Premium products form growing part of new product launches

According to Mintel's Jenny Catlin premium personal care products are currently one of the busiest categories with the research company's GNPD showing a plethora of innovative new launches, each emphasizing high quality, often natural, ingredients combined with superior packaging.

Only last week a new market report from Datamonitor​ demonstrated the growth of the premium sector in the UK, currently one of Europe's strongest economies.

"Consumers' interest in premium products is being spurred by rising incomes, an overall trend towards indulgence and the growth of key demographic groups such as older consumers and singles are all helping to spur the growing interest in premium products,"​ the report said, adding that spending on such luxury items is expected to reach £4.5 billion in the UK by 2009, an increase of 30 per cent compared to 2004 spending, Datamonitor said.

Although the trend towards luxury personal care products seems to have been most pronounced in the UK, the rest of Europe has also shown clear signs of taking to more sumptuous products, something that is evinced in this selection of products.

French company L'Occitane, which is present all over Europe and the US, has just launched Huile de Massage pour Homme. The massage oil contains L'Occitane's distinctive provincial fragrances, together with pepper and nutmeg to provide what is described as a tender and sensual lotion. It will retail for €8 and is an extension to an existing line.

Still in France, Yves Saint Laurent is launching an Ultra-Smoothing Exfoliant Gel. Priced at €28.40, it contains a cyto-energizing complex and deep skin cleanser that contains micro-beads. It is said to rejuvenate the skin and to act as a good preparation for other skin care treatments. Ingredients include tea-lauryl, rice bran protein, caffeine and wheat protein.

Clinique is widening the market for its Moisture Sheer Tint by launching it in Sweden. Priced at €27.84, it contains an SPF15 along with what is described as 'a sheer hint of colour' in a formulation that is oil- and fragrance-free. Ingredients include caffeine, chamomile, sucrose and aloe barbadensis leaf water.

Meanwhile, Omegin Dr Schmidgali is launching a Relax Fluid under the Carmol Pro-Active label in Austria. A body care oil, it contains menthol and a range of essential oils that aim to provide a relaxing massage. Priced at €6.95, the product line is also available as a massage cream.

In the sun care category, Estee Lauder is launching two new products: a Sun Care Anti-Aging Lotion for Face and Sun Care Anti-Aging Sun Gel. Being launched on to the Turkish and German markets respectively, both products emphasize high protection in the fight against ageing, with the facial cream offering a 30SPF and the all-round lotion having a 15SPF.

And for skin care after a day in the sun, UK retailer Tesco is offering an Aftersun Spray Lotion as part of its growing 'Finest' personal care range. Priced at £4.00 (€6.00), the product is said to provide an intensive hydrating treatment, containing an antioxidant complex to help fight skin ageing.

This range of products is from a selection contained on Mintel's Global New Products Database​.