Introduction

Fashion is rapidly growing, and there is no doubt about that. In particular, the cosmetics industry has gotten to a point where it’s one of the leading industries in fashion. There are thousands of cosmetic products today, and the need for them is continually growing.

The emergence of the cosmetics industry was to create and market different beauty products to meet consumers’ needs. These products come in various categories like make-up, skincare, hair care products, and fragrance.

In the cosmetics industry, a few multinational corporations control a majority of the production of these goods. However, so many businesses in this industry deal with the marketing and distribution of these products worldwide. These businesses are essentially the different beauty brands we have today.

In this article, we’ll look at the history of cosmetics, the market, and its growth over the years. 

• History – How the Cosmetics Industry Emerged
• Size of the Cosmetics Industry
• Major Categories in the Cosmetic Industry
• The Cosmetics Industry Marketing System

History – How the Cosmetics Industry Emerged

The use of cosmetics began in ancient Egypt and some parts of Asia. The ancient Egyptians and Sumerians needed these products at that time to decorate their faces, which is essentially what beauty products are used for today. 

As such, cosmetics grew more significant and even became part of their culture and religion. However, as years passed and as the use of cosmetics grew, not everyone appreciated them. People had different attitudes towards them. 

Many people valued them, but there were those that inherently disapproved of them. For example, the use of cosmetics led to some discrimination in Rome. People thought of women with make-up as beautiful, while those without were not valued.

In the past, cosmetics had harmful side effects on people. This problem was due to the nature of the products in use at that time. Most of them were made from very toxic materials. These caused severe skin issues, blindness, deformities, and in the worst cases, severe casualties. 

The leading cause of these side effects was the absence of scientific involvement. There was little knowledge on the substances they used, especially the harm they could cause. Moreover, there were no guidelines on production and usage. 

However, they were able to make some notable changes which led to the establishment and growth of the cosmetic industry in the world. The cosmetic industry emerged between the last days of the 19th century and the early days of the 20th century. 

Women extensively used cosmetics in almost every developed area of the globe, making them the primary consumers at that time. Today, the cosmetics market is more diverse and inclusive, with a broader target market. Companies now produce unisex cosmetics goods and some for men only.

Size of the Cosmetic Industry 

The industry is a large part of the fashion industry and is worth about $ 511 billion today. This sector of fashion has thousands of brands under it. It’s been growing fast as there has been a high demand for cosmetic products in all categories. Social media influencers, brand ambassadors, and many celebrities have contributed significantly to the value and growth of the industry.

L’Oreal is still the leading brand in the cosmetics industry today. It’s well known for its reliability and uniqueness in the products they offer. Many cosmetics companies are now getting involved in the market where men are primarily involved. 

Unlike previous years, men now have more value for cosmetics. They have extensive use of these products. Therefore, the industry is now diverse where it no longer serves only women but both genders.

This already thriving industry will do a lot more in the coming years due to its innovations, inclusion, and broader customer base.

Major Market Segments in the Cosmetic Industry

Make-up

The make-up segment is mainly associated with beauty. It includes various products, including lipsticks, foundations, primers, setting powders, brushes, and other applicators. 

Make-up enhances a person’s looks and individuality altogether. People can now hide several facial blemishes by wearing make-up. Many of these products, like foundations, concealers, etc., now come in various colors to fit every skin color.  

The use of make-up has been very inclusive. It’s also trying to involve men a lot to use make-up products. This inclusion has expanded the market and has helped this segment flourish.

Some popular brands in make-up include Fenty Beauty, Armani beauty, L’Oréal, ilia beauty, etc. Make-up is also shifting more to an e-commerce world where online marketing happens. Consumers can now order these products from any part of the world and have them delivered to them. 

Skincare

Skincare is the fastest-growing segment in the cosmetic industry. Some products under this category include body creams, eye gels, moisturizers, etc.

The online skincare market is thriving, and it’s one of the main contributors to their success over the years. This e-commerce market makes marketing these products more efficient. Consumers can see a collection of skincare goods all at once in online stores.

Women appear to be the most significant consumers in the skincare market. Nevertheless, men are beginning to purchase more skincare products due to their increasing interest in personal care and appearance. In addition, customers are also going for more natural products.

