Editor’s Letter

It has been an incredibly busy and exciting time around here. In November, Nicci Herrera, (owner of Retail Beauty) and I travelled to Hong Kong for Cosmoprof Asia—an event that continues to be a hub of innovation and inspiration in the global beauty industry.

I had the immense honour of serving on the judging panel for the 2024 Cosmoprof Asia and Cosmopack Asia Awards, curated by Beautystreams. Held at the iconic Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, this experience was truly unforgettable. Collaborating with a distinguished panel of global industry leaders, I had the privilege of evaluating some of the most creative and cutting-edge products shaping the future of beauty. Witnessing firsthand the remarkable innovation emerging from Asia—and indeed, around the world—was nothing short of inspiring.

Meanwhile, Nicci hosted a session on “Omnichannel Retail Strategies for Beauty Brands,” which explored how beauty brands are adapting to the rapidly evolving retail landscape. This insightful discussion emphasised the importance of seamless customer experiences across both digital and physical channels, reinforcing that omnichannel strategies are no longer optional but essential to meet modern consumer expectations.

During our time at the event, we were delighted to bump into some familiar Aussie faces, including representatives from Chemcorp, Chemist Warehouse, Boost Lab, O Cosmedics and and many more. For anyone serious about the beauty industry, I can’t recommend Cosmoprof Asia highly enough. You can find our full wrap-up of the event on page 26.

This issue is packed with insights, trends, and features you won’t want to miss. We’ve highlighted the must-know trends for 2025, including Mintel’s surprising global beauty and personal care trends (see page 36).

Circana’s latest report reveals resilient sales in FMCG retail, with beauty outpacing the total market in both Australia and the US. Despite measured spending habits, consumers continue to prioritise self-care products that matter to them (page 18).

In this issue, I had the pleasure of interviewing some incredible female founders, including Elle Halliwell, whose journey to founding Auricle Healing is both personal and transformative. Diagnosed with chronic leukemia while pregnant, Elle’s health challenges inspired her to create a product that is both functional and beautiful. See page 62.

I also spoke with Alex and Sophie Liddy, the visionary mother-daughter duo behind Ciroa Beauty. Combining Alex’s brand building expertise with Sophie’s passion for beauty, they’ve created a sustainable and playful body care brand (page 60).

Lara Srokowski, Beauty Director of Lancôme Australia, shares insider tips, career highlights, and trends shaping the future of beauty (page 66).

As always, we’ve gathered a stellar lineup of contributors. Icy Ling explores bridging cultures and beauty expectations (page 70), Michael Brown breaks down contrast makeup theory (page 68), Ricky Allen offers expert tips for your signature warm-weather fragrance (page 58), Clayton Illolahia outlines the latest fragrance trends (page 56), and Josie Gagliano highlights affordable brands that deliver ‘that look’ (page 48).

I hope you enjoy this jam-packed issue of Retail Beauty. Here’s to a bright and beautiful start to 2025!

Read the SUMMER ’25 issue of Retail Beauty below:

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