The challenge for suppliers to the large and small ‘cosmetic and personal care’ market is to keep pace with changes in needs and emerging markets by developing innovative solutions. Ingredient...

The challenge for suppliers to the large and small ‘cosmetic and personal care’ market is to keep pace with changes in needs and emerging markets by developing innovative solutions. Ingredient suppliers know it is imperative that they anticipate trends in the market, particularly emerging segments that are likely to be the major impetus behind growth in cosmetic sales. They must do this in order to ‘buy’ time to develop and leverage their technological innovations. One emergent market has been the men’s cosmetics sector, in which technology-orientated manufacturers of a new breed are establishing themselves as major operators. Leading European players such as L’Oréal, Beiersdorf and Clarins are bidding for a firm foothold in the market, while SMEs are already creating niches. New opportunities are being created by changes in a wide variety of markets. For instance, in teenagers’ cosmetics, expanding segments include colorants and skin care, in which young people have a relatively wide range of needs. Ciba, which is already active in hair colorants for older age groups, has recently introduced an ingredient that helps to enhance the colours in young consumers’ hair. L’Oréal uses the ingredient in its Feria Booster product to achieve more vibrant and intense red and copper tones. ‘Hair dyes are now extending right across the age spectrum and are no longer mainly concerned with covering up grey hairs’, says Mr Tim Schlange, head of Ciba Speciality Chemicals’ Home and Personal Care division.