International News

New Gillette Guard Razor Debuts in India

INDIA: P&G has rolled out Gillette Guard in India, billed as the first razor the brand has ever designed from start to finish for consumers in emerging markets—specifically the one billion-plus men around the world who are not shaving with Gillette.

According to P&G, most men in emerging markets shave with double-edge razors, and they have not been able to afford more advanced technology.The Gillette Guard is a razor system designed for their unique needs and preferences. For example, men in these markets desire a razor that can help manage longer hair because they don’t shave every day, and since they often lack running water, place high importance on easy-rinsing technology.

To that end, Gillette Guard features a single-blade system lined with a safety comb designed to prevent nicks and cuts, a flexible pivoting razor head that helps better maneuver the curves of the face and neck and tackle the hair under the chin, and an easy-to-maneuver handle with a lightweight, ribbed design that excellent one-handed control. In addition, the new razor features easy-rinse cartridges to prevent clogging.

Gillette said it also changed the way it manufactures the razor, using more than 80% fewer parts and a simplified process to ensure affordability. The razor, which hit the market last month, has a suggested retail price of 15 rupees (approximately $0.33) with refill cartridges for approximately five rupees.


Hain Celestial Expands Martha Stewart Into Canada
CANADA: The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. has expanded the availability of Martha Stewart Clean household cleaning products into Canada. The line of premium natural cleaners, which offers solutions for laundry, kitchen, bathroom and general household use, will be stocked in grocery stores and mass outlets.


P&G Opens New Hair Care Factory in Romania
ROMANIA: Procter & Gamble Co. has opened a plant in Urlati, Romania that will produce shampoo and hair care products for sale in the growing markets of Eastern Europe, including Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.

Romanian President Traian Basescu and P&G’s chairman, president and chief executive, Bob A. McDonald were on hand for the opening ceremony.


Indian Personal Care Ingredients Market To Grow Through 2014
INDIA: In 2009, the market size for specialty personal care ingredients in India was estimated at over 33,000 tons, and volume growth rate between 2010 and 2014 is expected to reach 9.6% during the four-year period, according to data from “Personal Care Ingredients 2010: India Market Analysis and Opportunities” a new study from Kline & Company.

As steadily increasing disposable income levels continue to change the spending habits of the country’s sizable population, and awareness for new formulations grows, India has the potential to become one of the major consumption markets for personal care ingredients. The highest volume growth is expected for emollients, with a projected 11.3% increase by 2014, according to Kline. The addition of UV protection to skin products has also provided a lift, establishing UV absorbers among the most rapidly expanding product categories.

High volumes and low prices of cosmetic products characterize India’s personal care industry. Many traditional commodity chemicals, including sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium lauryl ether sulfate, are used in formulations. There has been less demand for specialty chemicals and the majority of existing demand remains satisfied through imports. However, an increasing number of personal care products now incorporate specialty ingredients in their formulations. Among specialty ingredients, specialty surfactants are the leading product category, followed by conditioning polymers, accounting for a combined volume market share of over 40%.

Anti-Aging Skin Care Makes Gains in Japan
JAPAN: The life expectancy of Japanese women exceeds 86 years, topping the world’s longevity ratings for the 25th straight year, and according to Mintel Beauty Innovation, they are going to continue to look good as they get older.

Mintel’s Global New Product Database (GNPD) reports that Japan has a significantly higher growth rate in anti-aging skin care products than the U.S. Skin care products launched in Japan with an anti-aging claim increased by a staggering 85% from 2007 to 2009, compared to a 27% increase in the U.S. during the same period.

“East Asia and Japan, specifically, have always been at the forefront of beauty innovation,” said Hinako Sugioka, Mintel Beauty Innovation senior consultant. “The steady increase in Japan’s longevity, traditional eating habits and long history of whitening beauty are just a few of the reasons this region continues to excel in the personal care industry.”

Attendance Up at Beyond Beauty Paris
FRANCE: Traffic at the 8th edition of Beyond Beauty Paris, Sept. 12-15, rose to 19,500 attendees, including 37% foreign visitors at the exhibition, and a gain of 2%. According to show organizers, 530 exhibitors—5% more than in 2009—including 47% new arrivals and 39% foreign brands, were divided into three exhibitions dedicated to brands, suppliers and the spa. Some 3,500 people attend the international program of conferences devoted to beauty, which featured 75 conferences conducted by nearly 150 experts.

