Throughout the CD-Verse: February 2026

Throughout APAC, EMEA and North America, corporations are defending mental property, pursuing bio-based enlargement, navigating shifting color cosmetics dynamics and dealing with nearer examination of promoting language.

Right here’s a take a look at the most-read tales shaping CosmeticsDesign’s world protection this month.

CosmeticsDesign APAC

Kolmar Korea wins long-running authorized battle towards Intercos over solar care tech leakage

Kolmar Korea has gained a long-running authorized dispute towards Intercos Korea over the leakage of proprietary solar care applied sciences by former workers.

The dispute originated when a former Kolmar Korea worker, who had labored on the firm for about 10 years, transferred to Intercos Korea in 2018 and eliminated a number of core analysis and growth supplies, together with proprietary sunscreen formulation knowledge and new product growth data.

Investigations later revealed that one other former worker, who additionally joined Intercos Korea across the similar time, participated within the leakage of “commerce secrets and techniques.”

CLEAR companions with Crimson Bull Racing to advance product innovation, elevate model experiences

The model, greatest identified for its anti-dandruff shampoo and scalp care merchandise, is the most recent to affix the rising pattern of cross-industry collaborations between magnificence and private care corporations and Formulation One (F1) racing groups.

This transfer marks a brand new chapter for CLEAR because it appears to strengthen its main experience in scalp care whereas innovating and delivering high-performance options aimed toward serving to folks keep assured and targeted in demanding conditions.

“This partnership displays our shared perception in precision and efficiency, and collectively we intention to encourage individuals who demand most leads to each side of their lives, whereas creating experiences that assist them present up at their greatest,” stated Mohamed Elsharkawy, world model vice chairman of CLEAR.

Taiwanese orchid extract exhibits promise for pores and skin safety, brightening

Researchers in Taiwan have found that exosome-like vesicles derived from the Phalaenopsis aphrodite orchid, generally often called “Taiwanese Grandma,” might supply a brand new pure resolution for pores and skin safety and brightening.

It marks the primary time scientists have efficiently remoted the tiny organic packages from this particular orchid species to check their potential in high-end skincare formulations.

The research was carried out by researchers at Pegavision Corp, FacialBeau Worldwide Corp, Industrial Know-how Analysis Institute, and Nationwide Chung-Hsing College.

CosmeticsDesign EMEA

Solabia buys Mibelle Biochemistry to scale bio‑primarily based innovation

French biotech lively components firm Solabia Group, which specializes within the well being and wonder sector, is ready to purchase the Swiss cosmetics components firm Mibelle Biochemistry from present proprietor Persán, which had bought the enterprise in April 2025.

Solabia stated the acquisition will strengthen its management in pure lively components and that the 2 companies supply complementary applied sciences and product strengths, notably in pure and bio‑primarily based actives.

Puig hits €5bn income however forecasts perfume slowdown in 2026

Marc Puig, chairman and CEO of Puig, stated the enterprise had outperformed the final market. He additionally famous that Puig had accomplished its earlier 5‑yr strategic plan, communicated in early 2021, which set its ambition to double its 2020 income in three years and triple it in 5. “We exceeded these objectives, greater than doubling our income by 2022 and greater than tripling it by 2025,” he stated.

Nonetheless, Puig issued a phrase of warning for the quick‑rising perfume class, stating that he expects progress within the perfume market to “proceed to normalize” and subsequently not keep its current upward trajectory.

Why some color cosmetics manufacturers are failing: shifting tendencies and rising prices

The beginning of this yr got here with the unhappy information that revolutionary colour cosmetics model Pat McGrath Labs has filed for Chapter 11 chapter. In the meantime, heritage UK-based colour cosmetics model Barry M needed to hunt down a purchaser or face going into administration resulting from heightened manufacturing prices.

Whereas there are extra alternatives than ever to create new cosmetics manufacturers, there’s additionally extra competitors and a risky financial system to compete with, together with a number of different modifications on this class panorama.

CosmeticsDesign North America

VIVA GLAM: M·A·C goals for subsequent $500m in world philanthropy

M·A·C’s VIVA GLAM program has now raised greater than $540 million globally since its launch in 1994, in accordance with the model’s 2025 Influence Report. The replace gives magnificence {industry} stakeholders an evaluation of how a single product platform has sustained three a long time of funding whereas adapting to shifting social and environmental priorities.

“Collectively, we’ve constructed an unimaginable legacy: $540 million USD raised and over 60 million lives impacted world wide,” M·A·C wrote within the report. “This final yr alone, M·A·C VIVA GLAM donated $4.5 million USD to 64 nonprofit companions globally, sharpening our deal with organizations that advance sexual, racial, gender and environmental equality.”

‘100% Mineral’ sunscreen class motion spotlights danger round absolute ingredient claims

Filed in California state courtroom in December 2025, the criticism alleges {that a} vary of Supergoop! sunscreen and SPF merchandise marketed as “100% Mineral” or “Mineral” create a deceptive impression that the complete method is mineral-based, when the merchandise allegedly include non-mineral or synthetically processed components.

Whereas the case facilities on sunscreen, the underlying points might prolong effectively past solar care, in accordance with Laura Bentele, a associate and chief of Armstrong Teasdale’s Agribusiness and Meals staff.

“This lawsuit is structured as a client safety class motion alleging that Supergoop! marketed a variety of merchandise as ‘100% mineral’ or ‘mineral’ in a manner that created an total impression that the merchandise had been totally mineral or pure, despite the fact that (plaintiff alleges) the product formulation embrace non-mineral and/or artificial/chemically processed components,” she stated.

Henkel’s problem sees blended NAD determination for Revlon’s ColorSilk

Following a competitor problem introduced by Henkel Company, the Nationwide Promoting Division (NAD) of BBB Nationwide Applications supplied blended suggestions relating to Revlon’s advertising and marketing and promoting behind its ColorSilk hair colour with Bond Restore Complicated throughout the model’s packaging, digital channels and third-party retail platforms.

Whereas a number of claims had been discovered to be supported, others had been flagged for modification or discontinuation, underscoring how narrowly promoting language should observe underlying proof.