L'Oreal and its recently purchased augmented reality and artificial intelligence company ModiFace have partnered with Facebook to create AR experiences for consumption by users of the social networking platform's camera products. Featuring a direct and seamless link between Facebook and ModiFace, the partners will deliver AR-based experiences, enabling consumers to virtually try on makeup products from leading beauty brands, including Maybelline, L'Oreal Paris, and NYX Professional Makeup. [Image Credit: © Modiface Inc.]

Schwarzkopf has launched its My Specialist brand of personalized haircare products in China. Available online through an exclusive partnership with China-based online shopping website T-Mall, the brand offers consumers what the company describes as a “whole new level of personalization.” Developed by Henkel's research and development professionals, marketing teams, and the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, the brand comes with an online dryness and damage assessment that measures the health status of the consumer's hair. Also, consumers are prompted to answer a series of questions to better assess their haircare needs. According to the company, the system checks the hair's cuticle array, cuticle lift-up, cortex exposure, and other aspects of the hair condition.[Image Credit: © Henkel AG & Co. KGaA]

After receiving an extra $52 million in venture capital funding, beauty brand Glossier plans to create a “social-selling website” for beauty products. According to company founder and CEO Emily Weiss, her company will build a website that combines social media and online shopping, which will allow consumers to get insights and buying tips from other users about beauty products. Weiss said the website will not be a social network that sells advertisements for revenue, but will instead be used by the company to sell its own beauty products. According to Weiss, her company's social commerce strategy aims to address the fact that despite advances in ecommerce and online retail, “the customer experience is pretty broken.”[Image Credit: © Glossier Inc.]

After its previous marketing strategies had linked its brand to “lad culture, sex, and misogyny”, Lynx embraced campaigns that focus on ideals of masculinity that are harmful to male mental health. In January 2016, the male-grooming brand launched its “Find your magic” campaign, which encouraged young men to “embrace their differences.” Lynx and other brands face the risk of unfavorable reaction from consumers, who might see their “brand purpose” efforts as a means to enhance reputation and sell products. According to Lynx global vice president Rik Strubel, part of the brand's more socially conscious efforts is remaining true to its humorous heritage. [Image Credit: © Unilever]

Avon announced the launch of Digital Innovation University, the direct-to-consumer beauty brand's digital training program for its Sales Training Teams. Developed in partnership with digital experts, the training program is available online. It comes with three modules and runs for three months.[Image Credit: © Avon Products, Inc.]

Australia-based skincare brand Jurlique has partnered with ecommerce technology company Tryzens to launch a new digital retail platform. In 2016, the brand first launched its digital platform; its partnership with Tryzens aims to improve its customer experience and offer new ecommerce capability for shoppers.[Image Credit: © Jurlique]

Emily Weiss, founder and CEO of ecommerce beauty startup Glossier,said her company will never sell on online retailer Amazon's platform. Established in 2014, Glossier has received $87 million in venture funding, enabling it to create a beauty brand popular among women. Weiss said other ecommerce companies can grow outside Amazon's shadow and that the user experience offered by the online retail giant “may not be the best fit for beauty and fashion products”.

[Image Credit: © Glossier Inc.]

Nestlé may be planning to divest its $2.79 billion skin-health business as a way to placate an activist investor who believes the company should focus on food and beverages. Selling the unit could generate $4.1 billion, according to analysts, but the company did not comment on the speculation. Investor Daniel Loeb took a $3.5 billion stake in Nestlé last year and has since pressured the company to sell its investment in L’Oréal SA and in the skin-health arm set up in 2014 after Nestlé assumed full control of Galderma. CEO Mark Schneider has said the key to reviving stagnating growth is to focus on core areas with growth potential like coffee, pet care, water, and infant nutrition. Regarding coffee, the company recently bought the rights to market and sell Starbucks coffee and tea products in grocery and retail stores, and last year bought a majority stake in U.S. premium coffee chain Blue Bottle.