Editors' Top Reads: News from L’Oréal, Space NK, Sarah Creal Beauty and more...
Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.beauty team.
TheIndustry.beauty Awards Winners’ Interview: Space NK CEO Emma Simpson-Scott on reinventing the beauty retail experience
At TheIndustry.beauty Innovators Awards 2026, British beauty giant Space NK was recognised with the Physical Retail Award for its Oxford Circus flagship in London. Opened last year, the store marked a new chapter for the retailer, introducing a refreshed retail concept designed around the evolving needs, expectations and desires of today’s beauty consumer.
Created as a destination for discovery, the flagship brings together a carefully curated mix of emerging brands, exclusive launches and much-loved beauty favourites, giving customers the opportunity to “discover the very best of beauty” in a highly considered and immersive environment.
Newly appointed CEO Emma Simpson-Scott discusses the thinking behind the Oxford Street flagship and how it reflects Space NK’s evolving approach to the in-store experience. Having previously served as the retailer’s Chief Marketing Officer, Simpson-Scott stepped into the CEO role this week, succeeding Andy Lightfoot. She also shares her perspective on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of beauty, and how Space NK is adapting its strategy to meet changing consumer expectations while continuing to innovate and grow.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
Sarah Creal Beauty arrives at Space NK: How beauty brands are courting the 40+ consumer
I loved reading my colleague Sophie's analysis oh the beauty brands courting the 40+ consumer, as skincare and make-up brand Sarah Creal Beauty joins a wave of brands targeting women over 40 in the UK.
The brand, which was founded in 2024 by industry veteran Sarah Creal – whose incredible CV extends to Prada Beauty, Tom Ford Beauty and Bobbi Brown – sets itself apart by targeting women over 40, a demographic the brand argues the beauty industry has long underserved.
The brand's popularity has since exploded, with sales increasing to $10 million in its first year. There is definitely something interesting happening here. From Trinny London to Studio10, Laura Geller Beauty and Merit, there is an increasing number of brands that are looking to test products for more mature skin and are also putting the 40+ woman at the centre of their marketing campaigns.
The piece raises such interesting points, such as the growing purchasing power and more discerning buying habits of a more mature customer, but also explores the tension that creating a whole separate product category based on age creates.
I took away so many learnings here; it's a fascinating space that I will definitely continue to explore.
Camilla Rydzek, Senior News & Features Writer.
Updated: The beauty advent calendars of 2026
You’d be right to say this isn’t technically this week’s news, as our evolving round-up has been live since last month. However, I’ve added a whole host of new calendars to the edit this week - and it’s definitely worth another look.
It comes as brands and retailers continue to pull out all the stops to capture early festive demand, with higher-value assortments, an increasing number of full-size products and collectable packaging. Beauty advent calendars are certainly becoming bigger, better and more exciting with every season.
This year’s launches span everything from expansive beauty edits and cult-favourite collections to specialist fragrance and wellbeing calendars. Our round-up is already spotlighting some of the names we’re most excited about, including Liberty, Marks & Spencer, ASOS, John Lewis, Selfridges and more.
And there’s plenty more to come. Keep checking back as we continue to update our guide with the key beauty advent calendars to know for the 2026 festive season - because there will be more!
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
New L’Oréal study exposes global divide in access to dermatology care
I think skincare can sometimes feel like a luxury, particularly when so much of the conversation is focused on the latest products and routines. That is why I found L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty’s latest research interesting, as it highlights a much more basic issue: whether people can actually access medical care for their skin when they need it.
The study, conducted with the International League of Dermatological Societies, found that only 27 of 158 surveyed countries have enough dermatologists to meet population needs. The global average is 2.66 dermatologists per 100,000 people, compared with the 5.63 needed for adequate provision.
What stood out to me was just how much access can depend on where you live. Around 79% of dermatologists globally work in urban areas, rising to 91% in low-income countries. This means that even where dermatologists are available, they may still be difficult to reach for people living outside major cities.
For me, this puts the wider skincare conversation into perspective. It is easy to take access to dermatological care for granted when we can walk into a shop and choose from hundreds of skincare products, or book an appointment with a specialist when we have a concern. For millions of people, however, getting professional help for their skin is not that straightforward.
Catherine Rowe-Kosary, Junior Writer.
