Industry News

Gillette Debuts Venus for Pubic Hair, Skin Collection

The latest product from Gillette’s Venus brand is catering to the needs of the body’s most sensitive skin.

The Boston-based company is introducing its new Venus for Pubic Hair & Skin collection, alongside its new #SayPubic campaign to help transform the use of euphemistic or outdated terms for the pubic area.

The collection features a razor, exfoliant, shave gel and serum designed to specifically address the distinct needs of the pubic area, the company said.

“We’ve found that more women are dissatisfied with caring for the pubic area than anywhere else on the body. In fact, 56% of U.S. women wish there were more accurate descriptions and imagery in society of women grooming their pubic area,” said Kristin Monaco, senior product research engineer at Venus. “It’s not surprising. Pubic hair is coarse and the skin is delicate, so for many women it requires a different approach to help avoid shave bumps, ingrown hairs, redness and itchiness.”

With this campaign and product launch, Venus said it is hoping to start a dialogue around normalizing correct anatomical language as a way to destigmatize female pubic grooming, the company said.

“With over two decades of research and scientific development in women’s hair and skin under our belt, literally, we know that grooming means something different to every woman,” said MyAnh Nghiem, Gillette Venus communications director. “Our new collection not only offers women more options for pubic grooming than we ever have before, but starts a new conversation about using language that accurately and respectfully represents the female body.”

Currently, the Venus for Pubic Hair & Skin collection can be purchased for $45 or individually for $14.99 per item online and at major retailers.

Zhou Nutrition’s 5 New Gummies Hit Target.com

Zhou Nutrition is bringing five new gummy supplements to Target. com. The Salt Lake City-based brand’s latest products are focused on offering clean formulas to support mind and body, Zhou Nutrition said.

Joining Zhou Naturals’ Vitamin C+ Gummies and its Elder-Mune Gummies, which previously launched on Target.com, are: • Hairfluence Gummies that contain biotin and vitamins C and E; • Screen Eyes Gummies made with lutein and marigold extract to support retinal health, using the company’s blue light formula; • Collagen Peptides Gummies, meant to support youngerlooking skin and bone health, with 19 essential amino acids; • Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies, which contain healthpromoting probiotics and enzymes that may support digestive health; and • D3 + K2 Gummies for mood regulation support, healthy immune support, and bone and heart health.

“We’re committed to making wellness easy to achieve, whether it’s getting focused for work, calm before bedtime or supported during seasonal changes,” said Max Willis, Zhou Nutrition’s chief innovation and science officer. “This super-focused selection at Target.com is designed to make people more confident when they choose to add Zhou to their daily routines.”

Upsher-Smith, Rafarm Intro Generic Vigamox

Upsher-Smith and Rafarm are launching moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5%, a generic of Novartis’ Vigamox.

In 2018, Upsher-Smith and Rafarm entered into a partnership agreement to develop and distribute six ophthalmic and otic ANDA products.

Under the agreement, Upsher-Smith is responsible for registering the products with the Food and Drug Administration and marketing and distributing them under its own label in the United States upon FDA approval. Rafarm is responsible for the development and manufacturing of the products exclusively for Upsher-Smith.

The moxifloxacin ophthalmic market had a value of approximately $34 million for the 12 months ended March 2021, according to IQVIA.

“The launch of moxifloxacin is significant because it represents a series of firsts for Upsher-Smith. It is not only our first ophthalmic product to enter the market, but also the first product resulting from our partnership with Rafarm,” said Rusty Field, president and CEO of Upsher-Smith. “We are very pleased to have partnered with Rafarm and proud of the successful relationship we’ve built together. We look forward to building upon that success as we expand our portfolio to include both ophthalmic and otic agents.”

Rafarm’s executive vice president Aris Mitsopoulos said, “The Upsher-Smith and Rafarm teams work extraordinarily well together, and that has allowed us to establish a strong partnership. Our superb manufacturing capabilities, coupled with Upsher-Smith’s rich understanding of the U.S. generics market, will ensure that patients receive quality, affordable medicines.”

New Vitafusion Gummy Supports Brain Health

Leading gummy vitamin brand vitafusion is entering the brain health category with its latest product. The Ewing, N.J.-based Church & Dwight brand is introducing Brain Food, a supplement that contains ashwagandha, phosphatidylserine and B vitamins in an effort to support the brain with key nutrients.

