Beauty Industry

Ethnic Personal Care Sales Are Growing 7%

Market is expected to reach $3.3 billion by 2012.

October 17, 2008

Editor-in-Chief

The U.S. ethnic health and beauty (HBC) market is truly a melting pot. The category was once dominated by products developed for African Americans, but in recent years, new players have extended the ethnic HBC market to include products for people of Hispanic, Asian, Arab, Native American, South Asian, and other multicultural backgrounds.

According to market research company Packaged Facts, the U.S. retail market for ethnic-specific hair care, makeup, and skin care products is growing 7% in 2008 and is expected to reach $2.6 billion by year end.

Looking ahead, U.S. retail sales of ethnic-specific HBC are expected to reach a record high, above $3.3 billion, by 2012. The increase during the four-year period is due largely in part to the continually growing ethnic population in the U.S., and the array of products designed to cater to their specific skin care, cosmetics and beauty needs and desires.

“Traditionally, marketers active in HBC products have sold some of the most chemically harsh items available, but today manufacturers are taking simple yet significant steps by adding a degree of natural or organic content to their products. This appeals to U.S. minorities who are widely regarded to favor not only gentler and safer HBC products, but greener ones as well,” says Tatjana Meerman, Publisher of Packaged Facts.

“Ethnic Hair, Beauty, and Cosmetics Products in the U.S., 6th Edition” continues the series of Packaged Facts’ biannual reports on the ethnic HBC market. This latest version analyzes the ethnic HBC market during the 2006-2008 period and forecasts beyond 2008; the report provides in-depth analysis and recommendations, and includes extensive demographic data from Simmons and BIGresearch. For further information visit: http://www.packagedfacts.com/Ethnic-Hair-Beauty-1474402/.