Skin Care Today
Professional Skin Care Market Rebounds in Europe and the United States in 2010, According to Latest Kline Research
A rise in visits to professional outlets for skin care treatments in 2010 gave way to sales growth for the global professional skin care products market. While Japan remained flat with 0.1% growth, Europe recovered in 2010, posting a 3.0% increase following a 3.3% decline in 2009, and sales in the United States increased by 2.7% in 2010, according to the recently released study Professional Skin Care 2010 Global Series: Market Analysis and Opportunities by worldwide consulting and research firm Kline & Company.
Most of the leading professional skin care companies enjoyed respectable sales gains in 2010. Brands from the medical care providers channel reaped the strongest growth, with SkinMedica and SkinCeuticals posting double-digit gains. Market leader Obagi, entrenched in the medical care providers segment, maintained its leading position in the U.S. market, experiencing a 13% sales gain for the year.
In the highly fragmented markets of Europe and Japan, Guinot was the leading brand in 2010. While some brands are well established in a single professional channel, such as Sothys and SkinMedica, an increasing number of professional skin care brands adopt multi-channel strategies.
Spas and salons remains the largest purchase channel in the United States, but market share for the channel continues to decline due to stiff competition from other channels and the general market for facial treatment products. Beauty institutes are the leaders in both Europe with 59% and Japan with nearly 68% of market share. Spurred by customers’ trust in doctor’s knowledge in managing various types of skin problems, the medical care providers channel has grown the most in 2010 across all regions.
A number of professional outlets are now offering non invasive alternatives to invasive cosmetic procedures. Marketers also want to appeal to a wider group of consumers, such as teenagers, mature clients, pregnant women, and men, by expanding their portfolio with specifically targeted product lines.
“Looking ahead, there are several areas that marketers should take into consideration for future planning,” suggests Karen Doskow, Industry Manager at Kline’s Consumer Products Practice. “They should be working closely with accounts to help them adapt to the new consumer demand and stock the products that will cover the most prevalent of skin care concerns.” Introducing smaller sizes of products for retail to appeal to a more frugal consumer would be another strategy to consider, Karen points out.
As predicted with Kline’s FutureView forecasting model, the industry experienced a slight but recognizable growth in 2010. Over the next five years the market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% in Europe, 6.7% in the United States, and 2.6% in Japan.
Professional Skin Care China will be released in May 2011.
Shiseido promises brighter skin
The latest range of products from Shiseido are claimed to give women brighter skin and protection against ultraviolet rays.
THE perception of beauty differs from one culture to another. For the Japanese, it is flawless, snow-white skin or bihaku, as they believe in the proverb that goes, “A woman’s light skin causes one to overlook the absence of other desired physical features”.
Japanese skincare brand Shiseido believes in this idea. Recently, the brand invited a platoon of journalists from Asia to snowy Sapporo for a preview of its new products containing the brightening agent m-Tranexamic Acid, which is said to inhibit melanin production. Combined with other potent ingredients, the new White Lucent products are claimed to be able to give women brighter skin as well as powerful protection against ultraviolet rays.
One of Shiseido’s ‘whitening ambassadors’ Choi Ji Woo for South Korea.
We headed for Moerenuma Park on the outskirts of Sapporo for a seminar on the harmful effects of UV rays and Shiseido’s new products. The former 189ha landfill was transformed by landscape sculptor Isamu Noguchi. It was his last work before he died in 1988. The park took 17 years to complete and was opened to the public in 2005.
The park is said to reach its “peak radiance” in winter. Indeed, we were gob-smacked at the radiance of the Glass Pyramid – the nucleus of the park – bathed in sunlight and surrounded by dunes of snow, where the preview was being held. Cameras clicked furiously as we alighted the buses. The scene clearly reflected Shiseido’s message about women being able to attain lucent skin through their products.
At a dusk cocktail party held in the atrium of the pyramid later, the “whitening ambassadors” for the various markets were introduced – actresses Chiaki Kuriyama (from the movie Kill Bill, global), Choi Ji Woo (Winter Sonata, for South Korea) and Fala Chen (Moonlight Resonance, for Hong Kong). These lovely women affirmed that a daily skincare regimen has helped make a difference and improved their complexions.
“Consistency is very important,” said Chen. “You have to use the right products for a period of time and really stick to it.”
Choi added: “Eating food that’s good for your body is important, too. I drink plenty of water and regularly consume vitamin C.”