“Proactive brain nourishment is essential for holistic health and wellness, and that’s why we formulated a gummy supplement that fuses together ingredients to help with both stress and focus,” said Michael Vercelletto, vitafusion’s marketing director. “Believing in ‘delicious nutrition for all,’ we’re thrilled to bring innovation into the brain health category and address unmet consumer needs by providing a gummy supplement with the signature delicious taste and great value of vitafusion.” Brain Food is formulated in a natural blueberry flavor that is free of artificial flavors, high-fructose corn syrup, luten, dairy and synthetic dyes. Each serving delivers 125 mg of ashwagandha, 100 mg of phosphatidylserine, 250 mg of vitamin B-12 and 10 mg of vitamin B-6. The product is sold in 50-count bottles at most retailers for a suggested price of $16.99. Exclusive to Walmart is a 60-count bottle sold for $18.98.

Skyn Excitation Joins LifeStyles’ Latex-Free Condom Lineup

LifeStyles Healthcare’s Skyn brand is adding to its line of latex-free prophylactics with its latest condom. The Iselin, N.J.-based company is debuting Skyn Excitation, which is made of polyisoprene and features a unique wave design with raised dots in the most sensitive areas.

Skyn Excitation also features a long-lasting, ultra-smooth cooling lubricant designed to maximize stimulation, according to the company. The condoms are made with LifeStyles Healthcare’s SkynFeel non-latex material that is used to make all Skyn condoms.

“The pursuit of better intimacy is at the core of everything we do,” said M’lou Walker, CEO of LifeStyles Healthcare. “With consumers craving excitement now more than ever, we are thrilled to share an innovation that features unique and pleasurable sensations that we think will help deepen connections and enhance intimate explorations.”

The product launched in store and online at Target and on Amazon.com. LifeStyles said Skyn Excitation will see additional distribution at major retailers that will begin in the coming months.

Dr. Scholl’s Looks After Feet with Foot Care & Grooming Line

Dr. Scholl’s continues to debut products in 2021. On the heels of introducing Dr. Scholl’s Arthritis Relief Gel, the company is debuting the Dr. Scholl’s Foot Care & Grooming Collection

The collection includes: • Ultra Hydrating Foot Cream: designed to repair thick and tough skin, and restore the skin’s natural moisture balance with a blend of peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus oils. It has a suggested retail price of $6.99; • Ultra Exfoliating Foot Lotion: hydrates while safely and gently exfoliating thick and callused foot skin. The lotion, formulated with a proprietary alpha hydroxy complex and peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus oils, has a suggested retail price of $6.99; • Ultra Hydrating Foot Mask: infused with a formula designed to heal and hydrate cracked skin, the pair of disposable, slip-on booties features peppermint and lavender. A pouch with one pair has a suggested retail price of $3; • Ultra Exfoliating Foot Mask: created to soften, exfoliate and hydrate rough, dry and flaky skin, leaving it smooth within days. Each pair has a suggested price of $3; and • Severe Cracked Heel Balm: designed for thick, tough skin or cracked heels, the balm features a blend of lavender and peppermint essential oils, Epsom salt and other natural moisturizers meant to hydrate and fill in the cracks. It retails for $6.99.

The products have rolled out to national food, drug, mass and online merchandisers, as well as the Dr. Scholl’s website.

Essentia Adds Multipack Option

Essentia Water is making it easier for shoppers to stock up on the brand’s ionized alkaline water with a multipack offering of six 16.9-fl.-oz. bottles.

“As consumers reduced the number of trips outside their homes during COVID-19, we saw a surge in multipack purchases, and Essentia’s innovation has been able to respond to this demand,” Scott Miller, CEO of Essentia Water, said. “The launch of our 500 ml six-pack fulfills our customers’ needs while driving the brand’s growth in the category.”

The Bothell, Wash.-based company’s high pH water in on-the-go size bottles are available in June at such retailers as Kroger, Target, CVS Pharmacy, Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway and Publix.

Bacardi Grows Canned Cocktail Selection

With temperatures creeping upward, Bacardi is bringing new canned cocktails to market to help beat the heat. The brand is rolling out three new products as part of its Bacardi Real Rum Canned Cocktails line, building on the line’s popularity and consumer demand.

“The launch of Bacardi Real Rum Canned Cocktails last year far exceeded our expectations, and with the popularity of the Rum Punch flavor in particular, we wanted to expand our range with more full-flavored options,” said Lisa Pfenning, vice president of Bacardi North America. “We have seen people consistently reach for canned cocktails this past year, whether they are looking for light, crisp serves like the Lime & Soda or something bright and fruity like the Rum Punch. As the world opens up again, we want to continue to enliven the moments where people can come together safely and celebrate with highquality cocktails in a convenient format.”

Made with natural, gluten-free flavors, the variety pack includes Bahama Mama, Mojito and Sunset Punch.

“We’re confident that our new Bacardi Real Rum Cocktails will continue to appeal to discerning drinkers who are looking for high quality canned cocktails made with natural flavors and real ingredients,” said Maria Galis, marketing director of Bacardi North America. “With the new variety pack offering the special Sunset Punch flavor, we’re especially pleased to offer consumers a range of irresistible flavors in one pack, no additional bar tools required.”

