L’Occitaine’s $900m Elemis buy will build out the manufacturer/retailer’s premium, natural-oriented beauty portfolio, adding a prestige brand that aspires to be a leader in global skin care with its nature/science balance and cross-generational consumer appeal.

GSK further narrows consumer health focus with sale to Crown Labs of North American distribution rights for PanOxyl acne wash, Sarna anti-itch lotion, Zeasorb anti-fungal product, Desenex athlete’s foot treatment and Mineral Ice pain-relieving gel. Deals also helps UK pharma pay for its $5.1bn acquisition of oncology drug firm Tesaro.

P&G names Merck KGAA consumer chief Uta Kemmerich-Keil to lead international division of personal health business as it closes on $4.2bn acquisition of German firm's consumer business. Deal closes a month after P&G announced biggest changes to organizational structure in 20 years, including combining personal care and health care into personal health and forming six global units, each headed by a CEO.

L’Occitaine’s $900m Elemis buy will build out the manufacturer/retailer’s premium, natural-oriented beauty portfolio, adding a prestige brand that aspires to be a leader in global skin care with its nature/science balance and cross-generational consumer appeal.

Most US women ages 18-34 who take a supplement do so for beauty benefits, finds Mintel in a survey. Natural Marketing Institute says with science increasing understanding of nutrients, firms should offer supplements that address symptoms of common conditions consumers are treating with drugs.

Despite positive impacts from its Hydro 5 Sense and Intuition f.a.b. razor launches, Edgewell’s global Wet Shave business declined in the fourth quarter and full fiscal 2018. The firm remains focused on slashing costs, an effort that wasn’t helped by a Q4 charge related to REACH ingredient substitution.

Revlon responds to continued net losses with a cost-cutting plan, which will include headcount reductions; Coty is optimistic that CoverGirl momentum, including the launch of a flagship store in Times Square, will help buoy its struggling Consumer Beauty business. Meanwhile, L’Oreal/La Roche-Posay introduces a wearable UV sensor, and IFF-LMR promotes its vegan-certified natural extracts.

Coty reported Nov. 7 a Q1 revenue decline of 9.2% due to a constellation of supply-chain issues and continued Consumer Beauty weakness. Less than a week later – and two years after its completion of a $12bn merger with P&G’s beauty business – the firm announces Pierre Laubies as CEO, evidently drawn to his experience integrating combined assets at a Dutch coffee company.