Retail Recap: The big beauty launches of May 2024

This month saw a variety of new beauty launches across the UK, from new brand launches and retail expansions to tech and product innovation.

Here's a round-up featuring May's highlights from businesses including Glossier, Space NK and L'Oréal as well as this month's top news and features content from TheIndustry.beauty.

Launches at UK retailers

Tanning expert James Read launched a new sunless tanning range at Space NK

If you’re familiar with the world of self-tanning, you’ll have already heard of the name James Read. Now, the innovator in sunless tanning brought his brand-new line Self Glow to Space NK shelves.

After dissolving his eponymous line, the celebrity tan artist is back and better than ever. The new complete skincare-led sunless tanning range combines natural tints with high-performance active and fermented ingredients to hydrate, nourish and deliver a radiant complexion no matter if the English sun is nowhere to be found.

Glossier branched out of London with new Space NK retail partnership

Cult-favourite beauty brand Glossier, which has already garnered a strong presence in London, branched out across the UK in partnership with Space NK.

The new retail partnership means that Glossier’s pink products, including makeup, skincare and fragrance, will be available online and at 48 Space NK stores across the UK and Ireland from 8 June.

JVN strengthened its product portfolio and targets UK growth under its new owner

JVN, the inclusive haircare brand from hair stylist, entrepreneur and Netflix star, Jonathan Van Ness, has expanded its product portfolio and has its sights set on further growth in the UK under its new owner Windsong Global.

The brand has added a new Intense Hydration Mask to its Nurture product range and is promising key activations this summer with retail partner SpaceNK to support its continued growth and penetration in the "strong-performing" UK market.

Tech & innovation

L’Oréal presented "awe-inspiring" beauty tech advancements

L’Oréal presented its most recent beauty tech innovations at the Viva Technology show in Paris. These advancements include a realistic skin-like technology platform for scientific research and product testing as well as a Gen AI beauty content lab called Creaitech to augment reality.

How Dyson is revolutionising scalp care with its latest haircare innovation

Dyson launched its most intelligent hair dryer to date in the UK, designed to champion scalp health with new sensor technology. Following its launch into the world of haircare in 2016, the brand has introduced the next iteration of its Supersonic Hair Dryer, the Nural.

The new styling tool promises to protect scalp health and enhance hair’s natural shine with "fast, intelligent drying and no heat damage for all hair types".

Customer demand fuels Glow For It's expansion into haircare

Glow For It, the beauty brand famous for its viral Lash Growth Serum, has expanded into haircare for the first time with a new Hair Growth Serum, developed after two years in the making.

Described as a water-based formula that is ideal for all hair types and textures, including beards, the new serum promises to support the natural hair growth cycle and promote healthy hair growth.

Diptyque debuted new store concept as it opens New Bond Street flagship

Diptyque opened a new flagship boutique at 107 New Bond Street in London, taking over a large three-story apartment as the luxury brand introduces its new store concept, Maisons Diptyque. The new concept debuts in London before launching in Paris later this month, with both stores marking the largest ever opened by the brand.

Dr. Munir launched CALECIM Hair Restore treatment to address hair loss resulting from Ozempic use

Dr. Munir introduced the specialised CALECIM Hair Restoration treatment targeting the "acute hair shedding" caused by the increasingly popular weight-loss drug, Ozempic.

Leading hair surgeon Dr. Munir said one of the lesser-known side-effects of the drug, which has been popular for its efficacy in helping users to lose weight, is hair loss and scalp inflammation, which can cause significant issues.

Other content highlights

News

• Sephora landed at Manchester’s Trafford Centre as it opens third UK store
• Superdrug expands its horizons with plans to open 25 new stores
• Rosie Huntington-Whiteley steps down from Rose Inc after it was sold at auction
• Chanel reveals “exceptional growth” boosted by makeup sales
• Space NK to open new flagship at Manchester’s Trafford Centre as it continues to invest in UK stores
• Lookfantastic removes VAT cost from core SPF products as part of new campaign
• Lush brought a Bridgerton collaboration to the ton

Features

• The Interview: Maria Hatzistefanis, Founder of Rodial and Nip+Fab, on finding your niche and making actives accessible...
• The Interview in partnership with CEW: Sarah Brown, Founder of Pai Skincare
• The Interview: Founder Zoe Boikou on Zoeva's journey to success and how she positions it for continued growth
• How beauty brands can leverage TikTok to drive growth
• Why newly privatised Grown Alchemist is targeting partnerships to fuel growth
• Rita Ora on how her own struggles with haircare led to the launch of her new line Typebea