Gabriella TermineChange is moving fast across the beauty world, from celebrity-led ventures to corporate restructurings and executive power plays.
Leading the charge on the celebrity front, Cardi B’s upcoming hair-care line, Grow-Good, is more than another celebrity beauty venture—it’s a personal statement years in the making. After teasing the project on Instagram, Cardi revealed she has spent three years developing the brand, driven by both fan demand and her own evolving relationship with her hair. Once open about hating her natural texture, she now celebrates it, crediting homemade treatments and careful maintenance for her long, healthy locks. Though product details remain under wraps, the passion behind Grow-Good is clear. If her fans’ enthusiastic reactions are any indication, Cardi’s leap into hair care may prove as powerful as her presence in music.
Meanwhile, on the corporate side of the industry, Glossier’s decision to lay off more than 50 employees which is roughly a third of its workforce, signals a pivotal moment for the once high-flying beauty brand. Once emblematic of the direct-to-consumer boom, the brand reached a $1.8 billion valuation in 2021 on the strength of cult favorites like Boy Brow and You. Now, under new CEO Colin Walsh, Glossier is entering what it calls a “fresh leadership chapter,” signaling a strategic reset rather than a performance-based purge. The move reflects broader growing pains within digitally native brands facing a tougher retail landscape. For Glossier, reinvention may be necessary—but it comes at a significant human cost.
At the executive level, Wella Company’s appointment of Calvin McDonald as CEO signals an ambitious new chapter for the beauty giant. Best known for leading Lululemon through years of explosive growth and previously driving double-digit gains at Sephora Americas, McDonald brings a track record of scaling global consumer brands. His arrival, alongside Executive Chair Glenn Murphy’s continued oversight, suggests a steady but strategic transition following Annie Young-Scrivner’s departure. With private equity owner KKR reportedly considering a public offering, the timing is notable. McDonald’s experience in product differentiation and market expansion could position Wella’s portfolio spanning Wella, OPI, and GHD for stronger global competitiveness and potential entry into the public markets.
Beyond leadership and launches, shifts in consumer behavior are also reshaping the market. Off-price beauty is having a defining value moment as cautious consumers rethink how they spend without abandoning indulgence. A strong 2025 holiday season signaled momentum, fueled by two distinct shoppers: premium-brand bargain seekers and savvy dupe hunters. Economic uncertainty, paired with excess inventory and a widening K-shaped economy, has created ideal conditions for value-driven retailers to thrive. With Saks Off 5th shuttering most locations, competitors stand to gain both customers and product flow. As beauty becomes increasingly democratized, shoppers are prioritizing smart purchases over prestige price tags. The result is a rapidly growing channel where intentional spending meets accessible luxury and where off-price retail is poised for sustained growth.
At the same time, trends at the cultural level continue to evolve. Brontë Blush is proof that beauty trends, like classic literature, have a way of circling back with new relevance. Inspired by Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights press tour, the look trades sculpted precision for something softer and more romantic like a windswept flush placed low on the cheeks. It’s less about sunburnt contour and more about emotion: the kind of natural redness born from cold air, crackling fires, and unresolved longing. As dark romance continues to dominate fashion, it feels inevitable that makeup would follow suit. Brontë Blush captures that Victorian restraint while still feeling modern, wearable, and subtly dramatic, an aesthetic that whispers rather than shouts, yet lingers all the same.
As the beauty industry shifts rapidly, Cosmoprof North America Miami offered a rare chance to witness those changes in person. Attendees at the recent show were fully immersed in the trends taking over the Miami Beach Convention Center, from Middle Eastern ouds and gourmand fragrances to cutting-edge Korean innovations and AI-driven applications. What made the experience especially remarkable was the return of face-to-face connection and a welcome contrast to the virtual meetings many have grown accustomed to since the pandemic. Despite a snowstorm affecting attendance, the show showcased standout brands like Peppr Beauty, Alamea Palm Beach, Artistboxx, and BonPatch, while bold newcomers such as Kara Beauty and Unicorn Snot brought bright, playful energy to the floor.
To read more about these articles, please click the headlines below.
Cardi B Just Announced She’s Launching a Hair Brand
Glossier Lays Off More Than 50 Employees
Wella Company taps ex-Sephora Americas boss Calvin McDonald as new CEO
Beauty’s Value Moment: Off-Price Retailers Hit A Sweet Spot
“Brontë Blush” Is the Windswept Makeup Trend We’ve Been Longing For
Fragrances, Makeup Go Bold; Beauty Gets Smarter: Inside CPNA Miami
