Daily Signals 17.04.2025

Signals

Mami Wata presents the new face of SPF, The Wizard of Oz to make its debut at The Sphere and how US teen boys are spending more than girls on fragrances.

Mami Wata makes sun protection accessible with a touch of humour

Mami Wata Bald Faces, Brazil

Brazil – Suncare brand Mami Wata is using humour and nostalgia to highlight the often-overlooked importance of scalp protection.

In its latest campaign, developed with agency Artplan, the brand adopts a retro infomercial style to target bald consumers with a tongue-in-cheek offer: scan your ‘face’ – referring not to facial features, but to the wrinkle-like shapes often found on the backs of bald heads – to receive a coupon code for two sunscreens for the price of one.

The campaign is light-hearted and playful in execution, but communicates a crucial message to those most at risk of scalp sunburn. ‘Our challenge was to communicate a serious health issue in a way that felt human and approachable,’ explains Rodrigo Almeida, chief creative officer of Artplan. ‘We believe that humour, when used with care and empathy, can be a bridge to real awareness and change.’

Blending satirical storytelling with cultural awareness, the campaign moves away from fear-based health messaging and instead reframes SPF use as both necessary and accessible. As suncare brands continue to embed protection into everyday behaviours, Mami Wata’s scalp-focused activation reflects a broader shift towards personalised, creative health communication.

For more on how brands are increasing awareness of sun safety through innovative methods, read our Future Forecast 2024: Beauty report.

Strategic opportunity

Explore the potential of humour and cultural insight to transform traditionally overlooked categories, like suncare, into more approachable, personalised and health-conscious solutions, making essential protection an integral part of daily life

The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere uses generative AI to re-imagine a classic

US – Launching in August 2025, The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere will transform the 1939 classic into an immersive spectacle using cutting-edge generative AI. Set inside Las Vegas’ colossal Sphere venue, the re-imagined film will envelop its 17,600-seat audience in a 16K resolution, 160,000-square-feet visual experience.

The project unites Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, Sphere Studios, Magnopus and Warner Bros Discovery, using AI models Veo, Imagen and Gemini to upscale footage, outpaint missing frames and generate performances – all without adding new dialogue or music.

‘We’re working with Sphere Studios, Magnopus and visual effects artists around the world, alongside our AI models, to effectively bring the original characters and environments to life on a whole new canvas – creating an immersive entertainment experience that still respects the original in every way,’ said Buzz Hays, the global lead for entertainment industry solutions at Google Cloud, in a press release.

In our Archi-tainment report, we analysed how a new generation of transformative structures focused on next-level entertainment experiences like The Sphere are set to influence commercial, public and third spaces.

Google, US

Strategic opportunity

Consider creating branded experiences that blend nostalgia, IP and cutting-edge tech. Think pop-ups or events where AI re-imagines a classic campaign, product launch or cultural moment

Stat: US teen beauty spending soars as Gen Z embrace fragrances and skincare

Jay Chou for La Mer, Taiwan Jay Chou for La Mer, Taiwan

US – Teen beauty spending is on the rise, with Piper Sandler’s Taking Stock With Teens 2025 report revealing double-digit year-on-year growth, particularly in fragrances and skincare.  

A survey of 6,455 US teens across 43 states found fragrances to be the fastest-growing category, with teen boys increasing their annual spending by 44% to £96 ($127, €112), surpassing girls’ average of £81 ($107, €94). 

Daily fragrance use rose significantly, with 53% of boys and 78% of girls applying scent daily – up from 43% and 66% in 2023. Jean Paul Gaultier and Versace topped teen boys’ fragrance preferences, while Bath & Body Works and Sol de Janeiro led among girls. 

In skincare, CeraVe remains dominant across genders, with 52% of boys and 32% of girls naming it their go-to brand. Sephora retained its lead as the top beauty retailer for teen girls, while Amazon led among boys. 

Our Three Key Takeaways From NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show and World Retail Congress 2024: Community Commerce reports unpack the co-creation and phygital experience strategies brands need to employ to tap into the Zalpha economy (the youngest Gen Z and oldest Alphas).  

Strategic opportunity

Beauty brands should tap into young consumers’ growing investment in fragrances and skincare by developing affordable, age-appropriate products while prioritising community loyalty programmes and experiential retail experiences with co-creation opportunities

LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

Supercharge your research with our new generative AI tool and make our platform your trusted intelligence partner. Explore Ember now.

Previous Daily Signals Articles
How Polaroid is owning analogue summer

Daily Signals

How Polaroid is owning analogue summer

Polaroid is turning anti-digital sentiment into a summer brand platform with its latest campaign, The Best of Summer is Analog. Supporting the laun...
Advertising : Out-of Home : Analogue
Jo Malone London and Estée Lauder Companies turn visual taste into fragrance recommendations

Daily Signals

Jo Malone London and Estée Lauder Companies turn visual taste into fragrance recommendations

Jo Malone London and Estée Lauder Companies have launched Scent Scanner, a first-of-its-kind tool available exclusively on Pinterest in the US and ...
Fragrance : Retail : Beauty
Stat: UK staycation market shifts towards shorter, off-peak breaks

Daily Signals

Stat: UK staycation market shifts towards shorter, off-peak breaks

The Sykes Staycation Index 2026 reveals a resilient domestic travel market shaped by more frequent breaks, growing off-peak demand and tighter...
Travel : Hospitality : Domestic Travel
Vaseline turns viral beauty hacks into product line in creator-led innovation shift

Daily Signals

Vaseline turns viral beauty hacks into product line in creator-led innovation shift

Vaseline has transformed viral beauty hacks into a commercial product line, marking a shift towards creator-led innovation in the beauty industry.&...
Beauty : Vaseline : Branding
Foresight Friday: Ella Murray, strategic creative

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Ella Murray, strategic creative

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, strategic creative Ella M...
Travel : Hospitality : Experiential Travel
Stat: Why Gen Z is embracing Country Living

Daily Signals

Stat: Why Gen Z is embracing Country Living

Country Living, the Hearst-owned media brand, has recorded 57% year-on-year growth in its All Access membership, an annual subscription s...
Media : Magazines : Country Living
The China Playbook: Why young Chinese luxury buyers love Vivienne Westwood

Daily Signals

The China Playbook: Why young Chinese luxury buyers love Vivienne Westwood

The China Playbook is a monthly briefing from Hot Pot China equipping businesses with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of the Asian premi...
Luxury : Fashion : Hotpot
Stück re-imagines the third space for intimacy and connection

Daily Signals

Stück re-imagines the third space for intimacy and connection

Stück, a new third-space venue in Dalston, London, is bringing intimacy, hospitality, co-working and community together under one roof.
Third Spaces : Private Members Club : Community
Stat: Social media drives 1.7bn annual UK high street visits

Daily Signals

Stat: Social media drives 1.7bn annual UK high street visits

American Express’s latest Hype to the High Street study reveals that nearly two-thirds (63%) of UK adults have visited a shop or hospitality venue ...
Retail : Fashion : Statistic
Budapest’s Lilith bar brings tarot-inspired rituals to cocktail culture

Daily Signals

Budapest’s Lilith bar brings tarot-inspired rituals to cocktail culture

The team behind Hotsy Totsy Budapest, recently ranked among the world’s top 500 bars, has opened a second venue in Budapest’s Erzsébetváros district.
Hospitality : Bars : Restaurant
You have 2 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN