PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRY
The Personal Care industry is very dependent on the creativity of its raw material suppliers. Raw material suppliers who are dedicated to developing new raw materials, providing sophisticated prototype formulations, and offer
responsive technical support win the confidence and loyalty of customers.
Everyone wants an innovative and technological edge in the competitive personal care environment. Cost competitiveness remains key for large marketers, while niche markets can support the inclusion of high-end specialty ingredients.
West Coast personal care manufacturers include a large proportion of contract manufacturers and fillers. This segment continues to grow as manufacturers transition to outsourcing.
Some West Coast personal care co-packers also market their own brands, while others remain strictly contract facilities for hair and skin care, bath, body, cosmetics and fragrances. A portion of these companies provide turn-key capabilities, while others refer their customers directly to packaging, labeling, and graphic arts suppliers. The result is a diverse customer base with lots of flexibility.
The latest trends are for innovative emulsion platforms that allow formulators greater flexibility in non-traditional emulsion systems. This includes non-ionic emulsifiers which allow the incorporation of formula-sensitive ingredients such as Retinol, Liposomes, Alpha and Beta Hydroxyacids, and Vitamins. Facilities equipped with homogenizers are also able to take advantage of a new class of emulsifiers, liquid surfactants, and thickening agents that allow for cold-processing and other energy efficient manufacturing processes.
An established trend towards "natural" ingredients has been challenged by those who question the definition of "natural". Regulatory agencies have been cautious to form a specific definition, allowing marketers free rein in their use of this term. Responsible marketers have given their customers company specific definitions, while others have simplified it to mean anything of a natural origin.
The new trend is towards "natural" ingredients that have substantiated marketing claims, either by in-vitro or in-vivo testing. Other trends include the move away from animal or petroleum sourced raw materials. Fortunately, there is a wide of array of ingredient replacements with similar aesthetic attributes that make such a change possible without a significant expenditure of product development time.
California Proposition 65 has eliminated the inclusion of certain ingredients, while everyone remains watchful to the listing of targeted ingredients. Among those ingredients is Cocamide DEA, which has already been formulated out of many salon and retail brands.
Lipscomb remains dedicated to keeping their customers as informed as possible about the forthcoming regulatory changes. We participate in industry activities that allow us to better serve our customers, large and small.
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