In breaking news, WWD just announced that Jue Wong is leaving Olaplex. In early 2024, she will be replaced as CEO by Amanda Baldwin, who has been heading up Supergoop. Though the company has developed a huge and loyal following (especially among teens, as evidenced by their standing in the Piper Sandler study cited below), the brand has been challenged by several lawsuits filed claiming injuries to their hair and scalp, allegations which Wong has denied.
In other news, yesterday was International Day of the Girl, a global event organized by Unicef and Plan International to advance the rights and empowerment of all girls by putting them in the forefront of change efforts. At CEW, we believe promoting female leadership, education, and supporting our most vulnerable women and girls is an integral part of that effort. To that end, last night, we attended Komera’s Seeds of Change event, an annual fund raiser that helps raise funds to support the emotional and educational needs of young girls in Rwanda, many of whom have been the victims of rape, domestic abuse, and the trickle down generational trauma caused by the 1994 genocide. It was an inspiring night that showed the power of community to bring positive change to the lives of thee young women.
Yesterday, in celebration of International Day of the Girl, eight leading brands in the menstrual hygiene space announced The Tampon Tax Back Coalition. August, LOLA, The Honey Pot, Rael, Diva, Here We Flo, Saalt, and Cora joined forces to create a joint-venture that takes a stand against the “luxury” tax that still exists in 21 states on period care products. From now, women who purchase products from any of these brands (whether in retail or online) can be reimbursed for the tampon tax at www.tampontaxback.com.
Meanwhile, California just prohibited the use of 26 more beauty ingredients under the Toxic Free Cosmetics Act. While there remains ongoing debate in the scientific community about the toxicity of certain ingredients, this is welcome news for advocates of the safer cosmetics movement who have long noted that while the U.S. bans only nine ingredients from being used in cosmetics, the UE currently prohibits over 1,300.
Read this story and others at the links below.
Jue Wong Is Stepping Down as CEO of Olaplex
Supergoop’s Amanda Baldwin will be taking over as CEO in early 2024. (WWD)
Christian Pendarvis Named New CEO of Pattern Beauty
Pendarvis, who most recently served as co-president of Savage X Fenty, will join founder and co-CEO Tracee Ellis Ross and Brand President Rachel Jonas Gilman as a third key executive on the company’s senior leadership team. (CEW)
California Bans Toxic Cosmetic Chemicals (Allure)
In an expansion of the state’s 2020 Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act that goes into effect in 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom has banned 26 more ingredients.
Perfect Corp Takes Personalization to a New Level with the Debut of its AI Powered App (Cosmetics Design)
With its new text to image tool, the app can instantly generate images with key word prompts allowing for virtual try ons that are incredibly sophisticated and realistic thanks to the company’s cutting edge AI and AR filters, facial scanning, and shade matching technology.
New Report from Piper Sandler: The Top Hair Care Brand Teens Are Snapping Up Right Now (Happi)
Olaplex, SheaMoisture, Amika, Not Your Mother’s, and Mielle topped the list in the company’s 46th semi-annual survey of 9,193 teen hair care shoppers.
