Although color cosmetics continues to lag slightly behind overall cosmetics and toiletries growth of 5.4% on 2005 numbers, the color category’s growth of 5% in 2006 represents the highest year-on-year increase since 2001. From a traditionally fashion driven, highly innovative sector, sales in 2006 were propelled by demand from the emerging markets of Latin America and Eastern Europe, where color cosmetics are already perceived as a staple part of the beauty regime. The category’s future prospects are also looking strong, with sales set to exceed $40 billion in 2011, maintaining color cosmetics’ position as the third largest category behind skin care and hair care respectively. Manufacturers are employing innovative tactics to stretch consumer spending in the mature markets, and going forward, there are substantial opportunities to maximize sales in developing regions.
Read the rest of this entry »