, business strategists are combining new capabilities with traditional tactics to innovate product, create brand momentum, and position the companies they work with for sustained growth.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we find out about business development strategy. Our guest is Omar Touma, Director of Business Development at Bees...

Beauty product manufacturers create sizable innovations from the tiniest of technologies. One good example of this: designing next-generation cosmetic product formats with nanofiber materials.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn about nanofibers from our guest Doctor Laura Frazier, Chief Scientist at TaikiUSA, the company is a branch of Taiki Group (headquartered in Japan) which spec...

Building a brand, helping create a category, reaching a previously underserved consumer—none of these is an easy task. Yet contemporary menopause care brands are taking on all of these challenges.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we consider the risks and rewards of creating an OTC brand for the generation-spanning demographic of menopause consumers. Our guest is Sally Mueller, Co-Founder...

Biofactories are driving growth in the cosmetic ingredient development sector. And molecular farming technologies are among the newer platforms that companies around the world are leveraging to produce sought-after molecules with applications in skincare, hair care, etc.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn more about genomic biotechnology and how suppliers are using plants to produce...

Investor dollars play an important role in the innovation economy. Yet finding and nurturing founders who can imagine and iterate on the tech platforms, business models, and product development strategies that will help the cosmetics industry advance is a skills unto itself.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we explore the world of venture capital. Our guest is Odile Roujol, Founder of Fab...

Education is the foundation of innovation. As cosmetic science becomes more sophisticated and industry regulations more rigorous, the schools where students learn about beauty, biology, chemistry, and material science are more vital to the future success of our industry than ever.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn about cosmetic science education. Our guest is Dr. Leyte Winfield,...

Natural, botanical cosmetic ingredients are getting as much attention from consumers, brands, and researchers as are ingredients from any other origin. Which is why suppliers are investing in the popularity and potential of plant extracts.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about sourcing, processing, and studying botanical extracts for use in cosmetic, personal care, and even nutra...

Sustainable ingredient solutions are instrumental in the development of new sunscreen and light-protection skincare products. Which is why suppliers are finding value in rescued, renewable materials that make industry more sustainable and sun care more effective.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcase, we learn about lignin, a complex natural polymer with SPF – boosting benefits. Our guest is Da...

In the world of finance, ‘antifragile’ is commonly used to describe companies that thrive amid uncertainty and stress. Endurance often stands as proof of antifragility. Does this then mean that in the cosmetics industry, time-tested skincare ingredients are inherently reliable, effective, and safe?   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we consider the antifragile framework and what it could mea...

New product launches engage the consumer market and power industry growth. To maintain momentum, dynamic brands create seasonal collections, cross-industry collaborations, product texture innovations, and more.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we discover how a fast-paced, segment-specific product launch calendar can drive brand impact. Our guest is Isabelle Tambue, Global Director of Esse...

All along the cosmetics and fragrance value chain, tagging technologies like RFID, block chain, and QR codes are being used to create a digital product passport (DPP)—a data-rich bridge between manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we explore the world of track-and-trace and how this technology supports supply chain transparency, compliance...

NAD+ and Skin Longevity, featuring New Frontier Bio Co-Founder and Associate Professor in Dermatology at Harvard Medical School Dr. Anna Mandinova   The anti-ageing beauty market is changing in response to consumer expectations and scientific progress. Skin biologists working in the cosmetics sector as well as medical professionals are studying ingredients that promise to optimize cell function an...

One thing is certain in the beauty packaging sourcing business today: uncertainty. Yet in the face of market disruption, suppliers, distributors, and brands are adapting—creating solutions and finding opportunities that ensure the supply chain remains dependable and responsive.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we find out how fluctuating tariffs are changing the way suppliers and beauty ma...

Biomarker analysis provides cosmetics industry suppliers and manufacturers with useful data that supports innovation in both raw materials and finished products. In recent years, this data has furthered our industry’s knowledge of why and how products deliver results.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about molecular testing for protein or gene expression and what this science can...

Personal care and cosmetic launches account for the majority of products that mention menopause on the label.* But experts agree that there is much more to learn about this life transition and much more to be done to adequately serve the menopausal consumer.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about the menopausal market opportunity that exists for beauty industry suppliers, brands,...

Cosmetic and personal care packaging is not only function and fashionable; it describes the product, the brand, and the user experience through thoughtfully curated visual and tactile details—which is why we see a reflection of cultural trends in beauty packaging design.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we explore a selection of forward-facing cosmetic packaging design trends. Our guest is...

Every day, creative commercial photography helps sell beauty products. What if that same artistic approach to marketing could be used to educate and motivate consumers to actively participate in the sustainable beauty economy?   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we discover the power of artivism—where art meets activism—to influence public opinion and involve consumers in environmental sustai...

Scientific knowledge of the human skin microbiome is advancing every day. Newly published research that incorporates pre-industrialized populations reminds us that for as much as we know about the species and functions of the microbes that cover our skin, we have infinitely more to learn.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about microbiome research that looks beyond the built enviro...

In the fast-paced cosmetics and personal care industry, a subset of brands and consumers are intentionally slowing down. With a focus on high value rather than high volumes, the slow beauty movement asks us to rethink the precedent of always-be-buying culture.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn about an emerging opportunity for brands and beauty lovers alike. Our guest is Katie Beck...

Aluminum and stainless steel are readily recycled materials. These metals are valuable commodities; and they are often easier to identify and sort than other materials. As our industry searches for sustainable packaging solutions, some beauty makers are striving to close the loop with metal.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn more about the potential of classic metal materials and t...

Some of today’s pioneering beauty brand founders are not only measuring success differently but are also hoping to inspire industry change by recalibrating consumer expectations, retailer requirements, and the scope of sustainability.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about the strategy and integrity behind a founder-led brand that is promising consumers effective, efficient, premiu...