Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review

Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review The only South African guide to manufacturing solutions for cosmetics & pharma industries

One of America's most influential beauty platforms just chose South Africa as its first international market, and the st...
17/09/2026

One of America's most influential beauty platforms just chose South Africa as its first international market, and the story behind that decision is as compelling as the business itself.

Takealot has announced an exclusive partnership with thirteen lune the US beauty discovery platform founded by Nyakio Grieco that built its name across more than 600 JCPenney stores by spotting tomorrow's most exciting founder-led brands before anyone else.

For Grieco, this is personal. Her Kenyan heritage means that launching in South Africa is not just a business milestone. It is a homecoming of sorts: "Returning to Africa through a partnership with Takealot feels incredibly meaningful."

For Takealot, the ambition is bigger than brand listings. The company is building a beauty ecosystem combining exclusive global brands, content, community and experiences. This is about becoming South Africa's most trusted beauty destination, not just its biggest online beauty store.

South Africa was chosen above every other international market available to Thirteen Lune. That matters.

What global beauty brand do you wish was available in South Africa right now? Drop it in the comments 👇

Full partnership story below https://brnw.ch/21x5LLj

Although cold wash cycles are the future of sustainable laundry care, until now stain removal performance has been the c...
11/09/2026

Although cold wash cycles are the future of sustainable laundry care, until now stain removal performance has been the category's biggest compromise. Syensqo's global launch of Repel-O-Tex Crystal Premium is designed to close that gap.

The biodegradable soil-release polymer delivers over 30% improvement in stain removal compared to previous benchmarks, specifically engineered for short and cold wash cycles. It forms a protective shield on fibres that prevents greasy stain incrustation and fabric greying, two of the most persistent performance complaints in cold water formulations.

For detergent manufacturers, the compatibility with concentrated liquid and pouch formats makes this particularly significant. The entire laundry category is shifting towards these formats as consumers demand more energy-efficient, sustainable solutions. An ingredient that performs across both without compromising cleaning efficacy directly addresses the formulation challenge that has held the sector back.

Launched in Brussels in July 2026 and now commercially available worldwide, Repel-O-Tex Crystal Premium positions Syensqo at the intersection of performance and sustainability in a category where both are increasingly non-negotiable.

For home care formulators: How are you currently balancing cold-wash performance with sustainability credentials in your laundry formulations? 👇

🌱 The full product capabilities and formulation details are essential reading: https://brnw.ch/21x5Cxc

Thousands of beauty products launch every year. Most disappear. A few become permanent fixtures in bathroom cabinets acr...
08/09/2026

Thousands of beauty products launch every year. Most disappear. A few become permanent fixtures in bathroom cabinets across generations.

What separates a passing trend from a product that genuinely stands the test of time? Clere's petroleum jelly brand manager Xolani Sibanze has a clear answer: consistency, versatility, affordability and trust.

The products that last are not always the most talked about. They are the ones that solve real, everyday problems reliably. Dry skin, chapped lips and rough heels are as common today as they were fifty years ago. The products that address these concerns simply and effectively have always had a home in the market.

And then there is the endorsement that no marketing budget can replicate. The product your mother told you about. The one your grandmother kept on her dressing table. That kind of trust is earned over decades, not campaigns.

What is the one beauty product you have used your entire life and will never stop using? 👇

Full article and brand insights below: https://brnw.ch/21x5xiZ

COVID-19 showed South Africa how vulnerable its medicine supply chain is. Most active pharmaceutical ingredients are imp...
02/09/2026

COVID-19 showed South Africa how vulnerable its medicine supply chain is. Most active pharmaceutical ingredients are imported, and when global logistics collapsed during the pandemic, the consequences were felt across the healthcare system. South Africa's response is now taking shape.

Phase 2 of the API Innovation Cluster, hosted by the CSIR and backed by government, is moving locally developed pharmaceutical ingredients from laboratory research to commercial-scale production. Four universities are involved. Dedicated piloting and scale-up laboratories are already operational. And Phase 3, planned for 2029 to 2031, will bring GMP certification and commercial production into the picture.

The goal is clear: reduce South Africa's reliance on imported medicines, create pharmaceutical manufacturing jobs, and build a healthcare system that can supply medicines on its own terms.

This is one of the most important developments in South African pharmaceutical manufacturing in years.

For pharmaceutical professionals: What do you think is the biggest obstacle to local API manufacturing reaching commercial scale in South Africa? 👇

Full initiative details and strategic roadmap below https://brnw.ch/21x5o0M

19/08/2026

Have you seen the August edition of Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review?

This month we dive deep into biotechnology in beauty, exploring how designer collagen, biomimetic peptides and precision fermentation are redefining what formulators can achieve. We also cover hair and scalp care actives, packaging industry news in South Africa, regulatory strategy tips for successful entry into African cosmetics markets, and the latest pharma coating innovations.

Whether you formulate, manufacture, regulate or supply — there is something in this edition for you.

Read the full August edition here: https://tinyurl.com/5ea5bvfj

🇳🇬 West Africa's biggest packaging event is coming to Lagos — and it is completely free to attend.Propak West Africa 202...
18/08/2026

🇳🇬 West Africa's biggest packaging event is coming to Lagos — and it is completely free to attend.

