Hot on the heels of CEW’s Achiever Awards luncheon in New York City last week, which honored beauty’s leading female executives and attracted more than 1,000 industry insiders, we’re looking ahead to celebrate our Visionary Award Honorees, on May 7, in Los Angeles.  Formerly known as the “Female Founder Awards,” the “Visionary Awards” represents the need to acknowledge groundbreaking figures in our industry. These genuine and inspiring Visionaries are being honored from the following five categories: Representation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Impact, Breaking Barriers, Community & Social Impact, and Innovation & Leadership. At CEW today, we talk to Visionary Honoree Katherine Power, the pioneering industry entrepreneur and founder of Versed and MERIT, and Amy Liu, founder of Tower 28. Power is being honored for her Entrepreneurship & Economic Impact in beauty, and Liu for Breaking Barriers in beauty. A first-generation American citizen, Liu’s parents emigrated to the States from Taiwan. “When I started my career, I didn’t see people who looked like me in anything that was aspirational in the beauty industry,” she tells reporter Gina Way. “A lot has changed in the 20 years since then, and I’m really inspired by that.”

Bringing together the worlds of beauty and tech, Estée Lauder Companies and Microsoft have partnered to create an AI Innovation Lab. “With Microsoft’s generative AI tools and extensive expertise, we are able to leverage ELC’s tremendous data to create more personalized consumer experiences and faster insights to action resulting in increased speed to market and stronger local relevancy,” said Jane Lauder, EVP, Enterprise Marketing and Chief Data Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies. 

In product innovation, SickScience has just unveiled PowerCycle, a liquid-serum containing plant exosomes, designed to promote hair growth. Meanwhile, goop’s much buzzed-about, wash-off Summertone Bronzing Gel has just dropped.

In market news, L’Occitane Chairman Reinold Geiger’s investment holding company, L’Occitane Groupe SA, is reported to be considering a $7 billion buyout bid. And, luxury brand owner Kering has appointed Alexandre Choueiri as its beauty segment’s President and CEO for the Americas. Choueiri has worked at Kering as President of Creed since last year, and before that worked for almost 20 years at L’Oréal.

Read more about these and other stories at the links below.

CEW 2024 Achiever Awards Draws Over 1,000 Industry Insiders. WWD reports on the success of last week’s annual event in New York City. (WWD)

Breaking Barriers In Beauty. Amy Liu, founder of Tower 28, will join five women being honored at CEW’s Visionary Awards in L.A. next month., marking the return of the membership association’s presence on the West Coast for the first time in several years. (CEW)

Beauty’s Ultimate Entrepreneur. Katherine Power, founder of Versed and MERIT, will be honored at CEW’s Visionary Awards in L.A. May 7. (CEW)

Estée Lauder And Microsoft Join Forces. The companies are partnering to create an AI Innovation Lab, designed to enable closer connections with consumers and driving greater speed to market in prestige beauty. (HAPPI)

L’Occitane’s Owner Considers $7 Billion Buyout. The French skin care company’s Chairman, Reinold Geiger’s investment holding company, L’Occitane Groupe SA, is reported to be considering an offer for the firm. (BUSINESS OF FASHION)

SickScience Targets Hair Growth. The brand’s new PowerCycle liquid-serum contains plant exosomes and Biotin. (SICKSCIENCE)

Goop Drops Summertone Bronzing Gel. The new, wash-off tint suits multiple skin tones. (GOOP)

Kering’s Beauty Business Appoints New President and CEO for the Americas. The luxury brand owner has tapped Alexandre Choueiri for the role, while also naming three new board members. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)

Starface’s Plus Shutters. The sustainable personal care brand is closing. (BEAUTY INDEPENDENT)

Coachella’s Beauty Pop-Ups. Behind the scenes at the industry pop-ups at this year’s music event. (BEAUTY MATTER)