January 3, 2024

How to stay relevant as a brand when you’ve been around for 76 years? In the case of Cetaphil, the iconic, pharmacist-founded skin care company, you move with the times not only by engaging with your target consumer, but by getting them to actively engage with you. At CEW today, Andrea Nagel reports on the smart strategy behind the #FaceofCetaphilContest, closing to entries this Friday, which requires entrants to post a video to social media, demo-ing how they’d use the products during NYFW next month. “Consumers have been furiously creating videos on Instagram and TikTok to show how they would use Cetaphil as part of their beauty routine,” writes Nagel.

Rewarding customer loyalty with covetable freebies, Sephora has unveiled its 2024 Beauty Insider Birthday Gifts. All members can choose from special edition sets by Kosas, Youth to the People and Moroccanoil, or fragrance offerings by Gucci and Giorgio Armani. A Charlotte Tilbury gift set is available exclusively to VIB and Rouge members—achieved by spending $350 or $1,000 per year on Sephora products, respectively—containing a trio of Tilbury’s bestsellers.

In tech, Beauty Matter reports that Google has expanded its AR search tools with hair color and additional foundation-matching functions. What other developments can we expect in 2024? Think immersive retail experiences, featuring advanced headsets, glasses and more.

Having recently announced its Series B investment from San Francisco-based NextWorld Evergreen, True Botanicals has appointed Jessica Chastain as its new Brand Ambassador. “She has always been an advocate for taking better care of people, animals and the planet, and that’s what we exist to do,” says Rebecca Boston, True Botanicals’ Chief Marketing Officer, of the actress/producer. “Having a highly respected tastemaker like Jessica, who can help tell the stories of these bioholistic skin care innovations we’re launching, is going to ensure more people pay attention.”

Read more on these and other stories at the links below.

Cetaphil’s Savvy Social Move. The brand’s first-of-its-kind global skin care immersion campaign is set to put its formulas to the ultimate stress test during NYFW next month. (CEW)

Sephora Unveils 2024 Beauty Insider Birthday Gifts. Members of Sephora’s loyalty programme can choose from special edition gifts by Kosas, Youth to the People, Moroccanoil, Gucci, Giorgio Armani and Charlotte Tilbury. (NUBELEASE)

Google Adds Hair Color To AR Tools. In addition, it has expanded its capabilities for finding foundations. (BEAUTY MATTER)

What Tech To Expect In 2024. Advanced immersive retail experiences are set to feature VR headsets, glasses and more. (WWD) 

Jessica Chastain Named True Botanicals Brand Ambassador. The actress/producer will feature in the upcoming campaign for the brand’s new Phyto Retinol Sleep Serum, with plant-based Peptilium as its key ingredient. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)

Bottling The Botox Effect. The trend continues for “neuromodulator-enhancing” skin care products which claim to extend the effect of Botox, or even offer an alternative. (GLOSSY)

Jani Friedman Joins Foundry. The former Chief Merchandising Officer at Dermstore and VP of New Brand Development at Guthy-Renker will be GM of personal care, with the aim of growing its men’s personal care business and guiding its acquisitions. (BEAUTY INDEPENDENT)