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
Aesop’s new Hainan store uses algae to elevate the luxury retail experience

News

Aesop’s new Hainan store uses algae to elevate the luxury retail experience

Luxury cosmetic brand Aesop’s latest store, in Hainan, is pushing the boundaries of sustainable design, using algae to create an immersive, ocean-i...
Retail : Beauty : Design
Conceivable Life Sciences is transforming IVF with robotics and AI

News

Conceivable Life Sciences is transforming IVF with robotics and AI

Conceivable Life Sciences – the biotech company using AI to revolutionise IVF – has secured £14.3m ($18m, €17.2m) in funding led by Artis Ventures,...
Technology : Health & Wellness : Society
Stat: Fragrance becomes the second-largest luxury beauty category in 2024

News

Stat: Fragrance becomes the second-largest luxury beauty category in 2024

Fragrance took centre stage in beauty retail in 2024, emerging as the second-largest category in prestige beauty behind make-up, according to year-...
Beauty : Luxury : Retail
LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

News

LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

Meet our new AI tool, Ember.
The Future Laboratory
Opera Air turns browsing into a mindful experience

News

Opera Air turns browsing into a mindful experience

Norwegian software company Opera is reimagining web browsing with the launch of Opera Air, a first-of-its-kind browser designed around mindfulness.
Health & Wellness : Technology : Pop-culture & Media
Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

News

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

Every Friday, we wrap up the topics, issues, ideas and viral moments everyone’s been discussing. This week, deputy foresight editor Dan Hastings de...
Society : Pop-culture & Media : Technology
Stat: Consumers admit to choosing inaction on climate change due to eco-guilt

News

Stat: Consumers admit to choosing inaction on climate change due to eco-guilt

More than a quarter of people (28%) in 31 countries fall into the category of ‘anxious inactives’, according to the latest GlobeScan Healthy & ...
Society : Sustainability : Retail
Key takeaways from Live Retail Week and The Grocer 2025

News

Key takeaways from Live Retail Week and The Grocer 2025

At Ocado, the three key principles driving its double-digit growth ambitions are clarity, culture and collaboration, according to Amit Chitnis, chi...
Retail : Food & Drink : Events
Equinox and Stripes Beauty launch luxury menopause spa experience

News

Equinox and Stripes Beauty launch luxury menopause spa experience

The Spa by Equinox Hotels has partnered with pro-ageing beauty and wellness brand Stripes Beauty to introduce a high-tech, luxury wellness spa circ...
Health & Wellness : Luxury : Travel & Hospitality
Stat: Teens say Victoria’s Secret Pink is one of North America’s coolest brands

News

Stat: Teens say Victoria’s Secret Pink is one of North America’s coolest brands

According to YPulse’s annual Cool Brands Report, released in early 2025, 71% of North American teenagers say it is important that the brands they p...
Fashion : Youth : Society
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