Mintel: Microbiome skin care, clean makeup and gluten-free hair care drive UK market

05-Mar-2019 - Last updated on 06-Mar-2019 at 11:22 GMT

New research from Mintel highlights the trends driving innovation in skincare, colour cosmetics and haircare in the UK beauty market, with the leading defining trends being clean makeup, gluten-free hair care and microbiome skin care.

Indeed, the market research firm’s findings reveal that the UK leads the way globally for facial skincare launches targeting the skin microbiome, and vegan and gluten-free claims in hair care trebled in the last few years in the UK.

The colour cosmetics market of the UK makes up the 4th biggest market globally, valued at an estimated £2.1 billion last year. Mintel’s research defines clean makeup as colour cosmetics products carrying 'free-from', 'natural' and 'ethical & environmental' claims.

The UK takes the global top spot for facial skincare launches targeting the skin microbiome

Recognising the importance of the skin’s unique ecosystem, the UK is leading the way globally for facial skincare launches targeting the skin microbiome. Over 37% of the world’s launches in 2018 were in the UK, followed by the US (25%) and France (15%) - according to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD).

As consumers embrace a 'treat yourself' mindset, prestige/luxury facial skin care accounted for 71% of launches in the UK in 2018, compared to 54% 10 years ago (in 2008).

In contrast, budget and mass facial skin care launches are losing out, slightly declining from 14% of all UK launches in 2008 to just 10% in 2018.

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The UK is the European leader for clean colour cosmetics launches

Mintel’s research also points to the ever-rising trend for ‘clean’ beauty.

The importance of being transparent and toxin free has never been greater, the firm suggests: in 2018, the UK was the leading European market for ‘clean’* colour cosmetics launches, and second globally only to the US. Indeed, the UK accounted for 21% of all global ‘clean’ colour cosmetics launches in 2018.

Mintel also reveals that the UK is the 4th biggest colour cosmetics market globally, valued at an estimated £2.1 billion in 2018 - following beauty powerhouses US, Japan and China. Brits are also the 4th biggest colour cosmetics spenders, with an average per capita spend of £32 per year.

Beyond the plate - The rise of vegan and gluten-free haircare

Embracing beauty with a conscience, according to Mintel, vegan claims trebled in haircare between 2014-18 in the UK, rising from 6% of all launches in 2014 to an impressive one in five (20%) in 2018. In comparison, only 10% of hair care launches across the globe carried a vegan claim.

Meanwhile, gluten-free claims trebled in haircare between 2016-18 in the UK, rising from 3% of all launches in 2016 to 9% in 2018. In comparison, just 4% of hair care launches across the globe carried a gluten-free claim.

Ending with a touch of glamour, prestige/luxury hair care accounts for 29% of hair care launches in 2018, rising from just 12% in 2008. At the other end of the scale, budget/mass is rising too, from 30% in 2008 to 39% in 2018.