Our Emotional Bond(age) to Beauty

The Beauty Co.'s (TBC) new survey of U.S. beauty consumers found women form deeply emotional bonds to their beauty products that inform all purchasing decisions.

“All brands think they know beauty consumers, but we thought it would be fun to take a deeper dive into what women really think about beauty, their beauty habits, their beauty addictions and their beauty passions," said Alisa Marie Beyer, founding partner and CEO.

The research, conducted in-house by TBC highlights more than 25 data points about American women and their beauty routines, brand preferences and purchasing behavior. “We found women would rather be well-liked than admired (61 percent), hear from a knowledgeable sales consultant over a lively one (78 percent), and are heeding the warnings of sun damage: 69 percent use a daily moisturizer with an SPF," Beyer said. "It’s exciting to hear first-hand what messages are working with consumers and how they are impacting her behavior in-market."

Further interesting facts about American women and their beauty routines revealed in the study include:

• Moisturizer is on the way up: 19 percent are using moisturizer more often than they were a year ago, but eye shadow is on the way down: 8 percent are using it less than they were a year ago
• 67 percent of American women consider their shopping style deliberate, and 56 percent are more comfortable relying on logic rather than intuition
• Seniority still counts: 72 percent of women would rather invest in an established brand over a cutting-edge brand
• Nearly equal amounts of women would like to have personal wealth (53 percent) versus personal beauty (47 percent)
• A majority of women would prefer purity of ingredients (65 percent) more than potency of ingredients (35 percent)
• 57 percent of women think the latest scientific advancements in beauty are amazing, but 34 percent think they are nothing new.
• More than a third of beauty consumers consider perfume a staple and won’t leave home without it
• Nearly equal percentages of women want to stand out (51 percent) versus blending in (49 percent)

“One of the most important facts to emerge from the research is beauty consumers find immense fun and happiness in their beauty products and routines," Beyer said."They are thoughtful in their choices, they are seeking knowledge and education from the industry and they overwhelmingly feel their investment in beauty is worthwhile and well spent."

“It’s always very exciting for us to hear from consumers, which is why we love to conduct this kind of research," observed vice president Kate Helfrich, “More than just typical demographics or statistics, we get down to consumer’s deepest thoughts and feelings on beauty at an emotional level, as well as a statistical level. By mining for this kind of information, we are able to capture immediately relevant consumer information that informs all aspects of brand development, distribution and marketing. Plus, it’s just fun! How else would we find out that when given the choice, 54 percent of women would rather have chocolate than beauty products, and the color most beauty consumers relate to is blue (23 percent)?"

Source: Inside Cosmeceuticals

L'Oreal USA Buys PBL, Maker of Clarisonic

With electronic skin care device sales soaring, L’Oréal USA has jumped into the market, announcing the completed acquisition of Pacific Bioscience Laboratories Inc. (PBL). PBL’s Clarisonic is a market leader in the rapidly growing areas of sonic skin care devices, topicals and technology. Established in 2001, PBL developed its patented technology, enabling a series of popular products under the Clarisonic brand that redefined consumers’ approach to skin care. The move gives L’Oréal access to patented sonic skin care technology and with it, the ability to acquire strategic positions in the quickly emerging skin care devices category.


Source: Beauty Packaging

Nail Polish Without The Noxious Fumes, Oh Yeah

Check out Scotch Naturals nail polish -- the line of 30 “intoxicating” colors is eco-friendly and free of the chemicals that cause that 'I’m-getting-an-unwanted-high' nail polish smell. 

Colors like Velvet Kilt, Highland Mist, and Macbeth’s Dream (yes, Scotch really is Scotch) will cost you $14.99 — a small price to pay for the brain cells you’ll save by not inhaling chemical craziness.

Scotch also makes nail polish remover for $11.99, which can be an even worse culprit than the polish itself.

Prestige Beauty Up Double Digits in 2011

At its annual “Hot off the Press” event, held January 30 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, The NPD Group revealed 2011 year-end results for skin care, makeup, and fragrance. According to NPD, the total U.S. prestige beauty industry (products sold mainly in U.S. department stores) increased double digits—11%—in dollar sales in 2011 over 2010.


Globally, by country, sales were strongest in Argentina (up 33%), followed by China (22%), Mexico (15%) and the UK (9%).
In 2011, skincare and fragrance sold in U.S. department stores both posted double-digit dollar growths of 14 and 11 percent respectively, while makeup grew a healthy nine percent, compared to 2010.


“In the U.S., UK, and China, prestige beauty is enjoying one of the most robust sales periods ever,” said Karen Grant, vice president and senior global industry analyst, The NPD Group—and a member of Beauty Packaging’s Board of Advisors. “In the U.S., for example, beauty sales in both the mass and prestige channels were positive month after month in 2011. And while both channels were positive, prestige beauty reigned supreme. From the stellar increases in prestige skincare to the continued gains in makeup, to the double-digit rebound of fragrance, prestige beauty is experiencing a time of unprecedented growth.”


“In continental Europe,” Grant continued, “where the prestige market is more mature, growth is more tempered, and performance among the categories has not been as dynamic as in the U.S. or U.K., but nonetheless, prestige beauty managed to flourish thanks to brand media investment, bigger in-store animation, and price promotions.”


In addition, the U.S. Food/Drug/Mass channel experienced a 4% increase in sales for total beauty in 2011, versus 2010. Makeup sales posted the biggest increase at 8%, followed by skin care at 3%, while fragrance sales declined 5% in dollar sales, compared to 2010. In National Chain stores, fragrance sales grew 5%.


Source: Beauty Packaging