Next in Beauty brings together leading professionals from the beauty industry for an immersive conference dedicated to exploring the present and future of beauty.
With a lineup of international speakers, the event features industry experts from top global and regional brands who share fresh perspectives, groundbreaking insights, and advanced business strategies.
Each edition spotlights pivotal themes such as Market Trends, the evolving Business Landscape, and in-depth discussions on Marketing and Innovations shaping the beauty sector both locally and globally.
Keynote speakers inspire attendees with their journeys and expertise, while honoured guests deliver compelling messages on important topics like sustainability.
Next in Beauty serves as a hub of inspiration, collaboration, and forward-thinking, setting the tone for the future of the industry.
Introducing our 2025 Keynote Speaker, Sara Al Rashid

Introducing Sara Al Rashid, founder of Asteri Beauty, will deliver the keynote address at our upcoming Next in Beauty conference, offering her unique perspective on clean, vegan, and desert-proof beauty.
In her session, she will share insights from Asteri’s rapid growth, 13 stores across the GCC in just two years and reveal the vision, values, and creativity behind building a brand celebrated for truth, inclusivity, sustainability, and sisterhood.
This session will be moderated by Andrea Nagel, Chief Content Officer, CEW.
2025 Schedule
10:45 - 11:00 | The World Beauty Market and the Rise of Arab Beauty
11:00 - 11:45 | What Retail Buyers & Distributors Expect in 2026
11:45 - 12:30 | The Future of Personal Care: Trends & Shifts to Watch
12:30 - 13:30 | Breaking Down Formulas: Ingredients that Drive Results
13:30 - 14:15 | Behind the Beauty Deals: Growth, Partnerships & M&A Trends
14:15 - 15:15 | Inside a Successful Product Launch – Strategy & Execution
15:15 - 15:45 | Packaging for Innovation: Functionality, Sustainability & Wow Factor
15:45 - 16:30 | Transforming Beauty: Insights from Asteri Beauty
16:30 - 17:30 | Wellness for All: Creating Inclusive Spa & Beauty Experiences
10:30 - 11:00 | Driving Success Through Collaboration: Navigating Growth and the Role of Sustainable Investment
11:00 - 11:45 | The Second Wave of K-Beauty: How Korea’s Beauty Innovation Is Reshaping the Global Market
11:45 - 12:30 | BeautyGPT Meets Retail: The Rise of Conversational Commerce as Your BA
12:30 - 13:30 | The CEO’s Guide to Leading a Beauty Brand in a Fast-Changing Industry
13:30 - 14:15 | The Future of Beauty Retail: Innovation, Experience, and Growth
14:15 - 15:15 | An Interactive Guide to Global Cosmetics Law
15:15 - 16:00 | Unlock the Future: Mintel’s 2026 Beauty & Personal Care Trends
16:00 - 17:00 | AI-Powered Beauty: The Future of Skincare, Haircare & Makeup
17:00 - 18:00 | Inside-Out Beauty: Cosmeceuticals, Supplements & Longevity Skincare
11:00 - 12:00 | The Business of Beauty: What Every Salon Leader Needs to Know in 2026
12:00 - 12:30 | Advancing Beauty with Biotechnology: From Lab to Consumer
12:30 - 13:30 | Influencers, Experts & Evidence: Who Do Consumers Trust?
13:30 - 14:00 | Beauty & Wellbeing (B&W) Narrative
14:00 - 15:00 | Women in Beauty Leadership: Breaking Barriers & Driving Change
15:00 - 15:45 | The Future of Skincare AI: Building accurate, unbiased & personalised advice for consumers
15:45 - 16:45 | Men’s Beauty: The Next Big Segment
16:45 - 17:45 | Building Beauty Communities That Last
2025 Agenda
Day 1 - 27 October 2025
10:45 – 11:00 | The World Beauty Market and the Rise of Arab Beauty The global beauty and personal care market continues to experience strong growth, driven by key regions such as the Middle East and Africa. Consumers are increasingly value-conscious, yet they seek products that effectively support long-term beauty and wellness — enabling them to age gracefully and healthily. This key opening session will explore the latest trends shaping industry developments both globally and locally. It will examine market differences and similarities, highlight the evolution of Arab Beauty, and uncover future opportunities on the horizon. Join to discover the latest beauty trends such as recession glam, healthspan plans, clinical confidence, loyalty immersion, and eco-evaluation. Learn how, despite macroeconomic challenges, businesses continue to innovate, renovate, and expand to unlock new growth opportunities. Speaker: |
11:00 – 11:45 | What Retail Buyers & Distributors Expect in 2026 Hear directly from top retail buyers and distributors about what they’re looking for in 2026. They’ll share what makes a brand stand out—from product trends and pricing to packaging, sustainability, and more. Get practical tips to help your brand get noticed, get stocked, and grow. Speakers: Moderator: |
11:45 – 12:30 | The Future of Personal Care: Trends & Shifts to Watch Personal care is evolving fast. In this session, industry experts break down the key trends shaping the future—what’s fading out, what’s here to stay, and what brands need to focus on to stay relevant and connect with today’s beauty-conscious customer. Speakers: |