Skincare companies are starting to create skincare goods that meet the needs of every consumer and expand their target market. Some big enterprises that produce skincare goods include Revlon, Unilever, L’Oreal, Coty Inc., etc.

Hair Care

Haircare products are for personal hair grooming and generally improve one’s looks. These hair care products include conditioners, shampoos, hair gels, hair colorants, etc. 

These products also come in several types for different hair and hair issues. They also come in various forms, such as liquids, gels, cream, etc., to meet the diverse needs of consumers. Some of these hair care products are also used for treating several hair-related issues. 

Customers can easily access these hair care products due to the broad distribution channels, especially the online market. Today, so many people want to use hair care products to improve this and at the same time maintain healthy hair and scalp. 

The haircare market has adopted many innovations towards making their products. Some of these innovations were to create products that are natural and cruelty-free. Most chemicals used in making these goods are unhealthy and environmentally unfavorable. 

People are now very concerned about this and demand organic and chemical-free products. Moreover, the different needs of consumers are increasing; products are then made to suit these needs. Trending fashion like hair coloring is driving younger people to purchase hair colorants. 

Moreover, men now desire to have hair styled differently, so they purchase hair styling products. These hair products and many others are currently in high demand, and this has made brands create products that suit these growing customer needs.

Hair Care companies also consider all genders and ages when creating products. Famous multinational enterprises backing the progress of this segment include Aveda corporations, L’Oreal, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, etc.

Fragrances

As consumers are continually paying more attention to their hygiene and appearance, the need for fragrances has continued to grow. Fragrances now have more importance than offering lovely scents; it boosts confidence and self-esteem. The goods in this cosmetics segment include perfumes, colognes, deodorants, aftershaves, Etc.

The need for the fragrance wasn’t all that essential years back. However, this has changed, and many have started seeing so much use for it. It has developed to be a valuable cosmetic product in the world today.

Several multinational corporations are now getting into the fragrance segment of cosmetics due to its potential for better growth in the next few years. The number of brands today selling fragrance products is still counting. 

The fragrance segment in the cosmetics industry has so much opportunity for brands. Brands that emerge don’t need to produce any product. Instead, they use their brand names to market these manufactured fragrance goods. Some popular brands selling fragrances include Dior, Hermes, Chanel, Calvin Klein, Armani, etc.

The diversity and inclusion in cosmetics have also reached the fragrance market. People want to know if the products made are suitable for everyone. They wish to know all of these when brands advertise these fragrance goods.

People originally bought fragrances for mostly their scents. There’s now less concern about the scent or feeling fragrances give. Many end-users now have their interests in producing and packaging these goods. The safety of material used in producing and packaging these fragrance products has been a significant concern. 

The Cosmetics Industry Marketing System 

Over the years, the cosmetics industry has experienced continuous growth. The market is expanding, and new brands are surfacing. To meet the rising needs and market these products more efficiently, brands have their stores in as many countries as possible. This has also been an effective means of building brand recognition.

The involvement of the internet in the marketing of cosmetics goods has been very beneficial and efficient. The online market has helped make these products available in areas where brands have no physical shops or agents representing them. However, many popular beauty brands now sell online too. 

The marketing system in the cosmetic industry has been evolving. Email marketing has also proven to be an effective tool in marketing cosmetic products. Customers can receive emails encouraging them to go to cosmetic shops and try out beauty products, especially new lines.

Brands also employ email marketing in advertising and building customer relationships. These emails come as valuable content providing information about the cosmetic goods and the brands’ unique offers.

Conclusion

In summary, cosmetics is a thriving area in fashion today. The use of cosmetics over the years has become so extensive. However, the industry has continued to grow in all categories—skincare, haircare, make-up, etc.

Because consumers now pay more attention to how the products are made, especially for their safety, companies now have to make them with natural ingredients.

Generally, all sections in the cosmetics industry have begun to produce cosmetics goods that are more natural than ever. In addition, companies are now driving at producing cosmetics goods that suit all ages, gender, and ethnicities.

Moreover, many creative ideas, diversity and inclusion, and celebrity endorsements have helped this industry thrive in every area.