FEATURE ARTICLES

The global personal care industry remains competitive despite the continued gloomy economic outlook. In 2011, for example, exports from the European market alone were worth e14.2 billion, with France topping the list and Germany, Italy and the UK not far behind (Source: The European Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Market 2011, Cosmetics Europe).

The 2012 SCS Formulate took place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, UK, on 13 and 14 November and once again continued its steady increase in size it has shown since 2004 with a total of 913 visitors.

Cosmetic products are usually mixtures containing, for example, polymers, waxes, oils, minerals, colorants, preservatives, biocides, surfactants and solvents.

Sun protection preparations (sunscreens) are classified differently internationally. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) determination methods as well as the UV filter substances are not harmonised so far.

Tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and it has been popular for over 4000 years. Its popularity is attributed to the sensory properties and potential health and anti-ageing benefits.

Having clear and bright skin is considered an important feature for female beauty in Asian cultures. In these markets there is a large and growing demand for skin whitening and lightening products.

The 2013 Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients (PCHi) event will be held on 13-15 March at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center and is set to be the best and most well-attended edition of the international trade event thus far, with strong conference partnerships and a bigger exhibition area.

Following on from the two-part article last year, Ric Williams looks at the subject of anti-ageing, starting with the transport of active ingredients through the skin.

In terms of transport of active ingredients across the skin membrane, the rate of dermal absorption of a substance is proportional to both the concentration of the substance and the surface area over which it is applied.

Perfect skin - new skin - skin as fresh and radiant as a baby’s is achieved through a multi-faceted approach. Skin colour, shine, surface condition and texture are all factors which play a role.

As the cosmetics industry is pushing at all times to innovate and create the next big thing, more formulators are looking out to sea for their source of inspiration.

The 27th IFSCC Congress took place in Johannesburg on the 15-18 October 2012. Organised by The Society of Cosmetic Chemists South Africa, the Congress welcomed delegates to the Sandton Convention Centre under the banner of ‘Beauty in Diversity – a Global Village’.

Anyone who has had a writing class knows that before anything else can be written, the subject has to be defined. In this case, that is the seemingly straightforward task of defining a cosmetic, by US standards.

Today, it seems that different factors are interlinked and combined with other processes and on different levels to contribute to the skin ageing phenomenon. On a cell level, telomeres’ shortening is considered one of the main characteristics of ageing.

The 2012 in-cosmetics Asia welcomed a record number of visitors through its doors last November, seeing an increase of 45% compared to the flood-affected 2011 show.

in-cosmetics 2013 makes its return to Paris on 16-18 April with its 22nd show that promises to be the biggest and best yet. With over 600 exhibitors expected to attend, visitors will have unrivalled access to all the latest innovations in the cosmetics and personal care industry.

Stewart Long is Dow Corning’s global skincare market manager. In this role, he develops new strategies to create innovative silicone applications and formulations to help companies meet consumers’ skin care demands.

Consumers everywhere recognise the benefits that come with the adoption of the latest technologies and product upgrades. This observation remains essentially true among consumers of cosmetics, wherein buyers request the most recent commercially available skin care strategy and technology to help maintain the youthful appearance of their skin.

It is not surprising that silicones are contained in the vast majority of new launches for personal care products. The element silicon from which they are formed is found in abundance in our Earth’s crust.

As the cosmetics and personal care market continues to grow, consumers have an increased number of product ranges to choose from.

SCS Formulate is the biggest meeting in the UK dedicated to personal care ingredients, attracting a substantial proportion of the UK market. Organised for the Society of Cosmetic Scientists, SCS Formulate focuses on the latest technologies, applications and ingredients in the UK cosmetic market.