The Real Rum Cocktail products contain 5,9% alcohol by volume and are available in four-packs that retail for $12.99, as well as a variety pack that is sold online and at select grocery stores for $16.99.

Orbit’s Mega Pack Features Sustainable Package Design

Orbit Gum is packing more product into its packaging — and making that packaging more eco-friendly.

The brand recently rolled out its 30-piece Mega Pack, which features a sustainable plastic design created to be recycled in roughly half of the recycling streams available in the nation, the Newark, N.J.based company said.

Through a partnership with How2Recycle, the brand created a stepby-step labeling system that demonstrates how to recycle each part of the pack.

“We are delighted to partner with How2Recycle for Orbit Mega Pack as society begins to seek fresh breath on the go once again and celebrate more in-person moments in 2021,” said Ivonne Andreu, senior director of gum and mints at Mars Wrigley U.S. “We’re committed to our Mars Wrigley’s purpose of ‘Better Moments, More Smiles’ and to making a positive societal impact through more sustainability and increased recycling transparency on our Orbit Mega Pack.”

Available in peppermint and spearmint flavors, Orbit Mega Pack launched at retailers nationwide.

Kellogg’s, Little Debbie Bring Cosmic Brownies to Breakfast Table

Kellogg’s is joining forces with Little Debbie to bring an iconic snack to the breakfast table.

The two companies are launching Kellogg’s Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies Cereal. Featuring brownie squares with rainbow pieces, the cereal delivers the fudgy chocolate flavor of brownies in a bite-sized form, the companies said.

“We are very excited to see one of our most loved Little Debbie products, Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies, transformed into cereal by Kellogg,” Jeff Badger, vice president of marketing at McKee Foods, said. “The cereal delivers the flavor of Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies in a fun new way. It is delicious in a bowl with milk or straight out of the box as a snack.”

Kellogg’s Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies Cereal is available online and at retailers nationwide in an 8.2-oz. box that retails for $3.99 and a 13.2-oz. box that retails for $5.69.

Pacific Shaving Targets Sensitive Skin

Pacific Shaving is catering to the needs of men with sensitive skin, or who prefer grooming products without scent.

New from the men’s grooming brand is an unscented line of personal care products that are formulated for everyday use.

The products, featuring a three-step grooming regimen, consists of the following: • Unscented Clean Face Wash that aims to remove impurities from the skin while also nourishing without drying, using such minimal and clean ingredients as sea salt, glycerin and aloe vera; • Unscented Clean Shave Cream, which contains such ingredients as shea butter to soothe the skin, sunflower seed oil to reduce redness and roughness, and vitamin E to nourish the skin; and • Unscented Clean Face Lotion instantly hydrates skin. The face lotion is absorbed quickly onto the skin and leaves it looking and feeling healthy. Ingredients include olive fruit oil to help restore skin cells, jojoba oil to provide skin with a protective barrier, avocado oil to maintain hydration and glycerin to lock in moisture.

Made with vegan ingredients in the United States and without the use of animal testing, Pacific Shaving’s Unscented Clean line can be found online at PacificShaving.com and on Amazon.com.

Alaffia’s Beautiful Care Line Puts Curls in Focus

Alaffia is putting an emphasis on caring for curls. The company’s new Beautiful Curls collection is designed to help nourish curly hair with a lineup of silicone-free products made with plant-based ingredients.

Made with handcrafted and unrefined shea butter and coconut oil from Togo, West Africa, the collection contains cleansing, conditioning and styling solutions for loose waves, big curls, medium spirals and tight coils, the company said.

Formulated with aqueous extracts using Alaffia’s reverse osmosis water system, the collection features purified water infused with such botanicals as yarrow, comfrey, arnica, calendula and chamomile.

The Beautiful Curls collection includes: • Curl Enhancing, which hydrates, defines and enhances curls. Made for wavy and curly hair types, it consists of the Curl Enhancing Shampoo, Curl Enhancing Leave-In Conditioner and Curl Defining Gel; • Curl Activating, formulated for curly to kinky hair types. Created to activate and moisturize tresses, it features the Curl Activating Shampoo, Curl Activating Leave-In Conditioner and Curl Activating Cream; and • Curl Styling, made for all hair types, is composed of the Curl Control Custard, Curl Hydrating Oil and Curl Reviving Tonic.

Made without the use of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, artificial colors or synthetic fragrances, Alaffia’s Beautiful Curls collection is available for purchase at Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, independent health food stores and natural grocers, as well as online at BeautifulCurls. com and Alaffia.com.