The December 2014 issue of Beauty Packaging includes a story highlighting a number of innovative packages that made headlines for their ingenuity in the fragrance, personal care and cosmetic markets. But while researching this article, I came across quite a few additional creative launches that showed up in the beauty world. Following are a few that I found interesting.

Many of the packages mentioned in the December feature took their cues from technology, from adapting shapes of high-tech devices to taking consumers’ use of iPhones and such into consideration when designing ergonomics and usage habits.

The latter also came into play with a new salon cape designed to give customers easy access to their phones while keeping them safe from moisture, unsightly drips and sprays during hair coloring, shampooing and other professional processes.
 
The iCape is a haircutting cape that lets clients stay connected and in-touch when getting their hair washed, cut, colored or styled. In October, Capemakers, the creators of the iCape, announced the launch of a Kickstarter campaign designed to bring iCape 2.0 to market. A clear plastic window in the iCape makes it possible to text, email, watch a movie or read an ebook while getting hair styled—and all while protecting your device.

According to the company, the iCape was awarded a patent in 2013 and sold out of more than 20,000 pieces by early 2014. The patented design includes a privacy panel behind the window to prevent others from looking in, as well as a covered opening for headphones. The upgraded iCape 2.0 is expected to ship by February 2015, and will be longer, available in more colors, and have a larger window to accommodate wider screens.

Sunscreen Technology
With the popularity of sunscreen products on the rise, brands and formulators have been busy in R&D labs, trying to stand out from the crowd of competitors.

Shiseido recently announced the development of what researchers there call “the world’s first sunscreen technology that gains power through contact with water or perspiration.”       

The Japanese manufacturer says it has been actively pursuing stronger UV protection technology that maintains its performance even when exposed to water or perspiration, to shield the skin against UV in a variety of common situations, including outdoor leisure activities.       

Now, its patent-pending WetForce sunscreen technology claims to be the first to interact with the minerals in water and perspiration, “defying common sense as its sunscreen film becomes more uniform, smoother and stronger upon contact with water or perspiration.” Shiseido says this creates a more uniform UV shield, with about 120% higher protection effect.       

WetForce technology will be incorporated in sunscreen products to be launched next spring.   

For those who are bothered by applying sunscreen manually, but know they need to reap the results of skin protection, there may be an answer with Osmosis Harmonized Water UV Neutralizer, also known as “the world’s first drinkable sunscreen.” To solidify the brand’s clinical and holistic approach to treating the source of skin conditions using “non-harmful ingredients with guaranteed results,” Osmosis Pür Medical Skincare executed the line’s first clinical trial in June.

This randomized clinical trial was designed to evaluate a new technology, scalar waves, to provide sun protection. Osmosis Harmonized Water UV Neutralizer in Tan Enhancement and No Tan both contain this form of radio frequencies called scalar waves. When ingested, they vibrate above the skin to neutralize UVA and UVB, creating protection comparable to an SPF 30.

Reportedly, 24 patients ranging in age from 18 to 60 with various ethnic backgrounds and skin types were exposed to one hour of sun to one side of the body between noon and 1pm after ingesting 3ml Osmosis Harmonized Water UV Neutralizer. Paul Ver Hoeve, MD, FACS of Facial Beauty by MD conducted the study and documented the results which showed 16 out of the 24 patients did not experience any burning.

According to Dr. Ben Johnson, founder and CEO of Osmosis Pür Medical Skin Care, “The definitive results from this trial prove that the scalar wave technology in Harmonized Water works. This marks the beginning of the exploration into a new science that will greatly expand our understanding of the human body.”

No More Chlorine Smell
While swimming in indoor and outdoor pools is a popular pastime and exercise, swimmers often compare highly chlorinated pools to taking a bath in bleach, and/or complain about chlorine odor and irritation afterwards. But now, an “all natural” shower spray provides the answer for swimmers who don’t want to carry the smell into the locker room or have chlorine’s effects linger throughout the day—and beyond.

Used post-swim, SwimSpray eliminates the chlorine odor and irritation from hair and skin. It is billed as a 100% natural Vitamin C-based technology that rids users of strong chlorine odor; dry, itchy, and irritated skin; and bleached, straw-like hair. 
Andrew Chadeayne, a former Princeton University swimmer, who holds a PhD in chemistry from Cornell University, developed the product. He says, “SwimSpray allowed me to swim as much as I wanted with none of the usual chlorine-related side effects. I invented the product because, like many swimmers, I was tired of smelling like chlorine all the time.”  


He says SwimSpray initially started as a product for his swimmer friends and is now “a thriving, successful consumer products business." Dr. Chadeayne graduated from George Washington Law School and left his full-time position at a Washington DC firm to run SwimSpray, LLC in 2011.

What Else Is Out There?
With so much effort placed in R&D for everything in the beauty world from packaging and dispensing to formulations, Beauty Packaging welcomes input from our readers. What new and innovative products and packages have you come across (or developed) lately? Please email me at [email protected]