The color cosmetic category has grown slowly over the years (a mere 13% increase from 2008–13); however inspiration from the Asian market might be about to speed things along, according to new research from Mintel. BB cream, the popular product in the Asian cosmetic industry, has made its mark in America, as 2013 as seen a nearly 50% increase in product launches over 2012.
BB cream, which combines cosmetic and skin care benefits, currently has the lowest reported use among facial makeup products (29% of women report wearing BB cream, compared to 68% who wear foundation, 69% for blusher, 64% for powder, 61% for concealer, 39% for primer and 39% for bronzer). However, use of this multifunctional cream is on the rise with 29% of women reporting any use in 2013 compared to 24% in 2012 (5% increase).
“The upturn of BB cream usage is consistent with the staggering increase of new product launches over the past year combined with strong marketing efforts designed to educate women about product benefits,” says Shannon Romanowski, beauty and personal care analyst at Mintel. “The multifunctional benefits of BB creams are broadly appealing, as the majority of makeup wearers agree that multifunctional makeup saves them time, money and allows them to reduce the number of products they use. With the recent emergence of CC and DD creams, the market is sure to continue its upward trajectory.”
This piece is an excerpt from GCI magazine, Cosmetics & Toiletries' sister publication for beauty business and marketing. Read the full report.
