The European Commission imposed a record €550 million fine on Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress for failing to prevent the sale of illegal and harmful products, including counterfeits and unsafe toys, on its platform under the Digital Services Act. AliExpress announced it will appeal the decision.
AliExpress has been fined a record €550m by the EU under the Digital Services Act for failing to prevent the sale of illegal and harmful products, including counterfeit clothing and unsafe cosmetics, on its platform. The company condemned the fine as "disproportionate."
The EU has imposed a €550 million fine on online retailer AliExpress for allowing the sale of illegal products, including unsafe toys and cosmetics, that failed to meet the bloc’s environmental and safety standards. This is the largest fine under the Digital Services Act.
South Korean beauty (K-beauty) is experiencing a "second wave" in the U.S., marked by Olive Young's successful store openings in California and a 48% sales increase. This trend is reshaping the American beauty market, benefiting retailers like Ulta and Target, but also posing risks to average selling prices.
The European Commission is introducing a new €3 customs charge on small parcels under €150 from Wednesday, ending a 'de minimis' exemption. This aims to curb cheap Chinese imports, protect European retailers from platforms like Shein and Temu, and address the high rate of non-compliant products endangering consumers.
South Korea and China held a virtual meeting to discuss reducing technical barriers to trade (TBTs) for products like power banks, cosmetics, and red ginseng. Seoul's agency raised concerns over Beijing's revised standards for power banks and lithium-ion batteries.
Caroline Kroll gründete Nø Cosmetics vor neun Jahren im Keller ihrer Eltern. Heute ist die Marke in über 7700 Drogeriefilialen vertreten und erzielt 60 Millionen Euro Umsatz. Kroll setzt auf Kundenkontakt über Social Media statt auf eigene Forschungsabteilungen und nimmt die wachsende Konkurrenz ernst.
Caroline Kroll baute Nø Cosmetics im Keller ihrer Eltern ohne Investoren auf. Heute macht die Hautpflegemarke 60 Millionen Euro Umsatz und ist in über 7700 Drogeriefilialen vertreten. Kroll setzt auf engen Kundenkontakt und Produktentwicklung basierend auf Social-Media-Feedback.
South Korea's K-beauty industry is experiencing a second global boom, shifting from legacy giants to indie brands, sophisticated manufacturers, and social media influence. Exports are soaring, with the U.S. and Europe becoming key markets, challenging France's dominance.
Dermstore offers various discounts and loyalty programs, including 15% off for new customers, 5% back on purchases via rewards, up to 25% off auto-replenishment, and special discounts for military, teachers, and students. A referral program offers $50 credit, and free two-day shipping is available on orders over $100.
Children's skin, with a thinner stratum corneum and underdeveloped sebaceous glands, is more susceptible to irritation and allergic reactions from cosmetics. Experts warn against unregulated products containing hormones and heavy metals, advising parents on proper identification and use of compliant children's cosmetics.
Georgia's cosmetics exports to Russia from January to April 2026 (382.6 tons) surpassed the total volume supplied over the previous 17 years. This surge follows significant increases starting in May 2025, with Russia accounting for 84.9% of Georgia's total cosmetic exports this year.
Claire's is expanding its retail presence to over 7,000 new locations across North America through a licensing partnership with Ames Watson and Centric Brands. Products will be available at retailers like CVS, Kohl's, and Walmart, moving beyond Claire's traditional mall stores.
Claire's is expanding its retail presence to over 7,000 new locations across North America through a licensing partnership with Ames Watson and Centric Brands. Products will be available in major retailers like CVS, Kohl's, and Walmart, moving beyond Claire's traditional mall stores.
Сооснователь косметического бренда e.l.f. Cosmetics Скотт-Винсент Борба, заработавший миллионы, решил оставить бизнес и посвятить жизнь служению Богу. Он раздал все деньги на благотворительность и поступил в католическую семинарию, где готовится стать священником.
The 2026 China Cosmetics Science and Technology Conference (CST) took place in Guangzhou from May 20-22, focusing on cutting-edge areas like biosynthesis, AI beauty, and unique plant resource development.
Estée Lauder and Puig have terminated merger discussions for a potential $40bn beauty and fashion group, citing disagreements over control and board representation. Investors reacted positively to the news, with Estée Lauder's shares rising after the announcement.
South Korea's cosmetics trade surplus surpassed $10 billion for the first time in 2024, reaching $10.1 billion, a 13.5% increase from the previous year. Exports also hit a record high of $11.4 billion, making Korea the second-largest exporter globally, trailing only France.
South Korea's SMEs' online exports reached a record $300 million in Q1 2026, up 38.2% YoY, driven by a 74.2% surge in cosmetics exports to $200 million, fueled by K-beauty popularity and government support.
Amorepacific Corp. reported Q1 2026 net profit of 113 billion won, down 5% year-on-year due to the absence of one-off gains from Goutal IP sales recorded in Q1 2025. Operating profit rose 7.6% to 126.7 billion won while sales climbed 6.4% to 1.13 trillion won, driven by strong demand for premium brands in the US and Japan and continued K-beauty popularity. The company targets 15 trillion won in sales by 2035.
According to Estée Lauder representative Matthew Growdon, the brand is expanding its retail network on the island
L'Oreal shares jumped as much as 10% after the cosmetics giant reported first-quarter organic sales growth of 7.6% to 12.2 billion euros, far exceeding analyst expectations of around 3%. CEO Nicolas Hieronimus highlighted accelerated market share gains globally and continued recovery in the US and China. The stock's 9% gain marks its largest daily rise since November 2008.
Rituals, a Netherlands-based cosmetics company, has confirmed a data breach after hackers stole customer personal information from its membership database. The company disclosed the breach this week after identifying an unauthorized download in April containing customers' full names, dates of birth, gender, postal and email addresses, phone numbers, preferred store locations and account types. The breach affects customers across Europe, the United Kingdom and some in the United States. The company is investigating how the breach occurred but declined to share details citing security reasons.
Hong Kong retailers are employing aggressive cost-saving strategies including direct sourcing and economies of scale to absorb rising logistics costs from the Middle East conflict. However, leading cosmetics chain Sa Sa International has warned that shipping and airfreight costs have already surged 10-15%, with further pressure expected if the situation affects fuel supplies since many beauty products are petroleum by-products.
