Expert interview with Tetiana Butska, Director of Leo Beauty Club, after her visit to Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026
How significant is Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna for the global beauty industry?
Tetiana Butska: Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna is the largest beauty exhibition, where all global innovations in the cosmetics market are gathered. The entire beauty industry is concentrated in one place — from skincare to manufacturing. This is the place where the reality is formed, the one the entire market will later believe in.
What is your overall impression of the exhibition? Are we truly living through a new era in the beauty industry?
Tetiana Butska: The impression is very strong and, honestly, makes you look at the beauty industry differently.
After Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026, there is a feeling that beauty is no longer just about “applying cream and looking good.” Now it is more about how the skin works from within. In other words, cosmetics are becoming more “intelligent.”
Why do industry representatives strive to attend Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna?
Tetiana Butska: This is where trends are born — what is presented at the exhibition will appear in salons within 6–12 months.
You look at products and understand that what is being shown now will be everywhere in half a year. And vice versa — what was “wow” yesterday already looks somewhat outdated.
I want to emphasize one thing: not all products presented there are equally useful or truly new. Some are real innovations, while others are simply well-packaged marketing.
And this is where my main task begins — to distinguish one from the other, and from hundreds of thousands, select and bring back the best and most effective.
What is the first feeling when you enter such a large-scale exhibition space?
Tetiana Butska: Honestly? Overload.
You walk in and see thousands of brands, dozens of pavilions, and an endless number of products.
At some point, you catch yourself thinking that the issue is not a lack of products — but market oversaturation.
And that is the main challenge of the modern industry.
What was your purpose in visiting Cosmoprof Bologna as a salon director from Ukraine, and what role do you define for yourself there?
Tetiana Butska: My role at Cosmoprof Bologna, both as a representative of Ukraine and as a salon director, is first and foremost that of an observer, analyst, and mediator between global innovations and the practical reality of our market.
I attend such events to see trends not through presentations, but live — how technologies evolve, which approaches become industry standards, which brands set direction, and what truly has practical value for clients in a salon. It is an opportunity to evaluate not only the product, but also the philosophy of brands, their approach to quality, education, and service.
As a representative of Ukraine, I also act as a kind of ambassador of our market, demonstrating that Ukrainian salons operate at a high level, integrate international standards, and are open to cooperation with leading global brands. At the same time, I bring new ideas, solutions, and practices back to Ukraine that can be adapted to our realities and client needs.
As a salon director, my key task is to filter everything I see and understand what will truly be effective in team operations, which technologies are worth implementing, which brands can strengthen our service, and which tools can improve service quality and client satisfaction.
In other words, Cosmoprof for me is not just an exhibition, but a strategic platform where the vision for salon development is formed, partnerships expand, and solutions are born that later transform into real results for clients and the team.
Which countries are currently leaders in the beauty industry? Is Europe losing its position?
Tetiana Butska: No — and this is critically important.
France, Italy, Switzerland are the foundation of the beauty industry. Europe is not losing its position. It operates with a different logic. Europe is about quality, stability, and deeply refined formulas. There may be fewer products, but they undergo a much longer and more complex testing process.
For example, French brand Biologique Recherche, British Medik8, Italian Rhea — these products are created with a clear logic, and cosmetologists often trust them much more as stable tools.
And what distinguishes Korea?
Tetiana Butska: Europe and Korea are not competing — they represent completely different philosophies.
South Korea operates at a different speed. They are fast, flexible, actively implement new ideas, and scale solutions quickly. This creates the impression that they are always “one step ahead.”
Europe:
– do it perfectly
– test for a long time
– launch cautiously
Korea:
– do it quickly and improve later
– respond rapidly to trends
– actively experiment
This speed gives Korea strong visibility in the market. But there is an important nuance — speed creates a huge number of innovations, but also variability in quality. And you begin to understand how important it is not to listen to words, but to analyze deeply.
What can you say about Ukraine’s level in this field?
Tetiana Butska: Honestly, this is one of the most inspiring aspects.
Ukraine today is not just a consumer market — it is a market of expertise. We have very strong specialists, and this is clearly visible at large-scale events like Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna.
Our technologists are being headhunted, our specialists work with international brands, and it gives the feeling that we are no longer “somewhere nearby” — we are already inside the industry.
Which ingredients are currently in focus?
Tetiana Butska: As participants in the beauty industry, we regularly attend key international events in Paris, Monaco, Dubai, and Italy. Based on this experience, we can confidently say that the main trend today — and likely for the near future — is cosmetics that work on a deeper level.
We are talking about formulas containing exosomes and protein-based peptides.
These components are shaping a new approach to skincare — not just surface-level effects, but working with cellular processes, regeneration, and long-term skin quality.
