The world’s largest cosmetics trade exhibition, Cosmoprof, held its 53rd edition in 2019, marking the first time it has been held in person since then. Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2022 had a spectacular comeback from April 28 to May 2 with 2,700+ exhibitors from 70 countries and over 220,000 guests from 140 areas worldwide.

Sustainable beauty comes in a variety of forms.

At Cosmoprof Bologna this year, the majority of the major trends that were seen in the completed beauty goods were connected to environmentally friendly, climate-conscious, and sustainable lives. Throughout the epidemic, this mega-trend has been gaining momentum and has become each year stronger and more inclusive. As a result, there were several examples of water-conscious items on the exhibition floor, along with plastic-free and zero waste brand concepts. Let’s not forget that new businesses, particularly those in the clean cosmetics and organic sectors, are increasingly vegan.

In recent years, solid hair and body care formats have dominated beauty releases. Since newcomer and independent firms are developing ever more sophisticated product formulae and designs, many of the innovative bath and body care products displayed at the event have nothing in common with the traditional square shampoo or shower bars.

For instance, the new Moringa Healthy Scalp Shampoo Bar from organic Korean cosmetics company Urang Natural has moringa extract to nourish the scalp as well as soap noodles to assist create an extra creamy froth. With damp hands, the solid shampoo’s ovoid form and rough surface are easy to hold and produce fast lather. Similar to how shea butter or cocoa butter, which are more frequently used as a basis, the easy-grip hexagonally structured body moisturizer from the Lithuanian solid beauty business Solidu Cosmetics dissolves into the skin rapidly without leaving it sticky.

A surge of effective face care launches also occurred during the exhibition. Brands may promote solid face care sticks as alternatives to plastic or packaging that uses less plastic or as more practical, entertaining, and portable goods, depending on how they are positioned. The twist-up face moisturizers are made by the Korean cosmetics company Cetena. One of them is the Multi Balm, which contains avocado oil and macadamia oil. While Canada’s Attitude unveiled a number of effective face and body care lines, including an entire line of cardboard-packaged sun care sticks with mineral filters, fellow K-beauty brand Lovbod unveiled its new Dark Spots brightening stick formulated with soothing bisabolol and sweet almond oil to hydrate and lighten discolored skin patches.

Anhydrous beauty products, which come in the form of tablets, powders, or flakes, were also very well-liked at the event since they are significantly lighter, need less packing, and produce less CO2 during production and shipment. As they are made to be reconstituted with water by the user at home, they also provide a fun DIY element.

One of the awards went to the Lebanese company Beesline for their innovative Deodorizing Roll-On, a vegan deodorant pill that, when dissolved in water, transforms into a liquid deodorant solution. A compressed soap tablet that can be used to make liquid hand soaps has been released by German organic cosmetics company Ben & Anna, which originally began with baking soda deodorants.

The idea of zero waste has also remained popular in product packaging as well as ingredients and formulations, with an increase in the number of brands employing components that have been recycled or saved from food waste.

One of the first European body care companies to include waste materials from the food sector was the vegan UK firm Upcircle Beauty. The business began by creating bath and body treatments using recycled coffee grounds. Currently, Upcircle Beauty also incorporates various food waste by-products into their products. For example, the company’s most recent hand wash and body lotion duo launch includes recycled bergamot and kiwi fruit waters. Additionally, Fruu Cosmetics, another independent British firm, formulates its 40-sku line of solid hair, skin, and body care products from food industry wastes such fruit skins, pulp, juices, and extracts.

Integral components of localism include transparency and regional pride.

Brands also kept emphasizing important product ingredients, especially those that were produced locally, fusing localism with transparency in ingredient sourcing with pride in local/national heritage.

The 6-sku face care line from Swiss newcomer brand Chiara Zurich is based on glacial water that is collected from the Titlis mountain near Lucerne, where the company’s creator is from. The Only One, a gel-textured face essence based on Korean bellflower extract, was just released by Korean independent brand Sioris. The newest product line from the Danish organic firm Unique, Beauhe:it, is vegan, gender-neutral, and made with a variety of traditionally Scandinavian plant components.

Finally, let’s talk about the new Hyaluronic Spheres Serum from the Irish company Green Angel, which was created using extracts of local seaweed and algae.

This increased emphasis on ingredients might be attributed to the functional beauty trend, which also played a significant role during the exhibition. Active components were provided by several manufacturers as concentrated serums and ampoules. The product lines of companies like Turkey’s The Purest Solutions or the UK’s Nature Spell were particularly notable for their use of traditional actives such hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinol, or niacinamide. Probiotics and ferments, however, were also highlighted by a number of other products, such as Esse’s Probiotic Serum from South Africa.

Technology fosters customisation.

Personalization is a major driver of innovation in the beauty industry, particularly in areas like face care. Numerous exhibitors at Cosmoprof Bologna 2022 presented various perspectives on product personalisation. Still popular are DIY ideas like active substances in serum or booster form to personalize beauty products or businesses that give a foundation cream with acceptable actives to build a face cream. But the emergence of smart technology, digitization, and DNA beauty is creating totally new opportunities for both consumers and companies.

The Adaptive Skin Care idea from the Spanish company Lesielle has a little machine that blends small amounts of skin care by blending active ingredients with a base cream. One of the Cosmoprof Awards was given to Swiss company Réduit for its new Booster, an AI-driven hand-held applicator for creams and lotions that promises more effective ingredient distribution. In the end, Italian company Genetica 23 offers customized cosmetics based on DNA analysis, a thorough face scan analysis, and a complete questionnaire.