Nigerian media personality Toke Makinwa launches skin whitening skincare collection
Nigerian media personality Toke Makinwa has launched a range of skin whitening products, named Glow by TM. The star has been teasing the line via social media for some time, posing in nude photos, having created the range with California based beauty developer Buluwa...
CLICK HERE
Ashland announces price increase for composite products in EMEA
Speciality chemicals company Ashland has announced an increase in its composite products in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) by 100 euros per metric ton. Effective 1st September, or as soon as contracts allow, the increase is said to have been driven by...
CLICK HERE
Turkey doubles tariffs on US cosmetics imports in retaliation for Washington’s ‘deliberate attacks’ on the Turkish economy
Turkey has announced it is to double the taxes on US cosmetics imports in retaliation for the ‘deliberate attacks’ made to the Turkish economy by Washington, a continued escalation of a row with US President Donald Trump. Fuat Oktay, Turkey’s Vice-President, announced...
CLICK HERE
Lock down: Dubai deletes 5,000 social media accounts in counterfeit crackdown
Dubai’s Department of Economic Development has closed down almost 5,000 social media accounts as part of a wider drive to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods, according to a report published by The National. The accounts in question boasted a combined following of...
CLICK HERE
Unilever Nigeria: profit up 55 percent and sales soar 13 percent for 1H 2018
Unilever Nigeria has posted a strong performance for the first half of financial 2018, according to a report published by The Cable. After-tax profit was up 55.5 percent, reaching N5.72 billion and on track to reach N11 billion by the year-end. Profit growth is...
CLICK HERE
Alibaba founder announces US$10 million investment for African entrepreneurs
The Founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma, has announced a new contest designed to support Africa’s digital entrepreneurs. In total, the eponymous foundation will put forward a pot of US$10 million in funding. African start-ups will compete for US$1 million each year for the...
CLICK HERE
Uganda creates four standards to promote shea nut exports
Uganda has created four new standards to promote shea nut exports in a bid to boost economy in the country. The new standards will be used at the local, regional and international markets and have been created by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and Uganda...
CLICK HERE
Emami Group scouts out Iran entry
Emami Group is said to be considering a move into Iran, according to a report published by the Financial Tribune. “We are planning to enter Iran by the end of this year, and from the first quarter of the coming fiscal year we intend to start selling our products,”...
CLICK HERE
Sokowatch to shake up Africa’s supply chain with US$2 million seed capital
Kenya-based B2B platform Sokowatch has closed a US$2 million seed round, which will enable it to transform Africa’s supply chain market, according to a report published by Tech Crunch. The round was led by 4DX Ventures, with Village Global, Lynett Capital. Golden Palm...
CLICK HERE
Huda Beauty expands into new markets with fragrance launch
Cult beauty brand Huda Beauty is set to launch a new fragrance, as announced by Mona Kattan, Huda Kattan’s sister and partner in the Huda Beauty enterprise. The fragrance is a natural progression for the company, which launched in 2013, with Mona Kattan having created...
CLICK HERE
Henkel opens first Beauty Care Lab in the Middle East
Henkel has cut the ribbon on its first Beauty Care laboratory in the Middle East region. The Dubai facility boasts state-of-the-art technology allowing the team to design and test beauty products specifically for local consumers and stands as a symbol of the German...
CLICK HERE
Max Factor et al dump Kuwaiti influencer Sondos Alqattan over Filipino maid scandal
Max Factor has cut all ties with Kuwaiti influencer Sondos Alqattan after she posted a video to her Instagram account lambasting labor laws which grant Filipino workers limited employment rights, according to a report published by Gulf News. She has since stuck by her...
CLICK HERE
Could Lebanon become the next country to legalise medicinal cannabis?
Lebanon is said to be considering the legalization of medicinal cannabis in order to boost the country’s economy, according to a report published by the Financial Times. The country could gain up to US$500 million per year if it decides to greenlight trade of the...
CLICK HERE
E-Mart to open Scentence store in Saudi Arabia
South Korean retail giant E-Mart is set to capitalize on the growing popularity of K-beauty and open a standalone store for its own label beauty brand, Scentence, in Saudi Arabia, according to a report published by Pulse News. The store will be located in Al Nakheel...
CLICK HERE
Miniso excels in Tanzania following January market launch
Japanese retailer Miniso is said to be excelling in the Tanzanian market following its launch into the country in January this year, with the company stating that the ‘blue ocean’ nature of the country is giving it a competitive edge. According to a company press...
CLICK HERE
Amazon.com launches free international shipping to Israel, but it comes with a catch
Amazon.com has added a new option for free international shipping to Israel, however, the new feature comes with a catch. Only available for orders from Amazon and not third party sellers, the free international shipping also only applies to purchases over $80, which...
CLICK HERE
Israeli firms join forces to create cannabis-based cosmetic products
Israeli manufacturer and developer of medical cannabis Together Pharma has joined forces with local skincare firm Premier Dead Sea Cosmetics Laboratories in a partnership that will see the pair develop a line of therapeutic and cosmetic products that contain both the...
