Beauty Notes | 29 September
The Outset Announces Closure
The Outset is closing down, with the reason behind the decision yet to be shared. Scarlett Johansson and Kate Foster Lengyel’s skincare brand has confirmed it is winding down operations, with shopping on theoutset.com already switched off. Existing orders will still be fulfilled. The brand launched in 2022 with a stripped-back five-product routine and went on to expand its product line and pick up retail partners such as Sephora, Amazon, QVC, and Nordstrom.
VicBlends Launches BetterDays
VicBlends has unveiled BetterDays, a new men’s haircare brand built with wavy, curly, and coily textures in mind. The debut duo keeps things simple with two $20 products: Rebound Cream, a lightweight leave-in conditioner for hydration, and Grip Powder, a matte texturising powder designed to add lift and absorb oil. Get the full details here.
Nip+Fab’s The Fix Has Landed
Nip+Fab’s The Fix has officially launched today, bringing its transparency-first skincare concept to market with a serum, cream, and daily SPF. The big talking point isn’t just the formulas: the brand is publishing exact ingredient percentages, full testing data — even the less impressive results — and the costs behind making and pricing each product. Read the full story here.
Nocturnal Skincare Drops Cleansing Powder
Nocturnal Skincare has launched Spring Awakening Japanese Enzyme Cleansing Powder, which turns creamy once mixed with water. Rather than using physical exfoliants, it relies on three enzymes — papain, protease, and lipase — to help lift away dead-skin buildup and excess oil. The powder format keeps the enzymes inactive until you use it, and the formula is designed to leave skin feeling smoother and refreshed without that scrubbed, stripped feeling. It’s priced at $58.
Sephora Is Coming to M&S
Sephora is teaming up with M&S, and it’s a pretty major move. From spring 2027, Sephora at M&S will roll out to 100 locations across UK high streets and retail parks, with an even broader range available on marksandspencer.com. The shop-in-shop spaces will cover skincare, makeup, fragrance, haircare, and bodycare, with beauty advisors on hand in store. The exact brand lineup is still under wraps, but M&S says to expect a mix of big names, newer brands, and some Sephora exclusives.
Jo Malone London Enters Space NK
Jo Malone London has landed at Space NK, with a curated edit of its fragrances now available in 26 stores and online. The Space NK edit spans some of the brand’s best-known scents, including Lime Basil & Mandarin, English Pear & Freesia, Pomegranate Noir, and Wood Sage & Sea Salt, alongside several Cologne Intense fragrances and a Discovery Collection.
British Intimate-Wellness Brand Hoily Launches
British intimate-wellness brand Hoily has launched with a skincare-inspired approach to lube. Founded around the idea that intimate care should be treated with the same attention as the rest of your routine, the brand is debuting with an oil-based lubricant made in the UK. The fragrance-free formula is more than 99.9% naturally derived and contains 750mg of CBD isolate, alongside squalane, jojoba, hemp seed oil, calendula, and vitamin E. Read the full story here.