Mintel explores current and future developments in Kinetique beauty trend
Mintel describes Kinetique as encompassing the use of energy and high-tech in skin care - from beauty devices that bring professional procedures like sonic technology and muscle stimulation into the home, to cosmeceuticals using ingredients such as sugars and oxygen to harness or supply cellular energy.
EGF, stems cells and neuropeptides
Mintel's Director of Insight, Beauty & Personal Care, Vivienne Rudd cited several examples of topical products that supply energy to the skin or encourage it to boost its own energy. These include 3Lab The Serum, which contains wild ginseng stem cells to accelerate cellular turnover, and the Perricone MD cosmeceuticals neuropeptide facial cleanser.
The BIOeffect Body Intensive Age-Defying Body Serum containing EGF cellular activator derived from barley was also highlighted. Rudd noted that while the number of EGF products on the market is relatively low, new launches nonetheless increased 170 per cent between 2008-11.
Competition for beauty devices heats up in Europe
In terms of beauty devices, the US largely dominates although Rudd expects the European market to become much more lively in future. This is set to occur as a result of both European manufacturers and retailers waking up to the trend, and as cosmetics giant L’Oreal develops in beauty devices through the acquisition of Clarisonic maker Pacific Biosciences Labs.
Beauty device launches in Europe include the Philips RéAura device in the UK that was developed with the makers of Fraxel laser technology, and the Filorga Lumitherapist (LED) device in France that is claimed to be seven times stronger than classic LED.
Women are not the only target for beauty devices, said Rudd, as men too are coming under the spotlight. Slendertone Male Face that promises to build up muscle tone is just one example of a beauty device developed for the male consumer.
Diagnostic devices for clinics and the home are also picking up speed, with Rudd noting that TrueSystems has developed two devices for Amore Pacific, while Aramo has developed the portable scanner and the hand-held smart skin navigator.
What lies ahead
Looking ahead, Mintel has identified various ways in which the Kinetique trend is set to progress, with one such example being the use of alternative energy sources to power beauty devices.
The market researcher notes that electroporation, a technique used in cancer surgery and for transdermal drug delivery, is now being explored in cosmetics where electricity is used to facilitate skin penetration.
More home diagnostic devices are set to come onto the market, which Mintel says will allow consumers to test product claims. Direct sales brands are set to embrace diagnostics, according to Rudd, and new sales channels such as gyms and travel retail are predicted to be a target for beauty devices.
