Andrea NagelFrom major leadership moves and business turnarounds to viral beauty trends and pop-culture partnerships, these latest developments highlight some of the biggest shifts happening across the industry.
The Estée Lauder Companies is strengthening its focus on hair care by appointing Kathleen Mitchell as Vice President and General Manager of its new Hair Care Hub – West. Based in London, the hub will support markets across the UK, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, and India. Mitchell brings more than 25 years of experience in beauty, retail and consumer brands, including over 14 years in professional beauty. Her background includes senior roles at John Lewis and Stella & Dot, where she worked on business growth, category strategy and international expansion. In her new position, she will lead the London team and collaborate with global leadership to develop the company’s hair care business. The new hub is also expected to connect regional knowledge with global strategies, helping brands respond more effectively to changing customer needs. Overall, the move highlights Lauder’s investment in hair care and further establishes London as an important center for beauty expertise and international business growth. (Cosmetics Business)
Lisa McKnight is bringing her extensive brand and marketing experience to SC Johnson, where she has been appointed CEO of the company’s Lifestyle Brands division. The business includes well-known names such as Method, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, Ecover, Caldrea, and Babyganics. McKnight joins SC Johnson after spending around 25 years at Mattel, where she held several senior marketing positions and most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer. During her time at the toy company, she played a major role in building and strengthening its brands before leaving following changes to Mattel’s leadership structure. Earlier in her career, McKnight also worked in marketing roles at Gap and GapKids, giving her experience across both consumer and retail brands. She will now be based at SC Johnson Lifestyle Brands’ headquarters in San Francisco, where she will focus on guiding the division and its portfolio of household and personal care brands. Her move into the role comes as SC Johnson continues to develop its lifestyle-focused business, bringing together her background in marketing, brand building and consumer strategy with a portfolio that reaches a wide range of households. (Happi)
Victoria Beckham Holdings is showing signs of a major financial turnaround, with its beauty division playing an increasingly important role in the company’s success. In 2025, the group increased its revenue by 15% to £129.8 million and moved from an operating loss of £1.6 million in 2024 to a profit of £7.3 million. Growth has continued into 2026, with the company reporting strong sales during the first half of the year. While the business does not provide separate figures for its fashion and beauty divisions, previous results suggest that Victoria Beckham Beauty makes up a significant share of overall revenue. The beauty brand has also grown rapidly under CEO Lauren Edelman, expanding from only a few retail locations in 2023 to approximately 300 stores across 15 international markets. As international distribution continues to grow, beauty could remain one of the biggest contributors to Victoria Beckham Holdings’ future expansion and profitability. (Global Cosmetics News)
Maybelline has found a powerful way to connect with younger beauty shoppers by expanding its partnership with Love Island. After two successful seasons, the L’Oréal-owned brand increased its involvement this year, moving beyond traditional product placement and creating experiences that encouraged viewers to interact with the products. The biggest success has been the new Lifter Gel Lip Oil-in-Gel, which saw its weekly sales increase tenfold between the show’s premiere and finale. By July, the product had grown from representing less than 5% of Maybelline’s lip sales in May to more than 30%. The strong response shows how quickly entertainment and beauty can influence what consumers want to buy. Maybelline introduced the gloss before the season began and ensured shoppers could easily find it through major retailers, online platforms, and TikTok Shop. The brand also became part of the Love Island app, where fans could explore a recreated glam room and find shade matches. Behind the campaign was a team of employees who closely followed the show and reacted to moments that could naturally become social content. Maybelline even partnered with season winners Trinity Tatum and Bryce Alakai for TikTok content and a product bundle inspired by a makeup challenge from the show. By staying involved in the conversations happening around Love Island, Maybelline turned entertainment-driven attention into measurable sales and stronger consumer engagement. (Glossy)
Social media has made terms like glass skin, cloud skin, dewy skin and glowy skin part of everyday beauty conversations, but each trend describes a slightly different finish. Glass skin focuses on an especially smooth, hydrated and reflective complexion, while cloud skin creates a softer, more blurred appearance. Dewy and glowy skin are generally more natural-looking, emphasizing freshness, moisture and brightness rather than an intense shine. Although the finishes may look different, they all begin with the same foundation: healthy, well-maintained skin. Keeping the skin hydrated, using moisturizer and applying SPF 30 or higher can help support a smoother appearance, while gentle exfoliation may improve uneven texture when used appropriately. At the same time, experts point out that the flawless complexions often seen online are not always realistic, as lighting, makeup, filters and editing can hide pores and natural imperfections. Real skin will still have texture, fine lines and variations, and achieving a healthy appearance is more realistic than trying to recreate a digitally perfected image. Hair removal can also play a role in creating a smoother-looking surface on areas where shaving or stubble causes visible texture. Overall, these trends are less about achieving perfect skin and more about creating a complexion that looks hydrated, smooth, and naturally radiant. (PR Newswire)
To read more about these stories, click the headlines below.
Lisa McKnight Named CEO Of SC Johnson Lifestyle Brands
Victoria Beckham Holdings Returns To Profit As Beauty Drives Group Growth
Glossy Pop Newsletter: How Maybelline Leveraged ‘Love Island’ To Supercharge Lip Gloss Sales
Glass Skin, Cloud Skin, Dewy Skin, and Glowy Skin: What These Trends Mean
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