Beauty and personal care in 2024: The big picture
The beauty and personal care industry in South Africa witnessed strong growth in 2024, in both volume and value terms, fuelled by rising living standards, urbanisation and longer life expectancy. Social media continues to influence demand tapping into the heightened focus on grooming, particularly among younger consumers. The steady stream of new product launches across both mass and premium segments has further invigorated sales. On the one hand, cost-conscious shoppers are turning to more affordable options in response to ongoing economic pressures. In tandem, beauty enthusiasts remain willing to invest in high-quality, branded products within select categories. Consumer access to flexible payment methods, such as store credit cards and the rapid expansion of “buy now, pay later” options across more retailers, has underpinned growth. These finance options enable a broader range of consumers to engage with both entry-level and premium beauty and personal care products.
2024 key trends
In a challenging economy marked by financial pressure and rising living costs, multifunctional beauty and personal care products have gained stronger appeal. Consumers increasingly sought out value-driven solutions that simplified their routines without compromising on results. Products that offer multiple benefits, such as a moisturiser with SPF or a body lotion that also firms the skin, allow shoppers to streamline their purchases while still addressing various personal care needs. Notable new examples include lip stains that double up as blushers, and eyeshadow pens that can also be used as highlighters and bronzers depending on the colour.
Competitive landscape
Unilever South Africa (Pty) Ltd leads the beauty and personal care competitive landscape, with its success tied to its strong brand portfolio and extensive distribution network. The company has also been proactive in revitalising some of its iconic brands to better resonate with local consumers. Pond’s has refreshed its packaging, whilst the introduction of the Perfect Colour Complex range specifically addresses common South African skin concerns like dark marks, making it more relevant and appealing. Meanwhile, Dove has become a powerful voice in challenging traditional beauty standards. Campaigns like #NewYearsUnresolution has sparked meaningful conversations around body confidence and self-acceptance, garnering widespread social media engagement and winning the hearts of consumers who identify with these values. As shoppers increasingly seek brands that reflect their beliefs, Dove’s authentic messaging has created a genuine connection with consumers.
Retail developments
Supermarkets and pharmacies remain key distribution channels for beauty and personal care products in South Africa, thanks to their wide product assortments and national reach. Personal care items are often purchased as part of regular grocery shopping, while colour cosmetics tend to be explored more intentionally within pharmacy environments. To enhance the in-store experience and drive sales, leading players like Clicks and Dis-Chem have invested in hiring trained beauty advisors to guide customers in selecting the right products. In 2023, Clicks Group Ltd acquired the Sorbet beauty salon franchise chain, which operates Sorbet skin care and beauty treatments, nailbars and hairbars, as well as the Sorbet Man men’s grooming brand.
What next for beauty and personal care?
South Africa’s beauty and personal care industry is poised for growth over the forecast period, supported by expectations of easing economic conditions, including potential interest rate cuts. However, price sensitivity will remain a defining factor, as many consumers continue to navigate economic uncertainty and job insecurity. Going forward, brands will need to strike a balance between affordability and value, offering products that meet evolving consumer needs without compromising on quality.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Beauty and Personal Care industry in South Africa with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Baby and Child-Specific Products
- Bath and Shower
- Colour Cosmetics
- Deodorants
- Depilatories
- Fragrances
- Hair Care
- Men's Grooming
- Oral Care
- Skin Care
- Sun Care
- Premium Beauty and Personal Care
- Mass Beauty and Personal Care
If you're in the Beauty and Personal Care industry in South Africa, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Beauty and Personal Care in South Africa report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Beauty and Personal Care in South Africa?
- Which are the leading brands in South Africa?
- How are products distributed in South Africa?
- To what extent is e-commerce changing the retail environment and consumer demand?
- How are sales of mass versus premium beauty products evolving?
- Which products are seeing rising demand in the wake of COVID-19?
- Why are changing lifestyles and consumer behaviour patterns stimulating growth of some categories but not others?
- How is the macroeconomic environment shaping demand?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Beauty and Personal Care in South Africa
Beauty and personal care in 2024: The big picture
2024 key trends
Competitive landscape
Retail developments
What next for beauty and personal care?
