Cosmetics Design Christmas Special: a prosperous year for the industry!

1. Technically challenging and often outlandish festive cosmetic product launches​

Christmas and the holiday season can often seem like a license for the creatives in the cosmetics industry to let rip. And some of the launches highlighted in this special gallery from Mintel are certainly evidence of that.

This photo tour ​looks at some of the more technically challenging and often outlandish festive cosmetic product launches that may be sitting at the foot of the Christmas tree around about now.

Nativity-themed soaps were the order of the day in Argentina, while in Canada, a festive Winter Candy Apple fragrance makes a splash.

But it seems that nail varnish launches from all over the world have been the biggest focus for the festive treatment this year, with four special edition nail care launches featuring featuring baubles, advent calendars, reindeers, ribbons, glitter, Father Christmas, Rudolf. The list goes on….

2. 'Tis the season of the beauty Advent calendar​

2014 seen the return of the beauty Advent calendar. The version for grown-ups has created new opportunities for cosmetic brands of late, particularly with the rise of the festive ‘self-gifting’ trend.

Traditionally, Advent calendars have been associated with the confectionary space and have often been targeted at younger consumers. However, analysts say this concept is expanding as innovation traditionally found in food and drink migrates into the personal care space​. 

According to Datamonitor researcher, Jamie Mills; beauty versions are tapping into demand for 'affordable luxury' as consumers can pay a single price to sample a wide range of premium cosmetics rather than experimenting with the full size, while also being a personal 'treat' for the festive season.

3. The festive business of niche fragrances​

Perfume is forever giftable; yet standby products like celebrity fragrance and eau de parfum aren’t necessarily the best sellers they once were. This year, specialty fragrance is putting a bow on it​!

Distinctive segments from limited edition scents to fragranced personal care products and new market niches from subscriptions to social platforms are changing the perfume industry.

Creativity in formulation and marketing that bring scents to consumers in lively contemporary ways are winning this season. “Taking advantage of opportunities in unexpected spaces is key in today’s shifting prestige beauty market,” ​Karen Grant, vice president and global industry analyst for The NDP Group said about this year’s holiday trends.

4. 'Twas the year for skin care​

The global beauty and personal care market continues to grow at a steady rate and from looking at estimates from Euromonitor it has done again; and will continue to do so next year.

With this in mind CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com decided to ask the market research company’s Beauty and Personal Care Analyst, Nicole Tyrimou, to give her opinion and comment on what has been hot, and what has not, in 2014.

It came as no surprise that the biggest category in the market, skin care, continues to be the biggest ​continues to be the biggest contributor to growth in absolute terms.

Nicole explains that this is driven by high performance in Asia-Pacific for facial care and also in Latin America for body care.