Propak West Africa 2026 takes place 8 to 10 September 2026 at the Landmark Centre, bringing together packaging, plastics, print, labelling and food processing professionals from across the region.

What is on the programme:
📦 Exhibitions showcasing cutting-edge machinery, materials and automation
🎤 Summit sessions with keynotes, panels and workshops
🤝 Networking across the full packaging value chain
🌱 Special session by the Recycling Association of Nigeria on circular packaging
☕ Exclusive KPMG breakfast session for invited guests

The speaker lineup includes the Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the CEO of Beta Glass, a Circular Economy Expert and a Food Processing Expert among others.

This is a must-attend for anyone in manufacturing and packaging across West Africa.

Are you based in Nigeria or the West African region? Are you planning to attend?

📖 Read the full event preview: https://brnw.ch/21x50HW
📝 Register for free: https://brnw.ch/21x50HX

What will define skincare formulation in 2026?Five ingredient categories are driving the conversation right now: 1. Biot...
17/08/2026

What will define skincare formulation in 2026?

Five ingredient categories are driving the conversation right now:
1. Biotech-derived lipids
2. Longevity actives
3. Ceramides
4. Bio-fermented actives
5. Ultra-mild biosurfactants

We've unpacked each one in the interactive Formulation Design 2026 – with formulation guides, videos and technical insights for beauty enthusiasts, formulators, R&D scientists and product developers.

👇 Comment GUIDE below and we'll send you the link👇

📦 That QR code on your skincare product is about to become one of the most powerful tools a brand has for consumer engag...
12/08/2026

📦 That QR code on your skincare product is about to become one of the most powerful tools a brand has for consumer engagement, regulatory compliance and supply chain transparency — all at once.

GlobalData's latest analysis confirms that smart packaging has evolved well beyond gimmick territory. It is now an integrated system serving regulators, manufacturers, brands and consumers simultaneously.

The two technologies reshaping packaging:

🔬 Active Packaging — monitors freshness, temperature and product integrity in real time. Critical for pharmaceutical and food safety.

📱 Connected Packaging — QR codes, RFID and NFC tags delivering real-time supply chain transparency, sustainability data and direct consumer interaction.

What is driving brands to invest now?

Regulatory pressure. Extended Producer Responsibility rules and recycled-content mandates are requiring companies to provide verifiable sustainability and compliance data. Smart packaging is the most practical solution.

But GlobalData is honest about the challenges: high costs, data infrastructure needs, and the real risk of consumer scepticism if smart features feel like a gimmick rather than genuine value.

Question: Have you ever scanned a QR code on pharmaceutical or cosmetic packaging? What would make you more likely to engage with it?

The full GlobalData analysis is fascinating reading for anyone in packaging: https://brnw.ch/21x4Sjw

💊 A once-monthly HIV prevention pill could change everything for millions of people — and a South African company is at ...
11/08/2026

💊 A once-monthly HIV prevention pill could change everything for millions of people — and a South African company is at the heart of making it accessible.

MSD South Africa has included Aspen Pharmacare in early access plans for alimatravir, an investigational once-monthly oral PrEP medicine for HIV prevention. The royalty-free voluntary licensing agreement covers 129 low- and middle-income countries.

Here is why this matters:

📊 1.2 million people acquired HIV globally in 2025 — 3 300 people every single day
📊 Only 3.5 million people used oral PrEP in 2023
📊 The global target is 20 million by 2030

Daily PrEP pills require consistent adherence. A once-monthly option removes one of the biggest barriers to prevention at scale.

What makes this announcement historic: three of the seven selected manufacturers are based in sub-Saharan Africa — the first time the region has been included in the initial voluntary licensing process for an HIV prevention medicine.

South Africa is also participating in the Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating alimatravir among adolescent girls and young women.

This is South African pharmaceutical manufacturing playing a pivotal role in global health. Please share this post — awareness matters. 🙏

Get the full partnership details and trial information: https://brnw.ch/21x4Qur

🌍 Two global giants have joined forces to bring advanced cleaning formulation solutions to seven African markets simulta...
06/08/2026

🌍 Two global giants have joined forces to bring advanced cleaning formulation solutions to seven African markets simultaneously.

Brenntag and BASF have announced a new distribution agreement covering South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia — expanding access to BASF's advanced surfactant systems and laundry-care ingredients across the Home Care and I&I cleaning sector.

What this means for formulators and manufacturers in these markets:

✅ Superior grease and stain removal for high-performance cleaning
✅ Improved formulation stability for consistent product quality
✅ Fabric and colour protection to extend textile life
✅ Support for lower-temperature washing, reducing energy consumption
✅ Alignment with growing sustainability expectations across the region

Kreason Gopalan from Brenntag puts it plainly: "This collaboration strengthens our commitment to bringing effective, reliable, and future-ready solutions to the markets we serve."

Sub-Saharan Africa is being recognised as a serious growth region for the Home Care and I&I industry — and this partnership is a significant signal of that confidence.

Question: How has ingredient availability and distribution access affected your formulation capabilities in African markets?

Full partnership details here: https://brnw.ch/21x4IXU

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