COSMOFACTORY

Cosmetic ingredient makers, product manufacturers, and brands are using AI technologies to visualize, analyze, and simulate data—clinical data, consumer perception data, and everything in between. Today, advanced AI innovations are even able to anonymize facial data and generate predictive average results.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn how machine vision and generative AI are...

With the help of AI, our industry is becoming more transparent. And platform-powered solutions are changing the way that cosmetic ingredient makers, contract manufacturers, and beauty brands gather information and make decisions.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we step into a new era of cosmetic industry creativity and innovation. Our guest is Karen Ho, Co-Founder and CEO of Gravel AI, a...

Skin treatment and skin diagnostic devices are more effective and popular than ever. Does building these technologies into beauty product packaging make them a more accessible for at-home consumer use?   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we consider the practicalities of tech-enhanced cosmetic packaging. Our guest is Alain Dijkstra, CEO of Nuon, a subsidiary of China-based light therapy and m...

Quality and exclusivity are the defining characteristics of luxury. As beauty consumer values shift, so to do the product, packaging, and promotional attributes that signal luxury.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about the challenges and changes that are shaping luxury brand strategy today. Our guest is Dawn Hilarczyk, Chief Operating Officer at Borghese Inc., a legacy skincare b...

Longevity is a movement because consumers understand that with the right skincare, nutrition, and lifestyle choices better ageing is possible.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about pro-ageing product claims, microbiome and exosome science, the importance of consumer education, and more. Our guest is Richard Purvis, CEO of SkinModerne, a US-based beauty maker dedicated to skin well...

Fine fragrance, body mists, hair fragrance, and other scented cosmetics and personal care products have conventionally been blended with alcohol. As consumer expectations and regulatory protocols change, water-based fragrance is becoming more popular and fragrance scientists are working to meet demand.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we find out about water-based fragrance creation tech...

In color cosmetics, product function is the priority. Creating a makeup brand that looks and feels expressive, statement making, and attuned to consumer preferences is nearly—if not equally—as important.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we open a conversation about makeup, neuromarketing, creative packaging design, brand loyalty, niche product benefits, and so much more. Our guest is Anna...

AI helps cosmetic and personal care brands conduct social listening analysis, identify and respond to trends, personalize product recommendations, support retail service teams, and so much more. Multinationals that own numerous brands and serve markets around the world use AI tech to do all of this at scale and at a very fast pace.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we take a closer look at...

In the transition to a circular economy, can the cosmetics and personal care sector step into a leadership role among CPG industries?  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, our guest is Jo-Anne Chidley, Founder of Beauty Kitchen and Reposit—a entrepreneur who is fully confident that, by engaging stakeholders from the supply chain through to the end consumer, the beauty industry can model meaningf...

The business of fragrance creation is an artistic business. Nevertheless, opportunities to enhance the perfumery and scented personal care product creation process through digital engagement, and with consumer and market data, are significant.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about the work of a fragrance evaluator and the advantages of an intelligent perfumery platform. Our guest i...

Local cosmetic ingredient supply chains, local brand leadership, and local beauty tech are all on the rise in the East African nation of Kenya—a country known for its entrepreneurial spirit.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn how one of Kenya’s leading cosmetic brand executives is shaping and inspiring the future of beauty both within and outside of that country. Our guest is Suzie W...

The familiar gesture of pencils have made this classic component format a mainstay in beauty. Pencils, as well as pens and crayons, are at once fun and functional. But given the pace of change and the importance of sustainability in our industry, they are also forever evolving.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we consider how nuanced the materials, production, and formulation are that go in...

Our industry’s sustainable transformation is a work in progress. Every sort of stakeholder, from raw material suppliers to beauty consumers to waste management specialists, is involved. To make it all happen there is an ongoing cycle of assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and reciprocal improvement.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about the tools and tactic...

The forest floor is rich in microbial life, which is one reason why exposure to nature is so beneficial. And new science shows that those microbes, even when inactivated, have remarkable skincare benefits, particularly for sensitive skin and atopic conditions.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn about the skincare benefits of being in contact with nature, and with soil microbes in par...

With ecommerce comes unparalleled access to data—to fragrance and beauty consumer behavior insights from every market around the world. Which is how digital-forward companies are building brands that meet consumer expectations in real-time, in the very moments and markets where opportunity exists.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we consider the potential that a digital, trends-based busine...

It’s normal now for cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers to incorporate environmental sustainability into their processes. Part of the challenge is deciding what to focus on, and how to prove and talk about green claims.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about the complexity of the beauty industry’s sustainable future. Our guest is Iveta Kovacova, Research Director at Eco...

In the cosmetics industry, product development directly impacts formulation efficacy, consumer retention, and brand value. Which is why R&D leaders today need not only scientific knowledge but also skills including strategic thinking, scenario planning, and (especially within SMEs) a shared accountability with other business units.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we explore product cre...

Scent transports us. It recalls memories, evokes emotions, invites connection among cultures, and propels us to places both real and imagined. Growing a global business around something so powerful and so invisible requires both passion and acumen.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn about the business and nuance of fragrance made in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our guest is Ralph Bo...

The longevity movement is an opportunity and a challenge for beauty makers. The age range of cosmetic consumers has expanded tremendously in recent years, making messaging and product development more complex than ever.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we consider the implications of catering to cosmetic and personal care consumers across the generations—in Gen Alpha, Gen X, and every age...

Ingredient discovery and scale up is time consuming, expensive, and competitive. Tech tools like AI are helping suppliers minimize the risks and bring truly new beauty benefits to consumers.  This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn more about AI along the cosmetic industry supply chain. Our guest is Lucile Bonnin, Head of Personal Care at Cambrium, a Berlin, Germany – based biotech researc...

    It takes time to build a heritage beauty brand—a lot of time. But every brand starts somewhere; and the early years and founder’s vision go a long way toward building trust and an emotional connection with consumers.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we talk about indie beauty with Sandra Velasquez, Founder of the Modern Mexican brand Nopalera. Based in New York City, and established i...

Revenue figures are up; men in the US are buying skincare and hair care as well as makeup and complexion products more than ever before. They are more informed and more interested in beauty care ingredients and product efficacy too.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we learn about the growing men’s beauty sector from our guest Dominique Petruzzi, Consumer Goods and Retail Research Expert a...

Digital technologies, from red light therapy to skin and hair analysis to AI and blockchain, are shifting beauty consumer expectations, retail experiences, and demand planning along the supply chain. This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about a variety of digital tech that’s impacting the cosmetics and personal care industry now and in the near future. Our guest is Robin Raskin, Founder...

Retail touchpoints for cosmetic and personal care brands today extend well beyond stores with doors and conventional print and outdoor advertising. Beauty brands are reaching consumers in experiential and engaging ways with the help of digital ad tech firms.   This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we hear about imaginative ways that brands are connecting with and educating consumers on the platfo...

Cosmetic and personal care brands draw inspiration and ingredients from every corner of the globe. And there is something to be gained by meeting people and experiencing places that are at the source of the products our industry is creating for consumers.    This week on the CosmoFactory podcast, we consider the value of travel and cultural immersion. Our guest is Stephanie Flor, Founder of the sp...