Douglas launches clean beauty concept

Challenge

Douglas, a leading retailer in the European beauty industry, recognized the need to discover fresh, forward-thinking beauty brands and retail technologies that would redefine customer engagement. To address this, they launched the #FORWARDBEAUTYChallenge, aiming to scout out the most innovative beauty start-ups and technologies.

The challenge attracted over 100 applications from beauty entrepreneurs across Europe. After careful review, ten promising start-ups were selected to pitch their ideas to a distinguished jury. The competition’s goal was clear: find not just new products, but brands and technologies that could significantly enhance the shopping experience for customers both online and in-store.

The success of the #FORWARDBEAUTYChallenge underscores Douglas’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and customer-centric solutions. By partnering with promising start-ups like KLARSKIN and BEARS WITH BENEFITS and integrating advanced technologies from Skin Match Technology, Douglas is paving the way for a more transparent, personalized, and sustainable beauty shopping experience.

Solution

Skin Match Technology introduced a unique solution that bridges the gap between product data and customer needs. Their platform allows for highly personalized product recommendations, both online and in-store, by leveraging extensive ingredient databases and customer preferences.

Following the competition, Douglas partnered with Skin Match Technology to enhance its Clean Beauty Concept. This concept focuses on offering products free from certain controversial ingredients, providing customers with clearer, more transparent options. Skin Match Technology utilized its comprehensive database to automate ingredient checking across Douglas’s vast inventory, ensuring only products meeting Douglas’s Clean Beauty criteria were highlighted.

As one of Europe’s leading beauty retailers Douglas sets new standards in assortment development introducing new clean beauty concept in Germany. Clean beauty products at Douglas do not contain ingredients questionable in regards to health, e.g. silicones, sulphates and mineral oils. However, labeling products as “clean” does generally not indicate them to be “better as” but rather to be “free of”. In doing so, Douglas offers customers more transparency and security in their beauty shopping experience.

Source: Press Release Düsseldorf, 14 June 2019 and 19 November 2018

About Douglas

Douglas is a leading retailer in the European beauty industry, with approximately 2,500 stores and a fast-growing online presence across 19 European countries. In the financial year 2016/17, Douglas generated sales of 2.8 billion Euros. Every day, around 20,000 dedicated beauty advisors work to enhance their customers’ beauty and happiness.

With a portfolio of about 38,000 high-quality products spanning perfumery, decorative cosmetics, and skincare, Douglas has established itself as a key player in the beauty market. The company prides itself on delivering excellent customer service and offering a unique range of services, both online and in-store. Through initiatives like the #FORWARDBEAUTYChallenge, Douglas continues to foster innovation and strengthen its position as a leader in the beauty industry.