Attendance Jumps 33% at In-Cosmetics Global

In-Cosmetics Global, the world's largest beauty exhibition, reported a surge in attendance for the recently-concluded event in Barcelona. According to Reed Exhibitions, the show organizer, attendance jumped 33% to 10,799 unique attendees from across all five continents sourcing the latest and most innovative ingredients and formulations from over 900 exhibitors on the show floor. Moreover, repeat attendance reached 20,902 – nearly a 50% increase from 2022.

It was the first time In-Cosmetics Global was in held in Barcelona after a seven year absence. According to Reed, 72% of attendees came from outside Spain, up from 57% in 2022. In fact, executives from more than 118 countries attended. Furthermore, 12% of the international delegation travelled from Asia Pacific, compared to 6% in 2022. Visitors hailed from South Korea, China, India and Japan. For many attendees, this represented the first international personal care event they’ve attended following three years of lockdowns and subsequent travel restrictions, noted organizers.

“We are delighted that In-Cosmetics Global returned to such widespread, international support, once again demonstrating why it is the world’s leading personal care ingredients show,” said Event Director Roziani Zulkifli. “Innovation could be found in abundance across the halls of the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, while the high-level, international audience in attendance demonstrated not only the importance of networking and sourcing at the show, but the industry’s willingness to invest in the future of the cosmetics and personal care industry.”

In-Cosmetics Global featured seven dedicated conference theaters and labs, featuring experts in the Marketing Trends Theater, Technical Seminars and Formulation Lab. The brand new Sustainability Zone also showcased the latest developments and achievements in sustainable beauty. Opening the Marketing Trends Theater, Conor Spicer, senior research analyst, beauty & health, Euromonitor International, explored the transformation of haircare in the post-pandemic world. He detailed three notable trends and the drivers behind them, including “Less is More”– a trend leading the way as a result of consumers being more selective with their haircare routines, driven by the impact of covid-19 and subsequent inflationary pressures. They are becoming more selective, opting for fewer but higher quality items with attributes that focus on efficacy and multifunctionality. The pandemic was also noted for its influence on the “Skinification of Hair,” where an increased focus on health and safety has prompted the emergence of “skintellectuals” who strive to better understand their skin and beauty needs. As a result, skinification within hair has grown in prominence, with more brands adopting skincare ingredients and formulations, with the scalp acting as an extension of the skin. The final trend reflects the maturity of the haircare market and the importance of “Purpose over Profit,” where value growth is often stimulated by premiumization. Here, as consumer desire evolves, and the purchasing power of Gen Z increases, areas such as ingredient transparency and inclusivity are recognized as key opportunities for growth among brands.

The Marketing Trends Theatere also welcomed Emma Fishwick, senior account manager, NPD Group who took attendees through the latest fragrance innovations. Highlighting the opportunities within the sector, she revealed that the fragrance market was in double-digit growth across Europe, with Spain peaking at 22%. Meanwhile, Italy (20%), Germany (17%), France (12%) and the UK (13%) all noted significant market increases. She noted that within the category, interest in refillable options grew by 23%, while gift sets saw a decline of 2%.

Technology was covered during this year’s popular R&D Tours, which saw hundreds of attendees join expert consultant, Rouah Al-Wakeel, as she guided participants to selected stands linked to three highly topical subjects: Microbiome, Skinification and Biotech.

More from the Floor…

The newly expanded Sustainability Zone showcased the latest developments and achievements in sustainable beauty.  Making its debut at the show was In-Cosmetics Discover, the new In-Cosmetics digital initiative. This ingredients search engine allows users to browse and match a voluminous number of ingredients by certification, performance claims, chemical groups and applications. The Discover team of consultants were also on hand to share market insights into what formulators are searching for on the platform. A case in point is actives currently generating three times more searches than any other function, which proves how brands and formulators are responding to a growing audience of end users keen on efficacious and science-backed ingredients.

Finally, the popular Formulation Lab gave formulators and R&D specialists a carefully curated, practical program that explored the very latest formulation techniques. From lipsticks and repairing hairsprays, to mineral sunscreens and scalp and hair masks, delegates were invited to formulate live on the show floor, with guidance from ingredient suppliers.

While formulators and R&D specialists were hands-on in the Formulation Lab, the show’s immersive product areas enabled visitors to get up close and personal with the latest ingredients. From the newest ingredients to hit the market in the Innovation Zone, invigorating sensations in the Sensory Bar, and the most innovative pigments and hues at the Make-Up Bar, visitors were inundated with opportunities to test, try, and discover ingredients to inspire the next product formulation. Across the show’s interactive product displays, attendees actively collected product information through the digital Colleqt QR service – which enabled visitors to collect product information using their default camera app – generating more than 50,000 leads for participating exhibitors.


In-Cosmetics Global returns to Paris, April 16-18, 2024. To register your interest to attend, visit www.in-cosmetics.com/global/