12:30 – 13:30 | Breaking Down Formulas: Ingredients that Drive Results Cosmetic chemists, brand founders, and ingredient experts pull back the curtain on the formulas behind your favorite products. From powerhouse actives to trending naturals, we’ll explore the ingredients that actually deliver results—and how to tell the difference between marketing buzz and real science. Speakers: Moderator: |
13:30 – 14:15 | Behind the Beauty Deals: Growth, Partnerships & M&A Trends How do some beauty brands grow from small startups into industry leaders—while others stay in the shadows? This session looks at the real stories behind beauty business deals. You’ll hear from founders, investors, and big companies about what it takes to grow, partner, or get acquired. We'll explore what makes a brand stand out, why global players are focusing on the Middle East, and what’s shaping the future of beauty deals. |
14:15 – 15:15 | Inside a Successful Product Launch – Strategy & Execution Brand founders, marketers, and product teams share how they turned an idea into a successful launch. From early research and product planning to getting the word out and landing on shelves, this session gives a clear look at what really makes a product take off. Speakers: |
15:15 – 15:45 | Packaging for Innovation: Functionality, Sustainability & Wow Factor Great packaging does more than just look good—it needs to work well and respect the planet. In this session, experts share how smart design and sustainable materials come together to create packaging that catches the eye, keeps products safe, and meets today’s eco-friendly expectations. Speaker: |
15:45 – 16:30 | Transforming Beauty: Insights from Asteri Beauty Join us for a fireside chat with Sara Al Rashid, the visionary founder of Asteri Beauty. Explore the journey of building a brand that’s redefining the beauty landscape—its philosophy, innovations, and commitment to empowering individuals. Sara shares the story behind the brand, the challenges overcome, and the principles that make Asteri Beauty more than just products, but a movement in modern beauty. Speaker: Moderator: |
16:30 – 17:30 | Wellness for All: Creating Inclusive Spa & Beauty Experiences This session explores how spas and beauty brands can create welcoming experiences that celebrate diversity and meet the needs of all customers—regardless of age, skin type, background, or ability. Hear from industry leaders about the steps they’re taking to make wellness more inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable for all. Speakers: Moderator: |
Day 2 - 28 October 2025
10:30 – 11:00 | Driving Success Through Collaboration: Navigating Growth and the Role of Sustainable Investment Next-generation beauty is seeing an evolution with investors, from prioritising ethical businesses to developing a more collaborative and transparent structure, brand founders have more choices on how to navigate their growth. In this Fireside Conversation two pioneers in beauty and finance, will share their approach to building the future of beauty and how, through collaboration they are creating a new code in sustainable beauty investment. Speakers: |
11:00 – 11:45 | The Second Wave of K-Beauty: How Korea’s Beauty Innovation Is Reshaping the Global Market Speaker: |
11:45 – 12:30 | BeautyGPT Meets Retail: The Rise of Conversational Commerce as Your BA What if the most consistent, on-brand Beauty Advisor wasn’t human—but an AI trained in your brand’s voice, values, and product science? Speaker: |
12:30 – 13:30 | The CEO’s Guide to Leading a Beauty Brand in a Fast-Changing Industry Running a beauty brand today means staying one step ahead—while staying true to your roots. In this candid conversation, CEOs share real stories about adapting to change, connecting with consumers, making tough calls, and keeping their brands both grounded and forward-looking. Speakers: Moderator: |
13:30 - 14:15 | The Future of Beauty Retail: Innovation, Experience, and Growth This panel brings together retail leaders and industry innovators to explore how beauty retail is evolving in a rapidly changing landscape. From digital transformation and omnichannel strategies to consumer experience and global expansion, the discussion will uncover the trends reshaping the way beauty brands connect with shoppers today and tomorrow. |
14:15 – 15:15 | An Interactive Guide to Global Cosmetics Law Speakers: Moderator: |
15:15 – 16:00 | Unlock the Future: Mintel’s 2026 Beauty & Personal Care Trends Mintel will unveil its eagerly awaited 2026 beauty & personal care trends. These trends will shine a light on the emerging beauty behaviours and innovation opportunities that are set to shape the industry in the next 3-5 years. Speaker: |
