clean beauty

TRP Travel Retail Style Index: February 2021



Amorepacific Off-White beauty collaboration

Welcome to the latest travel retail column for DRG by Alison Farrington aka The Retail Planner (TRP).

This month, we welcome all the auspicious brand news in celebration of the Lunar New Year for 2021’s Chinese Year of the Ox. We also look at some new skincare launches that will appeal to clean and K-beauty fans.

1/ SHISEIDO ‘INSPIRES JOY’. For Asia Pacific and US travel retail stockists, SHISEIDO has launched an exclusive set of Lunar New Year products for bestselling skincare products, Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate* and Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream (below). They feature gold and red packaging that is inspired by the art of calligraphy and designed to evoke feelings of empowerment for the Chinese New Year celebration. (more…)



Oh look, another celeb beauty launch



Humanrace skincare

I’m so cynical about celeb beauty lines and yet completely seduced by this Pharrell-founded skincare brand, Humanrace. I just love this clean, clinical packaging and I hope the products smell of Granny Smiths.

For the marketing campaign, Pharrell has used extreme close-ups of smooth-skinned, modern day influencers, including the artist Blondey and a robotic cancer surgeon called Dipen Parekh. The blurb is all very worthy which is a bit of a turn-off for me. I guess all that needs to be seen is if non-influencer people talk about it and if it’s actually any good. (You can buy it here – when it’s not sold out – from $32.) (more…)



Feelgood beauty (aka what I’m wearing in lockdown)



Weleda Beauty

I’ve spent the past few weeks researching beauty routines and rituals and found that while in lockdown, I’ve hardly worn much make up but kept up the skincare because it feels good to do.

That’s not new to me. Even though we’re not meant to be touching our faces, the tactile rituals of skincare – massaging in cleansing balms, hot flannelling off, applying oils and creams – are supremely comforting and the mere act of touch is said to boost dopamine levels.

My thing is hydration. (more…)



Can Verishop solve the ecommerce discovery conundrum?



Can Verishop solve the ecommerce discovery conundrum

Anyone tried Verishop? The new anti-Amazon e-com platform (from former Snap Inc. exec, Imran Khan) is an online marketplace that aims to give a much more elevated experience than the soulless functionality of Amazon.

Pitched as ‘affordable luxury’ for young customers looking for contemporary brands, it’s banking on 24/7 customer service to entice customers, with free shipping and returns, making up the margins with lower marketing spend. (more…)