DISCLAIMER
Baby and Child-Specific Products in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Resilient category despite South Africa’s challenging economy
Johnson & Johnson maintains lead although it faces rising competition from private label
Retail e-commerce gains share as more consumers become comfortable shopping online for baby products
Private label to gain further acceptance as they improve offerings and quality
Gentle and skin safe formulations will stay at the forefront of product development
Adult preferences for science backed products to eventually spill over to baby and child specific categories
Bath and Shower in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Bar soap remains popular among consumers due to habit persistence and affordability
Unilever South Africa maintains its strong lead
Supermarkets leads in the distribution of bath and shower products
Body care to continue benefiting from self-care trend
Social media will play a key role in reshaping hygiene and grooming routine
Rising interest in bath and shower products with natural ingredients
Colour Cosmetics in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Economic environment leads consumers to seek more affordable options without compromising on quality
Estée Lauder Cos South Africa (Pty) Ltd maintains a solid lead
Pharmacies remain a key distribution channels although retail e-commerce is also growing
The lines between skincare and colour cosmetics continue to blur
Multi-functional products offering greater value are likely to perform better
Competition within mass segment will continue to intensify
Deodorants in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Strong brand loyalty for deodorants among consumers
Unilever South Africa maintains lead with strong brand portfolio
On-demand delivery changes the way consumers shop for deodorants
Rising demand for safer and natural ingredients to continue
Body mists are set to gain further traction
Omnichannel strategies will meet consumer needs in different channels
Depilatories in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Price sensitivity drives demand for more affordable options
Incolabs (Pty)Ltd maintains its lead in depilatories
Supermarkets maintain the lead in depilatories
Private label offers more options to cash strapped consumers
E-commerce retailers bring more affordable lines and raise the competitive stakes
Growing appetite for natural ingredients and less harsh chemicals in depilatories
Fragrances in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Challenging economic environment leads to slower growth
Fragrances competitive landscape remains highly fragmented
In-person shopping still prevalent in fragrances category
New scent profiles are disrupting the market
Counterfeit brands remain a challenge for premium brands
Affluent consumers and fragrance connoisseurs demand unique products
Hair Care in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Hair care performs well as players cater to local needs
Local and niche brands compete well with well-established players
Supermarkets remain the main channel of distribution
Consumers look for brands that resonate with their local needs
Focus is on educating consumers and hairdressers who are important influencers
Scalp health is becoming an important focus among consumers
Men's Grooming in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Men’s grooming extends beyond traditional products
Unilever South Africa maintains strong position in the category
Men seek convenient and seamless shopping experiences
Further scope for innovation in men’s grooming
Gap in terms of education and awareness of men’s grooming products
Price sensitivity to prevail over the forecast period
Oral Care in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Price sensitivity shapes demand patterns in oral care
Colgate Palmolive Pty Ltd maintains significant lead in oral care
Oral care seen as an essential hygiene product purchased during routine grocery shopping trips
Claims such as teeth whitening to remain popular among South Africans
Opportunities for ingredient-led toothpastes over the forecast period
New formats and products will give a boost to oral care
Skin Care in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Experiential marketing creates tactile experiences in skin care
Skin care is fragmenting as new brands emerge across multiple platforms
Retail e-commerce and social media are reshaping product discovery and uptake
Ingredient-led skin care to continue driving purchasing decisions
Greater consumer sophistication is leading to consumers opening up to different beauty ideals and routines
Skin care to go beyond functional benefits to build sensory appeal
Sun Care in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growing awareness of the importance of sun protection although it is not deemed to be a priority for most consumers
Sun care landscape is fragmenting as new brands enter the category
Pharmacies lead in sun care distribution
Sunscreen remains a nice to have for the majority of consumers although awareness is growing
Opportunities exist for different formats and textures
Sun protection will continue to be a key feature across beauty and personal care
Premium Beauty and Personal Care in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Challenging economic environment leads to slower growth in premium beauty and personal care
Premium brands see strong competition from ‘dupe’ products
Premium retail stores broaden access to premium and luxury brands
