Bobbi Brown’s functional chocolate Beauty Bites boost skin, hair and nail health

08 Sep 2021 --- Evolution_18, founded by beauty entrepreneur Bobbi Brown, is introducing Beauty Bites, a range of functional gourmet chocolates formulated with biotin, collagen and hyaluronic acid to support skin, hair and nail health.

The wellness company is launching Beauty Bites in two flavors – Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch – across Walmart stores in the US.

“Beauty Bites aren’t just good-for-you ingestibles, they are artisanal, epicurean-grade chocolates infused with collagen and biotin,” says Brown. 

Marrying taste and nutrition
These functional chocolates are 30 calories per serving, with 2 g carbs and no added sugar. 

The chocolates are 30 calories per serving, with 2 g carbs and no added sugar. The company says it uses real chocolate and cocoa, so they’re rich in antioxidants. It also added collagen, biotin and hyaluronic acid to help to give hair, skin and nails a boost from the inside out. 

Each Beauty Bite contains 250 mg of collagen peptides to help promote firm, vibrant and healthy skin. There is also 500 mcg of biotin and 25 mg of hyaluronic acid.

The premise of Evolution_18 has always been about satisfying a wellness need but not sacrificing taste, according to Brown. “I’m a foodie, so everything in the collection has to taste delicious.”

“Over the past few years, the beauty industry has evolved with a focus on products that promote beauty from the inside out. It’s not just about looking good. We want you to feel good and that’s what Evolution_18 is helping our customers achieve,” says Paula Ryan, senior merchandising director, beauty for Walmart US. 

Moves in beauty
Coinciding with the launch of Beauty Bites, Walmart is relocating the entire Evolution_18 collection in stores from the personal care section to the beauty and skincare section. 

The move is both physical and symbolic: Both Bobbi and Walmart say they recognized that there is a reciprocal nature of inner and outer beauty and the importance consumers place on both. 

Walmart’s placement of the brand within beauty and skincare acknowledges the customer now views wellness and beauty as interconnected and complementary.

According to Innova Market Insights, cosmeceuticals are on the rise, with skin health claims being especially popular in supplements. Europe is gaining market share and looks set to catch up with Asia.

Meanwhile, launches are getting more creative, taking inspiration from food companies. The market researcher notes a 21 percent rise in F&B and supplement launches with a skin health claim (CAGR 2015-2019). 

Functional and delicious
With pill fatigue intensifying among consumers, supplement formats are diversifying to include more appealing varieties. While gummies have become a mainstay of nutritional delivery formats in recent years, the sector looks set to embrace further confectionery-adjacent forms with chocolate coming to the fore. 

In this space, Mybite Vitamins offers multivitamins with an indulgent chocolatey coating, caramel, nuts and a fluffy center. The US-based company has now expanded its distribution to over 20,000 locations.

Meanwhile, the Functional Chocolate Company is also combining health benefits with indulgence in its first range of chocolates. Its four offerings address the most-cited conditions that impact women: PMS, menopause, low-libidos, and stress and anxiety.

By Kristiana Lalou