No7 thinks its peptide technology is No. 1. A year after the launch of Future Renew, the company completed a 12-month clinical trial that reportedly proves the formula delivers ongoing improvements. The serum is also clinically proven to reverse visible signs of photodamage, including pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.

There’s nothing pretty about greenhouse gas emissions. No7 Beauty Company and its parent, Boots, partnered with Manufacture 2030 (M2030) to reduce emissions and contribute to industry-wide action. Now, suppliers gain access to M2030’s platform which offers best practice tools, knowledge and funding opportunities to support them to decarbonize their business, while improving operational efficiency and decreasing costs.

“At Boots we believe that healthy communities need a healthy planet. We were founded 175 years ago to make healthcare available to all and today we are the leading health and beauty retailer in the UK,” said Steve Ager, chief customer officer, Boots. “Operating in a way that cares for the environment has never been more important for Boots and No7 Beauty Company, but we cannot do this without our valued suppliers. 

Boots is the first health and beauty retailer to partner with M2030.

“As part of our commitment to the British Retail Consortium Climate Action Roadmap, we are working to collectively achieve Net Zero by 2040 and we can only do this by working together with all parts of our supply chain,” Ager added.

Earlier this year, Walgreens said it would launch Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, a $24 billion business that integrates a new pharmacy equipped to handle gene and cell therapies with its existing pharmacy assets including the large specialty pharmacy and home delivery business, AllianceRx. The move takes effect next month when AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy becomes Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy.

Sales: $862 Million

During the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting earlier this year, No7 highlighted its new matrix-derived peptide blend, dubbed “Matrikine.” It was the first time No7 exhibited at AAD.

The technology is in new No7 Future Renew; a collection of four skincare products that are said to reverse the appearance of multiple signs of skin damage. The new super peptide is said to be both highly potent and highly tolerated, being suitable even for those with sensitive skin. The No7 Future Renew range has undergone the most extensive and diverse testing program in No7’s history—37 studies on over 4,200 people, including two clinical trials and 23 user trials. More than half (51%) of the total testing group had skin of color.

“Skin damage happens throughout our lives and is caused by multiple factors including sun exposure, environmental pollution, stress, sleep, temperature and nutrition,” said No7’s Head of Science Research Dr. Mike Bell.

The peptide “tricks” skin into thinking that it has been damaged leading to renewal of key proteins such as collagen and fibrillin. It supports skin’s natural self-repair mechanisms, targeting signs of cumulative damage, according to company executives.

Sales: $750 million

No7 Beauty Company, part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, was formally unveiled in April 2021. It is home to the iconic No7 line as well as Liz Earle Beauty Co., Soap & Glory, Botanics, Your Good Skin and Sleek MakeUP. All told, its portfolio of beauty brands is available online and in more than 20,000 retail outlets across 16 markets worldwide.

It has been a busy first year since the new alignment was announced. Since May 2021:

• No7 launched its first direct to consumer UK website, offering beauty diagnostic tools and virtual consultations.
• Launched a Skin School beauty advisor training program, in partnership with the University of Manchester.
• Liz Earle Beauty Co. joined the Union of Ethical Bio Trade.
• No7 launched in Australia, exclusively available in Priceline stores nationwide.
• Soap & Glory launched in mainland China.
• The full Soap & Glory range was ‘Leaping Bunny’ approved by Cruelty Free International.
• Liz Earle Beauty Co. was awarded Carbon Neutral status.
• Rolled out its first ever Christmas range to market, with 175 plastic-free gift sets from No7, Soap & Glory and Liz Earle Beauty Co.
• Launched No7 Beauty Company’s Creator Collective, working in partnership with content creators for online skincare education.
• Relaunched No7 skin care and cosmetics with PCR packaging.

More recently, No7 and the University of Manchester published research that provided insights into epidermal and skin barrier changes during menopause. The research uncovered insights into how declining estrogen levels impact the epidermis and stratum corneum (skin barrier), specifically exploring how the menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) affect these outer skin layers. The research appeared in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Previously little has been known about how the living epidermis and stratum corneum change during menopause, despite these top skin layers being essential for healthy and hydrated skin. This study compared the skin of 28 women who were either pre-menopausal (7 women), post-menopausal (11 women) or post-menopausal and taking HRT (10 women). The study found differences in the skin of pre-menopausal compared to post-menopausal women, but also notably how use of HRT can help minimize these menopause-related changes. Importantly, this also confirms that changing hormone levels contribute to skin differences measured in this study. The study found that in post-menopausal skin compared to pre-menopausal skin, the skin barrier (stratum corneum) was thicker; there were changes in skin elasticity that correlated more to epidermal changes than to changes deeper down in the skin; a protein called CD44 which is involved in hydration, lipid synthesis and skin turnover, was decreased; and the amount of ceramide in the epidermis was lower. These changes were not observed to the same extent in the post-menopausal HRT group suggesting HRT can minimize but not fully mitigate these changes, said the researchers.

WBA put that research to use; the No7 brand in late June rolled out a line devoted to menopausal skin that will be sold in Walgreens, Ulta, Walmart and Target.

Financially, WBA’s beauty business is tallied in its retail operations.  In the US, WBA’s retail sales decreased by 0.4% in fiscal 2021 and were 24.2% of the segment’s sales. Comparable retail sales, however, increased 1.2% , primarily driven by health and wellness, including favorable vitamins and at-home covid-19 tests, and beauty categories partially offset by the continued de-emphasis of tobacco. International retail sales rose 5.5% and represented 30.4% of the segment’s sales. The favorable impact of currency translation on retail sales was 6.5 percentage points. Comparable retail sales in constant currency increased 2.0%, reflecting higher retail sales in the UK and Ireland, including a recovery during the second half of the year, as covid-19 restrictions eased, said WBA.