In breaking news, Circana has reported that mass beauty brands outperformed prestige in Q1 2025, with dollar sales up by 3%. “Prestige beauty sales remained flat at $7.5 billion, while mass market beauty sales grew to $16.6 billion – marking the first time in several years when the mass channel outpaced prestige,” reports CEW’s Andrea Nagel.

In other big industry news, Bath & Body Works’ Gina Boswell has stepped down as CEO. The retailer has tapped former Nike and Burberry executive Daniel Heaf as its new CEO. “Daniel is a forward-thinking leader with a remarkable track record of driving innovative, transformative growth across iconic global brands,” commented Sarah Nash, chair of The Estée Lauder Companies board.

Meanwhile, Nancy Twine is making it easier for small brands to get on the right track out of the gate. “Building a brand is about more than just going viral or making a splash,” according to Twine, founder of Briogeo and now, Makers Mindset, the company she created to inspire and guide the next generation of entrepreneurs. “It’s about creating something real. Something that solves a problem. Something that can outlive you.” Twine, who worked in finance as a VP at Goldman Sachs before making a career pivot into clean beauty, sat down with CEW to talk about how she helps ambitious entrepreneurs turn vision into momentum.

In her latest column for CEW, Money Matters With The Fiscal Femme, Ashley Feinstein Gerstley tackles the question of what to do with your tax refund. “A financial windfall, whatever it is, is a great opportunity to make progress towards your goals. It’s also an opportunity to treat yourself,” writes Feinstein Gerstley.

Also at CEW, Celessa Baker, VP of Marketing Partnerships, Sephora U.S., shares how her love for beauty and marketing meet with her diverse background in her role. “We turn over every rock to find these first-to-market opportunities,” said Baker. “I’ve learned that we have to cast a net of 100 to get 10 good ones that lead to one that goes viral.”

In female executive news, the FE+MALE Think Tank in Zurich has organized a Swiss roadshow for financial industry executives to raise awareness of “unconscious bias in investment decisions and lay the foundation for improved portfolio performance.” According to FE+MALE Main Initiator and President Patricia Montesinos, “I’ve seen how unconscious bias limits innovation. This roadshow gives leaders the tools to change that.”

In other news, Origins has made its U.S. Amazon Premium Beauty debut, with an offering of skin care, body care, and gift sets. Meanwhile, Unilever is investing £80 million in an expanded, state-of-the-art fragrance facility at its Port Sunlight innovation campus in the UK. “The move aims to fast-track scent innovation across its personal care and beauty brands, including Dove, TRESemmé, and Rexona (Sure),” reported Global Cosmetics News. And in other hair care news, celebrity hairdresser Michael Dueñas has launched his own product range, a vegan line designed to reduce plastic and carbon emission.

Catch up on these news stories by clicking on the links below. 

Briogeo’s Nancy Twine On Maker’s Mindset. “Building a brand is about more than just going viral or making a splash,” she told CEW, in an exclusive interview.” (CEW)

What To Do With Your Tax Refund. Ashley Feinstein Gerstley offers some expert insights in her latest column for CEW. (CEW)

Mass Beauty Outperforms Prestige in Q1, Circana Reveals. CEW’s Andrea Nagel unpacks the breaking news that mass beauty brands outperformed prestige in Q1 2025, with unit sales down by 1%. (CEW)

Sephora U.S.’s Celessa Baker On Its Marketing Partnerships. Celessa Baker, VP of Marketing Partnerships, Sephora U.S., sat down with CEW. (CEW)

Origins Makes Amazon Debut. The brand is the latest in The Estée Lauder Companies’ portfolio to launch on  U.S. Amazon Premium Beauty. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)

Bath & Body Works Taps Daniel Heaf As New CEO. Heaf is a former Nike and Burberry executive. (WWD)

Michael Dueñas Launches Haircare Range. The celebrity stylist has created a sustainable product range. (HAPPI)

FE+MALE Think Tank Goes On The Road. A new Swiss roadshow is aimed at executives in the financial industry, to “raise awareness of unconscious bias in investment decisions and lay the foundation for improved portfolio performance.” (SWISSTRADE)

Unilever Pours £80 Into UK Fragrance Facility. “The move aims to fast-track scent innovation across its personal care and beauty brands, including Dove, TRESemmé, and Rexona (Sure),” reported Global Cosmetics News. (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)