Modest growth expected in premium segment over the forecast period
‘Dupes’ present both a challenge and opportunity for premium brands to broaden reach
New business models will give consumers more options in the premium segment
Mass Beauty and Personal Care in South Africa
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Economic challenges drive growth in mass beauty and personal care
Unilever South Africa maintains lead in mass beauty and personal care
Social media is reshaping product discovery and uptake
Affordability does not always trump quality
Mass beauty category is expected to become more competitive as new brands enter
Mass brands tend to be more agile in terms of new products and launches
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Beauty and Personal Care
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- Baby and Child-specific Hair Care
- Baby and Child-specific Skin Care
- Baby and Child-specific Sun Care
- Baby and Child-specific Toiletries
- Baby Wipes
- Medicated Baby and Child-specific Products
- Nappy (Diaper) Rash Treatments
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- Bar Soap
- Bath Additives
- Body Powder
- Body Wash/Shower Gel
- Hand Sanitisers
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- Intimate Washes
- Intimate Wipes
- Liquid Soap
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-
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- Premium Eye Liner/Pencil
- Mass Eye Liner/Pencil
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- Premium Eye Shadow
- Mass Eye Shadow
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- Premium Mascara
- Mass Mascara
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- Premium Other Lash and Brow Make-Up
- Mass Other Lash and Brow Make-Up
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-
-
- Premium BB/CC Creams
- Mass BB/CC Creams
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- Premium Blusher/Bronzer/Highlighter
- Mass Blusher/Bronzer/Highlighter
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- Premium Foundation/Concealer
- Mass Foundation/Concealer
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- Premium Powder
- Mass Powder
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- Premium Other Facial Make-Up
- Mass Other Facial Make-Up
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-
-
- Premium Lip Gloss
- Mass Lip Gloss
-
- Premium Lip Liner/Pencil
- Mass Lip Liner/Pencil
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- Premium Lipstick
- Mass Lipstick
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- Premium Other Lip Products
- Mass Other Lip Products
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-
-
- Premium Nail Polish
- Mass Nail Polish
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- Premium Nail Treatments/Strengthener
- Mass Nail Treatments/Strengthener
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- Premium Polish Remover
- Mass Polish Remover
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- Premium Other Nail Products
- Mass Other Nail Products
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- Premium Colour Cosmetics Sets/Kits
- Mass Colour Cosmetics Sets/Kits
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- Deodorant Creams
- Deodorant Pumps
- Deodorant Roll-Ons
- Deodorant Sprays
- Deodorant Sticks
- Deodorant Wipes
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- Hair Removers/Bleaches
- Women's Pre-Shave
- Women's Razors and Blades
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- Premium Body Mists
- Premium Men's Fragrances
- Premium Women's Fragrances
- Premium Unisex Fragrances
- Premium Fragrance Sets/Kits
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- Mass Body Mists
- Mass Men's Fragrances
- Mass Women's Fragrances
- Mass Unisex Fragrances
- Mass Fragrance Sets/Kits
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- 2-in-1 Products
- Colourants
- Conditioners and Treatments
- Hair Loss Treatments
- Perms and Relaxants
- Salon Professional Hair Care
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- Medicated Shampoos
- Standard Shampoos
- Styling Agents
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-
- Men's Post-Shave
- Men's Pre-Shave
- Men's Razors and Blades
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-
- Premium Men's Bath and Shower
- Mass Men's Bath and Shower
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- Premium Men's Deodorants
- Mass Men's Deodorants
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- Premium Men's Hair Care
- Mass Men's Hair Care
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- Premium Men's Skin Care
- Mass Men's Skin Care
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-
- Premium Men's Fragrances
- Mass Men's Fragrances
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- Dental Floss
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- Denture Cleansers
- Denture Fixatives
- Mouth Fresheners
- Mouthwashes/Dental Rinses
- Tooth Whiteners
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- Manual Toothbrushes
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- Battery Toothbrush Replacement Heads
- Battery Toothbrush Units
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- Electric Toothbrush Replacement Heads
- Electric Toothbrush Units
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- Toothpaste
- Oral Care Excl Power Toothbrushes
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-
