Personal Care Newsletter 01/2022

The cosmetics and personal care industry is the most innovative sector in daily consumer goods. The increased demand for hygiene products has not only boosted sales of soaps and shower products, but has also led to most new products being launched in this segment. In contrast, sunscreens, decorative cosmetics, fragrances and hair styling products have been less in demand over the past two years. However, these product categories are expected to recover as soon as social occasions and travel can be resumed. In addition, the current raw material situation presents unprecedented challenges, not only to the personal care industry. Creativity and quick adaptation to ever-changing market needs are key success factors in working with STOCKMEIER to ensure entrepreneurial growth in these times. 

An important platform for finding out about new ingredients, innovations and trends is in-cosmetics global. This year, the fair will take place in Paris from 5 to 7 April 2022. Meet STOCKMEIER ONE at booth T 121 and let's innovate together! 

In the beauty and personal care world, consumers are demanding more than ever that their products are natural, organic and sustainable. Our partner Innospec announces that ten of its ingredients are now NATRUE certified:  All surfactants are 100% natural, free from PEGs and some are also COSMOS certified.  

Sodium cocosulphate is used as a foaming and wetting agent, especially in solid, but also in liquid rinse-off products. The sulphate-free glucoside-based surfactants are suitable for extremely mild skin cleansing formulations. 

Aprilan AOS 38 is an aqueous solution of sodium C14-16 alpha-olefin sulfonate. Alpha-olefin sulphonates are characterised by high foaming and good cleaning properties. Furthermore, they have an excellent tolerance to hard water as well as electrolytes and are stable in acidic conditions. At the same time, they are skin-friendly, free of palm (kernel) oil and PEGs/EOs. Ideal for all cleaning applications. 

Growing the plants that feed us takes a lot of time and commitment. The upcycling trend is about making the best use of the resources that nature offers us. By-products from the food industry often provide a valuable source of material for the production of natural ingredients for cosmetics production. In this way, important active ingredients for cosmetics are reintegrated into the production cycle. Conversely, more effective farming results in less waste, and this has a positive effect on the environment. 

Here are a few examples from our raw materials portfolio:

1. How did you get into the field of personal care?

Through my work in sales and application technology for herbal active ingredients and cosmetic raw materials at my former employer in Switzerland. In 1996, I helped to set up the "Cosmetics" division and focused on antimicrobial fragrances. The topic "preservative-free" was already of high importance in the cosmetics industry at that time. In the course of the SEPAWA conference in Bad Dürkheim in 1997, I had the opportunity to explain these products to an expert audience and to further arouse the interest of customers and to substantiate it with well-founded test results. 

I enjoy the many customer contacts and the good conversations that come with them. Numerous tasks are discussed and I enjoy being part of the problem-solving process with my expertise. In this way, several cosmetic products have come onto the market over the years, which I have been able to accompany on the development side from the very beginning. These feelings of success not only enliven everyday life, but are always new motivation to remain creative and innovative. 

Clearly the herbal active ingredients, which are obtained from both native and exotic plants. These are always coupled with interesting stories and background knowledge. Nature has been an important source of medicinal substances for many thousands of years. An impressive number of modern medicines have been isolated from natural sources. It is therefore not surprising that these active ingredients are also used in everyday cosmetic products and cosmeceuticals.  

The multitude of oleochemical raw materials coupled with the plant-based or even marine active ingredients offers a wide range of products that are of interest to all customers in the cosmetics industry and are incorporated into new formulations. There are actually no limits for the developer here, so that many interesting aspects can be discussed in the customer meeting, which are not repetitive from customer to customer, but very individual. 

I like to do sports. This includes weekly football training at a hobby level, which at my age is often referred to as old men's football. Of course, we can't keep up with the pace of the young people any more. I also go jogging regularly and enjoy the walks with our still young male Golden Retriever, Lenny. And when the Corona pandemic no longer has us in its grip, I like to enjoy summer holidays in Istria again with the beautiful Adriatic beaches and in the evenings with a glass of local white wine of the Malvajiza or Žlahtina grape varieties.