Body talk: Forum reveals the future of beauty

The day began with a Global Market Overview presentation from The Future Laboratory co-founders Chris Sanderson and Martin Raymond – followed by a discussion between Chris Sanderson and Gina Ritchie, head of buying and merchandising of beauty at Liberty. Ritchie talked about her role at Liberty and how she has helped transform the iconic store’s beauty department into a hub for independent, hard-to-find and specialist brands. ‘We re-fitted the beauty floor to make it more like a treasure trove of brands with personality,’ said Ritchie.

This was followed by a discussion between Martin Raymond and Lucie Greene, editor of LS:N Global. The pair examined the latest in beauty trends such as Intergalactic Beauty and Mandustrial Packaging.

Mid-afternoon guests took a tea break with Chinese teas and an entirely raw dessert menu. After the refreshments, Lucie Greene spoke with Alex Epstein, founder of haircare brand Concoction. Epstein discussed his newly launched bespoke online service, which enables people to create their own haircare products using Mixology Technology.

Chris Sanderson and Martin Raymond then presented Innovation Futures – five top innovators in the field who are re-inventing the sector with new ways to prepare, market and merchandise products such as Ron Dorff, a brand where functional fashion meets fitness.

Next, Jo Malone, founder of Jo Malone, talked to Martin Raymond about the launch of her new fragrance line, Jo Loves. ‘It’s a mix of emotion and business sense that drives me,’ said Malone. ‘The product has to be 100%.’ Chris Sanderson and Martin Raymond then discussed the New Beauty Consumer, such as Millennials, driven by digital experiences – as opposed to Generation X-ers, who like shopping for hi-lo beauty brands. Next, LS:N Global visual editor Jo Tulej unveiled the Beauty Showcase, a film highlighting the best current retail spaces in beauty, such as The QT Spa in Sydney. The day finished with Lucie Greene in conversation with Alexia Inge, co-founder of website Cult Beauty, who told audiences that m-commerce is the watchword in beauty as more consumers use mobiles for browsing to make intelligent purchases online.

Guests and speakers were also treated to a viewing of an installation of the latest, most innovative products on the market.

For more on the Beauty Futures Forum, buy a copy of our Beauty Futures report, now available in our shop.