CLICK HERE
Edcon plans Red Square Cosmetics closures in attempt to boost ailing company
South African retailer Edcon has announced plans to close chains such as Red Square Cosmetics in an attempt to turn around the flailing company, with Red Square being renamed as Edgars Beauty and being housed inside the main Edgars stores in malls. The decision is...
CLICK HERE
Nokware Skincare launches new sustainable bamboo packaging
Organic skincare brand Nokware Skincare has announced it is to switch to sustainable bamboo packaging in response to growing consumer desire for zero waste packaging options. Focused on carving out a niche in the ‘pan African’ beauty market, Nokware is developing its...
CLICK HERE
PZ Cussons encourages young talent with fashion design competition
PZ Cussons has announced the launch of a new competition in Nigeria. Masters of Style, as the contest has been dubbed, is aimed at encouraging young talent in the fashion design sphere, according to a report published by Vanguard. Open until August 1, the comp is open...
CLICK HERE
Landa Digital Printing raises $300 million in equity financing
Israel’s Landa Digital Printing has raised $300 million in equity financing from German speciialty chemicals group Altana and private investment firm SKion GmbH. The funds raised were based on a company valuation of $1.8 billion and will be used to expand the...
CLICK HERE
The Fox group eyes up Estee Lauder franchise
The Fox group is hoping to obtain a franchise to operate standalone stores for The Estee Lauder Companies’ portfolio in Israel, according to a report published by Globes. Lauder subsidiary Elcalil currently operates some 25 stores across the country for the US...
CLICK HERE
It’s a promising market: Unilever invests in Egyptian production
Unilever is investing heavily in its Egyptian production lines, according to a report published by Daily News Egypt. The Managing Director of the Dutch FMCG giant, Ashraf Bakry told Daily News that Unilever has struck deals with three international suppliers in a bid...
CLICK HERE
PZ Cussons warns of low profit as consumer spending slows
PZ Cussons has announced that it expects its profits to be at the lower end of its revised range, according to a report published by The Times. The manufacturer of Imperial Leather and Carex soaps said that, while UK consumer spending was in line with expectation,...
CLICK HERE
Tunisian journalist website Mille World raises profile of Arab fashion
Online platform MILLE World is said to be raising awareness of Arab nation fashion designers since its launch earlier this year, thanks to its focus on beauty, fashion and lifestyle commentary. The brainchild of Tunisian journalist Sofia Guellaty, who has previously...
CLICK HERE
Spuntech signs US$130 million wet wipe deal with P&G
Israel-based cloth manufacturer Spuntech has struck a deal to supply US FMCG giant Procter & Gamble with material used to manufacture wet wipes, according to a report published by Globes. The supplier valued the three-year deal at US$130 million, or US$43 million per...
CLICK HERE
Start-ups thrive as online shopping becomes the norm in Kabul
Afghan consumers are increasingly taking to the internet in a bid to stay safe, according to a report published by Reuters. With frequent suicide bomb attacks and sexual harassment on the rise in the capital, many consumers are staying home and going online instead....
CLICK HERE
Estée Lauder tops Nigerian fragrance charts
Estée Lauder was the leading fragrance brand on the Nigerian market in 2017, according to a report published by Business AM. Quoting Euromonitor data, the report reveals that Lauder's eponymous brand topped the charts followed by its Tommy Hilfiger and DKNY labels....
CLICK HERE
Unilever cuts ribbon on South Africa-based energy saving biomass boiler
Unilever has unveiled a biomass boiler in South Africa, which the company has stated will help reduce CO2 emissions, waste-to-landfill, and eventually the amount of electricity used at the Durban-based Maydon Wharf site. The unveiling marked World Environment Day with...
CLICK HERE
Procter & Gamble confirms it will withdraw from Iran
Procter & Gamble has confirmed it will withdraw operations from Iran following US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the country out of an agreement that limits Tehran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. The personal care manufacturer is one of many companies...
CLICK HERE
Estée Lauder awards EMEA account to Dentsu Aegis
The Estée Lauder Companies has awarded its EMEA media account to Dentsu Aegis following a competitive pitch, according to a report published by The Drum. The business is thought to be worth in the region of €30 million and was previously held by Omnicom-owned OMD who...
CLICK HERE
K-beauty’s Nature Republic launches in Saudi Arabia
K-beauty brand Nature Republic has cut the ribbon on its first store in Saudi Arabia, according to a report published by the Korea Times. The new store, which will serve as a flagship for the brand, is located in Riyadh’s Al Nakheel Mall. The K-beauty brand has teamed...
CLICK HERE
Lancôme rolls My Shade My Power campaign out to Nigeria
Following the UK launch earlier this year, Lancôme has launched its popular My Shade My Power campaign onto the Nigerian market, according to a report published by Bella Ninja. The L’Oréal-owned brand celebrated the launch of the 40 Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation...
CLICK HERE
Fashion designer Mai Atafo to design Nivea’s new Black and White collection
Nigerian fashion designer Mai Atafo has been announced as the official designer of Nivea’s Black and White collection, with the collaboration aimed at promoting fashion in the country. Atafo is a leading fashion designer in Nigeria with a collection of menwear,...