Our salon actively works with exosomes, and this is indeed a technologically strong direction that operates at the level of cellular communication and regeneration.
Simply put, exosomes are tiny particles that help cells “communicate” with each other. Imagine cells as people, and exosomes as messages between them. They transmit information on what to do, how to regenerate, and how to respond to damage.
In cosmetics, they are used to help the skin recover better, activate regeneration processes, and improve overall condition. This is not just hydration — it’s work at the level of cellular communication.
However, it is very important to understand that many products use the word “exosomes” as marketing. You always need to evaluate the actual technology and formulation.
What role do peptides and NAD+ play today?
Tetiana Butska: Peptides and NAD+ are among the most discussed components in modern beauty, and for good reason.
As a salon, we actively integrate these ingredients into our work, particularly in anti-age protocols.
- Peptides are short chains of amino acids that “signal” skin cells to activate, regenerate, and produce proteins like collagen
- NAD+ is related to cellular energy processes — it helps cells produce energy and function more actively
However, there is an important limitation: it is technologically difficult to deliver these ingredients effectively into the skin through cosmetic products. The skin has a protective barrier, and not every molecule can penetrate deeply enough to influence cellular processes.
That is why there are still relatively few developments where peptides or NAD+ in pure, stable, and properly structured form can truly penetrate the skin and deliver visible results.
LED lamps and collagenariums are gaining popularity. Are they truly effective?
Tetiana Butska: Yes, these technologies were widely presented at the exhibition.
Collagenariums, visually, are very impressive — almost like a high-tech space device with many modes and settings.
As for effectiveness, LED therapy has long been used in cosmetology and has practical confirmation when applied within proper protocols.
However, the result depends not so much on the technology itself, but on how it is used — wavelengths, intensity, duration, and combination with other treatments.
Collagenariums work more with photostimulation and overall skin condition. They can be a useful addition, but their effectiveness depends heavily on consistency and a comprehensive approach.
So I would say: these are not just trends, but real tools — but only when properly integrated into a skincare system.
Summing up your experience at Cosmoprof Bologna, what are the main conclusions you have drawn as a beauty salon director?
Tetiana Butska: To sum up, Cosmoprof Bologna for me is not just an exhibition, but a place where the direction of development of the entire beauty industry is shaped. It clearly highlights global trends such as the growing role of a scientific approach to product formulations, a focus on active ingredients, the development of device-based treatments and technologies, as well as the integration of home and professional care into a unified system.
It is also noticeable that leading brands from Europe and Korea are actively investing in research, improving formulas, and focusing on effectiveness, safety, and long-term results.
This trip gave me not only inspiration, but also an opportunity to take a systematic look at the development of our salon — which approaches should be implemented, which products and technologies meet modern client needs, and how to further refine our service to meet international standards.
I see that the Ukrainian beauty market is already developing actively and adapting quickly to global trends. Participation in such events helps us stay within the professional context, expand our expertise, and move forward together with the global industry.
And finally, could you share what interesting discoveries you made at Cosmoprof Bologna, and which new brands or partnerships you plan to introduce in your salon network in Ukraine?
Tetiana Butska: At Cosmoprof Bologna, we truly discovered several very interesting directions and brands with which we are already cooperating or planning to collaborate.
In particular, we met the owner of the brand Arosha. They presented new solutions and protocols that resonated strongly with us, and we are already considering integrating them into our work and actively implementing them in our salons, as well as showcasing many of their new products — including patches and masks — on our shelves.
We also had the opportunity to speak with the owners of the brand RARE PARIS, who shared their new developments with us, including serums that are still preparing to enter the market. This is an interesting direction for us, and we are considering it for future collaboration.
Another brand that stood out to us was ASCE, which specializes in exosome technologies. They are already actively expanding their product line and are represented not only in serums but also in SPF products and cushion formats with exosomes. This is a very promising segment, and we plan to bring these solutions to Ukraine.
We are also currently in negotiations with the British company LUNESI, which specializes in hair care. This is an interesting partner for us, and we have a strong desire to become one of the first — and possibly exclusive — representatives of this brand in salons across Ukraine.
Overall, Cosmoprof has become for us not only a source of new knowledge, but also a platform for building partnerships that will help us expand our assortment, implement modern solutions, and offer clients even more effective and innovative products in the future.
LEO BEAUTY CLUB – is an international network of premium beauty salons and clinics represented in Kyiv, Warsaw, and Dubai. In the LBC beauty space, only global luxury brands are used. Exceptional care is ensured by advanced beauty methodologies widely implemented within the network. The refined design and focus on comfort turn every cosmetic procedure at LBC into a truly enjoyable experience.
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