This month's launches
August’s Best Beauty Launches
This month’s launches point to an interesting shift within beauty: plant-derived ingredients are being utilised in increasingly sophisticated ways. Rather than simply using botanical extracts for their typical benefits, brands are turning to biotech, and potent plant-derived actives to create much more targeted formulas. Think: microalgae-derived , fermented rice proteins and vegan peptides.
Here are five product launches that really stood out to me this month…
Cécred Restoring Lash & Brow Builder
Lash and brow serums are nothing new, but Cécred’s latest launch brings the brand’s haircare expertise into a new category. With a more restorative approach to lashes and brows, its Lash & Brow Builder combines a proprietary blend of five with a bioactive keratin ferment, fermented rice proteins and biotin to deliver 1.4x visibly thicker and denser lashes and brows after 6 weeks of twice-daily use.[1]
The formula takes a two-pronged approach to density. Rather than simply trying to boost visible fullness, this serum is designed to support the hair itself — helping to improve anchorage, strength and reduce breakage.
And the biggest differentiator? This serum is prostaglandin-free, making it an interesting alternative to many growth-focused lash serums where the use of prostaglandins can cause unwanted side effects such as irritation, discolouration, and fat loss around the eye area. Plus, it’s expertly developed to work alongside lash extensions, lash lifts, brow laminations, and microbladed brows.
Dermalogica Smart Eye Density
In my experience, the vast majority of eye products focus on nourishment, dark circles and puffiness. But Dermalogica’s new Smart Eye Density takes a more targeted approach, focusing specifically on thinning, hollow-looking skin around the eyes and the loss of density that comes with it.
The formula combines a Growth Factor Complex (delivered via an oleosomal system) with fermented and mechanobiology-inspired rye seed extract to help improve skin density, firmness and plumpness.
In an independent study, the formula produced a 129% improvement in under-eye density after 4 weeks of twice-daily use.[2]
Naturium Multi-Active Exosome Serum
Exosomes have been a major industry talking point this past year, but Naturium’s latest launch is particularly interesting as it contains exosomes derived from microalgae, making the formula vegan.
Alongside the exosomes, this new serum boasts a biomimetic peptide and to improve the look of firmness, elasticity, fine lines and overall skin resilience. The brand’s independent study reported that 91% of participants felt their skin looked visibly renewed after one use, while 94% saw a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after 30 days of daily use.[3]
Exosomes are still an emerging area of cosmetic science, so I’d be cautious about translating the broader regenerative claims associated with exosome technology directly to a topical serum. But using biotechnology to create plant-derived exosomes is certainly one of the more interesting ways I’ve seen exosomes enter mainstream skincare.
Caudalie Anti-Hair Loss Serum
Caudalie is bringing its plant-science credentials to the hair-loss category with its newest product launch. This serum’s hero ingredient is VineOxyl™, a patented ingredient produced through biotechnology from grapeseed oil, which Caudalie reports delivers a 53% reduction in hair loss and an 87% increase in hair thickness.[4]
The key distinction here is that this serum isn’t really a scalp-oil-style approach to hair growth. Instead, it’s positioned as a lightweight, water-like treatment designed for daily use, absorbing without leaving the scalp greasy — something that can make a big difference when you’re supposed to apply a product daily for several months.
Although hair loss has many different causes and a cosmetic serum isn’t necessarily going to address all of them, this unique combination of a proprietary biotech active, daily usability and clinical testing makes this a more interesting proposition than other generic scalp serums.
Youth To The People Superfood Retinol & Collagen Plant Protein Balm
is one of the most proven anti-ageing ingredients in skincare, but the challenge has always been making it effective enough to deliver results without irritating your skin in the process.
Youth To The People’s answer is to put 0.1% pure retinol into a nourishing, night cream-like formula and enhance its benefits with barrier-boosting , plumping collagen peptides, and skin-strengthening plant proteins. The brand reports visibly improved skin texture and reduced fine lines within 8 weeks and a +110% increase in skin hydration immediately after application.[5]
The retinol itself isn’t particularly revolutionary — there are plenty of excellent retinol products on the market. What’s more interesting is the delivery format and supporting ingredients, which are designed to make this potent active easier to incorporate into a nightly routine without treating the as an afterthought.
August’s launches certainly show us that “plant-based” beauty is becoming much more nuanced. The most interesting development isn’t simply that brands are using more botanical ingredients; it’s that plant-derived materials are increasingly being used as the basis for high-tech skincare actives and sophisticated delivery systems.
From microalgae-derived exosomes to biotech grapeseed actives and fermented plant proteins, the line between “natural” beauty and advanced skincare is becoming increasingly blurred. And that, I think, is where the next wave of beauty innovation will get especially interesting.
