The rise and rise of active ingredients aimed at providing medicinal and health properties to cosmetic and personal care products is well documented, but now the growth in demand for these ingredients is leading major ingredients suppliers to align their businesses according to these demands.
Germany-based Cognis says that the world population's growing interest in actively enhancing mental and physical wellness is rapidly becoming one of the most pressing trends for the cosmetics industry.
A particular focus for this trend has been skin care products, with a specific focus on anti-ageing products. Currently the global market for skin care products is valued at over $38 billion (€29bn), of which nearly $7 billion is related to anti-ageing products. The rate of growth for the skin care segment is 6.7 per cent and is one of the highest in the industry. However, even more striking is the growth rate for the anti-ageing segment, which now tops 11 per cent.
Cognis Care Chemicals, which currently has sales of €1.1 billion and is present in over 100 countries, is focusing on a number of ingredients that are feeding this demand in the skin care segments, many of which are being used in anti-ageing products, too.
However, it is in the skin care segment that Cognis says that ingredients such as Eumulgin HPS and Eumulgin L are proving popular. The solubizers are increasingly popular in aromatherapy products as they allow for the incorporation of lipholic substances such as vitamins, perfume oils and UV filters into aqueous- and alcohol-based products.
Likewise ingredients such as Cosmedia are also proving popular to help formulators achieve stable emulsions for skin care products, whilst Cetiol is a leading dry emollient.
Although still a small market, demand for botanicals is rapidly growing, too. Cognis says that standarised botanical extracts such as Herbalia and its Aloe Vera ingredient Aloveria are proving popular.