Beauty Notes | 12 November ’26
Curology Releases Clarity Gap Report
It’s official: when it comes to skincare recommendations, Gen Z trust dermatologists the most, but it’s still social media that influences what they buy. The findings come from The Clarity Gap, a new report from prescription skincare brand Curology that surveyed 1,930 US skincare consumers aged 13 to 29. Of those, 43% credited dermatologists as their most trusted skincare source, compared with just 9% for social. However, 62% look to social media for skincare advice, with 65% having bought a product based on a social recommendation in the past six months. For many, skincare is also a top priority: 89% would cut back on other spending before giving it up. Interestingly, 94% are open to seeing a dermatologist, but only half have actually done so.
Proya Lands at Ulta Beauty
Proya has made its US debut, launching in 400 Ulta Beauty stores and online at ulta.com. The Chinese skincare brand arrives with 16 bestsellers from two of its hero collections, including serums, creams, lotions, and masks. Advanced Firming is designed to target signs of ageing, such as fine lines. Its flagship is the Advanced Firming Nourishing Cream, which is formulated with the brand’s bicyclic peptide technology. Original Repair is for sensitive skin, with the Original Repair Serum leading the range. It pairs lab-grown collagen with a ceramide and plant-derived ingredients to calm redness and soothe skin.
Express Brings Back Fragrance
US fashion retailer Express has relaunched its fine fragrance line. And after years of customer demand, it’s also reviving two noughties favourites, Love and Loyalty. Love, for women, blends fruit notes with cashmere woods, while its male counterpart, Loyalty, combines seawater with crisp lavender. Alongside these throwbacks are three new signature scents and four Velvet gourmand body mists in Latte, Coconut, Chantilly, and Marshmallow. The collection is available now at express.com and in selected stores across the US.
Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Enter Fragrance
Rita Ora and Taika Waititi are among the co-founders of Máno × Mnrl, a new fragrance house that has launched exclusively at Harrods. It was created by founder Joshua Máno Gilbertson alongside Tess Richards, and draws inspiration from Gilbertson’s Māori heritage. Every scent is formulated without PFAS or any ingredients on Breast Cancer UK’s Chemicals of Concern lists. The brand debuted with eight fragrances, split across two collections: Elemental and Urban. Read the full story here.
Neom Announces Leadership Change
Isabel Malbois, the CEO of British wellbeing brand Neom, is stepping back from the business after five years. Co-founder Nicola Elliott will continue to oversee brand and creative, while fellow co-founder Oliver Mennell will return to lead the company as executive chair. Neom says this leadership change will bring a focus on strengthening the brand and accelerating product innovation. Its four wellbeing pillars — Sleep, De-Stress, Energy, and Mood Boost — will remain at the heart of the lineup, while international growth is a priority, particularly in the US.
No Makeup Makeup Names Bill Guthy CEO
No Makeup Makeup has a new CEO, and it’s founder Victoria Jackson’s husband and long-time business partner, Bill Guthy. Jackson, who is credited with pioneering the ‘no makeup makeup’ look back in 1986, becomes executive chair and chief creative officer. She will continue leading the brand’s creative vision and product innovation. Guthy is the co-founder of Guthy-Renker, the marketing company that helped build brands such as Proactiv, Meaningful Beauty, and IT Cosmetics. His No Makeup Makeup appointment marks the first time he will lead a beauty brand outside the Guthy-Renker portfolio.