Brightening effect
In the past, harmful ingredients such as lead and mercury were used to achieve the bleached look. Today, thanks to scientific R&D and a better understanding of the dangers of UV radiation, efficacious ingredients have been discovered and are used in skin brightening products.
The star ingredient in the Shiseido White Lucent Serum, the brightening agent m-Tranexamic Acid, can now be found in the new SWL Brightening Spot-Control Foundation SPF25 PA+++), Spot-Control Base UV SPF35 PA+++ and Skincare Powder (not sold here).
The foundation achieved quasi-drug status (a product category between cosmetics and medicine) when Japan’s Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry certified its “ability to restrain the production of skin’s melanin pigment, effectively preventing spots and freckles”.
Thanks to the newly formulated foundation with ground m-Tranexamic Acid, skin achieves a natural-looking finish.
Spots and other discolorations are said to be camouflaged by the Luminizing Magic Powder in the foundation. The powder features ingredients that reflect yellow and blue light, making spots seem invisible and producing a more luminous skin. The brightening affect is amplified if the foundation is used together with other White Lucent products.
The new collection of brightening products also contain Shiseido’s super Hydro-Synergy Complex for day-long hydration and Radiance Optimizing Powder (found in the Foundation and Skincare Powder), which lends skin shine and radiance.
The Spot-Control Base UV comes in three shades: ivory to correct uneven skin tone, green to neutralise redness and pink to correct dull or yellowish skin. Shiseido recommends applying it after your morning skincare routine to help the foundation spread evenly and last longer.
Vitamin D from the sun prevents rickets, osteoporosis and some cancers, but over-exposure to UVA and UVB rays results in premature ageing and skin cancer.
The Multi-Defense UV Protector SPF50 PA+++ in the suncare range, a foundation primer that does not wear off with sweat or water, is said to effectively block out UV rays and brighten skin at the same time.
The OptiVeil-UV Technology by Shiseido allows the sunscreen to better adhere to the skin. Thanks to the lightweight and non-sticky texture of the product, it’s easily removed with a water-based cleanser rather than oil-based cleansers as recommended in the past. As a result, there is less stress on the skin.
It contains Thiotaurine and rose apple leaf extract which are said to protect against various oxidative stressors.
“UV rays target from all directions. Even if you stand under a tree, the rays will be reflected off the ground. Particles in the air can also scatter UV rays. So protection is important,” said Shiseido R&D centre’s leading expert in UV research and bihaku, Kiyoshi Sato.
“But this doesn’t mean that you should stay out of the sun. Going out is good for mental health. You can guard against UV radiation by wearing protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses.”
Prices range from RM125 to RM195. The new Shiseido brightening products will be available from tomorrow at Shiseido counters.
Suki Skincare ~ Adult Acne Skincare Line
Suki Skincare launched a line of products to combat adult acne. The company offers a line of skincare products that treat the signs of acne without harsh actives, ensuring safe and gentle cleansing.
Suki Skincare’s Adult Ace line includes:
Bio-Active Purifying Face Serum: Treat the most prominent symptoms of acne with this oil-free serum specifically designed to help reduce breakouts. Created using cosmeceutical-grade, standardized white willow bark extract and blended with goldenseal extract and apple enzymes, this serum combats blemishing, cleans the skin and provides soothing moisture.
Renewal Bio-Resurfacing Peel: Nurse blemish-prone skin with this corrective antioxidant-rich organic peel that works to reveal a visibly smoother, refined complexion. Standardized white willow bark extract and pumpkin enzyme combine to effectively buff blemishes and open clogged pores.
Transformative Cleansing Clay: This 3-in-1 purifying anti-inflammatory cleanser lifts impurities, dirt and toxins to the surface and helps reduce blemishing, irritation and redness.
Concentrated Balancing Toner: Balance skin’s natural pH while efficiently prepping it for additional treatments with this inflammation-soothing, blemish-reducing toner. Rich in natural vitamin C polypeptide liposomes and formulated with standardized white willow bark extract, this toner boosts the immune system as it simultaneously calms irritation.
Pure Facial Moisture – Balancing: Remedy an oily, acne-prone complexion with this 100-percent clean, breathable and bacteria-fighting oil concentrate. The floral blend of organic chamomile, Echinacea, lavender and rose extract creates a non-greasy formula that calms irritation, soothes sensitivities, balances oil production and moisturizes without clogging pores.