Making this morning’s beauty headlines, Macy’s, Inc. has shared its Q2 2025 sales results, reporting net sales of US$4.8 billion. This represents the retailer’s strongest comparable sales increase in 12 quarters, reports Global Cosmetics News. Meanwhile, U.S. private equity firm Sonoma Brands has announced its minority investment in Discovered Brands, the British distributor which counts Ouai, Glow Recipe and Briogeo within its portfolio.
In other breaking news, Ulta Beauty has announced its 2025 MUSE Accelerator Cohort, which will commence on September 8. The early-stage brands chosen by Ulta Beauty will follow a 10-week curriculum and mentorship program, and receive funding to set them up for retail distribution.
Here at CEW, we share the key takeaways from the latest report by Coresight Research, The Beauty Conversion Architecture, in which it introduces a framework that brings together six powerful forces moving the needle in beauty: clean beauty, AI-enabled dermatology, creator commerce, omnichannel strategies, affordable prestige, and fragrance resilience. The new, single system it designed to determine competitive advantage in 2025 and beyond.
On the other side of the pond, Beauty Pie — the DTC, membership-based brand founded by Marcia Kilgore — is hosting its first ever pop-up in London, as part of its “boldest yet” launch, for the Youthbomb Extreme Retinal Triple Renewal Serum. In other marketing news, Mary Kay Inc. is running a new social media campaign, Miss Conceptions, aimed at addressing “longstanding myths” about the brand with humor, and cultural relevance.
Billed as “the world’s largest multicultural beauty show”, Bronner Bros. is hosting the first Beauty Icon Awards in Atlanta in October, in partnership with Vivace and Red by Kiss. “The Beauty Icon Awards will honor a lineup of trailblazers across beauty, style, and culture,” reports Beauty Packaging. It will be hosted by journalist and media personality Segun Oduolowu.
To read more about these and other news stories, click on the links below.
Macy’s, Inc. Reports Q2 2025 Sales. “Comparable sales rose 1.9% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis, led by Bloomingdale’s (+5.7%) and Bluemercury (+1.2%, marking its 18th straight quarter of growth),” reports Global Cosmetics News. (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)
Sonoma Brands Acquires Minority Investment In Discovered Brands. The investment is estimated at about $15 million. (BUSINESS OF FASHION)
Ulta Beauty Announces 2025 MUSE Accelerator Cohort. “The beauty of the MUSE Accelerator is that it creates a lasting foundation and pathways for early-stage founders to thrive,” said Jessica Phillips, vice president of merchandising, Ulta Beauty. “By nurturing new brands and expanding access to funding and mentorship, we believe we can build a more inclusive beauty community.” (HAPPI)
Coresight Research Debuts New Framework Unifying Six Forces In Beauty Conversion. In its report, Coresight reveals key insights, including the continued, resilient growth of fragrance, which is no longer being considered purely a luxury item. (CEW)
First Beauty Icon Awards Announced. The inaugural Awards will honor beauty trailblazers including: Danessa Myricks, Makeup Artist & Founder & CEO of Danessa Myricks Beauty. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)
Beauty Pie Holds First Ever London Pop-Up. The immersive pop-up will take place from September 11-13 September at 5-7 Carnaby Street, Soho, London. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)
Mary Kay Inc. Tackles Miss Conceptions. “Through short-form, shareable content, Miss Conceptions introduces a fresh digital persona that empowers the next generation of beauty lovers and aspiring entrepreneurs while sharing facts about the company,” explains Gale News. (GALV NEWS)
Skin Care Brand Under Your Skin Partners With Swedish Research Institutes On Product Safety. The aim is to “establish that beauty products are free of endocrine disruptors and safe for hormone health,” reports Beauty Independent. (BEAUTY INDEPENDENT)