16:00 – 17:00 | AI-Powered Beauty: The Future of Skincare, Haircare & Makeup What if your skincare knew exactly what your skin needed—or your phone picked the perfect foundation shade in seconds? In this session, we explore how AI is changing the way we discover, use, and shop for beauty. From personalized routines to smarter shopping experiences, we’ll look at how technology is making beauty more intuitive, inclusive, and fun. Speakers: Moderator: |
17:00 – 18:00 | Inside-Out Beauty: Cosmeceuticals, Supplements & Longevity Skincare Beauty isn’t just skin deep—it starts from within. This session explores the growing world of cosmeceuticals, beauty supplements, and science-backed skincare designed to support skin health and longevity. From collagen powders to active ingredients and anti-aging innovations, we’ll dive into what’s real, what works, and what’s next in the future of inside-out beauty. Speakers: Lana A Kerr, Founder & CEO, Lumisque, Inc./ CO2Lift® |
Day 3 - 29 October 2025
11:00 – 12:00 | The Business of Beauty: What Every Salon Leader Needs to Know in 2026 Running a successful salon today takes more than great service—it takes smart strategy. In this session, we’ll dive into what’s shaping the salon world in 2025, from rising customer expectations and tech tools to staffing, retail, and client loyalty. Whether you’re a salon owner or a manager, get the insights you need to grow your business, stay ahead of trends, and lead with confidence. Speakers: Eve El Gemayel, Head Department, House of Beauty Moderator: |
12:00 - 12:30 | Advancing Beauty with Biotechnology: From Lab to Consumer With deep expertise in pioneering haircare technologies, Lavinia Popescu leads research and innovation at Olaplex, where she advances biotech-driven formulations that bridge science and consumer needs. Her insights will shed light on how biotechnology is shaping the next generation of beauty innovation. Speakers: |
12:30 – 13:30 | Influencers, Experts & Evidence: Who Do Consumers Trust? In a crowded beauty market, trust is everything. This session explores how consumers navigate advice from influencers, experts, and scientific claims. Who truly shapes decisions—and how can brands build lasting credibility? Speakers: Moderator: |
13:30 – 14:00 | Beauty & Wellbeing (B&W) Narrative We as the Unilever Beauty & Wellbeing Category are taking the lead by converging beauty and wellbeing to meet consumers’ evolving needs. We’re transforming our organization to bring beauty and wellbeing together. We’re advancing new thinking through market-leading science which harnesses this convergence. And we’re delivering for consumers by providing them with products that address the desire for beauty while delivering the demand for wellbeing benefits. Speaker: Moderator: |
14:00 – 15:00 | Women in Beauty Leadership: Breaking Barriers & Driving Change Behind many of today’s most impactful beauty brands are women rewriting the rules. This session celebrates the journeys of female leaders who’ve broken through barriers, built powerful brands, and are shaping the future of the industry. Join us for an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to lead with purpose in a fast-changing beauty world. Speakers: Moderator: |
15:00 – 15:45 | The Future of Skincare AI: Building accurate, unbiased & personalised advice for consumers As AI moves beyond foundational models, the next challenge is building intelligence that truly understands individual needs. In skincare, this means creating technology that can offer accurate, personalised recommendations while avoiding the industry’s current pitfalls of bias and exclusion. This talk will explore how to expand the market by making AI-powered skincare accessible to more consumers, and why transparent, aligned methodologies are essential for trust, inclusivity, and lasting impact. |
15:45 – 16:45 | Men’s Beauty: The Next Big Segment The men’s beauty market is evolving rapidly—from skincare and cosmetics to wellness and self-expression. No longer limited to basic grooming, today’s male consumers are embracing a wider range of products and redefining beauty standards. This session explores what’s driving this shift, how brands are innovating to meet demand, and why men’s beauty is emerging as one of the industry’s most promising growth opportunities. Speakers: |
16:45 – 17:45 | Building Beauty Communities That Last Today’s beauty fans want more than products — they want to feel part of something. This session explores how brands are creating real, lasting communities by leading with authenticity, shared values, and genuine connection. From co-creation to inclusive storytelling, learn how to turn your audience into loyal advocates who grow with your brand, not just buy from it. Speakers: |
2025 Speakers

Ahaana Khosla
Beauty & Lifestyle Editor

Charbel Khoury
Regional Education & Development Director, Schwarzkopf Professional

Faiza Hussain
Founder and Head of Product Innovation, NEX Skincare

Gaëlle Doré
General Manager, Middle East & India, Centdegrés

Shiyan Zering
Senior Research Analyst, Mintel
2024 Highlights: In case you missed it
















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