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- Premium Firming Body Care
- Mass Firming Body Care
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- Premium General Purpose Body Care
- Mass General Purpose Body Care
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-
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- Premium Acne Treatments
- Mass Acne Treatments
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- Premium Face Masks
- Mass Face Masks
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-
- Premium Liquid/Cream/Gel/Bar Cleansers
- Mass Liquid/Cream/Gel/Bar Cleansers
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- Premium Facial Cleansing Wipes
- Mass Facial Cleansing Wipes
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-
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- Premium Basic Moisturisers
- Mass Basic Moisturisers
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- Premium Anti-Agers
- Mass Anti-Agers
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-
- Premium Lip Care
- Mass Lip Care
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- Premium Toners
- Mass Toners
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-
- Premium Hand Care
- Mass Hand Care
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- Premium Skin Care Sets/Kits
- Mass Skin Care Sets/Kits
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-
-
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- Premium Aftersun
- Mass Aftersun
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- Premium Self-Tanning
- Mass Self-Tanning
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- Premium Sun Protection
- Mass Sun Protection
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- Baby and Child-specific Sun Care
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-
- Premium Baby and Child-specific Products
- Premium Bath and Shower
-
-
- Premium Eye Liner/Pencil
- Premium Eye Shadow
- Premium Mascara
- Premium Other Lash and Brow Make-Up
-
- Premium BB/CC Creams
- Premium Blusher/Bronzer/Highlighter
- Premium Foundation/Concealer
- Premium Powder
- Premium Other Facial Make-Up
-
- Premium Lip Gloss
- Premium Lip Liner/Pencil
- Premium Lipstick
- Premium Other Lip Products
-
- Premium Nail Polish
- Premium Nail Treatments/Strengthener
- Premium Polish Remover
- Premium Other Nail Products
- Premium Colour Cosmetics Sets/Kits
-
- Premium Deodorants
-
- Premium Body Mists
- Premium Men's Fragrances
- Premium Women's Fragrances
- Premium Unisex Fragrances
- Premium Fragrance Sets/Kits
- Premium Hair Care
-
-
- Premium Firming Body Care
- Premium General Purpose Body Care
-
- Premium Acne Treatments
- Premium Face Masks
- Premium Facial Cleansing Wipes
-
- Premium Basic Moisturisers
- Premium Anti-Agers
- Premium Lip Care
- Premium Liquid/Cream/Gel/Bar Cleansers
- Premium Toners
- Premium Hand Care
- Premium Skin Care Sets/Kits
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-
- Premium Aftersun
- Premium Self-Tanning
- Premium Sun Protection
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- Prestige Baby and Child-specific Products
- Prestige Bath and Shower
- Prestige Colour Cosmetics
- Prestige Deodorants
- Prestige Fragrances
- Prestige Hair Care
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- Prestige Body Care
- Prestige Facial Care
- Prestige Hand Care
- Prestige Skin Care Sets/Kits
- Prestige Adult Sun Care
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- Mass Baby and Child-specific Products
- Mass Bath and Shower
-
-
- Mass Eye Liner/Pencil
- Mass Eye Shadow
- Mass Mascara
- Mass Other Lash and Brow Make-Up
-
- Mass BB/CC Creams
- Mass Blusher/Bronzer/Highlighter
- Mass Foundation/Concealer
- Mass Powder
- Mass Other Facial Make-Up
-
- Mass Lip Gloss
- Mass Lip Liner/Pencil
- Mass Lipstick
- Mass Other Lip Products
-
- Mass Nail Polish
- Mass Nail Treatments/Strengthener
- Mass Polish Remover
- Mass Other Nail Products
- Mass Colour Cosmetics Sets/Kits
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- Mass Deodorants
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- Mass Body Mists
- Mass Men's Fragrances
- Mass Women's Fragrances
- Mass Unisex Fragrances
- Mass Fragrance Sets/Kits
- Mass Hair Care
-
-
- Mass Firming Body Care
- Mass General Purpose Body Care
-
- Mass Acne Treatments
- Mass Face Masks
- Mass Facial Cleansing Wipes
-
- Mass Basic Moisturisers
- Mass Anti-Agers
- Mass Lip Care
- Mass Liquid/Cream/Gel/Bar Cleansers
- Mass Toners
- Mass Hand Care
- Mass Skin Care Sets/Kits
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- Mass Aftersun
- Mass Self-Tanning
- Mass Sun Protection
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- Dermocosmetics Baby and Child-specific Products
- Dermocosmetics Bath and Shower
- Dermocosmetics Colour Cosmetics
- Dermocosmetics Deodorants
- Dermocosmetics Fragrances
- Dermocosmetics Hair Care
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- Dermocosmetics Body Care
- Dermocosmetics Facial Care
- Dermocosmetics Hand Care
- Dermocosmetics Skin Care Sets/Kits
- Dermocosmetics Adult Sun Care
Beauty and Personal Care
This is the aggregation of baby and child-specific products, bath & shower, colour cosmetics, deodorants, depilatories, fragrances, hair care, men's grooming, oral care, skin care and sun care. Black market sales and travel retail are excluded.
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This report originates from Passport, our Beauty and Personal Care research and analysis database.
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