The holy grail in skin care: skin health and wellbeing

68% think that their use of cosmetics is important of how they are perceived by others. It is clear what consumers expect from the cosmetic industry. They want us to develop products which fit these primary needs. 86% of consumers expect tangible effects. This means that they want their cosmetic products to work for them. 

Apart from the above, the consumer is increasingly health-minded. ‘Health is the new wealth’. Consumers are aware of the link between appearance, lifestyle factors and health. This goes for skin health as well. Compared to the past, consumers have a more pro-active attitude towards care of their skin. They find skin health much more important than trying to erase wrinkles or age spots. They understand that maintaining healthy skin will help in maintaining young looking skin. Skin protection is a key factor for them. On top of that, healthy skin is considered to be attractive skin. Healthy skin looks good and feels good. Healthy skin is in balance. Healthy skin is strongly associated with overall wellbeing. Inversely, when skin is not healthy, overall wellbeing is strongly impaired. 

The number of people suffering from skin diseases is growing tremendously. The incidence of atopic dermatitis has doubled over the last 3 decades. A significant percentage of the population suffers from psoriasis. Acne is a common problem, especially for adolescents, but adult acne is a growing phenomenon as well. Also systemic diseases, like diabetes type 2, a vastly growing problem, can have strong implications for skin. Itch is a common problem for many consumers. In addition to the increased prevalence of skin-related diseases, the average consumer has a negative perception about her or his skin. When asked to describe their skin, in virtually all cases people describe it as problematic, e.g. dry, oily, sensitive etc