Today at CEW, we talk to Olamide Olowe, the founder of Gen-Z-crazed skin care brand Topicals — among Sephora’s fastest-growing ranges — and one of the CEW 2025 Visionaries who will be celebrated at an upcoming networking and awards ceremony in LA on May 13. “I saw that Black consumers weren’t just a niche market; they were the drivers of beauty innovation,” Olowe told reporter Amy Synott for CEW. “But skin care hadn’t caught up.”

Speaking of trailblazing female founders, according to the UK innovation and start up platform Distrito, a significant percentage of venture capital funds lack female founders or members of the board. “Women remain underrepresented in this field,” it reports. “This absence is not just a matter of equity; it affects investment decisions. Diverse teams are more likely to support startups led by women, creating a positive cycle of inclusion and opportunity.”

In breaking news, Coty announced a $71.1 million loss following its divestiture of Skkn by Kim, the beauty brand founded by Kim Kardashian, in its third-quarter earnings. “Kardashian regained full control of Skkn by Kim, with her shapewear and apparel company Skims acquiring Coty’s 20 percent stake, while Kardashian’s 80 percent stake was also transferred to Skims, the company she founded with Jens and Emma Grede,” reports WWD. In other earnings updates, online retailer Zalando’s beauty category has reported double-digit growth in the first quarter of 2025. And Blank Beauty has secured $6.5n S million in Series A funding, with the aim of bringing fully customizable nail polish to the consumer.

In executive updates, SharkNinja, Inc. has tapped Kleona Mack as the new Chief Marketing Officer of Shark Beauty. Mack brings over 15 years of experiences in marketing to the role, having worked at both Glossier and L’Oréal. “I’m thrilled to join the SharkNinja team at such a pivotal point in the brand’s journey,” commented Mack. “Shark is redefining the beauty category.” 

On the celebrity front, L’Oréal Paris has announced that American actress Ariana Greenblatt, who appeared in The Barbie Movie, is its latest Global Ambassador.

Read more about these news stories by clicking on the links below.

Olamide Olowe Of Topicals On Its Gen-Z Beauty Fame. “I saw that Black consumers weren’t just a niche market; they were the drivers of beauty innovation,” Olowe told reporter Amy Synott for CEW. “But skin care hadn’t caught up.” (CEW)

Why Venture Capital Funds Need Female Founders. According to the UK innovation and start up platform Distrito, a significant percentage of venture capital funds lack female founders of members of the board. (DISTRITO)

Coty Reports $71.1 million Loss After Divestiture Of Skkn By Kim. Coty shared the news as part of its third-quarter earnings. (WWD) 

Zalando Sees Double-Digit Growth In Beauty. The news came as part of the online retailer’s Q1 2025 earnings update. (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)

Blank Beauty Gets 6.5M In Series A Funding. It aims to “revolutionize custom nail polish,” according to Beauty Independent. (BEAUTY INDEPENDENT)

SharkNinja, Inc. Taps Kleona Mack As Its Chief Marketing Officer. Mack has worked at both Glossier and L’Oréal in marketing roles over the last 15 years. (HAPPI)

Ariana Greenblatt Is L’Oréal Paris’ New Face. The American actress is the French beauty brand’s latest face. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)