š Top 20 Makeup & Beauty News Stories
Friday, October 16, 2026
Here are 20 notable India and global makeup, skincare, cosmetics, haircare, fragrance and beauty-industry stories making news today.
š®š³ India Beauty News
1. NARS Launches Eye Moment Collection in India
NARS has launched its new Eye Moment collection in India, marking a major expansion into eye makeup. The range includes Notorious Mascara, Sparkling Seduction Liquid Eyeshadow and Quad Eyeshadow, with the mascara promising long wear and humidity resistance.
2. EstƩe Lauder Announces BEAUTY & YOU India 2026 Winners
EstƩe Lauder Companies, Nykaa and Startup India have announced the winners of the fifth edition of BEAUTY & YOU India, a programme supporting emerging Indian beauty entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, industry expertise and distribution opportunities.
3. EstƩe Lauder Steps Up Its India Expansion Strategy
EstĆ©e Lauder is intensifying its India strategy, exploring local manufacturing and third-party production while expanding digital distribution through platforms including Amazon, Zepto, Blinkit, Nykaa and Sephora. The company is also looking at opportunities to broaden its portfolio in India’s rapidly expanding prestige-beauty segment.
4. KIKO Milano Plans to Double Its Indian Retail Footprint
Italian cosmetics brand KIKO Milano is preparing to significantly expand its presence in India. The move reflects the growing demand for international makeup brands among Indian consumers.
5. Nykaa and L’OrĆ©al Strengthen Kiehl’s Presence in India
Nykaa and L’OrĆ©al are expanding their partnership around Kiehl’s, with a new skincare launch supporting the brand’s growth in India’s premium beauty market. The move comes as demand for dermatologist-inspired skincare continues to rise.
6. Shirley Setia’s ISLAND Beauty Focuses on Barrier-First Skincare
Singer and actor Shirley Setia’s ISLAND Beauty is positioning itself around barrier-focused skincare after nearly two years of research and more than 52 product iterations. The brand is targeting India’s increasingly ingredient-conscious skincare consumer.
7. SAMMMM Launches Co-Created Makeup With Heli Daruwala
Indian self-care brand SAMMMM has launched pH+LUSH, its first co-created makeup product with actress Heli Daruwala. The product is designed as a pH-changing cheek-and-lip tint aimed at creating a natural-looking flush.
8. Sephora India Holds Star-Studded House of Sephora Event
Sephora India’s House of Sephora 3.0 brought celebrities including Farah Khan, Mahima Makwana and Isha Talwar together in Mumbai. The event highlighted beauty experiences, makeup and celebrity-led beauty culture.
9. Sai Pallavi’s Minimal-Makeup Look Creates Beauty Buzz
Sai Pallavi’s appearance at the Ramayana international trailer launch in Bengaluru has drawn attention to her signature natural beauty aesthetic. Her fresh complexion, softly defined eyes and minimal makeup have become a talking point amid a wider shift toward understated celebrity beauty.
10. India’s Beauty Entrepreneurs Continue to Gain Global Attention
India’s beauty ecosystem is attracting increasing investment and international interest as homegrown brands develop products around local skin tones, climates, ingredients and consumer preferences. The country’s D2C beauty segment is also expanding beyond online-only models into physical retail.
š World Beauty News
11. Galderma to Acquire ZO Skin Health for $1.5 Billion
Swiss dermatology company Galderma has agreed to acquire US physician-dispensed skincare brand ZO Skin Health for approximately $1.5 billion. The deal is designed to strengthen Galderma’s position in professional skincare and complement its existing Alastin portfolio.
12. Shiseido Sues Shein Over Cosmetics Distribution
Shiseido subsidiary BeautĆ© Prestige Internationale has filed a ā¬2.6 million lawsuit against Shein in France, alleging unfair competition connected with the sale of its cosmetics outside authorised distribution channels. The dispute highlights growing concerns over luxury and premium beauty distribution online.
13. LVMH Reports Growth in Beauty and Sephora Sales
LVMH reported 1% organic revenue growth in the third quarter of 2026, with its Perfumes & Cosmetics and Selective Retailing businesses providing support. Sephora’s performance was a particularly important contributor despite softer demand in China.
14. CJ Olive Young Expands K-Beauty Distribution With Sephora
South Korean beauty retailer CJ Olive Young is expanding its partnership with Sephora across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. Its curated K-Beauty Edit is designed to give Korean cosmetics brands greater international distribution.
15. Bluemercury Relaunches Lune+Aster
Macy’s-owned beauty retailer Bluemercury has relaunched its Lune+Aster cosmetics brand with a refreshed identity and expanded makeup assortment. The move forms part of the retailer’s strategy to strengthen personalised and premium beauty retail.
16. Kenvue Beauty Sales Continue to Grow
Kenvue’s Skin Health and Beauty business has been benefiting from growth at brands including Neutrogena and OGX. E-commerce and new product activity remain important drivers as the company continues its broader corporate transition.
17. Kimberly-Clark’s $40 Billion Kenvue Deal Faces Divestiture Conditions
The proposed $40 billion acquisition of Kenvue by Kimberly-Clark has received regulatory approval in several markets subject to conditions, including divestitures designed to address competition concerns. The transaction could reshape the global consumer-health and beauty landscape.
18. Beauty Industry Looks Toward Skincare-Makeup Hybrids
Multifunctional products combining skincare and makeup benefits remain one of the industry’s strongest trends. New launches increasingly promise hydration, barrier support or skin-care ingredients alongside colour and cosmetic performance.
19. Autumn Beauty Focus Shifts Toward Hydration and Skin Comfort
Beauty editors are highlighting richer hydration, barrier-support products, multifunctional makeup and warm fragrances as key autumn directions. The shift reflects cooler weather and continued consumer interest in simplified routines that deliver several benefits at once.
20. Food-Inspired Beauty Continues to Grow as a Cultural Trend
Beauty brands are increasingly collaborating with food and beverage companies and using familiar flavours, colours and nostalgic references in cosmetics and fragrance. Industry observers see these collaborations as a way to make beauty products more social-media-friendly and culturally relevant.
āØ Major Beauty Trends Today
K-beauty expansion ā¢ Indian beauty entrepreneurship ā¢ barrier-first skincare ā¢ multifunctional makeup ā¢ natural celebrity beauty ā¢ professional skincare ā¢ AI and personalised beauty ā¢ premium beauty retail ā¢ celebrity collaborations ā¢ globalisation of Indian and Asian beauty.
