New Tesco skin care products focus on natural actives

UK retailer has launched two new skin care products - a plumping serum and a face mask - featuring natural active ingredients as part of its revised own-brand skin care range, reports Simon Pitman.

Both the Double Action Plumping Serum and the Peel Off Face Mask are included in the company's Skin Wisdom Age Reverse range, which is currently one of the most comprehensive in its category.

The serum has been designed to be used after the cleansing and toning process. It features a dual-pump system that offers a cream and gel formula designed for use on facial areas.

The cream formula has been designed for combating wrinkles around the eyes, whereas the gel is aimed at toning the face and neck area.

Supported by research and development for its age reverse range, Tesco claims that it uses premium quality active ingredients that can produce a firmer, smoother and more youthful complexion.

The serum combines skin firming ingredients such as white tea and other Ayurvedic ingredients, together with Retinol and algae to nourish and help restore the skin's health.

The peel-off face mask is said to be a skin-friendly alternative to salon style chemical peel treatments. It is recommended as a twice-weekly treatment, to be used with a combination of other products in the same range.

It provides exfoliating properties that are said to help freshen the complexion, diminishing fine lines and stimulating cell renewal.

The formulation features witchhazel, which has astringent properties that are said to tighten and tone the skin. It also contains Grape Multifruit Complex, which aims to shed dead skin cells from the surface, as well as white tea extract.

Tesco has given its entire skin care range, a complete overhaul in recent months. The Skin Wisdom range currently includes 42 products all aimed at promoting skin health. The range includes daily care, age delay, age reverse, body care and instant benefits categories.

The retailers updated range concentrates on two key growth areas in the cosmetics and toiletries area: natural ingredients and anti-aging.

Currently the market for natural cosmetics in the US alone is valued at $5 billion - represented a growth of 50 per cent since 2000. In Europe, this growth is now being mirrored, although the market is not as advanced.

With skin care currently the largest category in the global cosmetic and toiletries market, the biggest growth area is for anti-ageing products. By relaunching and expanding its skin care ranges, Tesco is tapping into a market that is showing some of the biggest growth in the industry.

Euromonitor currently estimates that the global skin care category is valued at over $38 billion with 6.7 per cent annual growth, however breaking this down to anti-ageing related products and the figure comes in at $7 billion, with an annual growth rate of 11.4 per cent.