As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to rise globally, the beauty industry is taking action to safeguard employees, consumers, industry partners and vulnerable members of the public, while adhering to fast changing government guidelines and restrictions.
As we wake to the news that Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia has been cancelled for 2020, Vogue U.S. editor in chief, Anna Wintour confirming that the Met Gala will not be going ahead in May, as well as media staffers starting to work from home, we’ve rounded up how the virus has impacted the industry to date and how it's rallying in spite of the changes. We will also be updating the below as we’re made aware of further developments.
Media send-outs
As publishing companies also start preparing for staff to work from home, in the U.K. Condé Nast Britain are amongst those temporarily closing to support efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus, it can be expected that a number of media titles will be following suit closer to home in Australia.
If you are a brand planning to send items to media staff by mail, courier or delivery, please check with the individual first for the best postal address.
Events
You may also notice beauty events being postponed, however we will keep our calendar up-to-date once rescheduling starts to take action.
David Jones
David Jones has suspended all in-store beauty room treatments and on-counter services until further notice.
Glossier
Glossier has closed all of its stores, with the beauty brand's CEO, Emily Weiss, saying she is "prepared to put public health ahead of the bottom line". Despite the closure, Glossier will continue to compensate employees who were scheduled to work.
Avène and Klorane
The Pierre Fabre Group reorganises to produce hydroalcoholic gels in France and Brazil.
Since mid-March, the teams at its dermo-cosmetics production sites in Soual, near Castres (south-west France), and in Areal in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, have been fully mobilised to produce hydroalcoholic gel - to be distributed to healthcare workers putting themselves on the frontline every day. You can view further details on its website here.
Clarins
Clarins will donate 30,000 moisturising hand creams to hospitals in the following weeks.
The heroic daily actions of healthcare professionals have never mattered more. Day and night, their hands provide care and help, bringing hope and comfort. One of the ways to fight the spread of the epidemic is to disinfect hands by using hand sanitiser.
“This essential routine is hard on hands: as the skin’s protective hydrolipidic film becomes damaged, the skin suffers and becomes dry. The solution? Every night, before bed, when there is no more interaction with possible sources of contamination, I recommend applying a thick layer of moisturizing hand cream, to help replenish the skin’s protective barrier," said Clarins Group managing director, Olivier Courtin-Clarins.
"In the coming weeks, as a way of supporting healthcare professionals in their fight against the epidemic, the Clarins Group will donate 30,000 moisturising creams to hospitals."
Clarins are also continuing to produce and deliver hand sanitiser to hospitals.
Carolina Herrera
Production at Carolina Herrera has shifted to support the creation of hospital gowns in collaboration with local health authorities. It plans day by day to tirelessly meet the changing needs of doctors, hospitals, and nurses.
In an effort to aid local communities, Carolina Herrera has also opened a line of production to manufacture masks for the food and health industries.
Puig
Puig has offered the Spanish government its production capacity to manufacture hydro-alcoholic solutions and sanitisers to meet the exceptional need of society and the health system for these types of products in the fight against the Covid-19, coronavirus. You can view further details and a statement here.
Ultraceuticals
Ultraceuticals has a SKYPE consult option online as it can book in live consults and product recommendations that guests can then purchase products online to have sent directly to them. The brand is also stepping up sterilisation and wearing masks, gloves at all times, creating forms to get a background on a guests movements in terms of overseas travel or exposure pre-visit to the clinic, controlling wait areas so people aren’t sitting near each other, to reassure customers' skin treatments are still as safe as ever.
Biologi
Biologi has implemented practical measures in place to support team members and ensure the health and safety of all. Precautions and advice from local authorities are being followed and customers can continue to shop as usual. With all products being farmed, sourced and bottled locally here in Australia, Biologi are unaffected by closing borders and therefore can continue to meet demand for products.
All supply channels and team members are ensuring all appropriate health and hygiene standards are being exceeded. In addition to this, Biologi has recognised the pressure that its brick and mortar stores might feel over the coming weeks and months. As a way to help relieve some of that pressure, it has created tailored care packages for these stockists which includes free product packs, along with gift bags, gift boxes and brochures.
Ella Baché
“At Ella Baché, ensuring the health and wellbeing of our clients, therapists and team members at all times is our highest priority. To ensure the health and wellbeing of our clients and staff we have also implemented additional daily practices, beyond the Australian Government Department of Health recommendations, to ensure that your treatments are always delivered in safe and hygienic environments by our expert therapists," said CEO, Pippa Hallas.
M.A.C
M.A.C has cancelled all client makeovers across Australia as it enforces a strict “no-touch” policy.
LVMH
LVMH group has announced it will begin manufacturing hand sanitiser at its perfume and cosmetics factories for French hospitals.
Mecca
MECCA has suspended all in-store services in a series of precautionary measures. The company said its priority was to ensure the “safety and health of our MECCA community," including customers and staff, in a statement released last Friday. MECCA will “pause” in-store services nationwide, including booked appointments and Beauty Labs.
Sephora
In February, Sephora Australia suspended its makeup services due to coronavirus fears.
“In view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Sephora would like to reiterate that the health and wellbeing of our customers and our cast is of paramount importance,” the company said in a statement.
Overseas, Sephora has made the difficult decision to close all retail stores in the U.S. and Canada, and implement remote working for employees in its corporate offices from March 17 to April 3.
LUSH
The ethical beauty brand has made the decision to temporarily close its stores in the U.S. and Canada, expected to reopen on March 30.
Deciem
The maker of The Ordinary and Niod has closed all of its stores worldwide in a bid to contain the coronavirus.
The Body Shop
Giving customers an update on the hygiene procedures the brand has been following, The Body Shop announced its decision to temporarily suspend in-store makeup demonstrations "to minimise any skin to skin contact in our stores."
Australian stores remain open for business, but all stores in Spain, Belgium, Austria, France and Portugal are closed until further notice.
Editor's note: BD will be updating the above as we’re made aware of further developments.