CLICK HERE
Three female Saudi students storm P&G CEO challenge
An all-woman team of three engineering students hailing from Saudi Arabia have been named winners of Procter & Gamble’s CEO Challenge, according to a report published by Albawaba Business. Linah Hussain, Malak Mously and Rawan Baik triumphed over some 3,500 entrants...
CLICK HERE
Uganda palm oil estate kicks into gear after decade-long delay
Uganda has revived a palm oil expansion project that has been shelved for more than a decade, according to a report published by Bloomberg. The government initiated the transfer or land on Buvuma Island to Bidco Uganda in the final three months of last year. Bidco is...
CLICK HERE
Twitter users mock MAC for suhoor make-up tutorial
A make-up tutorial posted by MAC Cosmetics Middle East nearly broke Twitter last week as Muslim users took to the platform to protest against the brand’s tips on glamming up for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal eaten during the month of Ramadan when it is customary to fast...
CLICK HERE
L’Occitane to open Singapore-based pop-up café
L’Occitane has announced plans to open a new pop up café, named A Journey in Every Sense’, at Ion Orchard, Singapore between 3-16th July. Launched in collaboration with dessert specialist Janice Wong, the French beauty giant is capitalizing on the current trend for...
CLICK HERE
JWT Dubai appointed as AOR for Unilever Closeup oral care brand
Unilever has appointed J.Walter Thompson (JWT) Dubai as the Agency of Record and communications partner for its Closeup oral care brand in the gulf region. With Closeup being one of the first brands to target the youth demographic, the decision to appoint the agency...
CLICK HERE
Is your make-up funding terror? Taliban earning up to US$10 million a year through talc mining, says Global Witness
The Islamic State is using the proceeds of its illegal talc mining operations to fund conflict, according to a report published by Bloomberg. A report published by Global Witness this week, per Bloomberg, suggests that the Taliban earns between US$2.5 million and...
CLICK HERE
‘We won’t become China’s dumping ground’: Central Bank of Nigeria quells fears over Chinese currency swap
The Central Bank of Nigeria has confirmed that the N720 billion Nigeria-China currency swap agreement will not extend to the importation of those items listed in 2015 as not valid for foreign exchange, which includes soaps and cosmetics, according to a report...
CLICK HERE
French beauty brand Yves Rocher expands in African market with new store launch
Premium French beauty brand Yves Rocher has opened a new store in Palms Mall, Lekki, Nigeria, expanding the company’s foothold in the market. The new opening comes two years after the Yves Rocher launched its first boutique Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja and a boutique opening...
CLICK HERE
Dubai beauty exports top Dh20 billion
Dubai exported some Dh20 billion-worth of beauty products in 2017, according to a report published by Trade Arabia, quoting figures released by Dubai Customs at the Beautyworld Middle East 2018 exhibition. Saudi Arabia is Dubai’s top destination market, with exports...
CLICK HERE
Nivea signs up as sponsor of Fashion’s Finest Africa Awards
Nivea has been announced as the title sponsor for the Fashion's Finest Africa Awards, according to a report published by Pulse. The event will be Nigeria’s first major fashion event and is designed to celebrate those who have made an impact on the fashion industry....
CLICK HERE
Oriflame Egypt announces five-year plan to expand franchise concept to 500
Oriflame Egypt has announced plans to expand its franchise offering in the country from 140 franchises to 500 over the next five years. Speaking in an interview with Daily News Egypt, Oriflame Egypt Managing Director Abdel Aziz discussed the commercial viability of...
CLICK HERE
Huda Beauty ‘vagina lightening’ blog post likened to modern day racism
A recent blog post by Huda Beauty on vagina lightening has caused controversy due to its content, with some consumers likening it to modern racism. The blog, posted on the successful site of entrepreneur Huda Kattan, is titled ‘Why Your Vagina Gets Dark And How To...
CLICK HERE
Ghanaian Cosmetics Association given leave to appeal hydroquinone ban
Ghana’s Food and Drugs Association has been unsuccessful in its bid to topple a challenge to its hydroquinone ban at the first hurdle, according to a report published by GBC Ghana. The regulatory body battled to have a suit filed by the Cosmetics Association of Ghana...
CLICK HERE
Personal service: Israeli shoppers head in store for beauty buys
Israeli shoppers overwhelmingly opt to buy their cosmetics and personal care items in store, rather than online, according to a report published by Haaretz. Just 10 percent of total cosmetics and personal care sales are completed online, according to TASC. A survey...
CLICK HERE
IFF acquires Frutarom for US$7.1 billion
International Flavors & Fragrances has announced that is has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Frutarom in a cash and stock transaction valued at US$7.1 billion. The acquisition will propel IFF to the position of global leader in taste, scent and...
CLICK HERE
European Parliament votes to support The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International-backed call for a global ban on animal testing
MEPs have voted in an overwhelming majority to adopt a resolution to support a worldwide-ban on cosmetic testing on animals, a move backed by The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International. Some 620 MEPs voted in favour of the EU launching a diplomatic drive for a...
CLICK HERELATEST NEWS
