In breaking executive news, OSEA — the clean, seaweed-infused skin care brand — has tapped Erika Kussmann as its new Chief Executive Officer and Board Director. Kussmann takes over the helm from co-founder Melissa Palmer, who will focus on brand, marketing and product innovation as Chief Brand Officer.

In financial headlines, e.l.f. Beauty has reported a 14% Q2 rise in sales, maintaining its double-digit momentum, reports Global Cosmetics News. Its Q2 fiscal 2026 net sales of US$343.9 million was driven by growth across its US and international retail and e-commerce channels. Coty has seen a drop in Q1sales in both its prestige and mass divisions — following the news that it will relinquish its Gucci license in 2028 — although the company says it sees signs of improvement. “We expect Q2 sales to be at the more favorable end of our previous guidance, with a return to sales and profit growth in the second half,” commented Sue Nabi, CEO.

Consumer intelligence company NielsenIQ (NIQ) has shared the first of its 2025 holiday insights and expert commentary, for brands and retailers. “Our data continues to show that uncertainty is a running theme in 2025, and it’s reflected in how consumers are celebrating,” said Rachel Bonsignore, Vice President of NIQ Consumer Life.

Here at CEW, we spotlight Launchmetrics’ latest Beauty Report, titled The Beauty Growth Playbook: Data-driven Insights to Guide Category Expansion, Positioning and Voice Strategies. “Leveraging data-driven insights, this report explores how leading beauty brands perform across competitor segments, revealing how differing strategic approaches drive successful beauty marketing and PR impact, bolstering brand growth,” reports CEW’s Andrea Nagel. 

Also at CEW today, we sit down with biochemist Krupa Koestline, co-founder of KKT Labs, which is expanding into a 16,000-square-foot facility. “KKT Labs is not a contract manufacturer,” explains CEW reporter, Kavita Daswani. “It’s an independent lab that works with brands — including Kopari, Goop, and Rhode — across the cosmetic and skin care spectrum to formulate clean, biotech-based products.”

In other news, Leonard Lauder’s family has announced that it is selling $1 billion worth of Estée Lauder Companies shares, proceeds of which will help settle Leonard Lauder’s estate, including paying estate tax and other obligations.

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

OSEA Taps Erika Kussmann As New CEO And Board Director. “I was passionate about finding the perfect CEO with the expertise and experience to support OSEA’s global expansion,” commented Melissa Palmer, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of OSEA. “Erika’s leadership and proven ability to scale mission-driven brands globally make her the right partner for this next chapter.” (YAHOO FINANCE)

E.l.f. Beauty Reports 14% Q2 Sales Increase. “Despite margin pressures from tariffs and higher costs, e.l.f. continues to outperform the color cosmetics category through brand strength, retail expansion, and strong digital performance,” reports Global Cosmetics News. (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)

Coty Reports Q1 Drop But Predicts Stronger Q2. “This comes at a trying time for Coty, which is set to lose its jewel-in-the-crown Gucci license for fragrance and beauty, which expires in 2028,” reports WWD. (WWD)

NielsenIQ Releases 2025 Holiday Insights. “The 2025 holiday season finds consumers prioritizing quality, value, and connection, often blending timeless traditions with modern shopping habits,” reports Beauty Packaging. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)

Launchmetrics Publishes The Beauty Growth Playbook. “This AI-powered metric assigns a monetary value to every post, article, or social interaction – and by quantifying the impact of brand marketing and PR activations across channels and voices (including media, influencers, celebrities, partners and owned platforms) brands are now able to understand where their influence is coming from and how to optimize it for growth,” reports CEW’s Andrea Nagel. (CEW)

KKT Labs’ Krupa Koestline On Its Next Big Move. “With a model that lets brands own their formulas, she’s redefining how the beauty industry approaches clean, science-driven product development,” writes CEW reporter Kavita Daswani. (CEW)

Leonard Lauder’s Selling $1 billion Worth Of ELC Shares. “Trusts connected to his descendants have proposed the sale of 11,301,323 shares of the company’s Class A Common Stock, at a value of $90 per share,” reports Cosmetics Business. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)