Cosmeeting brought together 225 French and foreign brands, 35 more than in 2009. A festival of international beauty, Cosmeeting is the epitome of trends and renewal, as 66% of the brands were new at the show.

At the exhibition, a jury of international experts from the distribution sector rewarded five beauty hopefuls by awarding them the Beauty Challenger Awards, Beauty Organic Award and the new Beauty Pharma Award. The winners are: Beauty Challenger Awards—Pulpe De Vie (jury’s favorite); Myeko (best nice brand); and Functionlab (best emerging brand).

TheBeauty Organic Award was presented to 66°30, while the new Beauty Pharma Award went to Pomarium.

Beyond Beauty Paris 2011 will be held Sept. 12-14, 2011 at Porte de Versailles.

In-Cosmetics Is March29-31 in Milan
ITALY: In-Cosmetics will be held at Milan’s Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center on March 29-31, 2011. More than 500 exhibitors of raw materials and ingredients, research labs, software providers, industry associations and publications are expected to attend including major players such as Croda, DSM, Dow Chemical and Rhodia, as well as a number of newcomers from China, India, Italy and South Korea that are keen to showcase their latest ingredients.

“With so many key industry participants attending the show, In-Cosmetics has become a must attend event within the personal care industry calendar offering a crucial insight into scientific advances, emerging markets and an unrivalled educational program,” said Lucy Gillam, exhibition director. “It also has an unprecedented reputation for innovation and is an excellent source of industry expertise. The event is on target to deliver yet another successful show.”

Brazilian natural organic ingredients supplier Beraca will sponsor In-Focus. The main theme is sustainable beauty.”

In addition, a new online community tool will be introduced for the Milan show. It provides exhibitors and pre-registered visitors with a diary, a detailed search facility and a fully integrated email system to network and arrange meetings. Users can also add a personal profile and save seminars, products or any other website contents of interest.

Arizona Chemical Names Korean Distributor
KOREA: Arizona Chemical has forged a new partnership with Durae Corporation in which the Korean firm will represent its specialty product division’s line of personal care ingredients in the Korean market.

“The addition of Durae Corporation adds a key market channel for Arizona Chemical in Asia,” said Tom Fontana, director of Arizona Chemical’s specialty products division.

Durae, established in 1997, is based in the province of Gyeonggi-do.

Arizona Chemical’s Sylvaclear Specialty Polymeric Gellants provide a wide range of functionality to the personal care formulator as film formers, water repellency agents, surfactant free emulsifiers, structuring agents, rheology modifiers, pigment stabilizers and active delivery systems.

Each Sylvaclear polymer contains a high percentage of pine tree-derived carbon and enables the formulator to develop aesthetically pleasing, sustainable personal care formulations.

DSM Presents Parsol SLX Data At Euro Derm Congress
SWEDEN: DSM presented new scientific data on Parsol SLX (INCI: Polysilicone-15), its patented sunscreen molecule, at the European Dermatology and Venerology Congress (EADV) 2010 in Gothenburg.

In the scientific study, the behavior of radio-labeled material of Parsol SLX has been investigated in a standard design in an in vitro skin penetration study with donated human skin samples exposed over a 24 hour period to a sunscreen product containing 10% Parsol SLX. The result demonstrates that more than 99.5% of the applied amount of Parsol SLX can be retrieved after a 24 hour exposure period from the skin surface and the stratum corneum, according to DSM. This result supports the concept that polymeric sunscreen actives can be designed and, consistent with other polymeric substances, will show a very low, if any, skin penetration rate.

“DSM is well positioned in the personal care ingredient industry to develop and manufacture innovative solutions, due to its unique capabilities in life science and material science. The study results on our innovative UV protection product demonstrate the strength of DSM’s personal care unit to provide scientifically proven solutions and concepts for our customers that are relevant to consumers,” said Ilona Haajier, senior vice president, personal care.

Cederroth Acquires Dermika
POLAND: The Cederroth Group has expanded its operations in Poland by acquiring Dermika Sp. zo.o.The company’s plan is to develop Dermika within Cederroth Poland S.A.

“This new entity will market two face and skin care assortments, under the trademarks Soraya and Dermika, in addition to other well-known Cederroth products, like Family Fresh, Pharbio and Salvequick, on the Polish market,” said Jaroslaw Cybulski, who heads Cederroth’s Eastern European unit.