In breaking beauty news, Kim Kardashian’s skin care and makeup brand, SKNN by Kim, has shuttered. The range launched in 2022, and, according to Global Cosmetics News, “the brand’s website now confirms operations are winding down.” In other headlines, KVD Beauty — the brand formerly known as Kat Von D Beauty — has been acquired by Windsong Global. KVD is joining Windsong Global’s Belle Brands platform, which includes JVN Hair and Pipette in its portfolio.

According to a new report from Spate, ChatGPT accounts for 4.3% of online beauty searches. “Among those beauty searches, consumers are most often searching for makeup via ChatGPT, followed by skin care, then hair care,” reports WWD. “Hair-related searches such as ‘hairstyle’ or ‘haircut’… skew far more heavily toward Google,” the report shows. 

In women’s leadership news, here at CEW, we spotlight four women who are changing the beauty business script: Martha Stewart, Gwyneth Paltrow, Dr. Barbara Sturm, and Michelle LeBlanc. “These four women are rewriting the business of influence, rooted in science, wellness, longevity, and trust,” writes CEW reporter Polly Blitzer. “Today’s power players are doing more than launching products. They are reconfiguring the industry’s business model.” 

Also at CEW, Veronica Scarpellino, author of the book Second Draft: Rewrite Your Midlife Career with Creative Intelligence, explores how to navigate a career pivot. “I’ve seen again and again how these crucible moments, while painful, can also be turning points,” she writes.

In tech headlines today, Cosmetics Business reports on the trend for brands to take a “total wipeout” on Instagram. “The Inkey List and Amika are among the beauty brands that have wiped their Instagram feeds recently to make a buzz. But do the risks of the marketing method outweigh the positives?” it asks. And now that it’s officially fall, ’90s and 2000s-throwback, grunge-inspired beauty is trending, reports Happi.

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

SKKN by Kim Shutters. “A 2024 makeup relaunch failed to reverse momentum, leaving the brand unable to match the success of Kardashian’s shapewear line, Skims,” reports Global Cosmetics News. (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)

KVD Beauty Bought By Windsong Global. “I think next year will be the year of the eye. We’re predicting that,” said Teresa Lo, the global president of Belle Brands, the platform KVD Beauty will join. “We know it’s been lip for the last few years. You’ve got lots of brands leaning into lip gloss, balms, all of that. We see a trend back into bold artistry.” (BEAUTY INDEPENDENT)

Navigating Career Change With Creative Intelligence. “What I learned in my early years practicing in the arts — experimentation, embracing imperfection, starting again — became the same skills I now help leaders apply in their careers,” writes Veronica Scarpellino for CEW. (CEW)

How Four Beauty Bosses Are Changing The Business Script. “Martha (Stewart) has always been about elevating how people live,” dermatologist Dr. Bhanusali told CEW. “Martha isn’t a fan of the word reinvention. Instead, she believes in evolution and that is similar to how we think about Elm (Biosciences).” (CEW)

Spate Shows How ChatGPT Beauty Searches Compare to Google. “Searches for “lipstick,” “foundation,” “candle” and “perfume,” for instance, over-index on ChatGPT, versus hair-related searches such as “hairstyle” or “haircut,” which skew far more heavily toward Google, the report shows,” notes WWD. (WWD)

Why Brands Are Wiping Their Instagram Feeds. “Beauty brands have been increasingly clearing their long-established Instagram grids in a bid to generate buzz, promote a new campaign or direct attention to a revamped product line,” reports Cosmetics Business. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)

The 90s Are Back In Beauty. “Grunge makeup holds a special place in the heart of Gen X,” reports Happi, in a new feature that explores the fall trend. (HAPPI)