News 17.04.2025

Need to Know

Mami Wata presents the new face of SPF, The Wizard of Oz to make its debut at The Sphere and how US teen boys are spending more than girls on fragrances.

Mami Wata makes sun protection accessible with a touch of humour

Mami Wata Bald Faces, Brazil

Brazil – Suncare brand Mami Wata is using humour and nostalgia to highlight the often-overlooked importance of scalp protection.

In its latest campaign, developed with agency Artplan, the brand adopts a retro infomercial style to target bald consumers with a tongue-in-cheek offer: scan your ‘face’ – referring not to facial features, but to the wrinkle-like shapes often found on the backs of bald heads – to receive a coupon code for two sunscreens for the price of one.

The campaign is light-hearted and playful in execution, but communicates a crucial message to those most at risk of scalp sunburn. ‘Our challenge was to communicate a serious health issue in a way that felt human and approachable,’ explains Rodrigo Almeida, chief creative officer of Artplan. ‘We believe that humour, when used with care and empathy, can be a bridge to real awareness and change.’

Blending satirical storytelling with cultural awareness, the campaign moves away from fear-based health messaging and instead reframes SPF use as both necessary and accessible. As suncare brands continue to embed protection into everyday behaviours, Mami Wata’s scalp-focused activation reflects a broader shift towards personalised, creative health communication.

For more on how brands are increasing awareness of sun safety through innovative methods, read our Future Forecast 2024: Beauty report.

Strategic opportunity

Explore the potential of humour and cultural insight to transform traditionally overlooked categories, like suncare, into more approachable, personalised and health-conscious solutions, making essential protection an integral part of daily life

The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere uses generative AI to re-imagine a classic

US – Launching in August 2025, The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere will transform the 1939 classic into an immersive spectacle using cutting-edge generative AI. Set inside Las Vegas’ colossal Sphere venue, the re-imagined film will envelop its 17,600-seat audience in a 16K resolution, 160,000-square-feet visual experience.

The project unites Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, Sphere Studios, Magnopus and Warner Bros Discovery, using AI models Veo, Imagen and Gemini to upscale footage, outpaint missing frames and generate performances – all without adding new dialogue or music.

‘We’re working with Sphere Studios, Magnopus and visual effects artists around the world, alongside our AI models, to effectively bring the original characters and environments to life on a whole new canvas – creating an immersive entertainment experience that still respects the original in every way,’ said Buzz Hays, the global lead for entertainment industry solutions at Google Cloud, in a press release.

In our Archi-tainment report, we analysed how a new generation of transformative structures focused on next-level entertainment experiences like The Sphere are set to influence commercial, public and third spaces.

Google, US

Strategic opportunity

Consider creating branded experiences that blend nostalgia, IP and cutting-edge tech. Think pop-ups or events where AI re-imagines a classic campaign, product launch or cultural moment

Stat: US teen beauty spending soars as Gen Z embrace fragrances and skincare

Jay Chou for La Mer, Taiwan Jay Chou for La Mer, Taiwan

US – Teen beauty spending is on the rise, with Piper Sandler’s Taking Stock With Teens 2025 report revealing double-digit year-on-year growth, particularly in fragrances and skincare.  

A survey of 6,455 US teens across 43 states found fragrances to be the fastest-growing category, with teen boys increasing their annual spending by 44% to £96 ($127, €112), surpassing girls’ average of £81 ($107, €94). 

Daily fragrance use rose significantly, with 53% of boys and 78% of girls applying scent daily – up from 43% and 66% in 2023. Jean Paul Gaultier and Versace topped teen boys’ fragrance preferences, while Bath & Body Works and Sol de Janeiro led among girls. 

In skincare, CeraVe remains dominant across genders, with 52% of boys and 32% of girls naming it their go-to brand. Sephora retained its lead as the top beauty retailer for teen girls, while Amazon led among boys. 

Our Three Key Takeaways From NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show and World Retail Congress 2024: Community Commerce reports unpack the co-creation and phygital experience strategies brands need to employ to tap into the Zalpha economy (the youngest Gen Z and oldest Alphas).  

Strategic opportunity

Beauty brands should tap into young consumers’ growing investment in fragrances and skincare by developing affordable, age-appropriate products while prioritising community loyalty programmes and experiential retail experiences with co-creation opportunities

LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

Supercharge your research with our new generative AI tool and make our platform your trusted intelligence partner. Explore Ember now.

Previous News Articles
Corona constructs world’s first sun reserve in Brazil

News

Corona constructs world’s first sun reserve in Brazil

To mark its centenary, beach-born beer brand Corona has unveiled the world’s first sun reserve at Piedade Beach in Pernambuco, Brazil.
Sustainability : Drink : Advertising
Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

News

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, deputy foresight editor D...
Pop Culture : Society : Politics
Stat: Coachella’s payment plan reflects cultural repricing

News

Stat: Coachella’s payment plan reflects cultural repricing

This year, around 60% of general admission ticket buyers at Coachella used the festival’s payment plan, which requires just £37.78 ($49.99, €43.94)...
Pop Culture & Media : Finance : US Market
LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

News

LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

Meet our new AI tool, Ember.
The Future Laboratory
Mami Wata makes sun protection accessible with a touch of humour

News

Mami Wata makes sun protection accessible with a touch of humour

Suncare brand Mami Wata is using humour and nostalgia to highlight the often-overlooked importance of scalp protection.
Beauty : Advertising : Health
The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere uses generative AI to re-imagine a classic

News

The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere uses generative AI to re-imagine a classic

Launching in August 2025, The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere will transform the 1939 classic into an immersive spectacle using cutting-edge generative AI.
Technology : Architecture : Pop Culture
Stat: US teen beauty spending soars as Gen Z embrace fragrances and skincare

News

Stat: US teen beauty spending soars as Gen Z embrace fragrances and skincare

Teen beauty spending is on the rise, with Piper Sandler’s Taking Stock With Teens 2025 report revealing double-digit year-on-year growth, particula...
Beauty : Retail : Youth
Pepsi uses AI to let diners customise dishes in São Paulo

News

Pepsi uses AI to let diners customise dishes in São Paulo

Pepsi is inviting diners to co-create bold new dishes with its AI-powered campaign Your Bites, Your Rights.
Drink : Food : Technology
Birth of womb transplant baby marks a milestone in fertility innovation

News

Birth of womb transplant baby marks a milestone in fertility innovation

The first British baby born to a mother with a transplanted womb has been safely delivered.
Technology : Health : Society
Stat: AI boom set to double data centre energy use by 2030

News

Stat: AI boom set to double data centre energy use by 2030

Data centres are on track to consume 945 terawatt-hours of electricity by 2030, more than double their 2024 usage and equivalent to Japan’s current...
Technology : Sustainability : AI
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN