News 29.01.2025

Need to Know

Somerset House celebrates the magic of soil, Pat McGrath Labs launches Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask and workplace stress leads to rise in ‘conscious unbossing’

Somerset House celebrates the magic of soil

Soil: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House. Photography by David Parry, UK
Soil: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House. Photography by David Parry, UK
Soil: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House. Photography by David Parry, UK

UK – Somerset House begins 2025 with Soil: The World at Our Feet, a landmark exhibition running from 23 January to 13 April. Celebrating the venue’s 25th anniversary as one of London’s iconic cultural spaces, the exhibition highlights soil’s vital role in sustaining life on Earth.

Blending science, art and storytelling, Soil features more than 50 works, including new commissions by artists such as Vivien Sansour and Marshmallow Laser Feast. The exhibition is organised around three themes – life below ground, life above ground and hope – exploring soil’s ecological, cultural and societal significance.

‘We need to start thinking of soil as something more than just dirt. It is part of a vast range of processes without which human life would not be possible,’ said the team of co-curators in a press release. ‘Soil offers visitors the opportunity to discover how this extraordinary, essential eco-system – as diverse as the night sky is full of stars – sustains life on Earth, including human life.’

With immersive artworks, historical artefacts and an engaging public programme, Soil aims to inspire change and foster hope for the planet’s future. In How Soil is Inspiring Food Futures, LS:N Global interviewed dining experience designer and lecturer Gabby Morris, who suggests that soil holds the key to building an ethically interconnected food industry.

Strategic opportunity

Develop campaigns that emphasise soil’s capacity for growth, transformation and resilience. Soil’s cyclical nature can inspire branding associated with regeneration – whether in personal growth, business transformation or ecological impact

Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask takes glass skin from runway to reality

UK – One year after make-up artist Pat McGrath’s viral runway moment for Maison Margiela Artisanal 2024, Pat McGrath Labs has launched Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask. The peel-off formula replicates McGrath’s iconic light-catching ‘glass skin’ effect in a single step, delivering an ethereal, hyper-shiny finish.

Enriched with glycerin, rose flower water and allantoin, the mask nourishes and hydrates while blurring pores and revealing revitalised skin.

The mask is applied over bare skin or make-up in thin, even layers. Each layer must dry completely before applying the next. Once fully dried, the mask forms a lacquer-like film that can be peeled off.

In a love letter to the Maison Margiela runway, McGrath describes the mask as ‘beauty re-imagined for make-up lovers everywhere’. The Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask is available exclusively at patmcgrath.com and retails for £36 ($44.80, €42.95). 

From new product launches to inspiring campaigns, head to our Beauty sector to discover the trends affecting the sector.

Pat McGrath Glass 001 Artistry Mask, US

Strategic opportunity

The Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask bridges skincare and self-expression. How can you create multi-functional products that deliver both beauty benefits and creative experiences for your consumers?

Stat: Leadership pipeline under threat as stress drives ‘conscious unbossing’

Centre for Ageing Better, UK Centre for Ageing Better, UK

Global – Business leaders are under mounting stress, with 71% reporting increased pressure since starting their roles – a sharp rise from 63% in 2022, according to a survey by leadership consultancy DDI. Limited time and resources compound the issue, as only 30% of leaders feel they have enough hours to meet their own standards. Alarmingly, 40% of stressed leaders have considered stepping down, threatening a structural breakdown in the leadership pipeline. 

This stress is fuelling a workplace trend dubbed ‘conscious unbossing, where Millennials and Gen Z professionals avoid traditional management roles in favour of entrepreneurship or specialist positions. ‘This constricts the leadership talent pool and is becoming a greater risk to the future of organisational talent pipelines,’ says Stephanie Neal, director of DDI’s Center for Analytics and Behavioral Research. 

Organisations are feeling the strain, with 80% expressing a lack of confidence in their leadership bench. To counteract this, companies must prioritise skills development, stress management strategies and leadership support. Neal urges HR teams to invest in future-ready skills, demonstrating ‘the ROI of advanced skills’ to ensure organisational stability. 

Explore our Work States Futures and Human Sustainability Workplaces reports to understand how to foster a sound workplace environment.  

Strategic opportunity

Redesign leadership roles with greater flexibility, work-life balance and autonomy while fostering a strong workplace culture by offering resilience training, mindfulness workshops and mental health resources to reduce stress and attract and retain top talent

Previous News Articles
Cash App taps Timothée Chalamet for youth-friendly money talk

News

Cash App taps Timothée Chalamet for youth-friendly money talk

Cash App has launched an integrated brand campaign featuring Academy Award-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet which aims to foster intergenerational...
Finance : Gen Z : Youth
Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Beauty : The Synthocene Era : Virtual Beauty
Stat: Southeast Asia is TikTok’s largest advertising audience

News

Stat: Southeast Asia is TikTok’s largest advertising audience

Southeast Asia now accounts for nearly a quarter of TikTok’s global advertising audience, according to the Digital 2025: July Statshot report.
Statistic : Stat : Southeast Asia
Spktrl’s AI diamond ring aims to cut screen time

News

Spktrl’s AI diamond ring aims to cut screen time

Parisian start-up Spktrl is reimagining wearable technology with the launch of its AI-powered Light Ring, a piece of high jewellery designed to cur...
Wellness : Augmented Human : The Synthocene Era
Represent launches in-person fitness competition 247 Mission Rivington

News

Represent launches in-person fitness competition 247 Mission Rivington

British fashion brand Represent has held its first-ever fitness event, 247 Mission Rivington, with 100 athletes competing in a 12‑hour endurance ch...
Sport : Fashion : Fitness
Stat: Technological innovation is driving the future of beauty

News

Stat: Technological innovation is driving the future of beauty

Wealth divides, digital tools and regional identity are reshaping the international beauty market, according to The State of Fashion: Beauty Volume...
Statistic : Stat : Beauty
AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

News

AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

WWF-Korea has launched Animal Trash Fashion, a powerful out-of-home campaign using AI to starkly illustrate the devastating impact of plastic pollu...
Sustainability : Design : Advertising
Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

News

Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

British fashion brand Rixo is expanding its circular ambitions with the launch of Rixo Pre-Loved, a resale platform where customers buy and sell it...
Retail : Fashion : Sutainability
Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

News

Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

Business travel is set to reach a record £1.18 trillion ($1.57 trillion, €1.36 trillion) by the end of 2025, according to ...
Stat : Statistic : Global Travel Market
Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

News

Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

Axe is making fragrance sampling fun again with a new campaign for its Cherry Fizz body spray.
Advertising : Fragrance : Retail
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN